35TH-ANNIVERSARY SUMMER 2020 Gemeinschaft Home Promoting Restorative Justice in the Shenandoah Valley Board of Directors

Officers

Joan Kauffman, Chair Kay Knichrehm, Vice Chair Andrew Yoder, Treasurer Jason Gerlach, Secretary

Contents Members

Timothy J. Brazill Stanley Godshall Gemeinschaft Home’s Preamble, Mission Statement, and Vision...... 3 Elisabeth C. Gumnior Carol Hurst A WAY TO LIVE, TOOLS TO GROW Chris Johnson Joseph Lapp Russell Leinbach UNITED IN OUR STRUGGLE, A NEW LIFE TO KNOW Gemeinschaft Home: A Closer Look...... 5 Ramona Sanders Eric Schmucker ​Julian Turner ONE STEP AT A TIME, ONE DAY AT A TIME Harvey Yoder The Intentional Living Community that Became a Home: A Look Back at the History of Gemeinschaft Home ...... 6 Members at Large RECOVERY WORKS, AND SO MUST I

Earl Martin Sam Miller Empathy, Not Judgement: Addiction, Relapse, and Recidivism...... 8 Jane Ellen Reid John Schuster Sam Showalter David Stenson PREAMBLE Drug Court: A New Road to Recovery...... 10 John Stone Greg Versen This short statement is recited together by Kevin Yoder program participants at the start of every group session, and it provides guiding principles for Reentry Opportunities for Women...... 12 Administrative Staff daily life. Speaking these words regularly Executive Director reminds us that while the path forward requires Sharon Ringgold great effort, the journey is made easier with the Meet Leah Wolfe: Former Day Reporting Center Program support of a strong community. Residence Life Coordinator Participant Discusses Her Recovery and Helping Others...... 14 & Case Manager John Butler, Jr. Former resident Henry S. (Photo credit: J. Jacovitch) MISSION STATEMENT Day Report Manager The Philosophy and Practice of Restorative Justice...... 15 Jumar Peterson Gemeinschaft Home provides cutting edge

Day Report Case Manager therapeutic services to nonviolent offenders Michelle Roberts who have been released or diverted from incarceration in support of a transition to What Does It Mean to Defund the Police?...... 18 Program Case Manager Aaron Oda healthy community living.

Executive Assistant Gemeinschaft Home & Justice Reform...... 20 Jeanette Foster VISION Office Manager Laura Reubush Gemeinschaft Home... Changing Lives, Public Relations & Outreach Breaking Cycles of Recidivism, and J.L. Jacovitch & Associates ​Creating a Greater Community. Editors Dr. Jennifer Jacovitch Gemeinschaft Home P.O. Box 288 Former resident Ryan T. (Photo credit: J. Jacovitch) Dr. Elisabeth C. Gumnior Harrisonburg, VA 22803 VALUES Phone: 540-434-1680 Cover Photograph Fax: 540-432-3086 Gemeinschaft Home values a community that Kristin Knapp gives individuals an opportunity to uphold www.gemeinschafthome.org Printed by ColorQuest Custom Printing respect, integrity, and accountability, thereby © 2020 Gemeinschaft Home influencing positive growth. to these residents as well as those referred by the Drug Court Gemeinschaft Home (based on their need for residential services). Community Residential Program Day Reporting Center The Day Reporting Center (DRC) is a collaborative initiative with the Harrisonburg/Rockingham County court services that pro- vides an alternative to incarceration for selected individuals in the A Closer Look pre- or post-trial process. Contributor: Andrew Garrison Participants enroll in the program enabling them to sustain em- ployment, childcare, and other obligations, while receiving need- he process of leaving incarceration and integrating ed services and supervision. Depending on their level of need, Funding: Virginia Department Funding: Rockingham County and back into society is a challenge for a number of rea- they report from 1-5 days per week for a combination of manda- of Corrections City of Harrisonburg sons. Frequently, with little support, each individual tory drug screens, case management, and group and individual T must navigate a range of obstacles to find stable hous- sessions. Male participants with a high need for structured su-

ing and employment, to maintain physical and mental health, and pervision can receive residential support as well. Serving: Adult males Serving: Adult males and females to reestablish social relationships with spouses, children, and other family members. Capacity: Max. 28 beds Capacity: Max. 10 beds (for males needing Financial obligations such as paying off court fines and setting Gemeinschaft Home’s therapeutic up child support agreements complicate matters more, as each residential program) person tries to build a new life after serving time. Even the pro- community approach is essential cess of obtaining a drivers license again can be expensive and “ Services: Room and board Services: Case management tedious, but it can be the deciding factor in someone’s ability to for engendering mutual and Case management Drug testing maintain a job. self-respect among the participants Group Sessions Group sessions In many cases, people in this situation need extra help to get and helping them regain some of the back on track, and often this help comes from organizations like Duration: 90 days Duration: 90 days Gemeinschaft Home. For 35 years, this unique nonprofit organi- autonomy they have lost. zation has used the philosophy and ethics of a therapeutic com- munity to help teach, support, and prepare recently released in- dividuals for a new life. Therapeutic interventions at Gemeinschaft Home, for residents Drug Treatment Court Self-Pay Program and non-residents alike, come in two primary” forms: group and From the minute new participants walk through the door, they are individual sessions covering key areas of life recovery (self- (partnership) a part of Gemeinschaft Home’s therapeutic community and pro- awareness, relapse prevention, emotional control, conflict reso- grams that incorporate all aspects of life into the reentry process. lution, etc.) and case management providing practical guidance The programs at Gemeinschaft Home—the Community Residen- through the reentry and recovery process, referral services, and a tial Program and Self-Pay Program, the Drug Court Program, and personal accountability mechanism. the Day Reporting Center all offer settings in which participants gain valuable skills and strategies for acceptable living, as well as Gemeinschaft Home’s therapeutic community approach is essen- the motivation to become productive citizens in the community tial for engendering mutual and self-respect among the partici- Funding: Rockingham County and Funding: Individual at large. pants and helping them regain some of the autonomy they have City of Harrisonburg lost. This supportive structure helps them get a better under- The Community Residential Program (CRP) is based on mutual standing of themselves and others, ultimately contributing to an trust and respect, shared leadership and responsibility, mentor- environment built to grow and to uplift one another. Serving: Adult males Serving: Adult males ship, and the idea of “graduated freedom.” Residents participate in the daily and weekly chore schedules to maintain the cleanli- Capacity: Bedspace based Capacity: Bedspace based ness and upkeep of the house and to learn accountability and (Photo credit: Don Crawford) on availability on availability helpful life skills. The resident leadership structure provides op- (adult males only) (adult males only) portunities for regular development meetings and a formal griev- ance and conflict resolution procedures.

