Screening and selecting inmates for program participation

Abstract

The establishment of a successful prison dog program requires considerable effort and patience on the part of all of the partners: corrections staff, inmates, community volunteers, and the group representing the dogs. One of the most important considerations in the establishment of dog training programs is determining which inmates from among those who volunteer will be allowed to participate. Prison dog programs are exceptionally diverse, so the criteria used in the selection of inmates to participate in dog care and training programs vary from facility to facility. The process of screening and selecting inmate participants is influenced by many different variables, such as the: purpose of the program, security level of the facility, preferences of the different partners, characteristics of the dogs, extent of training necessary, and needs of the community. The focus of this chapter is to is to discuss the criteria that are established by various programs to decide which inmates to approve for participation. Typical of the entrance criteria are things that can be quantified, including: the inmates’ criminal history, institutional conduct, work history while incarcerated, education levels, and sentence characteristics. Equally, if not more, important are more subjective indicators of inmate suitability for prison dog programs, such as compassion for dogs, mental stability (including such traits as patience, persistence, ability to manage emotions), commitment to program goals, and interpersonal skills. The chapter incorporates examples of selection process documents from several different programs as well. Poorly implemented programs pose a danger to the security, health, and safety of both the people and the dogs in the process; therefore, careful selection, screening and dismissal policies are an essential safeguard for all stakeholders in the initiative. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the potential benefits for inmates who participate in high-quality prison dog programs.