A Quasi-Experimental Study on the Effectiveness of Dutch Cell Dogs in Incarcerated Youth

Hanne M. Duindam; Hanneke E. Creemers; Machteld Hoeve; Jessica J. Asscher

doi:10.1177/0306624X20983748

A Quasi-Experimental Study on the Effectiveness of Dutch Cell Dogs in Incarcerated Youth

Hanne M. Duindam, Hanneke E. Creemers, Machteld Hoeve, Jessica J. Asscher

Department of Oral Biochemistry, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam, University of Amsterdam and VU University Amsterdam, Gustav Mahlerlaan 3004, 1081 LA Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Erasmus Medical Center, Wytemaweg 80, 3015 CE Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Institute for Risk Assessment Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands; Department of Epidemiology, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

This study examined the effectiveness of Dutch Cell Dogs (DCD), a prison-based dog training program that aims to improve socioemotional functioning of incarcerated youth by giving them the opportunity to train a shelter dog. Primary (aggression and institutional infractions) and secondary (wellbeing and therapeutic functioning) outcomes were assessed for the intervention (n = 61) and comparison group (n = 77) before the start of DCD, after 4 weeks, and after 8 weeks at posttest. Overall, DCD participation was not effective. Compared to the comparison group, institutional infractions decreased in DCD participants with an immigrant background and increased in DCD participants with a native Dutch background. In addition, DCD participation reduced the quality of the therapeutic alliance for younger participants and those in secure residential facilities. The current study demonstrated heterogeneity in DTP responsiveness. Future research with robust designs and sufficiently large samples is needed to further identify who benefits from DTPs.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	644-666
Number of pages	23
Journal	International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology
Volume	65
Issue number	5
Early online date	9 Jan 2021
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/0306624X20983748
Publication status	Published - Apr 2021

Keywords

aggression
correctional program
incarceration
prison-based dog program
wellbeing
youth

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title = "A Quasi-Experimental Study on the Effectiveness of Dutch Cell Dogs in Incarcerated Youth",

abstract = "This study examined the effectiveness of Dutch Cell Dogs (DCD), a prison-based dog training program that aims to improve socioemotional functioning of incarcerated youth by giving them the opportunity to train a shelter dog. Primary (aggression and institutional infractions) and secondary (wellbeing and therapeutic functioning) outcomes were assessed for the intervention (n = 61) and comparison group (n = 77) before the start of DCD, after 4 weeks, and after 8 weeks at posttest. Overall, DCD participation was not effective. Compared to the comparison group, institutional infractions decreased in DCD participants with an immigrant background and increased in DCD participants with a native Dutch background. In addition, DCD participation reduced the quality of the therapeutic alliance for younger participants and those in secure residential facilities. The current study demonstrated heterogeneity in DTP responsiveness. Future research with robust designs and sufficiently large samples is needed to further identify who benefits from DTPs.",

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AU - Creemers, Hanneke E.

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AU - Asscher, Jessica J.

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2021.

PY - 2021/4

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AB - This study examined the effectiveness of Dutch Cell Dogs (DCD), a prison-based dog training program that aims to improve socioemotional functioning of incarcerated youth by giving them the opportunity to train a shelter dog. Primary (aggression and institutional infractions) and secondary (wellbeing and therapeutic functioning) outcomes were assessed for the intervention (n = 61) and comparison group (n = 77) before the start of DCD, after 4 weeks, and after 8 weeks at posttest. Overall, DCD participation was not effective. Compared to the comparison group, institutional infractions decreased in DCD participants with an immigrant background and increased in DCD participants with a native Dutch background. In addition, DCD participation reduced the quality of the therapeutic alliance for younger participants and those in secure residential facilities. The current study demonstrated heterogeneity in DTP responsiveness. Future research with robust designs and sufficiently large samples is needed to further identify who benefits from DTPs.

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A Quasi-Experimental Study on the Effectiveness of Dutch Cell Dogs in Incarcerated Youth

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Keywords

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