Services: Room and board Services: Room and board The emphasis placed on residents making decisions for them- Drug testing Case management selves or as a group creates a sense of autonomy that is im- Group sessions Group sessions portant during their transition stage, as it encourages personal responsibility and consideration for self and others.

Duration: 90 days Duration: 90 days The Self-Pay program is designed for males from the local area who have completed the 90-day program, and local males in need of residential-based services can apply to live at Gemein- schaft Home at a low-cost fee. The structure of the CRP applies 4 5 curity prisons provided by the VADOC. Such a diverse group of people further The Intentional underscored the positive community at- titude toward the idea of Gemeinschaft LIVING Community Home. In 1986, Gemeinschaft Home received tax-exemption status, gained support that Became a Home from the new head of the VADOC, gained its first director, Diane Stiteler Gray, and its first house manager, Byron Humphries. With all of the pieces in place, Gemein- A Look Back at the History of schaft Home officially opened its doors on Gemeinschaft Home Sunday, September 28, 1986. By Daniel Martin Over the next 20 years, the idea of Ge- meinschaft Home gained traction, the white van turns left off the halfway house in the area and decided Barry Hart, and a month and a half later home, now funded as a therapeutic com- main road and pulls into the to use their home to house ex-offenders, (June 4, 1985), Gemeinschaft Home was munity by the VADOC, expanded, in- driveway at a Victorian style mentally ill patients, and foreign refugees. incorporated as a non-profit organization. creasing the numbers of residents, adding building. Out steps an armed They established the new facility in col- a female program and multiple locations A guard, accompanied by an in- laboration with a core group of 6-8 Har- While the concept for Gemeinschaft in Harrisonburg and one facility, Pied- dividual with his hands shackled behind risonburg community members, forming Home in its current form was estab- mont House, in Charlottesville, VA. him. A seemingly typical Department of another iteration of the intentional com- lished at this time, there were still other Corrections transfer is taking place. Here, munity that they also called Gemeinschaft steps to be taken in the community. The However, the Great recession of 2008/2009 however, the guard sets down his gun and Home. The decision to create a halfway Rockingham County Board of supervi- brought many challenges to the organi- leans it up against the side of the vehicle. house community was made ad hoc, with sors had some concern, because of a pre- zation--the annual budget shrank from He unshackles the now ex-offender’s no involvement from the Virginia De- vious attempt to create a halfway house about $1.5 million to $500,000 almost arms, who walks free from physical chains partment of Corrections (VADOC). near Broadway, Virginia (about 13 miles overnight, and the VADOC converted up to the front door of the building. The north) that had resulted in a bomb going their therapeutic communities from six- individual has arrived at 1423 Mt. Clin- Gemeinschaft Home carried on for five off at the construction site, as members month to three-month programs. As a ton Pike, which looks out not over prison years, often with 1-2 ex-offenders living of the community did not want a halfway result, Gemeinschaft Home was forced to walls of concrete and metal fences topped with members of the intentional commu- house built at the location. close down all but the original CRP pro- by barbed wire, but across open, green nity. After five years, however, the tran- gram located on Mt.Clinton Pike. fields full of cattle. sitory nature of the arrangement--both The Board of Supervisors did not want a ex-offenders and community members repeat of such an event at Gemeinschaft Yet, the past decade has also brought new The house, which has come to symbolize would come and go--the community fal- Home, and they asked for clarification opportunities, including the development the next step on the road to freedom, is tered. about the exact plans of the consortium. of The Day Reporting Center, in 2016, a Gemeinschaft Home. From its humble Hart and the other members pointed out partnership with the local Drug Court, beginning in 1985, through the ups and In the meantime, Hart, along with Titus that they had been part of the community in 2017, and numerous collaborations downs of finances, circumstances, suc- Bender, a professor at EMC, and Larry for numerous years and had formed posi- with local colleges, universities, and other cesses, and failures, Gemeinschaft Home Hoover formed an organization called tive relationships with their neighbors. A community partners. Now the priority is has come fully to embrace its name--Ge- “Neighbors in Corrections” that focused meeting at Blessed Sacrament Catholic to establish a new residential program for meinschaft means community in Ger- on alternatives to incarceration. City Church in Harrisonburg, on August 7, women. man. leadership at the time, encouraged Hart, 1985, served only to confirm the group’s Bender, and Hoover to revisit the idea of a statements. The local community was in- As Gemeinschaft Home is honoring its In 1973, the home was used by a group of community-based halfway house. vited to respond to the idea of a halfway history on the occasion of its 35th anni- students and faculty from Eastern Men- house in the area, and the response was versary the main goal, which according nonite College (now Eastern Mennonite overwhelming support. to Hart, was to “provide both a physical University), who worked to form a Chris- By this time, however, an auction was al- place and mental space for people to take tian-based, intentional living community. ready underway to sell the property and As the year came to a close, a board of di- a breath after prison before going back They named it “Gemeinschaft,” in honor the house. At the last minute, literally rectors was formed, and plans were drawn into society fully” is still firmly in place. of their goal to live and work together. while the auctioneer was getting ready to up to open the facility. The house, built in After five years of communal living, the start bidding on the house, Hart, Bender, 1895, was in a state of “ill-repair,” and nu- And, as the organization is looking toward community dissolved, and the house and Hoover decided collectively that they merous renovations were needed. From the future, its guiding value of honoring stood vacant for two years. could not just let the last 5-6 years go to January 22-29,1986, work on the house people and their dignity will continue to waste. Lewis Strite agreed to put up the was carried out by volunteers from local place it at the forefront of positive change In 1979, Barry Hart and Jerry and Kathy money to purchase the property, and the church groups, student volunteers from in the community. Sisley, part of the original intentional group stopped the auctioneer. Strite then EMC and James Madison University, as community group, saw the need for a sold the house to a consortium, including well as six offenders from minimum se- (Photo credit: Kurtis Blosser)

