Therapy Dog Prisoner Rehabilitation Program

BahaDog Therapy ©

Therapy Dog-Prisoner Rehabilitation Program

(TDPR)

Our main priority is to ensure the peace, stability, and productivity of our nation. A multifaceted approach is needed to combat the various factors that contribute to social and economic decline. The alarming rate at which crime is rising in The Bahamas signifies a very concerning shift that needs to be addressed.

“In terms of the size of its prison population, the Bahamas ranks ninth in the world and number one in the Caribbean on a per capita basis. The country has some 435 persons behind bars per 100,000 population.” (TheBahamasWeekly.com BAHAMAS INFORMATION SERVICES UPDATES Rahming accelerated transformation of Her Majesty’s Prisons By Llonella Gilbert, BIS Apr 12, 2013)

This culture of crime and violence is like a cancer feeding upon itself as prisoners cycle from the streets to the cell. Convicts and those awaiting trial are engulfed in a grotesque atmosphere that not only punishes them for their transgressions, the experience of prison life institutionalizes the very same misguided behavior that brought them there in the first place. Prisoners are routinely disillusioned by exposure to rape, beatings, gangs, corruption, abuse, torture, drug addiction, and extortion, to name a few. To confound the matter once freedom is achieved, ex-convicts now face new obstacles while attempting to reintegrate themselves into society in a productive manner. Jobs are difficult to find due to their troubled background. Its unfortunate yet understandable as prospective employers tend not to trust persons with a criminal record. Even if employed, exposure to the same friends, and environmental factors pose a risk. Therefore without proper preparation they become susceptible to returning to a criminal lifestyle.

To overcome this character building is essential to successful rehabilitation. Prisoners need both psychological and emotional care in order to cope with the experience of prison life. They require character building resources in the form of educational programs and job training while paying their debt to society. The skills acquired through discipline and hard work from non-criminal activity will lead to new feelings of accomplishment and self worth. This building of identity and self esteem outside of the criminal element is a major tool needed for success. Stubsdale’s prisoner-rehabilitation program can assist significantly in this regard. The program is designed to provide opportunities for inmates in need of resources to assist them in gaining the skills needed to function effectively in society.