Article 8: Development of a Prison-Based Rehabilitation Dog Service for Female Persons in Custody in Hong Kong (ACJ18-A008)
Abstract
One of the latest initiatives of the Hong Kong Correctional Services Department (HKCSD) involves incorporating Animal-assisted Intervention (AAI) into the Department's rehabilitation work. AAI offers a range of benefits for female persons of custody (PICs), providing creative outlets for expression, emotional release and personal growth, and addressing the unique psychological and emotional needs of women in prison. Clinical Psychologists have introduced both Animal-assisted Activities (AAA) and Animal-assisted Therapy (AAT) to enhance the psychological well-being of female PICs. Following the success of trial groups, the HKCSD established the Rehabilitation Dog Services Unit in January 2024. The new unit provides specialised training for our Rehabilitation Dogs and dog handlers. AAA is widely applied to female PICs. A study on 185 female participants with an observation group and a control group was conducted. A pre- and post-intervention study revealed that there was significant reduction in depression, anxiety and stress levels among our female participants. These results strongly support the efficacy of AAI in improving the mental health of female PICs.
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