6 Contributors: Paige Sinno, Hannah Kaufman, Joseph McCarthy

DRUG COURT Empathy, Not Judgement Addiction, Relapse, and Recidivism A NEW ROAD TO RECOVERY Contributors: Catie Lewis, Leah Coffey, and Dylan Seagrave

or many of the individuals in illicit drugs, it offers an ineffective -so to and result of addiction that is virtu- Gemeinschaft Home partners with the Rock- who participate in Gemein- lution for those individuals who have al- ally impossible to address with punitive ingham Harrisonburg Drug Treatment Court schaft Home’s programs, ready fallen victim to an illegal substance measures like incarceration. Yet, without Program, to provide housing for males who forward progress is often addiction. Substance abusers often get intervention, substance abuse addiction need residential support. F hindered by one venomous snared in a cycle of incarceration, release, dramatically increases motivation for vice—addiction—a disease of the brain and re-incarceration, which only exacer- criminal activity—such as drug sales and and fundamental human condition that bates the disease of addiction, rather than purchases, theft, robbery, fraud, or other exists across every race, culture, nation- treating it. crimes that provide access to or pay for il- ality, gender, age, and socio-economic licit substances—which leads to (re)incar- background. Recidivism is likely among addicts whose ceration and keeps the cycle of recidivism behavior is characterized as a crime, not spinning. It is important to recognize addiction as a a disease, and relapse is inevitable, with- disease, despite the pervasive cultural nar- out proper support and treatment, lead- Individuals who struggle with addiction rative that addiction is a personal choice. ing to re-incarceration. Because addiction benefit tremendously from a structured Both the American Medical Association is still considered a staple of criminality program upon release from (or as an al- and the American Society of Addiction and degeneracy, relapse most often pro- ternative to) incarceration; when faced Medicine define addiction as a disease: vides the basis for law enforcement rather suddenly with life on their own, the im- “Choice does not determine whether than medical intervention, particularly balances created by addiction in their something is a disease. Heart disease, dia- for individuals who are on probation and brains dramatically increase their chances betes and some forms of cancer involve subject to a zero-tolerance drug use con- of relapsing or reverting entirely back to personal choices like diet, exercise, sun dition. drug abuse. Gemeinschaft Home’s pro- exposure, etc. A disease is what happens gramming maintains a primary mission in the body as a result of those choices.” Yet, the American Addiction Centers of- of self-recovery and redirection away fers some helpful information to combat from negative tendencies and habits that Addiction to illegal substances creates an the negative stigma surrounding relapse, lead to incarceration. even more complex situation, because so- stating that, “Relapse is considered a nor- ciety generally condemns the possession mal part of addiction recovery and should Approaching addiction as a disease—not and use of drugs as a moral failing—a be understood to be a stepping-stone on a crime—is a philosophy that informs crime to be punished, rather than a dis- that path and not as the end of the road. the services provided by Gemeinschaft ease to be treated. It is probably safe to say Home, and while we cannot prevent in- that most people would not blame cancer Relapse often indicates that treatment dividuals from being incarcerated as a patients for bringing the disease upon needs to be reinstated or adjusted. Re- result of their addictions, we can work to themselves via poor eating habits but are lapse can vary in its intensity and dura- address underlying problems associated quick to pass judgement on individuals tion as well, and there are several ways for with substance abuse that lead to criminal who struggle with substance abuse, be- a person to decrease episodes and severity behavior and, ultimately, incarceration. cause their addiction is based on illegal of relapse through treatment programs, behavior. therapeutic methods, and a strong sup- In other words, if we engage in empathy port system.” instead of punishment, we make our com- While this punitive perspective may de- munities healthier and safer. ter some individuals from ever engaging Thus, relapse is a physiological response

8 9 Gemeinschaft Home serves a dual function in “helping the Drug Court maintain its effectiveness by allocating residential space and assistance in relapse and recovery care. -Dr. Amanda Teye, James Madison” University

