Corrections_Today_Winter_2024-2025_Vol.86_No.4

Participants were charged with taking care of a group more vulnerable than themselves and commonalities in the lives of the dogs and their own lives were acknowledged; handlers knew dogs may have been previously homeless, traumatized, abused, and neglected, much like them. The com monalities between the handlers and the puppies allowed them to bond and their vulnerability when caring for the puppies allows both to heal. Fourth, while handlers were gener ally sad when the puppies left, they were also happy for the puppies to leave the jail with the prospect of a new home and family. This process of loss, while difficult for some, helps participants to cope with loss in a prosocial way. For many, alcohol and drugs may have been used previously

Photo courtesy The Westchester County Department of Correction

in their higher levels of happiness. The love and affection they received from the puppies, who were always happy to see them, and the feeling that their time was going by more quickly, may have aided in the process of alter ing their mood. The program itself was rewarding and provided the necessary motivation to participate, even though handlers were not receiving payment. Secondly, self-Efficacy or the ability to complete a task/achieve a goal, as well as self-esteem or how they viewed themselves, improved. Participants felt that they performed well, and the role of caretaker/handler gave them a sense of purpose, in addition to a new level of responsibility. These new roles made them feel good about themselves because they were entrusted by the facility to care for these vulnerable rescues. When the dogs were adopted, it was a testament to how well they socialized, cared for, and trained the puppies in their care. Participants noted that they learned the proper way to care for dogs, which could help to improve animal care in the community when they are released and care for their own dogs. Third, handlers felt they were competent caretakers and some even learned that they were more caring than they thought previously. This demonstrates a higher level of empathy, which was reflected in the sta tistically significant increase in scores on the MDEES.

to cope with uncomfortable situations. The fact that most families were willing to take a family photo with the rescue or make a video thanking the handlers for their time, appeared to be an important step for closure. The handlers could see that their hard work was reward ed, and they were able to give back to the community they previously harmed. Fifth, working within the programs improved relation ships between the handlers who felt that they bonded more and became closer with the other handlers, another factor which could have helped to alter their mood. Last, all of these changes seemed to improve institutional conduct, which is important for facility safety. Disciplin ary infractions decreased after one began in the program, exhibiting a desire to engage in more prosocial behav iors. Residents were aware that misconduct could be the cause for program removal. Grievances also decreased. Since some participants appeared to develop better cop ing skills and better relationships with staff, complaints may have been handled in an alternative manner. Conclusion This preliminary study demonstrates the importance of programming for jail-based populations, especially

Winter 2024-2025 | Corrections Today

37