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Altruistic Prison Programmes in America: A Platform for Transformation

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New Perspectives on Desistance

Abstract

Correctional programmes with elements of altruism or ‘giving back’ have grown increasingly popular over the last 20 years across the United States and other Western countries. This type of programming includes dog training, food bank, and Habitat for Humanity programmes, all of which provide a service to the community. The limited, but growing, literature on these programmes suggests that they promote desistance and have a restorative effect, which theorists have suggested can go hand-in-hand. Supporting the potential mechanisms of change suggested by this literature, correctional and desistance theorists have noted avenues for transformation embedded in altruistic acts. This chapter will expand on the current literature by examining the findings from an evaluation of dog-training programmes. Theoretical mechanisms underlying how altruism programmes can promote desistance are examined. Finally, this chapter will examine the potential future of altruism programmes in American corrections and worldwide.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    For an example and more information, see http://www.doc.state.mn.us/pages/index.php/supervision-community/offender-programs/sentencing-service/.

  2. 2.

    For an example and more information, see http://www.doc.state.nc.us/news/cnews/2011/April-June_2011_newsletter.pdf.

  3. 3.

    For an example and more information, see http://calfire.ca.gov/fire_protection/fire_protection_coop_efforts_consrvcamp.

  4. 4.

    For an example and more information, see http://www.insidecdcr.ca.gov/2015/08/rehabilitation-through-restoration-inmates-refurbish-bikes-for-children-in-need/.

  5. 5.

    For an example and more information, see http://www.habitatforhumanityofohio.org/programs/prison-partnership/.

  6. 6.

    As with many charities that partner with prisons for these altruism programmes, Habitat for Humanity is a religious charity. It is beyond the scope of this chapter to disentangle the influence of religion on desistance from the influence altruistic activity, but it is important to acknowledge that religion and the impact of working with a religious charity could also influence behavioural outcomes like desistance.

  7. 7.

    For an example and more information, see http://www.foodbankrgv.com/howwework-2/texas-2nd-chance.

  8. 8.

    See Cooke and Farrington (2016); Cooke (2014); Furst (2011) for information on these evaluations.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Texas A&M University Kingsville, Kingsville, TX, USA

    Barbara J. Cooke

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  1. Barbara J. Cooke
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Correspondence to Barbara J. Cooke .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Law School, Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom

    Emily Luise Hart

  2. Institute for Criminal Law & Criminology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands

    Esther F.J.C. van Ginneken

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Cooke, B.J. (2017). Altruistic Prison Programmes in America: A Platform for Transformation. In: Hart, E., van Ginneken, E. (eds) New Perspectives on Desistance. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-349-95185-7_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-349-95185-7_7

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-349-95184-0

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