options for men in Harrisonburg, including Oxford House efore December of 2017, the only option for of- Drug court is a community effort; it involves the daily and Gemeinschaft Home. Gemeinschaft Home’s Role fenders with chronic drug and alcohol addictions communication and teamwork of judges, court person- was jail time. nel, treatment providers, case managers, and other social There are almost no housing options for women going Gemeinschaft Home furnishes support for participants in B through the program in Harrisonburg. For more housing service workers, as each participant requires a specialized a number of county and court services programs, includ- Since then, the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Drug Treat- program based on their personal needs. accommodations to be made available for participants— ing the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Drug Treatment Court. ment Court, or Drug Court, for short, has been provid- women in particular—the Harrisonburg community will Dr. Amanda Teye, a JMU professor who helped establish ing a new approach with an addiction and life recovery The program is aimed toward recovery by holding partici- need to be on board with the process and fully recognize the local drug court program, points out that “Gemein- program which allows nonviolent, repeat offenders, who pants to honesty and demonstrated effort above all else; the value of the program. schaft Home serves a dual function in helping the pro- plead guilty, to have their sentencing delayed in order to mistakes, including relapse or violation of procedure, are gram maintain its effectiveness by allocating residential complete a rigorous two-year process focused on addic- sanctioned but not disqualifying until their accumulation One way to get more community buy-in is to point out that space and assistance in relapse and recovery care” via tion education, treatment, and supervision. makes recovery appear untenable. the drug court is beneficial for the Harrisonburg commu- randomized and weekend drug testing of participants. nity in terms of both costs and community development. The push for a local drug court started about two years Participants do not have their charges removed upon Providing nonviolent drug reoffenders with an alternative Drug court is essential for those who have not responded ago as several community leaders raised concerns about completion but rather avoid incarceration and continue on to jail helps to actually treat them so that they can one day well to traditional supervision, such as probation after in- the growing inmate population at the Rockingham County a path to sobriety, while those who opt out or have their contribute to society in a meaningful way. carceration. Because the program serves the local com- Jail. program terminated must return to court to face sentenc- munity, participants must be local residents, demonstrate ing. A study funded by the Department of Labor found on a a high risk of recidivism based on their continued addic- The initiative had the backing of the Harrisonburg-Rock- national level that 84% of drug court graduates have not tion, and have never been charged with or convicted of ingham Community Criminal Justice Board, which was The Harrisonburg/Rockingham Drug Court program be- been rearrested after the first year, and 74% of partici- violent or gang-related crimes. looking to ease overcrowding at the jail. Outside of Har- gan with only 20 participants and has grown to offer pants have no arrests after two years of graduation. risonburg, the state of Virginia offers 36 drug treatment services for hundreds of city and county residents. Par- Depending on individual needs, male drug court partici- facilities ranging from all points of the state. ticipants, who are classified as nonviolent but likely to And, according to the U.S. Department of Justice’s drug pants receive residential services at Gemeinschaft Home, reoffend, go through five program phases lasting almost court evaluations, the likelihood of offenders being incar- particularly during the first two phases of their treatment two years. cerated after completing the program and being diverted plan. That means they receive room and board and are What is Drug Court? to drug court is reduced, between 50 percent and 60 per- held to the same standards and duties of organized com- With each phase the intensity of supervision and treat- cent. Studies also have shown that, even with treatment munity living as residents in the other programs. Thus, Drug courts are a nationwide initiative, existing in all 50 ment is progressively reduced. Throughout the entire costs included, drug courts saved localities an overall av- Gemeinschaft Home is not just a place for these men to states, as well as an international movement in the Ameri- program, participants will follow their own individualized erage of $5,600 to $6,200 per offender compared to in- sleep, but an ever-acting classroom for lessons of re- cas and the Caribbean, Australasia, and Northern Europe. treatment plan and be administered drug tests to ensure carceration. sponsibility, sobriety, and purpose in life. However, drug courts operate on a local level and are spe- their adherence and recovery. Every participant is held ac- cific to each community. countable to rigorous standards throughout the course of While new to the Harrisonburg area, the drug court pro- Overall, the Gemeinschaft Home and Drug Court partner- the program. gram is truly valuable to the community. Within the last ship helps the community provide formerly incarcerated Drug court cases are on a separate court docket with ded- year the community has seen 2 successful graduates, and and chronically addicted individuals enhanced services to icated judges who take a somewhat unusual route to pur- One of the issues the drug court and its community part- currently there are around twenty participants awaiting help straighten out their lives. sue three primary goals: to reduce substance use, to lower ners are facing is the shortage of stable housing for those graduation and new beginnings. recidivism rates, and to rehabilitate participants. involved in the program. Currently, there are few housing 10 11 Reentry Opportunities for Men get this chance to get on their feet and get their own “place, save money, and do what they need to do and get the help that they need, while women have no chance to start over because they don’t get the same resources. WOMEN -Former female DRC participant

