The Power of Involving Incarcerated Individuals in Assistance Dog Training Programs

The practice of engaging incarcerated individuals in the care and training of animals is not a new trend. A year-long comparative study conducted in 1975 at the Oakwood Forensic Center highlighted the positive impact of pets on inmates' well-being. The results demonstrated that the ward with pets required only half the medication, experienced reduced violence, and recorded zero suicide attempts, in contrast to eight attempts in the pet-free ward during the same period (Strimple, 2003). Beyond these observations, involving incarcerated individuals in the training of assistance dogs yields multifaceted benefits that extend to inmate handlers, prison staff, non-participating inmates, and the broader community. Numerous correctional facilities now collaborate with programs that breed, raise, and train assistance dogs, fostering benefits that reach far beyond individual participants.

Benefits to Inmate Handlers and Prisons:

Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of involving inmates in assistance dog training programs is its transformative effect on the participants themselves. Research reveals that engagement in dog training initiatives increases self-esteem, reduces recidivism rates, and enhances interpersonal skills among incarcerated individuals. The responsibility of nurturing and training an assistance dog imbues them with purpose, discipline, and transferable life skills that are relevant even outside the correctional environment. Notably, studies indicate that the presence of animals within prisons mitigates stress levels for both staff and residents while fostering positive communication between them (Doyon-Martin & Gonzalez, 2022).

Benefits to Programs Using this Approach:

The advantages of programs that embrace prison-based assistance dog training are not limited to inmates alone. The controlled prison setting facilitates consistent and structured training, ensuring that the dogs receive top-notch education from dedicated handlers. In addition, prisons offer a reliable pool of potential trainers, guaranteeing a consistent supply of skilled handlers for raising and training these assistance dogs.

Benefits to the Community:

The far-reaching impact of training assistance dogs in prisons extends into the larger community as well. These initiatives provide participants with an avenue to regain personal autonomy and contribute to the larger community, thereby reconnecting them with a sense of belonging (Doyon-Martin & Gonzalez, 2022). Once trained, the assistance dogs are placed with disabled individuals who benefit from their support, affording incarcerated trainers an opportunity to give back to the community. Additionally, prison-based programs alleviate the shortage of volunteer puppy raisers outside the correctional context, subsequently reducing waiting times for disabled individuals awaiting trained assistance dogs.

Engaging incarcerated individuals in the training of assistance dogs is an approach that benefits a wide spectrum of individuals and institutions. Participants undergo personal growth, find self-worth, and embark on the path to rehabilitation. Programs receive well-trained assistance dogs primed to make a meaningful difference, and the community witnesses constructive rehabilitative impacts. This approach is gaining momentum within the ADI-accredited community, with 44 programs operating prison-based training initiatives in 2022. Each program adopts its unique format, experiencing these advantages in distinctive ways. In the upcoming month, we will delve into specific global programs that demonstrate the positive outcomes of incorporating incarcerated individuals into the training of assistance dogs.

Strimple, E. O. (2003). A history of prison inmate-animal interaction programs. American  Behavioral Scientist, 47(1), 70-78. Retrieved from:  http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0002764203255212 

Jacquelynn Doyon-Martin & Ayris Gonzalez (2022): ‘It Brought Life Back to Prison’: Content Analysis of Prison-Based Dog Training Programs in Four Midwestern Prisons, Contemporary Justice Review, DOI: 10.1080/10282580.2022.2028141

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Samantha has been training puppies and managing volunteers in the assistance dog world since 2014 previously working at large guide and assistance dog organizations in Ontario and British Columbia. She now works privately as a canine consultant and subject matter expert in positive reinforcement training with puppies and assistance dogs. She has a positive approach to problem solving and a love of working with people and dogs. In her down time, you can find her reading on the couch with her pets, or out on the trails of Vancouver Island, BC with her partner and their canines. 

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