Becoming the Person Your Dog Thinks You Are: An Assessment of Florida Prison-Based Dog Training Programs on Postrelease Recidivism

ABSTRACT Dog Training Programs have recently become a popular rehabilitative program within correctional facilities, however the empirical literature on the effectiveness of these widespread programs is sparse. Using propensity score matching and logistic regression, a cohort of inmates released from Florida prisons between the years of 2004-2011 is examined to determine the effectiveness of dog training programs on post-release recidivism. Findings indicate that participation in a prison-based dog training program in Florida statistically significantly affects recidivism by decreasing the likelihood of re-arrest for any reason (p=0.03) and re-arrest for a new crime (p=.10) within one year. This finding is discussed in light of desistance theory and limiting the pains of imprisonment, followed by policy implications and potential avenues for future research.