How the Local Area what they need to do and get the help Individual accountability for those of addiction “to heal, rebuild their that they need, while women have contributions leads to stronger bonds self-esteem,” and begin the work nec- no chance to start over because they between the residents and ultimately essary to recover.” Likewise, Thistle Can Benefit from don’t get the same resources.” helps them keep one another in check Farms bases itself on providing in case of any slip ups with treatment. female survivors of addiction, traf- The need for recovery homes for This further strengthens and reaf- ficking, and prostitution with a fresh Women’s Residential women is even more significant firms the structure and values within start at life through their two-year when looking at the populations of the home and enhances the sense program that guarantees their resi- women with addiction who have also of responsibility, trust, and support dents “a safe and supportive place to Program and Support endured further trauma through is- among the residents. live, a meaningful job, and a lifelong sues like abusive relationships and/or sisterhood of support.” Contributors: Genesis Hernandez, Brianna Ramos, and Megan Klepper single motherhood, which, again, are Many of these values are reflected not addressed in co-ed programs and in women’s programs such as the Recognizing the abundance of ben- result in women leaving such pro- Pennsylvania-based Junction House efits of community-based residential lthough the stigma of with a serious rise in substance abuse cities like Charlottesville or Rich- grams without knowing how to ap- and Thistle Farms in Nashville, Ten- programs, it is evident that these addiction has seemingly among women yet have an unbal- mond—if they preferred the tighter proach or resolve troubling situations nessee. resources must be made accessible to decreased over the past anced array of resources available to accountability of a self-sustaining by themselves. However, women with women with addiction in the Shenan- few years, why is it that we those seeking treatment. The Har- recovery home—or ​enrollment in addiction, especially at the start of As noted in Junction House’s website​, doah Valley and beyond. A still know so little about it? risonburg/Rockingham County area non-residential co-ed programs, such their recovery, most need a support some of the many benefits for women Moreover, why do we know even less is no different. Although there are as Gemeinschaft Home’s Day Report- system that approaches their issues include the ability to “form solid Gemeinschaft Home’s existing men’s about women with addiction? In her various co-ed recovery programs lo- ing Center (DRC), if they desired to from a female perspective. sober support systems,” “transporta- program provides a well-tested model 2015 article regarding Hollywood’s cated in Harrisonburg, the residential stay closer to home. In the latter case, tion to outside meetings, help with for women’s services. Used in tandem narrative on addiction, ​ writer Biju programs (including Gemeinschaft they irretrievably lost the experience Community residential settings like case management, [facilitation of] with the essential values of female Belinky describes how—regardless Home) are often limited to male resi- of recovery with a strong, female sup- those at Gemeinschaft Home provide medication, ... life or sober coaching support systems, this model can aid of the increased representation of dents. There were no female recovery port system. a clearly structured environment that to residents,” and even serve as a safe women on the path to recovery and, the disease in the media—most of homes in the Harrisonburg area until calls on each participant to contribute space for women with trauma result- in the process, strengthen families the stories being portrayed are those the ​opening of Oxford House Tril- However, robust female support to the functioning of the community. ing from childhood or their lifestyle and communities. of men. Rarely are the stories of real lium earlier in January of this year, systems have major positive impacts women fighting addiction given an which still holds far fewer residents on women’s paths toward recovery appropriate plot or platform. than Gemeinschaft Home’s current and help them to overcome triggers men’s program. such as heartbreak, motherhood, The consequences resulting from this and societal chauvinism—issues that are amplified when comparing the Whenever any attempts to expand are not typically addressed in co- ever-increasing rates of substance women’s services are made, financial ed programs, because they are not abuse amongst women with the shortcomings eventually impede considered relevant to the majority of near-stagnant number of recovery agencies and organizations’ abil- (male) participants. programs specifically designed ​for​ ity to keep the programs running, women. Lack of awareness regarding as was the case in 2008 with the The gender-based disproportion of women with addiction is clearly cor- closing of Gemeinschaft Home’s available recovery homes creates ad- related to lack of funding for recovery women’s residential program as a ditional hardships for women during services for women. result of the Great Recession. Since their reentry and recovery processes. then, local women seeking treat- As one woman put it: “Men get this This lack is most prominent in rural ment had to either decide between chance to get on their feet and get towns and counties that are faced temporary displacement to larger their own place, save money, and do

