Evaluation of an intervention for incarcerated veterans: Alternatives to Violence Project

Abstract

This study examines the effects on incarcerated veterans who participate in an Alternatives to Violence Project workshop, a group-based intervention that imparts communication, teamwork, and conflict resolution skills. The study attempts to answer the question “What is the effect of participating in AVP workshops on incarcerated veterans?” and hypothesizes that participation in AVP will improve incarcerated veterans’ experience of anger. The sample was comprised of veterans incarcerated in a county jail in the western US. The results suggest that participation in an AVP workshop has a therapeutically positive effect on participants by creating a sense of community, self-awareness, and self-empowerment, as well as improving several aspects of their experience of anger. Policy implications and directions for future research are discussed.