The Power of Paws: A Scoping Review of Animal Prison Programs in the United States

• In Event: Exploring Moral, Spiritual, and Relational Approaches to Prison Rehabilitation

Abstract

Animal prison programs in the United States have expanded rapidly in recent decades, with dog-training programs being the one of the most common. With goals of rehabilitation, providing skills for post-incarceration, and bettering self-worth as well as mental health of incarcerated individuals, these programs are becoming popular throughout the U.S. prison systems. This study examines the prevalence of these programs, the populations they target, and the outcomes they seek. Drawing on inductive coding of information gleaned from web-based sources about these programs, the study aims to assess the context in which animal-based prison programs function. Findings from this research have implications for assessing the efficacy of such programs and their effects for incarcerated as well as recently released individuals in terms of mental health, employment opportunities, and recidivism rates.

Authors

• Calista Rose Donovan, Sam Houston State University

• Stuti Kokkalera, Sam Houston State University