“SHE KNOWS WHO I AM”: ADDRESSING PRISONERS’ INTERNALIZED STIGMA WITH AN PRISON ANIMAL PROGRAM IN A CANADIAN MEDIUM SECURITY PRISON

Prison animal programs have been increasingly implemented in prisons across North America to improve recidivism rates among prisoners and their institution environment. Prisoners can experience internalized stigma because of the social stigma attached to incarceration, especially when they are problematic substance users. In turn, internalized stigma can hinder prisoners’ rehabilitation, including desistance from crime and community reintegration. A qualitative secondary analysis was done to examine the impacts of a canine- assisted learning program implemented in 2016 to offer comfort, love, and support among prisoners who had recently unintentionally overdosed at a medium-security prison in Drumheller, Alberta. Interviews were conducted with five prisoners and five institution staff in 2016 as part of a program evaluation. This research sought to understand (1) if and how the program participants experience internalized stigma and (2) how the program dogs can aid in the de-stigmatization process and in turn, contribute to a more positive sense of identity among participants. A total of five themes were developed from this study based on a thematic content analysis of interviews with both the program participants and program staff. Three themes identify the participants’ experiences of internalized stigma; i) De-individualization resulting in a perceived lack of care by others, ii) Stereotypes reinforcing their negative social labels as criminals and problematic substance users, iii) Mistrust by others due to perceived blemishes of their individual character. Two themes suggest how the dogs aid in alleviating the participants’ internalized stigma and in turn contributed to their development in positive self-identity;\ni) Participants perceived the dogs as caring for them through their emotional and physical presence and unconditional love, ii) The dogs and handlers exuded a perceived sense of trust towards participants. Addressing the harmful impacts of internalized stigma in a prison setting with a prison animal program creates an understanding of the importance of building non- stigmatizing social relationships for alleviating prisoners’ internalized stigma within a prison institution. This research will contribute to literature exploring the impacts of prison animal programs specifically with regards to internalized stigma and problematic substance use. It will also contribute to prison program and policy development.

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