Prison contemplative programs

Prison contemplative programs are classes or practices (which includes

In North America, they have been sponsored by Eastern religious traditions, Christian groups,[6]^[7] new spiritual movements such as the Scientology-related Criminon prison program, as well as interfaith groups.

History

Early Pennsylvania prisons, based on

[Repentance of crime is produced by:] (1) a tiresome state of mind from idle seclusion; (2) self-condemnation arising from deep, long-continued and poignant reflections upon a guilty life. All our endeavors, therefore, ought to be directed to the production of that state of mind, which will cause a convict to concentrate his thoughts upon his forlorn condition, to abstract himself from the world, and to think of nothing except that suffering and the privations he endures, the result of his crimes. Such a state of mind is totally incompatible with the least mechanical operation, but is only to be brought about, if ever, by complete mental and bodily insulation.[12]

This approach was critiqued in-between the late 19th and early 20th century, specifically with research showing the isolation it incorporated was causing more harm than benefit.^[12][13] Modern contemplative programs are voluntary and generally in groups instead of in isolation.

Modern programs

In the 1970s organizations such as the

In Arizona State Prison in 1989 a Prison Inner Peace Program was started in the Echo Unit by Michael Todd and Richard Wirta,[19] overseen by Thomas L. Magnuson, Psych Associate II,^[20] of the Echo Behavioral Health Unit. There was reportedly profoundly lowered recidivism amongst those who completed the program.^[21]

Programs have extended outside of prisons to include prisoner re-integration into society and efforts to teach to at risk youth.

As of 2014, prison animal programs are present in all 50 states in the United States. Other countries know to have utilized them are Canada, Scotland, England, South Africa and Australia. A wide variety of animals have been used in these programs - domesticated animals like dogs and cats, livestock like cows, and even wildlife like raccoons and rabbits. One program in Ohio even had a domesticated deer and llama.[22]

Benefits

Generally, modern meditation programs are described as helping inmates deal with the stress of confinement.^[1] Studies of Transcendental Meditation programs specifically found reduced aggression, reduced rule infractions, and reduced recidivism up to six years after release.^[23][24] Anecdotally, in a 1984 Guatemalan prison program that was studied, guards reported less violence and drug use when inmates and guards both took meditation programs.^[25]

In a study published in 2004 authors Komanduri Srinivasa Murty, Angela M. Owens, and Ashwin Vyas conclude the benefits of meditation programs in prisons include:

• reduced drug use, recidivism, violence, anger, and self-destructive and risk-taking behavior
• enhanced employability and balanced life-style
• increased self-awareness, self-confidence, and hopefulness.

They further contend that those programs reduced alcohol and substance abuse.^[26]

Controversies

Prison contemplative programs attract controversy when they are seen as religious missionary work. Prisons have sometimes asked religious groups to explicitly offer non-religious programs.^[27]

Not all prisons allow contemplative programs. Some inmates or organizations have used religious freedom provisions as a way to secure programs in prisons.

Two documentaries depicting prison meditation programs have received significant review. Doing Time, Doing Vipassana released in 1997 documented a large scale meditation program at Tihar Prisons in India with over a thousand inmates.^{[31][32][33][34]} The results of the program, organized by the Burmese Buddhist group led by S. N. Goenka, were considered very positive.^[35] That program and film brought greater attention to prison contemplative programs.^[16]