Meditation in Prison

Interest in meditation programs in prisons has grown, but empirical evidence for their effectiveness is still emerging. This chapter reviews studies, mostly from the USA, evaluating meditation's impact on mental health, substance misuse, and reoffending. It covers practices like Transcendental Meditation, mindfulness, and Vipassana, examining their role as adjunct therapy for substance misuse and for enhancing well-being. The chapter critiques key concepts, considers philosophical and historical context, and discusses study limitations and future research directions.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Abstract In recent years interest in the use of meditation programs in prison has grown considerably, yet empirical research evidence for their effectiveness has been slower to accumulate. This chapter explores the application of meditation programs that take place within prison walls and evaluates their effectiveness in three key areas: (i) mental health and psychological wellbeing; (ii) substance misuse; (iii) and reoffending behavior. Evidence from prison studies, most of them conducted in the USA, is reviewed with a focus on their effectiveness. The philosophical and historical context of meditation is taken into account, and key concepts and definitions are critiqued. The chapter explores the meditation practices that are most often found in prison, such as Transcendental Meditation, mindfulness, and Vipassana meditation. It examines meditation’s role as an adjunct therapy in the treatment of substance misuse disorders and more general applications that aim to enhance well-being. The limitations of current studies together with directions for future research are also discussed.