Prisoners meditate to help reduce reoffending

The prison governor said local reoffending rates are lower than in the UK

Inmates at Guernsey's prison have completed a seven-day course on yoga and meditation aimed at reducing rates of reoffending.

The Prison Stress Management and Rehabilitation Training (SMART) courses form part of Les Nicolles' education programme, with four prisoners taking part in the latest course.

John De Carteret, governor of the prison which can hold up to 134 inmates, said the courses had shown an "number of different impacts".

The course is run by charity Art of Living, which been to prisons in more than 50 countries.

'More laid back'

Mr De Carteret said: "Anything that can alleviate anxiety and stress, and gives the prisoner a strategy to deal with some of the potential problems they have day-to-day, can only be a positive.

"What they learn on these programmes doesn't just work for them while they're in the prison environment, they take these with them and it enriches their life in other ways as well."

Inmate Brenden Jones took part in the classes and said that it had changed how he dealt with stressful situations as he had been "easily agitated and irritated".

"For me, people could say the slightest thing and I would get annoyed, but now I'm more laid back," he said.

'Families are silent victims'

Julie Madeley is the organisation's Guernsey lead and said the impacts reach outside the prison walls.

She said: "A few months ago, a lady came to Mill Street cafe where I volunteer and asked to speak to me.

"She threw her arms around me and said: 'You have transformed my husband.'

"Families are the silent victims.

"This programme changes people for life. They will never move back from the benefits they have gained."