The Vision

The Prison program was developed by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar with the underlying principle that every culprit is himself/herself a victim of their circumstances. It is customized for application within high stress environments like prisons and juvenile detention centers.

Addressing this need we support:

1. The primary population including inmates, ex-inmates, half-way house residents, those on parole or probation, incarcerated youth at juvenile justice centers, and women in prison
2. The victims of the crime
3. Those working to control it, i.e. criminal justice professionals, law enforcement officers, prison officials and administrators.

Highlights of the Program

• The first of its kind, it is progressive, practical and result-oriented, providing compassionate, innovative and effective solutions to breaking the cycles of violence and tackling escalating global crime rates.
• Most importantly, it offers prisoners the opportunity of genuine rehabilitation and integration into society.
• The Sudarshan Kriya breathing technique, which completely roots out stress – the main cause of crime, primarily makes this possible.
• They are given a vision and at the end of the program they are presented with a mission, as to how they can live better lives and contribute to society on their release.
• SRIJAN (Social Rehabilitation of Inmates in Jail and Aiding the Needy) was started in india, which is an organization that teaches vocational skills during confinement, and empower inmate with skills that would make them independent on their release.

The Benefits

Once inmates undergo the Prison Program, some of the common benefits observed are:

• Measurable and sustained reductions in violence, anger, rebelliousness, depression, fear and feelings of isolation
• Measurable and sustained reductions in smoking, drinking and alcohol abuse
• Reduction in ‘reoffending’/ recidivism (i.e. the continual return of former inmates to prison)
• Measurable and sustained improvements in undertaking the daily breath practice, co-operation with higher authorities, co-operation with peers, teamwork, participation in rehabilitation and other training, capacity to cope positively with normal stress stimuli, feelings of calmness and feelings of security.

There is also in-depth research being conducted, mainly in the prisons in the USA. The results are quite astonishing.

• 80% of the inmates report a full night’s sleep as a result of the Program.
• 60% of the inmates report that they are less prone to act aggressively towards staff, and they attribute this change to the Program.
• In housing units, where the Prison Program has been offered, staff report large increases in inmate co-operation.
• 75% of the staff that observe the Program, or have heard about it, request that we conduct a Program for them and their families.

The Results

Since 1992, this Program has reached out, touched and transformed the lives of over 120,000 inmates in incarceration facilities the world over. It aids angry, depressed, troubled, stressed, and/or drug-dependent individuals to take charge of their lives and regain their self esteem.

Testimonials

“I used to actually look forward to fights… but now, since doing this course, I’m a totally different person. I can now walk away from a fight.”
-- Inmate Pollsmoor Prison, Cape Town, South Africa.

“Most of them become more calm, more motivated. After they finish this course,they start attending other courses, more. They start going to school and to the workshop. They get focused, they learn a trade, and they get focused on the people they want to be when they get out of prison.”
-- Marietjie Smit, Social Worker, Leeukop Prison, Pretoria.

“If an iron rod is heated in the middle, the rod bends at that point – like that, my life has turned. In the ’90s, I used to smoke. In the millennium, it was something even worse. But now, I am changed – completely transformed. Now we have understood that only love can win the world.”
-- Hardcore Terrorist Inmate, Udhampur Jail, Jammu & Kashmir, India.

“Earlier on, we were listening to words of conflict and confrontation. Now we have met Sri Sri. He has filled us with love, and the love he showers on others, has made us so happy.”
-- Rebel, Bihar, India.

“I never realized I could get so high off of breathing! Wow! I feel so relaxed and peaceful. And I’ve done it just on my own breath."
-- Minor Challenger Memorial Youth Centre, Los Angeles.

More Testimonials