Perceptions of the updated Anger Management curriculum in federal prisons: insights from staff and participants

The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Anger Management program is a cognitive-behavioral intervention designed to help individuals recognize and regulate anger. While prior evaluations have examined archival outcomes, little is known about how staff and participants perceived the updated curriculum implemented in 2019. This qualitative study analyzes interview and focus group data from nine staff members and forty-five incarcerated individuals across nine BOP institutions. Based on handwritten field notes and an inductive analytic approach, findings indicate that participants viewed the curriculum as useful for identifying emotional triggers and applying tools such as Rational Self-Analysis, the Anger Iceberg, and the ABC model. The group-based format also was described as strengthening rapport and facilitating shared learning. Reported challenges included program interruptions, long waitlists, limited staffing and space, and difficulty accessing programming early in the sentence. These findings highlight how the curriculum may promote behavioral change while also identifying operational barriers that may limit its impact. Additional prospective, mixed-method research is recommended to evaluate the updated curriculum more comprehensively.