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Abstract

This paper examines animal-assisted interventions as a new form of rehabilitation in the prison setting. It focuses specifically on the multiple benefits that this form of therapy/intervention can bring to inmates, such as the reduction in recidivism and the acquirement of new skills. Additionally, this paper considers the reasons for which rehabilitation in general is necessary in order to truly transform an individual. The first section provides a brief history of AAI in the prison environment and its effects on the prisoners. The paper then transitions to an account of analyzing the sociological, physiological, and psychological effects of AAI on prisoners and offers a comparison of the different successful programs as a means to demonstrate their effectiveness and influence on further research. The final section describes the benefits of AAI for the animals, adopters, and community, thereby demonstrating that using Animal-Assisted Therapy in prisons can be beneficial on multiple levels.

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