12 13 Meet Leah Wolfe Former Day Reporting Center Program Participant

Discusses her Recovery and Helping Others By Jazmin Otey

hen Leah Wolfe attended how far Wolfe has come. she had been in prior to incarceration, her first Day Reporting and, in 2017, when she had been caught Center (DRC) meet- “I use her as an example all the time be- using drugs a month before the end of her ing, a 90-day diversion cause she was someone who came into the probation period, she went on the run. W program intended to re- program determined and took direction,” Contributors: Lydia Manson, Rihanna Stephens, Zack Welker, and Brook Poyer duce the local jail population, she could Roberts said. “Now she’s doing all these It was during this time that she discov- not wait for it to end. All her mind could amazing things. She’s not just living but ered she was pregnant with Neveah. Wolfe only focus on was Nevaeh, her newborn she’s thriving. I got to walk the journey knew instantly it was time for a change. daughter. with her. And that was a beautiful thing. She managed to stop her toxic addiction It reminded me of my own journey [to in July 2017, however, police enforcement She had not seen her since she had given recovery].” caught up with her in September, and she birth during incarceration three was sentenced to jail for one year for The Philosophy and Practice of months prior, because after violating her probation conditions. her release from the hospital, she had been ordered to leave After her positive experience with little Nevaeh and return to jail DRC, Wolfe hopes to see Gemein- Restorative Justice to complete her sentence. “It schaft Home’s Community Residen- was like ripping part of my soul tial Program (CRP) expand to wom- out, the only thing that got me en in the future. The CRP program A person rarely transforms into a productive member of society through was knowing I would currently offers room and board to inside of a prison cell. Humans naturally want to make them- have her back in a few months,” help men become more stable, but selves feel better after they know they have done something Wolfe said. women face their own unique prob- lems such as motherhood, preg- bad, or something that goes against their morals. The difficulty As the 90 days came to a close, nancy, abusive relationships and is giving them an outlet that will be productive for society. In- her perspective of the DRC pro- emotional trauma that could be ad- carceration does not provide that outlet. In our current prison gram had changed immensely. dressed in a CRP program geared system, the convicted receive retribution, not restoration. “I really fell in love with recov- toward women. ery here, because the case man- agers care, and some of them “It’s sad, but most people have have been through it,” she said. burned their bridges through their “They have the experience you addiction, so they don’t have a sup- can’t get from a textbook.” She had be- port system,” Wolfe said. “You can’t grow come so involved with the program and Looking back, Wolfe hardly recognizes in an environment that you wilted in, and its participants that she voluntarily stayed herself. There was a time where she didn’t we need an environment to help people for additional time even after graduating. believe she would be able to escape get- thrive. It’s so hard for women.” ting high each day. Wolfe was 10 years old For Wolfe, helping others was part of when she started smoking marijuana and In the meantime, Wolfe hopes to continue her recovery. During this time, she at- drinking alcoholic beverages. showing others it’s possible to overcome tended meetings with her now two-year- addiction: “I would definitely say there old daughter sitting next to her. Now, By age 14, she began experimenting with is hope moving forward. Looking at the Wolfe has been clean for more than two heavier drugs, was in and out of toxic rela- people that have overcome it is hope in years, has become certified as an addic- tionships, and self-harmed frequently. At itself,” Wolfe said. tion recovery specialist, and runs her own 20 years old, she was arrested and ordered weekly recovery group at Grace Covenant to serve a two-year prison sentence for a Photo credit: Kim Shahan Church. drug conviction. After the sentence, she found herself in the same circumstances Michelle Roberts, the current DRC case manager, was an intern when Wolfe went through the program, but that was not the first time they had met. The pair first You can’t grow in an environment that you encountered each other in jail while serv- ing sentences for drug-related charges. wilted in. We need an environment to help Roberts was shocked to see Wolfe again at Gemeinschaft Home but knew that it was “people thrive. It’s so hard for women. somehow meant to be, and she is proud of -Leah Wolfe, Former DRC participant 14 ” 15 With over 25 years in law enforcement, Lt. Rod Pollard At Gemeinschaft Home a curriculum of life recovery has been Harrisonburg’s Restorative Justice Coordinator classes and individual case management sessions takes the since 2017. Since then, he has seen the program grow in place of mediated reconciliation meetings with victims. referrals and awareness. What does he attribute this suc- These mechanisms aim to provide the ex-offender with cess to? “One of our driving forces is our partners in the a better understanding of their own circumstances and community, [and] I think we’re still trying to grow the choices. The residents are regularly required to complete he United States justice process as “an alternative to tradi- ending the cycle,” says Manson. program.” To have the program grow even bigger, they classwork and homework, which prompts them to reflect, system suffers from issues tional models of dealing with offend- have recruited a local practitioner to serve as the authority many times in writing, on aspects of their past behavior with mass incarceration ers and their victims that rebuilds Resorative Justice Locally between policemen and citizens. and on ways to maintain a different path in life. and consistent recidivism. relationships instead of torching the T This has cost lives, indi- earth. It focuses on relationships, and The Harrisonburg Police Depart- These steady advancements are sure to make the restor- The goal is to focus on reconciling the residents with vidual rights, and money. while it may be involved in the legal ment (HPD) saw the benefits of this ative justice program more well-known and accessible. themselves and their own history in order to ultimately process, that isn’t the focus of restor- system, so they formed their own Reforming convicts is crucial to prevent the unnecessary enable them to seek reconciliation with their families and In Virginia, the average cost per in- ative justice. It doesn’t remove any restorative justice program in 2015 overpopulation of jails, and more importantly, to renew communities. mate is about 22,000 dollars per year. legal consequences but allows the called the Harrisonburg Restorative citizens. Restorative justice programs create opportunity In other states, it costs as much as offender to recognize the harm they Justice Coalition (HRJC). Like other for reconciliation and growth in both the communities 50,000. To many critics, the high cost caused to the community and try to departments with similar programs, and the individual. associated with incarceration dimin- make it better, to restore what was HPD says that the program “calls for ishes both the meaning and the effi- broken to its previous state.” restoring trust, and healing the rela- When asked why he thinks other communities should cacy of the correctional system as a tionships of the individual harmed adopt a similar restorative justice program, Lt. Pollard re- whole, resulting in a breakdown of How does it work? and those affected by the harm,” sponds: “In twenty-first century policing, we have to look community structures everywhere. making it “part of the culture and at opportunities like restorative justice to help people and While the process of restorative jus- practice of policing that reflects the serve the community, because obviously it’s not one-size- Three in every four prisoners in the tice may be one of the most effec- values of protection and promotion fits-all.” US released, find themselves back be- tive methods of reducing recidivism of the dignity of all.” hind bars within five years. In Nor- rates and providing more satisfactory Restorative Justice Practices way this ratio is one in five. In her outcomes for all parties affected by a Since the program’s 2015 forma- at Gemeinschaft Home article for Business Insider, “Why crime, it is not a widely understood tion, other Harrisonburg agencies Norway’s Prison System is so Suc- concept. and organizations--Fairfield Center, Gemeinschaft Home has a close affiliation with restorative cessful,” Christina Sterbenz states Bridgewater College, Eastern Men- justice principles. However, the cornerstones of the prac- that the reason for Norway’s low re- Most restorative justice frameworks nonite University, James Madison tice, restitution, community service, and reconciliation cidivism rates is a country-wide fo- include the following aspects: resti- University, the Commonwealth’s At- are applied and embodied in a slightly different way than cus on rehabilitation and restorative tution that involves monetary com- torney, and other local law practices in other restorative justice initiatives. justice as opposed to the punitive and pensation to victims by offenders, and schools--have joined the efforts retributive justice found throughout community service that involves ser- to “promote and implement restor- Because all Gemeinschaft Home residents are nonviolent the US. vice-based reparations to a commu- ative justice practices across the com- offenders with most of their offenses stemming from ad- nity affected by a crime, and recon- munity through education, outreach diction, the type of restorative justice employed at Gemein- What is restorative justice? ciliatory meetings between offenders and collaboration.” schaft Home deals primarily with personal rehabilitation and victims that allow either party to and restoration through work, service, and education. By Restorative justice is the system by reach a better understanding of the The process is relatively simple. First, stipulating that the offenders recognize their role in the which offenders are given the chance other party’s feelings regarding the either a police officer, judge, or citi- harm done (even to themselves) and willingly participate Former resident Jeff S. (Photo credit: Kristy Kauffman) to communicate with victims and offense in question. zen—including either the victim or in a process of restoration of their life, the goal, however, ultimately achieve justice by repay- offender—refer an offender to the remains the same: to break the cycle of recidivism. ing or restoring the damage of the The most important part of restor- police coordinator. The referral is offense. This benefits both the -vic ative justice is that offenders not only then reviewed by a committee. Next, The Community Residential Program (CRP) at Gemein- tim and the offender—and really the recognize their role in the harm done a trained practitioner creates what’s schaft Home strongly encourages residents to maintain a community as a whole—because it but also willingly participate in the called the Restorative Justice Circle. job (unless prevented from doing so because of a disabil- gives constructive second chances process of restoration. Beyond the victim and offender, this ity) and save the bulk of their earnings. The money saved and creates a sense of understanding. circle includes: a trained facilitator, helps cover court fees and restitution payments and the “Restorative justice takes the need HPD officer, and various community funds for child support payments. The experience of ful- John Manson, former Director of for retribution and reshapes it into members. Together they will ensure filling their monetary obligations to society is important Student Conduct and Mediation at something more positive, removing that the goals of the restorative jus- to rehabilitation and to restoring the economic health of Bridgewater College, describes the the concept of ‘an eye for an eye’ and tice process are fully achieved. the offenders, their families and communities. The residents at Gemeinschaft Home are also required to perform a minimum of fifteen hours of community ser- vice. Any work on the maintenance of the house that falls Restorative justice takes the need for retribution and outside of their regular chores list or any work they do for local non-profits or churches counts toward those re- reshapes it into something more positive, removing the quired hours. The experience of selflessly spending time “concept of ‘an eye for an eye’ and ending the cycle. and energy in the service of others provides the residents with important insights about human connectedness and -John Manson, Bridgewater College makes them feel they have a place and a role to play in their communities.

