Believe it or not, the United States has the highest incarceration rate of any country in the world. According to research compiled by King’s College, just about one out of every 100 Americans is currently imprisoned, compared to only one out of every 1000 in both Canada and Mexico. Of that population, approximately 700,000 are released each year. This means that nearly three quarters of a million convicted criminals are re-entering society, whether or not they have been rehabilitated.
So how are U.S. correctional facilities contributing to the rehabilitation of inmates? How can we be sure that serving time helps ex-offenders contribute to society and not propagate revolving door syndrome (a term referring to convicted criminal reoffending)?
The Bureau of Justice Statistics reports that approximately 70% of released prisoners in the United States will be rearrested within three years, and 83% will return to prison within nine. This staggering statistic illustrates just how ineffective commonplace criminal rehabilitation practices have been.
Fortunately those statistics are poised to change, as numerous studies have pointed to the positive impacts of mindfulness programs within the penitentiary. In fact, according to research compiled in The International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, the rate of recidivism—when ex-convicts return to prison—was significantly reduced (43.5% 15 years post-release) after meditation programs were utilized in jail.
Prison Mindfulness Practices That Work
Guided mindfulness programs conducted within prisons are becoming more prevalent as research points to prevailing positive outcomes. In fact, there are several inter-prison programs specifically focused on mindfulness and meditation practice, including:
The Prison Mindfulness Institute’s “Path Of Freedom” program showed notably positive results. This program consisted of guided mindfulness courses and a two-year certification for inmates finishing the program. Inmates entering the program had abnormally high levels of stress and anxiety compared to the average population.
Interestingly, when these inmates exited the program, their stress and anxiety levels had reduced to those consistent with the average U.S. worker. Because of their newly adopted mindfulness strategies, they were able to handle their stress in ways they’d never known before. Moreover, Path Of Freedom research indicated that program participants were less likely to use drugs—a common crutch for stress relief—than inmates in the subsequent control group.
Inmates evaluated in other research also showed similar responses to mindfulness training. An article published in The Prison Journal followed 1,350 inmates through mindfulness training, and results showed that all participants had significant improvements in each measured characteristic, including hostility, self-esteem, and mood disturbance. Additionally, research published within the U.S. National Library of Medicine found that inmates participating in a 20-24 week meditation program showed a reduction in trouble sleeping, improved anger management capabilities, and lower levels of stress and anxiety.
Research Roadblocks
Mindfulness can improve a person’s abilities to regulate emotions, and reduce judgment in others and the self. However, one study claims that lowering self-judgment in inmates can pose a problem because inmates might stop taking responsibility for their actions and crimes. This is why it is essential for trained and certified professionals to teach mindfulness practices; inmates that do not take responsibility for their actions are less likely to rehabilitate.
Furthermore, the growth rate of untrained and uncertified mindfulness teachers has caused some uneasiness about the trendiness of the practice. Termed “McMindfulness” by a Sage Business Researcher report, the over-commercialization of the practice and reduced emphasis on traditional methods has worried experts in the field. Self-direction or untrained direction could have effects similar to that of attempting to treat any other ailment without a professional. Researchers and traditional professionals have begun creating standardized credentials to combat the explosiveness of the industry and the ease of faking knowledge on the subject.
Transcending The Convict Consciousness
Convincing incarcerated men and women to participate in and complete mindfulness training can appear to be a challenging feat. However, several mindfulness and meditation methods (listed below) are currently used in correctional institutions across the globe:
Transcendental Meditation (TM): This popular tactic brings a keen alertness to the mental state. Participants recite a mantra, focus on their breath, and return to the mantra when the mind wanders.
Vipassana: Translating to the word “insight,” this meditative practice utilizes a 10-day silent retreat where practitioners are taught to focus on their breathing. Retreat members are held to five moral standards during the trip, including abstaining from violence, lying, stealing, sexual misconduct, and intoxicants.
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR): With a strong focus on the reduction of anxiety and stress levels, participants are asked to bring attention to the thoughts. This practice is highly regarded by meditators to enhance relaxation, acceptance, self-management, and cognitive improvements.
Alternative Mindfulness Practice
As with most correctional facilities and detention centers, an inmate who wishes to practice mindfulness may not precisely garner the support he or she desires from those around. Closed eyes, deep breaths, total stillness—these actions might evoke unwanted attention in these types of settings. Tony Bernhard, a contributing writer for Mindful.org and avid correctional facility meditation instructor, offers one alternative method for the not-so-able meditator, which he calls the “Three-Breath Trip.” Allow us to break it down for you:
Take a moment. This technique can be practiced any time, anywhere. Use the moment you remember this practice to focus on taking three intentional breaths.
Follow your air. Shift your focus from your surroundings to the air flowing in and out of your lungs. Pay attention to your breath as it travels to each part of your body—into your lungs down into your belly, back through your chest and throat, out your nostrils to the tip of your nose.
Breathe naturally. Allow your body to follow a regular, relaxed breathing pattern. With your eyes open or closed, observe your breath.
Don’t lose yourself. Focus on your breath, but don’t lose sight of the happenings around you. The goal is to pay attention to yourself in the present moment, wherever that may be.
Acknowledge the changes. After your three-breath cycle, consider the physical and psychological differences that may have occurred.
This type of subtle mindfulness practice will go unnoticed in such a challenging environment, but the benefits prove the same as other consciousness exercises. In a setting where distrust in others is common, the “Three-Breath Trip” makes mindfulness more accessible to the prison population.
Mindfulness In Your Organization
There are many benefits to implementing a mindfulness program in your institution. Our team of certified mindfulness experts has the resources to change lives through individualized trainings, seminars, and coaching sessions. If you’re looking to integrate mindful rehabilitation and positive thinking techniques into your facility's program, contact Mindfulness Strategies to get started.