It’s no secret that because of decreased funding mental health facilities nationwide have closed their doors, leaving the criminal justice system as an inevitable catch-all for many people suffering from mental illnesses, especially the poor and minorities. There are now 10 times more individuals with serious mental illness in jails and state prisons than there are in state mental hospitals.

Communication in a safe environment is an extremely important therapeutic tool. In environments such as correctional facilities it is often difficult to accomplish. For both currently and formerly incarcerated individuals open, honest communication is exceedingly difficult. These individuals have been uncommunicative for years out of necessity. In situations, when communication is necessary what gets conveyed is often superficial and limited. This interruption in the ability to communicate thoughts, feelings and beliefs results in a sense of profound isolation, alienation and exclusion.

The Recharge game research shows it is a promising strategy to offer SEL to corrections settings without the training and other challenges often involved in scaling many traditional therapeutic approaches.

The Recharge Beyond the Bars re-entry “game” is an interactive card deck of questions and activities that elicit personal reflection, sharing of experiences and meaningful, potentially life saving dialogue. The Recharge Re-entry game is designed for use while incarcerated, and after, and has helped many individuals build trust and create pathways for connection and reconnection. Through using the cards in a facilitated group setting as well as with family and friends, participants, even those most resistant, have opened up and forged positive relationships based on understanding, compassion and empathy. The communication, critical thinking, emotional / social and reflection skills as well as the healing gained through Recharge can help with reintegration back into society and reduce recidivism.

Recharge allows participants to open up about their challenges of incarceration, triggers for offending, and/ or fears about reintegration either with or without a facilitating member of the program staff. In so doing, participants model sharing and concern for others with each other in a way that can effectively promote social and emotional health, or resiliency skills for desistance and successful reintegration in the community.

Though thoughtfully designed questions and interactions, Recharge provides a compassionate and supportive space where participants can reflect on and process their incarceration and life experiences together.