Introduction: Building a rationale for prison dog programs

Abstract

Professionals who work with incarcerated populations continually search for interventions sufficiently powerful to change behavior and rehabilitate inmates so that they can make a successful reentry into society. Human-animal interaction (HAI) is a burgeoning field of research that spans different disciplines: justice, psychology, education, social work, animal welfare, and veterinary medicine, to name a few. Bolstered by research that documents the potential benefits of HAI, many correctional facilities have implemented programs that involve inmates in the care and training of animals. The most common type of animal that is the focus of these initiatives is the dog. Dogs are readily available in most communities, do not require the physical space of larger animals, and are noted for forming bonds with human beings. In addition, trained dogs are widely sought, both as family dogs and as service animals. This edited volume brings together a diverse group of professionals from different fields to create a resource a review of research, and an agenda for the future of dog care and training in correctional facilities. While it is an evidence-based treatment of the topic it also draws upon the vast practical experience of individuals who have successfully begun, maintained, improved, and evaluated various types of dog programs with inmates. Each chapter is an intentional blend of empirical research and the perspectives of various stakeholders: inmates, staff, volunteers, community members, the families who get the dogs and the welfare of the dogs themselves. As such, it is the first book of its type. The contributors share their unique perspectives, guide practice, and engage readers who have an interest in dog care and training initiatives housed in correctional facilities.