Modern society has always been fascinated with criminal activity, it floods our newspapers, serves as a plot for shows, movies, games, and is even used by political parties to push social policies. However, once the perpetrators of crime are placed in prison, it is as if society turns a blind eye. In an ironic twist of fate, incarcerated offenders are often met with an environment which further propagates future deviant behaviour (Steiner & Wooldredge, 2008).
While many believe that prison is intended to serve as a form of punishment, it is often overlooked that many offenders will eventually be re-introduced into society. So while prison does not have to serve as a proverbial “bed and breakfast,” proper rehabilitative measures need to be taken in an attempt to mitigate the implications of aggressive temperaments and poor behavioural controls – which are often linked with crime (Sprinkle, 2008).
This paper will examine one questionable form of prison rehabilitation program, the use of animals as a tool in workshops to encourage pro-social behaviour and whether this program will lessen the rate of inmate on inmate victimization within the prison setting. Victimization for this study is intended to include: both sexual and physical assault, robbery, threats, extortion, and theft.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Literature
2.1 Children and Crime
2.2 Offenders and Animals
2.3 Current Animal Program Usage
2.4 Importance
2.5 Benefits to Offenders
2.6 Issues with existing research
2.6.1 Weaknesses
2.6.2 Strengths
3. Research Design
4. Methods
5. Procedures
6. Conclusion
Objectives and Research Themes
The primary objective of this paper is to evaluate the effectiveness of animal-assisted rehabilitation programs within prison settings as a method to mitigate inmate-on-inmate victimization. The research aims to determine if the introduction of such programs can encourage pro-social behavior and improve social adjustment among incarcerated offenders, ultimately exploring the correlation between animal therapy and reduced recidivism rates.
- Correlation between animal-assisted therapy and prison victimization rates.
- The impact of positive social ties and responsibility on offender behavior.
- Evaluation of quasi-experimental research designs in correctional environments.
- Analysis of the therapeutic benefits of human-animal interaction in rehabilitation.
- The role of agency data and institutional records in measuring correctional program success.
Excerpt from the Book
Benefits to Offenders
While many offenders come into prison for various offences, the characteristics of these individuals often share similarities. One centralizing issue is low self esteem, through this many offenders often become antisocial, easily angered, apathetic, and in some cases may make themselves targets of victimization (Wolff et al., 2007). Through the use of animal rehabilitation programs, many offenders are given the responsibility of taking care of animals. This instils a form of responsibility, improves confidence, and stimulates pro-social behaviour between inmates and prison staff. These fundamental traits, while seemingly simple, have been proven to reduce the chances of recidivism (Turner, 2007).
Equally important, many of these animals are brought in from local shelters and were often victims of neglect and abuse. It is believed that many offenders have experienced similar circumstances in the past and find a connection with animals through this. The ability to empathize is often absent from many offenders, however through this simple introduction of ties, creates a foundation which can be further built upon. With this understanding, many offenders learn to control their aggression, become more patient, and seek alternative forms of conflict resolution without using violence (Sprinkle, 2008).
Above all, animals have been documented as a form of therapy that enables a trained practitioner to gain an understanding of the subconscious fears of the patient. This is meant to imply that offenders undergoing therapy or rehabilitation programs while in the presence of a comfortable figure, such as an animal, will promote the effectiveness of treatment. This coincides with animal rehabilitation programs which often lead to an offender having a greater respect for authority (Wells, 2007).
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: This chapter introduces the societal context of crime and incarceration, highlighting the need for effective rehabilitation programs to address aggressive behaviors and reduce inmate victimization.
Literature: This section reviews existing theories and studies regarding criminal behavior, the link between animal abuse and violence, the benefits of animal programs in other settings, and the general importance of social ties in rehabilitation.
Research Design: This chapter justifies the choice of a quasi-experimental, time-series research design to observe victimization rates within the specific constraints of the prison environment.
Methods: This section details the data collection process, specifying the use of Statistics Canada agency records and the selection of federal male medium-security prisons for the study.
Procedures: This chapter outlines the operational steps of the study, describing the two-year pre-program analysis and the subsequent two-year observation period to measure the effectiveness of the intervention.
Conclusion: This final section synthesizes the discussion, emphasizing the potential for animal programs to support a transition from punitive measures to rehabilitative outcomes in correctional settings.
Keywords
Animal rehabilitation, prison reform, recidivism, inmate victimization, pro-social behavior, correctional programs, social ties, quasi-experimental design, offender psychology, self-esteem, conflict resolution, rehabilitation, criminology, institutional settings, behavioral control.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
This paper examines the potential of animal-assisted rehabilitation programs to reduce rates of inmate-on-inmate victimization and encourage pro-social behavior within prisons.
What are the central themes discussed in the literature review?
The literature covers the link between childhood behaviors and adult crime, the correlation between animal abuse and violent criminal history, and the benefits of animal-assisted therapy in fostering social responsibility.
What is the primary objective of the proposed study?
The goal is to determine if implementing animal rehabilitation programs leads to a measurable decrease in violence and victimization in medium-security prison environments.
Which research methodology is employed?
The study utilizes a quasi-experimental, time-series design, conducting a content analysis of official agency records from Statistics Canada to track victimization rates over a four-year period.
What does the main body of the paper cover?
The main body investigates the theoretical foundations of rehabilitation, discusses the benefits of animal interaction for offenders, and critiques existing research while proposing a structured method for future evaluation.
Which keywords best characterize the work?
Key terms include animal rehabilitation, recidivism, inmate victimization, prison reform, and pro-social behavior.
Why were medium-security prisons chosen for the study?
Medium-security facilities were chosen because they house more serious offenders than minimum-security prisons, yet offer more potential for program implementation and researcher autonomy compared to maximum-security facilities.
What is the role of "learned helplessness" in this context?
The text notes that victimized prisoners may develop "learned helplessness," a passive stance toward victimization; the proposed animal programs aim to counteract this by building confidence and social ties.
How does the author address the issue of psychopathic offenders?
The author identifies psychopathy as a limiting variable, noting that individuals incapable of empathy may be less responsive to the pro-social benefits of animal-assisted rehabilitation.
- Citar trabajo
- Bachelor of Arts Criminology and Psychology Richard Teotico (Autor), 2008, Criminal Rehabiliation. Animals in Prison, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/230467
