Effect of Animal-Assisted Prison Programs on Incarcerated Juveniles
Abstract
The psychological effect of canine-human bonding has been vastly studied due to the synergetic relationship both species offer to one another. The symbiotic relationship between canines and humans has been prevalent throughout history and is still shown in programs such as Animal Assisted Therapy where the dog and people interspecies dyads prosper. Using qualitative and quantitative data analyses, we expect to examine the symbiotic relationship between dogs and people and its ability to affect recidivism rates in incarcerated humans. This could be studied through canine-based prison programs in which incarcerated humans help train canines for future lives as companions or service animals. With the focus on incarcerated juveniles specifically in Florida, it is evident that both the incarcerated humans and orphaned/stray dogs within such programs have been deprived of otherwise ubiquitous opportunities to bond with their own kind. We predict that dog-human dyads will therefore show pronounced benefits of interspecies bonding that can be measured at physiological and behavioral levels. These levels can be conspicuous by their impact on the reincarceration rates of these incarcerated humans. It is evident to focus on juveniles as they have the opportunity to make different choices in life rather than get stuck in the system. The establishment of these programs can therefore enhance the welfare of both the incarcerated juveniles and these canines. It is hoped that in this study that the continuation of bolstering support for these animal-assisted prison programs in Florida’s juvenile correctional facilities ability to aid in the decrease of recidivism.
Faculty Sponsors
Dr. Eben Gering
Project Type
Event
Location
Alvin Sherman Library
Start Date
4-5-2023 12:00 PM
End Date
4-6-2023 4:00 PM
Effect of Animal-Assisted Prison Programs on Incarcerated Juveniles
Alvin Sherman Library
The psychological effect of canine-human bonding has been vastly studied due to the synergetic relationship both species offer to one another. The symbiotic relationship between canines and humans has been prevalent throughout history and is still shown in programs such as Animal Assisted Therapy where the dog and people interspecies dyads prosper. Using qualitative and quantitative data analyses, we expect to examine the symbiotic relationship between dogs and people and its ability to affect recidivism rates in incarcerated humans. This could be studied through canine-based prison programs in which incarcerated humans help train canines for future lives as companions or service animals. With the focus on incarcerated juveniles specifically in Florida, it is evident that both the incarcerated humans and orphaned/stray dogs within such programs have been deprived of otherwise ubiquitous opportunities to bond with their own kind. We predict that dog-human dyads will therefore show pronounced benefits of interspecies bonding that can be measured at physiological and behavioral levels. These levels can be conspicuous by their impact on the reincarceration rates of these incarcerated humans. It is evident to focus on juveniles as they have the opportunity to make different choices in life rather than get stuck in the system. The establishment of these programs can therefore enhance the welfare of both the incarcerated juveniles and these canines. It is hoped that in this study that the continuation of bolstering support for these animal-assisted prison programs in Florida’s juvenile correctional facilities ability to aid in the decrease of recidivism.
