Could mindful meditation make treatment programs work better for offenders?

Abstract

Even after having received treatments known to be effective, some released offenders reoffend. One possibility is that they did not have sufficient self-control and self-awareness to enable them to respond well to the treatment. The present review of the published literature on mindfulness meditation aims to identify approaches that have been shown to be effective ways for improving self-control and self-awareness. The articles reviewed were considered in the context of a model containing 3 dimensions that may promote self-control and self awareness: attention control, acceptance, and breathing. The review focused on mind wandering, activation of a central executive network in the brain, and optimization of the brains default mode network. On the basis of the review, it was concluded that mindfulness meditation may be a way to improve offenders self-control and self-awareness, and may also enhance effects of more conventional treatments.