Icebreaker Example

• Ask everyone to list one or two barriers inmates face in your city or county when returning home.
• Have a staff member outline the points on easel paper pads to keep the information current in the participants’ minds.
• Now go around again and ask what barriers the individual agencies face in helping inmates address their multiple needs.
• Make sure to prod them to be honest and discuss challenges the group has the authority to change, including in your own department.
• Agencies are reluctant to air their dirty laundry, especially if the jail doesn’t acknowledge their own problems developing successful reentry strategies.

Icebreaker Exercise

The following are some questions for you to answer that will help the group have a better understanding of who is part of this meeting and where everyone is coming from.

1. Please provide your name and where you work to the group.

2. Tell us a bit about the jurisdiction you work in:

• What is the size of the facility/agency you work in?
• What type of population are you working with?
• What is your vision of where you are going with reentry?
• What are some of your expectations for the meeting?
• What are some of the issues you would like to address during the meeting?