ABSTRACT

Although prison-based animal programs (PAPs) are not routinely available in rehabilitation plans at correctional facilities, they may represent a viable treatment option given the growing evidence showing that interacting with animals develops vocational skills, decreases behavioral infractions, and fosters social skills and psychological wellbeing for prisoners. However, little is known about the general public’s attitudes towards PAPs, especially in relation to other treatment options. Understanding attitudes towards PAPs is relevant because these programs often depend on donations, coordination with non-profit agencies, and adoption fees from animal shelters to operate. This study examines whether individuals consider PAPs an acceptable treatment option for prisoners, and whether those decisions are influenced by prisoner characteristics. Using survey methodology with convenience sampling, 250 participants read vignettes that manipulated the characteristics of the prisoner by gender (male or female), ethnicity (Caucasian, African American, Indigenous/Native American), and crime (misdemeanor, murder, or sexual assault), and then evaluated the treatment acceptability of four treatment options (dog visitation, dog training and vocational programs, psychological counseling, or no treatment). While participants rated counseling most acceptable and no treatment least acceptable, opinions about PAPs varied. We found a gender × crime interaction, whereby participants rated PAPs more acceptable for prisoners who committed minor crimes, especially if they were female. We also found an ethnicity × crime interaction, whereby participants rated PAPs more acceptable for prisoners who committed minor crimes, especially if Indigenous or Caucasian. Our results highlight the presence of implicit bias in participant’s ratings of treatment acceptability. We discuss implications for rehabilitation programs.

摘要

尽管监狱中的动物计划 (PAP) 在惩教设施的康复计划中并不常规可用，但鉴于越来越多的证据表明与动物互动可以培养职业技能、减少行为违规并培养社交技能和心理技能，因此它们可能是一种可行的治疗选择囚犯的福祉。然而，公众对 PAP 的态度知之甚少，尤其是在其他治疗方案方面。了解对 PAP 的态度很重要，因为这些项目通常依赖于捐赠、与非营利机构的协调以及动物收容所的收养费才能运作。本研究检查个人是否认为 PAP 是囚犯可接受的治疗选择，以及这些决定是否受到囚犯特征的影响。使用方便抽样的调查方法，250 名参与者阅读了根据性别（男性或女性）、种族（白种人、非裔美国人、土著/美洲原住民）和犯罪（轻罪、谋杀或性侵犯）操纵囚犯特征的小插曲，然后评估四种治疗方案（犬类探视、犬类训练和职业计划、心理咨询或不治疗）的治疗可接受性。虽然参与者认为咨询最可接受，没有治疗最不可接受，但对 PAP 的看法各不相同。我们发现了性别×犯罪相互作用，参与者认为 PAP 对于犯下轻微罪行的囚犯更容易接受，特别是如果她们是女性。我们还发现了种族 × 犯罪的相互作用，参与者认为，犯下轻微罪行的囚犯更容易接受 PAP，尤其是土著或白种人。我们的结果强调了参与者对治疗可接受性的评级存在隐性偏见。我们讨论对康复计划的影响。