Crossing the Finish Line: An Exploratory Analysis of Inmate Participation in an Equine Rehabilitation Program

• In Event: Rehabilitation and Reentry in Prison

Abstract

Second Chance Farms is the only equine rehabilitation program offered by the Florida Department of Corrections. This program allows 15-22 female inmates from Lowell Correctional Institution to participate in a year-long program rehabilitating retired Thoroughbred race horses for adoption either to the general public or law enforcement agencies. Upon completion of 22 written tests covering all aspects of horse care, the inmates graduate with vocational certificates in equine husbandry. Equine rehabilitation programs are a rare form of prison vocational programs and thus the literature on these programs is sparse. This exploratory study examines the characteristics of the female inmates who participated in the equine rehabilitation program as well as a preliminary analysis of their post-release behavior. Utilizing a recidivism cohort of inmates released from Florida prisons between the years of 2004-2011, the participants in the equine program (n=180) are examined separately and compared to an equivalent a sample of inmates.

Authors

• Leslie Brooke Hill, Florida State University

• William Bales, Florida State University