Impact of animals on inmates studied
Physically deformed because of his crimes, this particular inmate finds it difficult to interact with people without fear of judgment.
But the unconditional love of a dog helps him form connections he can’t get from anyone else.
“Even if a person isn’t judging, he is going to think that that person’s judging,” said Colleen Dell, a professor of sociology at the University of Saskatchewan. “Instead, the dog runs up to him and is just so happy to see him.”
That bond is absolutely essential for healing, said Dell in a recent interview.
“Everybody needs to feel connected,” she said. “And ... if you’ve been in 10, 15 years, there’s not a lot of connection that you have with individuals on the outside.”
The impact of that bond between animals and inmates is part of the research being done by Dell and her colleague Darlene Chalmers, an associate professor of social work for the University of Regina (U of R) based in Saskatoon.
In an effort to highlight their work, and that of other researchers in the field, last week the duo — in collaboration with Correctional Service Canada (CSC) and the CSC Citizen Advisory Committees — launched an online magazine called Animal Memories.
The magazine shares stories of inmates and their animal companions as well as profiles animal-assisted intervention (AAI) programs within five CSC facilities.
According to a news release from the U of R, it’s the first magazine to explore animal-human bond research evidence and practice in Canada’s correctional system. Dell said it’s meant to highlight credible, evidence-based information for those who are going to look at animals in the welfare of those who are incarcerated.
The magazine highlights five CSC facilities: Matsqui Institution in B.C., Nova Institution for Women in Nova Scotia, Stony Mountain Institution in Manitoba, Regional Psychiatric Centre in Saskatoon and Drumheller Institution in Alberta.
“Inmates who participate in CSC AAI programs report psychological benefits, including reduced depression and increased confidence, self-esteem, trust, self-control, and pride,” said a written statement from CSC. “They have also indicated that their experiences in these programs allow them to apply coping skills, and experience happiness and accomplishment while caring for the animals.”
All but one of the five institutions have AAI programs, two of which Dell and Chalmers had been previously involved in.
In the absence of AAI, the Matsqui Institution in B.C. has a program in which participants write about the animals in their lives that were really important to them.
“Thinking about that relationship as an important form of support and comfort,” said Chalmers in an interview. “Particularly when people are extremely isolated from family, from friends, from community, from others even in the institutions.”
For the participants at the other four institutions, the physical connection to the therapy dogs that get brought into the facilities can be life changing.
The outcomes of such interventions can be hard to measure, said Chalmers, but from the countless stories they’ve heard from participants, they know the outcomes for some have been positive.
“One individual who had recently been released from an institution was in a program with a dog and now this individual has been, in his own words, sober or clean for coming up to four years,” recalled Chalmers. “He has also talked about and more recently become involved in a volunteer capacity at a shelter for dogs ... that’s a big movement and big moment in his life.”
Other participants have told them that the programs help them think more positively about the future, and instead of being “wrapped up in their prisoner identity” they can imagine the people they want to be.
“(The dogs) love to be with people and they’re excited to be with people and that’s just a feeling that a lot (of inmates) are not getting,” said Chalmers. “So, ‘If the dog can like me, maybe I am likable, maybe there is some good in me after I’ve been in here for umpteen number of years.’”
Dell and Chalmers hopes the magazine starts a conversation about AAI and its potential as an important therapeutic alliance between inmates and their programming support team.
“It’s not to take the place of existing programs, but it can be an additional way to provide support,” said Chalmers.
The magazine can be found online through Dell’s website www.colleendell.ca.