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Studies Conducted
Multiple studies have been conducted to prove the idea that sports can be used as a form of rehabilitation for prison inmates.
Buckaloo, Krug, and Nelson's Study
Buckaloo, Krug, and Nelson (2009) had prisoners complete a variety of tests and quizzes to determine the inmate's state of mind, IQ levels, depression levels, and life experiences. The inmates were all tested before participating in sports and physical activity, and they were tested after participating. The results show that the inmates' scores drastically improved when they participated in sports compared to their previous results.
Digennaro's Study
Simone Digennaro (2009) has researched the idea that sports and physical activity are effective tools to prevent anti-social behavior, and to enhance rehabilitative and educational programs. Digennaro's study proves that sports can have four major effects on inmates
- Sports maintain and improve prisoner's general wellness
- Sports helps the integration of individuals released back into local communities
- Sports contrasts anti-social behaviors and and fosters the learning of social values and rules
- Sports positively effect prison communities
Meek and Lewis's Study
Rosie Meek and Gwen Lewis (2013), former students of Teeside University in Middlesbrough, United Kingdom conducted a study and wrote an article called "The impact of a sports initiative for young men in prison: Staff and participants perspectives" which presents the experiences of prisoners and prison staff members who underwent an English initiative that used sports to engage young men in identifying and meeting the needs necessary for reentering society. These inmates were going through the transition from prison custody to the community. The initiative was essential to the final rehabilitation stage of the inmates.
Young men between the ages of 18-21 years old participated in the prison-based sports. The results demonstrated how the project led to apparent benefits relating to a positive impact on prison life, preparation for release and reentry, improved attitudes, positive thinking and behavior, and the project's results found that the sports promoted a deterrence from crime (Meek & Lewis, 2013). The results help to explain how and why sports based interventions motivate imprisoned young offenders in reentry programs, assist in the rehabilitative process, and essentially reduce recidivism rates.
Young men between the ages of 18-21 years old participated in the prison-based sports. The results demonstrated how the project led to apparent benefits relating to a positive impact on prison life, preparation for release and reentry, improved attitudes, positive thinking and behavior, and the project's results found that the sports promoted a deterrence from crime (Meek & Lewis, 2013). The results help to explain how and why sports based interventions motivate imprisoned young offenders in reentry programs, assist in the rehabilitative process, and essentially reduce recidivism rates.