Could Mindful Meditation Make Treatment Programs Work Better for Offenders?

Mindfulness meditation may improve self-control and self-awareness in offenders who reoffend after receiving effective treatments. A review of published literature examined mindfulness approaches through a model of three dimensions: attention control, acceptance, and breathing. The review focused on mind wandering, activation of the central executive network, and optimization of the brain's default mode network. The authors concluded that mindfulness meditation could enhance offenders' self-control and self-awareness and may boost the effects of conventional treatments.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Even after having received treatments known to be effective, some released offenders reoffend. One possibility is that they did not have sufficient self-control and self-awareness to enable them to respond well to the treatment. The present review of the published literature on mindfulness meditation aims to identify approaches that have been shown to be effective ways for improving self-control and self-awareness. The articles reviewed were considered in the context of a model containing 3 dimensions that may promote self-control and self awareness: attention control, acceptance, and breathing. The review focused on mind wandering, activation of a central executive network in the brain, and optimization of the brain ＇ s default mode network. On the basis of the review, it was concluded that mindfulness meditation may be a way to improve offenders ＇ self-control and self-awareness, and may also enhance effects of more conventional treatments.