From Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to Mindfulness-Based Interventions

The U.S. Department of Justice indicates that 83% of individuals released from state prisons in 2005 were arrested at least once during a 9-year follow-up period. With only 17% of released individuals not rearrested, it could be argued that correctional facilities fail to provide the necessary resources that individuals need for proper rehabilitation and reintegration. Thus, there is a need for alternative jail and prison programming. This article reviews the leading program, cognitive behavioral therapy, and advocates for the integration and use of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) in carceral settings. Specifically, this article reviews the literature on MBIs and their significance in corrections.