A Pragmatic Study of the Impact of a Brief Mindfulness Intervention on Prisoners and Staff in a Category B Prison and Men Subject to Community-Based Probation Supervision. (January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Davies, Jason; Ugwudike, Pamela; Young, Hayley; Hurrell, Chloe; Raynor, Peter
• Is Part Of: International journal of offender therapy and comparative criminology. Volume 65:Number 1(2021)
• Page Start: 136
• Page End: 156
• Publication Date: 2021-01
• Subjects: mindfulness -- stress -- criminal justice -- heart rate variability -- self-regulation; Criminals -- Rehabilitation -- Periodicals; Criminal psychology -- Periodicals; Violent offenders -- Periodicals; Sex offenders -- Periodicals; Criminology -- Periodicals; 364.3
• DOI: 10.1177/0306624X20944664
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-624X

Abstract

Objectives: This article presents two studies assessing the impact of mindfulness in prison (prisoners and staff) and non-custodial settings. Method: Study 1—prisoners ( n = 17) and staff ( n = 15) in a UK prison completed a mindfulness program; 16 individuals acted as a single time point comparison. Data were collected using self-report, computer based and physiological measurement. Study 2—men under community probation supervision were allocated to mindfulness (completed, n = 28) or TAU ( n = 27). Data were collected using self-report mindfulness measures. Results: Study 1—statistically significant (increases in mindfulness skills (η 2 p = .234 to η 2 p = .388), cognitive control (η 2 p = .28), and heart rate variability (SDNN; η 2 p = .41) along with significant decreases in stress (η 2 p = .398) were found. In study 2, the mindfulness group showed non-significant improvements in mindfulness skills. Conclusion: The findings suggest brief mindfulness interventions could make an important contribution to offender rehabilitation and custodial staff wellbeing.