Get 20M+ Full-Text Papers For Less Than $1.50/day. Start a 14-Day Trial for You or Your Team.

Learn More →

“I feel happier in myself with the dogs”: the perceived impact of a prison animal programme for well-being

“I feel happier in myself with the dogs”: the perceived impact of a prison animal programme for... Amid concerns regarding prisoner well-being, growing evidence indicates that prison animal programmes (PAPs), most commonly involving dogs, have significant therapeutic potential. Published research on this topic from the UK remains sparse, and more is needed to determine the type of programmes which work best and for whom. This study aims to explore the perceived benefits of a short-term PAP on the well-being of a sample of individuals assessed as at risk of self-harm.Design/methodology/approachParticipants with complex mental health needs in a category B prison took part in a four-week programme where two dogs were brought in for interactions once a week. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight participants at the end of the programme.FindingsThree themes were identified through thematic analysis: “A Safe Space for Emotional Experience”, “An Opportunity to Connect” and “Being Human”. The narratives offered a range of perceived benefits which illustrated the potential of dog based PAPs for enhancing well-being and consistency with desistance goals.Practical implicationsThe findings illustrate that even short-term interactions with dogs can be impactful and provide evidence for other practitioners about how this approach may be used with individuals with complex mental health needs.Originality/valueThe study highlights the therapeutic potential of the presence of animals in prisons. The research contributes to the limited literature about PAPS in the UK. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Journal of Forensic Practice Emerald Publishing

“I feel happier in myself with the dogs”: the perceived impact of a prison animal programme for well-being

Loading next page...
 
/lp/emerald-publishing/i-feel-happier-in-myself-with-the-dogs-the-perceived-impact-of-a-iNM0J82Ejr

References (27)

Publisher
Emerald Publishing
Copyright
© Emerald Publishing Limited
ISSN
2050-8794
eISSN
2050-8794
DOI
10.1108/jfp-11-2021-0057
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Amid concerns regarding prisoner well-being, growing evidence indicates that prison animal programmes (PAPs), most commonly involving dogs, have significant therapeutic potential. Published research on this topic from the UK remains sparse, and more is needed to determine the type of programmes which work best and for whom. This study aims to explore the perceived benefits of a short-term PAP on the well-being of a sample of individuals assessed as at risk of self-harm.Design/methodology/approachParticipants with complex mental health needs in a category B prison took part in a four-week programme where two dogs were brought in for interactions once a week. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight participants at the end of the programme.FindingsThree themes were identified through thematic analysis: “A Safe Space for Emotional Experience”, “An Opportunity to Connect” and “Being Human”. The narratives offered a range of perceived benefits which illustrated the potential of dog based PAPs for enhancing well-being and consistency with desistance goals.Practical implicationsThe findings illustrate that even short-term interactions with dogs can be impactful and provide evidence for other practitioners about how this approach may be used with individuals with complex mental health needs.Originality/valueThe study highlights the therapeutic potential of the presence of animals in prisons. The research contributes to the limited literature about PAPS in the UK.

Journal

Journal of Forensic PracticeEmerald Publishing

Published: Apr 19, 2022

Keywords: Well-being; Dogs; Human–animal interaction; Animal interventions; Prison animal programme; Therapy dogs

There are no references for this article.