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

Jason Davies; Pamela Ugwudike; Hayley Young; Chloe Hurrell; Peter Raynor

doi:10.1177/0306624X20944664

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

Int J Offender Ther Comp Criminol. 2021 Jan;65(1):136-156. doi: 10.1177/0306624X20944664. Epub 2020 Jul 18.

Authors

Jason Davies¹, Pamela Ugwudike², Hayley Young¹, Chloe Hurrell¹, Peter Raynor¹

Affiliations

¹ Swansea University, Swansea, UK.
² University of Southampton, UK.

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 (η²_p = .234 to η²_p = .388), cognitive control (η²_p = .28), and heart rate variability (SDNN; η²_p = .41) along with significant decreases in stress (η²_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.

Keywords: criminal justice; heart rate variability; mindfulness; self-regulation; stress.

MeSH terms

Humans
Jails
Male
Mindfulness*
Prisoners*
Prisons