By Sarah Roebuck
Corrections1
BUCKEYE, Ariz. — A transformative 1,200 sq. ft. art and music studio within a housing unit for inmates with serious mental illness was launched at the Arizona State Prison Complex-Lewis, the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry announced.
This space, adorned with vibrant murals and neon lights, aims to facilitate healing through the Art of Our Soul program, founded by TV personality Brandon Lee.
Approximately 250 inmates will participate annually, engaging in a five-week art creation process guided by facilitators with personal experience in trauma recovery, ADCRR states. Lee’s program, which combines art and music, has demonstrated success in reducing anger, stress, anxiety and depression.
ADCRR Director Ryan Thornell emphasized a new approach focusing on staff empowerment and individual inmate needs.
“I was brought in to reimagine the correctional system within Arizona. Outdated operations and traditional challenges, along with intense scrutiny, were leaving inmates and staff frustrated and institutionalized. So we’ve established a roadmap for transforming our correctional system through modern and innovative practices, directly impacting the individuals who work and live within it. The Art of Our Soul program is a prime example.”
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Thornell’s strategy for corrections involves two key elements: equipping staff with essential tools and striking a balance between ensuring public safety and addressing the individual needs of those under ADCRR’s supervision.
The two-year pilot, funded by Mercy Care, underscores a community-supported shift toward rehabilitative correctional practices. Thornell remarked, “This demonstrates ADCRR’s commitment to reimagining corrections and shows community favor for transforming how inmates do time to ensure increased public safety and healthier outcomes.”
Thornell invited the public to witness this transformation, asserting that introducing humanity into traditional correctional practices is essential for meaningful change.
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