The Prison Choir: a Potential Solution for Inmate’s Aggressiveness

During their time in prison, inmates experience various types of provocation, abuse and degradation. The prison environment often causes them to become more aggressive, lazy, and lonely and some even develop mental illness. These feelings are so strong that it is very difficult for prisoners to escape from the traumas of imprisonment once their sentence is over. This is where choral activity comes in, an activity designed not only to relieve prisoners' feelings during their incarceration, but also to prepare them for social reintegration by helping them develop a wide range of practical and social skills. The present research studies the changes that occurred following a choral activity in Bucharest-Jilava Prison (Romania) over a two-month period in terms of aggression, antisocial behaviour and self-injury, using a self-report questionnaire. The experiences of the prisoners were also studied using an interview guide at the end of the choral activity. The concluding part of the article lists the benefits revealed by the research, followed by a series of recommendations.


Keywords: Prison Choir, aggression, imprisonment, singing