To change the dynamics of rehabilitation in Arizona’s correctional system, the Lewis Prison has launched an innovative art and music therapy program aimed at helping inmates with significant mental health issues. This program, called Art of Our Soul, has turned a previously empty 1,200 square foot space into a lively studio, as reported by ABC15.
Dr. Ryan Thornell, director of the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry (ADCRR), played a key role in developing the new therapeutic initiative. He shared his vision for reimagining the state’s prison system, addressing outdated practices, longstanding challenges, and the intense scrutiny that has led to frustration and institutionalization for both inmates and staff. With these changes, Thornell aims to enhance public safety by incorporating healing-oriented programs like Art of Our Soul into the prison complex, according to information provided by Corrections1.
The program’s founder, Brandon Lee, a television personality and child sex abuse survivor, emphasizes the transformative nature of the creative process, “Art and music therapy saved my life,” Lee reflected on the healing power of the arts and his own recovery journey, reinforcing that engaging with creativity can indeed facilitate the emotional healing process for individuals grappling with deep-seated trauma, according to an interview by ABC15, roughly 250 inmates will circulate through this five-week program annually, a unique opportunity to redirect their path away from destructive behaviors.
Highlighting the community’s involvement in the transition to rehabilitative practices, the two-year pilot project is financially backed by Mercy Care. Thornell emphasized that this initiative serves as a clear testament to the ADCRR’s commitment to rethinking correctional methods and reflects the community’s support for transformational programs that both enhance public safety and improve inmate outcomes, as noted in a statement from Corrections1.
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