Prison dog training programs (DTPs) have been praised for their benefits to both incarcerated individuals and shelter dogs. However, little research has examined these programs through established criminological theories. Furst and Houser (2021) applied Hirschi’s Social Bond Theory to understand why such programs are effective.
Hirschi’s theory suggests that people with weak ties to conventional society are more likely to engage in crime. The authors argue that training and caring for dogs provides incarcerated participants with opportunities to strengthen four critical elements of social bonding: attachment, commitment, involvement, and belief.
Using secondary analysis of qualitative data, the study found evidence that DTPs foster secure attachments, encourage responsibility, and build prosocial networks among participants. These programs help individuals form meaningful connections, develop empathy, and reinforce conventional values, all of which contribute to criminal desistance.
This research is the first to formally apply a criminological theory to explain the success of DTPs, highlighting how human–animal interactions can play a transformative role in rehabilitation and reintegration.
Source: Furst, G., & Houser, K. A. (2021). Hirschi’s Social Bond Theory: how human-animal interactions explain the effectiveness of carceral dog training programs. Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, 60, 291–310. Published July 4, 2021.