Former resident Alfonso G. (Photo credit: Anna-Louise Cecil) 16 ” 17 the U.S. general population is Black, while 40% of care of the community. Reinvesting a large percent- the prison population is Black. The prison popula- age of a local police budget can enable a city to in- tion exploded from about 200,000 at the beginning crease, and create as necessary, response teams for What Does of the war on drugs to roughly 1.5 million in 2019. mental health situations, incidents involving those experiencing homelessness such as trespassing, To put these large and somewhat abstract numbers and issues associated with substance use disorder It Mean to into perspective, the United States of America has and public intoxication. 25% of all incarcerated people in the world. With the beating of the drums of war, policing has become As cities cut funding or eliminate programs in order increasingly militaristic. Regular officers are outfit- to maintain their budgets, police budgets remain DEFUND THE ted with bulletproof vests, combat boots, tactical intact and often increase. Reduction to police bud- pants, long guns and more. Traditional police train- gets are rare and often met with formidable opposi- ing has yielded to warrior training. tion from police departments and law enforcement unions. POLICE? Harrisonburg Virginia, a city of 54,000 residents, By Julian Turner, Board Member spends 29.9% (35.4 million) of its general fund on Some cities have nonetheless already adopted these public safety and joint operations with Rocking- reforms. In 2013, the city of Camden NJ, for exam- ham County. 52.7% (15.3 million) of the total public ple, eliminated their city police force and used that efund the police?! When safety budget goes to policing and jail operations. funding to develop a department of public safety. you hear this term do This small city has two armored vehicles that are The department includes the newly created Com- your thoughts go to a operational. This allotment of funds is eclipsed only munity Emergency Response Team (CERT), Regional D lawless land reminiscent by schooling. Emergency Response Team (RERT), fire, and a col- of a disturbing dystopian scene? Antifa rules and citizens that believe in law and order live in fear. Many see the movement to Over 90% of police dispatches are for defund police as something new risen from the smoldering ashes non-violent situations. Police are often the of the recent murders of Ah- “ maud Aubry, Breonna Taylor, and first to respond in large part because of their George Floyd in close succession. numbers and availability, but they may not be However, the movement to shift the most appropriate entity to respond. large amounts of money away from police into other vital com- -Julian Turner, Board Member munity services has roots that date back to the 1970’s, at least. To understand how and why activists have been working to There are no set asides for low income housing laborative program with” the county police. defund the police, there are some developments. Mental health and substance abuse Most officers are on foot patrol, interacting with the things to consider. services are funneled through the Community Ser- communities they serve. It is not perfect as local ac- vices Board which jostles with other entities for a tivists will point out, but things are much improved. Defunding the police is not withholding funds Policing as an institution in piece of the 8.3 million marked as “other.” this country came directly from Their crime rate is down significantly, and they have from the police for the purposes of making a slavery. The earliest police pa- Diverting funds away from policing towards criti- the lowest reported incidents of excessive force trols were formed in 1704 for cal social services addresses all of the aforemen- and the highest community satisfaction rating in “ tioned issues. Over 90% of police dispatches are the state. St. Petersburg, Florida is pivoting in that statement or pushing for anarchy or socialism. the purpose of catching enslaved Africans fleeing plantations in for non-violent situations. Police are often the first direction, creating a Community Assistance Liaison It is a repriortization of city budgets in a way search of freedom. This history is to respond in large part because of their consider- with significant funds coming from what had been important in making a properly able numbers and availability, but they may not be the police budget. Police will not be responsible that invests in the care of the community. informed assessment of what we the most appropriate entity to respond. Situations for non-violent calls, i.e., mental health episodes, -Julian Turner, Board Member have today--the continuation of involving individuals experiencing a mental health issues related to homelessness, substance use, sui- an institution designed for the crisis need a mental health care provider. cide, etc. Instead, social workers will be dispatched. purposes of oppression. Since its inception, police have been used Sending police into a situation that they are not Police reforms that have been proposed every year ” by those with power to maintain trained to handle oftentimes escalates and ends in cities across the country either go unadopted or power. tragically. Similarly, are armed police the best re- are adopted in a way that will not facilitate change. sponse to situations of trespassing by those cur- At the risk of sounding cliché, we have to think out- Richard Nixon declared war on rently experiencing homelessness, or public intoxi- side of the box. Continuing policing as it is current- drugs in 1971. Drug use among cation? Evidence would suggest otherwise. ly structured will not yield different results. Defund- races being equal, the num- ing is bold but imagine what could be accomplished bers of Black and Lantinx people Defunding the police is not withholding funds from with more money going towards programs that incarcerated far outpaced the the police for the purposes of making a statement improve both communities and individual lives. incarceration rates of their white or pushing for anarchy or socialism. It is a repriori- counterparts. Currently 13% of tization of city budgets in a way that invests in the 18 19 be making future criminal involve- through time-tested systems that in- legal justice in an environment where ment more likely. Therefore, accord- crease rates of accountability and true there is diminished social justice. ing to Howard Zehr and his colleagues remorse in the offender, and thus low- Gemeinschaft Home in the restorative justice movement, er rates of recidivism. But on a larger Even if those larger systemic changes we ought to be reframing our sense scale, as a society we might choose to don’t occur, the Gemeinschaft Home of what justice might entail, and who’s invest much more heavily in systems will remain committed to stabiliz- responsible for seeing that it’s done. outside the normal justice purview. ing the lives of those who’ve passed Justice Reform through the justice system in Virginia Nationally, we might, for example, We could provide much better educa- by helping them to be better prepared & spend less money on highly milita- tional opportunities to those who’ve for living and working successfully on rized police units trained to primarily been denied them, economic em- their own. But, as this national con- think in tactical and combat terms to powerment to those who’ve been left versation continues, Gemeinschaft “fight crime”, and spend more money out, intensive social services to those Home can be a part of the movement on real community-oriented polic- that are struggling, and racial/ethnic to address the systemic problems that ing. This would involve officers who equity for those who have been mar- make criminal offending more likely. are members of the communities they ginalized. We might also invest in

