During Alexandria Reentry Week (April 25 to 29), dozens of inmates at the William G. Truesdale Adult Detention Center were able to learn about services that can help them when they are released. Working with members of the Alexandria Reentry Council, Inmate Services staff held multiple sessions of the Reentry Week Resource Fair so that inmates could explore programs and services that can aid them in a successful transition to the community.

The sessions began with a video of Mayor Justin Wilson reading a proclamation (below) for Alexandria Reentry Week and continued with recorded video remarks from Sheriff Sean Casey, Circuit Court Chief Judge Lisa Kemler, and Alfreda Shinns, Chief Probation and Parole Officer Officer for District 36.

Through secure video conferencing, representatives from Offender Aid & Restoration (OAR) and Arm & Arm spoke about their services and answered questions from attendees. OAR can assist returning citizens with obtaining valid forms of identification, access to public transportation and even clothing for employment opportunities, and Arm & Arm provides peer recovery support from people who have successfully returned to the community after incarceration and other challenging circumstances.

Members of the Detention Center’s substance abuse and mental health teams also spoke with attendees to let them know how they can continue receiving care and services after their release. Other resource providers, such as Fathers in Tech and Together We Bake which provide workforce training and personal empowerment growth opportunities, shared information about their programs in recorded videos.

Each attendee received a directory of resources from a variety of organizations that can assist them with obtaining employment, housing, and other critical needs. Attendees can also work with Sheriff’s Office staff to get additional details and submit applications to providers now so that when they are released, they already have valuable resources and relationships lined up.