A recent study published in the journal “Nature – Human Behavior,” under the Springer Nature umbrella, suggests that learning coaching techniques and transferable skills from professional soccer players could foster positive group identity connections, potentially helping prisoners improve their behavior while incarcerated and reintegrate into society post-release. The findings provide new insights into how social connections can help reduce recidivism.
The study introduces a program known as “The Twinning Project,” which originated in the UK and has since expanded to the US, Italy, Australia, and South Africa. This initiative organizes soccer-based activities for inmates to enhance their physical and mental well-being. The program also equips prisoners with skills such as relationship building and self-control, alongside certifications aimed at improving their behavior in prison and facilitating their reentry into society following their release.
The “Twinning Project” pairs prisons with local soccer clubs, including notable British teams like Liverpool, Manchester United, and Chelsea. However, it remains uncertain whether this initiative can effectively improve inmates’ behavior during incarceration, reduce recidivism rates after release, or increase employment opportunities for ex-offenders.
To evaluate the success of The Twinning Project, the study’s lead and corresponding author, Martha Newson from the University of Oxford, along with colleagues, first analyzed the behavior of inmates across 45 UK prisons. By comparing the behavior of 676 participants in the program with 1,874 non-participants, they found that engagement in the initiative, which enhances social connections, typically resulted in a decrease in rule violations and an overall improvement in inmate behavior.
The research also surveyed 1,797 individuals with employment experience to understand what factors influence their willingness to hire individuals with criminal records. The findings indicated that people were more inclined to employ ex-offenders who had completed educational programs like The Twinning Project.
The authors conclude that their study indicates soccer may offer opportunities to foster social connections, aiding in the rehabilitation and support of inmates as they transition back into society. They also caution that the success of such programs may depend on the inmates’ attitudes towards their situation.