By Dr. Tim Brazill, Board Member Gemeinschaft Home can be a part of the movement to address the systemic problems n the last few months there rates lower, some far lower, than 100. public concern over the proposal to have been widespread calls Based on data from the United Na- build new jail facilities, and the city “that make criminal offending more likely. from the general public for tions Office on Drugs and Crime, gen- and county ultimately opted for the -Dr. Tim Brazill, Board Member changes to the U. S. Jus- erally these countries have property more cost-effective plan to buy space I tice System. While many crime rates that are equivalent to, or in the Middle River Regional Jail. of the recent protests and rallies have at least not substantially higher than focused on the problems of systemic ours, and generally have violent crime Currently, the Community Criminal patrol, and who work with those com- vast improvements in the availability We” can broaden our community to in- racism and brutality in law enforce- rates that are much lower. Thus, these Justice Board and local justice system munities to address long standing so- of mental health and substance abuse clude services to those who are strug- ment, the discussions over a variety countries are able to deal with poten- officials are seeking ways to reduce the cial problems. treatment. gling with a variety of issues, helping of additional reforms in other compo- tial criminal activity without resorting number of inmates who are returned them to address the problems before nents of the Justice System have been to very costly and damaging systems to jail solely for probation violations. We could also, following the tenets If we were doing those things, the evi- the justice system is involved. We can going on for some years. of mass incarceration. of restorative justice, focus more on dence from other countries suggests continue the dialogue with our com- Finally, there is a large volume of em- repairing the damage of a criminal that we wouldn’t need to rely on our munity neighbors as we search for First, despite the fact that serious vio- Secondly, the cost of our Justice Sys- pirical data that strongly supports act, not only for the victim, and the justice system so heavily. As Howard longer lasting, broader reaching, and lent crime has largely been on the de- tem alone has prompted some to call the idea that incarceration can make community, but also for the offender Zehr has argued, it is hard to achieve more true justice. cline since about 1992, and that prop- for structural changes. According things worse for many people. Even erty crimes have been more gradually to the US Bureau of Justice Statistics in those institutions which capably declining since the 1970s, it is clear (BJS), total U.S. justice system expen- deliver meaningful, substantive reha- that the United States is still stopping, ditures in 2016 (latest available) were bilitative treatment (which are rare in arresting and incarcerating many above $295 billion. some states), prolonged incarceration more people than is necessary. can still produce lasting negative ef- In Virginia alone they exceeded $5.9 fects by disrupting employment, fam- According to the most recent data billion, and $1.26 billion of that was ily support systems, housing, etc. available (compiled in the World on corrections. For the last decade or A number of experts also point to Prison Brief by the Institute for Crime so, a number of states, prompted in the ways in which incarceration, and & Justice Policy Research at the Uni- part by budgetary problems associat- our general retributive (punishment- versity of London), the United States ed with the high cost of incarceration, focused) justice system, may generally is far and away the world’s leader in have begun rolling back some laws, “harden” individuals as they adapt to locking people up. Our incarceration such as New York’s “Rockefeller” drug a “might makes right” inmate and of- rate is 655 persons per 100,000 in the laws, which imposed severe penalties ficer culture prevalent in some insti- population. for even relatively low level drug use. tutions, and/or create psychological distance between themselves and the Among our peer nations, advanced Other states have even been ordered real human suffering caused by their post-industrial democracies, no other by Federal courts to free large num- illegal actions. country is close to our rate. Australia bers of prisoners for their failure to is the highest at 169, and England & properly provide basic humane treat- Thus, in seeking deterrence from Wales are at 133, with Canada at 107. ment and medical care, as is true in criminal activity through the threat of The Scandinavian countries all have California. Here locally, there was severe punishment, we might actually Former resident David W. (Photo credit: J. Jacovitch) Former resident Damion E. (Photo credit: J. Jacovitch) 20 21 James Madison University MSC 2103 54 Bluestone Drive Room 2251-2252 Harrisonburg, Virginia 22807

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