Animal assisted therapy as a rehabilitation tool in correctional facilities

It is essential to not solely focus on the punishment of incarcerated individuals, but to also focus on the rehabilitation of inmates in order to successfully integrate them back into the community. Recently, correctional institutions have begun integrating canine and animal training programs as a non-traditional method of rehabilitation and therapy. Preliminary evidence demonstrates that inmates benefit from these programs, learning life-enhancing skills and lowering the rate of recidivism. This thesis will examine the effect of animal assisted therapy (AAT) on inmate rehabilitation in correctional facilities. Evidence from a number of studies indicate that inmates gain life enhancing skills and are able to improve their coping abilities to cater to their emotional and social needs. In addition, exploring the effects and benefits to not only inmates but also to society and the community, will significantly impact how AAT programs can be used as intervention techniques within the correctional system. Focusing exclusively on punishment will not work, incarcerated individuals need a program that instills a life changing attitude and this program can be AAT.