Our Voices

Empowering Change: Connor Marrott’s Mission to Improve Reentry Opportunities

A Capstone Project to Inspire Change

Connor’s passion for reentry work began during his internship at Dismas House, a reentry home in northern Indiana. There, he helped returning citizens secure jobs and navigate the barriers to reintegration. Inspired by this experience, he designed an innovative in-person simulation game that immerses participants in the realities of life after prison.

The simulation spans 3-5 hours, during which participants encounter scenarios like obtaining essential documents—such as birth certificates or IDs—and seeking employment. These tasks, often taken for granted, are fraught with obstacles for returning citizens.

The goal of the simulator is to shed light on the systemic difficulties that often push individuals back into incarceration. For example, someone on parole without proper identification may struggle to secure a job, find housing, or meet legal requirements—all of which can lead to parole violations. Participants leave the simulation with a deeper understanding of how these hurdles contribute to recidivism.

Bringing Change to Police Training

Looking ahead, Connor is excited to implement his reentry simulator in police training academies across Indiana. The training aims to foster greater awareness among law enforcement, particularly those who may become parole officers.

“There is kind of this tendency among law enforcement to place the blame on returning citizens,” Connor explains. “And of course sometimes returning citizens do bear some of the blame, but it can’t be the case when you have a state that has a 35% recidivism rate, meaning 35% of the people [who] come out [of incarceration] go back in. Clearly something’s not working.  So, we really hope that this simulator is a way to increase awareness among police officers so they learn to treat returning citizens with more compassion.”

This initiative aligns with Indiana’s statewide equity programming requirements, helping officers better support returning citizens and reduce over-policing. Connor hopes this training will cultivate a more welcoming and community-focused approach, ultimately decreasing recidivism rates.

Connor believes that meaningful change begins at a grassroots level. “What I’ve learned throughout this fellowship is that change does start small. And change starts in the hearts of people,” he notes. “From the person-to-person level, if we can at least catalyze a little bit of a welcoming spirit among these parole officers, we can at least expect that there’ll be more opportunities for people coming out of prison to just have an easier way of reintegrating.”

One of his goals is to expand the simulator’s reach by partnering with community organizations such as Alcoholics Anonymous, churches, and local employers. These partnerships can provide critical resources like job connections and guidance on securing essential documents—tasks often outside the capacity of overburdened parole officers.

Connor credits the John Lewis Young Leaders Program for equipping him with the tools and inspiration to sustain his work. “The John Lewis Young Leaders Program has really helped me in terms of providing a support network from the other fellows,” he said. “I’ve been able to learn so much about sustainability, for example. One of the other fellows, Harini, is focusing on sustainable fashion. A huge problem in the entry simulator is it requires a lot of single-use plastic. So, I’ve been talking to her about increasing sustainability and more broadly, how the prison system can be more environmentally-friendly. Because when you look at the ways prisons are built and prison labor is extracted, it is really harmful to the environment in so many ways.”

Connor’s work serves as a powerful example of how one person’s passion and dedication can spark meaningful change. Through innovative programs, community engagement, and advocacy, he is paving the way for a more equitable future for returning citizens.

How You Can Support Connor’s Mission:

Connor encourages everyone to take steps toward supporting returning citizens in their own communities.

  • Spread Awareness: Share resources and advocate for systemic changes that reduce barriers for returning citizens.
  • Volunteer: Many reentry homes need volunteers to help returning citizens navigate their transition.
  • Educational Advocacy: Connor plans to develop a curriculum for South Bend schools, helping students and teachers understand the complexities of reentry. Support for creating and implementing these educational materials is vital.