Creative IDEA: Introducing a Statewide Art Therapy in Prisons Program

Area of Science:

• Correctional education
• Art therapy
• Rehabilitation psychology

Background:

• Under-education is linked to higher incarceration rates.
• Existing prison education programs do not address critical behavioral and emotional deficits.
• Art therapy shows promise in mitigating impediments to rehabilitation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish and evaluate an Art Therapy in Prisons Program.
• To address deficits in self-regulation, emotional intelligence, and social skills among youthful offenders.
• To adapt program delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Main Methods:

• Partnership between a state Department of Corrections and a university graduate art therapy program.
• Services provided by two art therapists to youthful male and female offenders across four institutions.
• Program adjustments implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Main Results:

• Participants in the Art Therapy in Prisons Program demonstrated measurable improvement.
• The program successfully addressed key impediments to offender progress.
• Adaptations were successfully made to continue services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Conclusions:

• Art therapy is an effective intervention for improving psychological and social functioning in correctional settings.
• The program highlights the value of inter-agency collaboration in offender rehabilitation.
• The study underscores the adaptability of therapeutic interventions in challenging environments.