Prison: Why rehabilitation activities don’t work for everyone

Social innovation refers to novel initiatives addressing complex issues like social exclusion and marginalization using new, unconventional approaches. The tradition of humanistic personalism and integral human development holds that organizations, whether for-profit or nonprofit, are responsible for promoting people's integral development— improving their economic well-being and their relational and social health.

Prevailing theories in this field assume that any initiative aimed at advancing positive interaction, especially for marginalized groups like prisoners, will bring uniform benefits.

In the context of the prison system, the conventional approach to rehabilitation is inadequate. This is clearly evident in Italy: beyond high recidivism rates, the country has been condemned by the European Court of Human Rights for degrading prison conditions. Traditionally focused on punishment, prisons rarely offer adequate opportunities for inmates’ relational growth, exacerbating their isolation. Initiatives like theatrical activities at Opera aim to address this shortcoming by providing safe spaces for positive interaction, seeking to bridge the gap between punishment and rehabilitation. However, the effectiveness of such interventions had not been thoroughly investigated, particularly from a managerial and social entrepreneurship perspective.

The focal theme of our research, conducted with Filippo Giordano, Tommaso Ramus, and Francesco Castellaneta, is the impact of social innovation on the relational capacities of marginalized individuals, specifically inmates.

The Opera prison, located near Milan, is a maximum-security facility with a high number of inmates linked to criminal organizations, particularly mafia-type groups. Since 2013, the prison has introduced a series of theatrical activities as a social innovation, aiming to improve inmates' social skills and facilitate their rehabilitation. Theater, with its group dynamics, requires participants to collaborate, communicate, and resolve conflicts to deliver a successful performance. Related activities include both acting and behind-the-scenes work, such as set design and stage management, providing diverse opportunities for all participants.

To analyze the impact of this innovation, the researchers gathered data from a sample of 178 inmates, through 396 questionnaires administered over three consecutive years, from 2016 to 2018.

In addition to collecting demographic data, the questionnaires measured specific social skills, such as trust, conflict resolution, group cooperation, and communication abilities. We also gathered information on the inmates' health, criminal history, and their involvement in other rehabilitative activities at the prison.

The study reveals unexpected complexity. On the one hand, participation in theatrical activities positively impacted inmates’ social skills, but the effect was heterogeneous and uneven. Inmates who approached rehabilitation with a more open, positive attitude saw significant improvements in their social competencies. These individuals demonstrated a greater ability to trust, to build positive relationships with others, and to work effectively in teams.

However, for inmates affiliated with mafia-type criminal organizations who participated in theatrical activities, the impact was less significant. These individuals were less inclined to develop trust or collaborative skills. This is likely because such organizations promote a value system that rejects rehabilitation, viewing prison as a place of punishment to be endured without changing one’s beliefs.

For policymakers, our results indicate that introducing innovative activities like theater in prisons can be a step toward rehabilitation, but it is not a one-size-fits-all solution. In fact, these activities must be adapted to the specific needs of inmates, particularly when dealing with highly resistant groups.

From the perspective of prison managers, this highlights the importance of tailoring rehabilitative interventions, making them more effective in addressing different types of inmates. Future research could further explore how to customize social innovations and implement strategies that account for these factors.

Tommaso Ramus, Francesco Castellaneta, Filippo Giordano, Francesco Perrini. “When Social Innovations Foster Integral Human Development: Evidence from the Impact of Theatrical Activities on Prison Inmates’ Social Skills.” J Bus Ethics (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-024-05766-0.