Empathy, Depression and Anxiety in a Human Animal Interaction Program

Elena E Banciu, LPC, explains that if convicted criminals are effectively reformed and rehabilitated during their incarceration, they are less likely to commit future offenses, resulting in an overall decrease in crime. This paper explores the Operation Second Chance canine program that aims at combating this problem. This study intended to evaluate a jail-based Human Animal Interaction (HAI) program on key psychological traits considered being important to reduce recidivism. After examining quasi experiments on inmates participating in the jail-based HAI programs, it was noticeable that HAI programs are a highly cost-effective way to improve inmate quality of life, and these programs appear to have positive emotional effects on inmates by increasing empathy and decreasing depression and anxiety. Elena believes that human animal interaction programs should be implemented at the majority of detention centers because it improves inmate empathy, decreases depression, and lowers anxiety. Results in these areas will elevate the quality of life of inmates, create less friction between employees and program candidates, and most importantly for society, decrease recidivism after release.