VERO BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — The Indian River County Sheriff’s Office (IRCSO) is tapping into the creative potential of its incarcerated population with the launch of a new Inmate Art Class Program.
Inspired by Pablo Picasso’s quote, “Painting is just another way of keeping a diary,” the program aims to provide a safe space for inmates to express themselves through art, reducing stress and fostering a more positive and peaceful environment within the facility.
The sheriff’s office says it hopes these creative programs provide benefits both to the inmate participants and to the corrections administration.
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Photos of the inmates’ work show vibrant landscapes. Researchers state expressive therapy and art education reduce violence within the corrections system as well as decrease incarcerated citizens’ recidivism — the tendency of a convicted criminal to reoffend.
The IRSCO emphasizes that no taxpayer dollars were used in this program.
There have been a variety of new programs created recently in hopes of benefiting the incarcerated in creative ways. Just last week, the IRSCO introduced its new yoga program for inmates to find inner peace while behind bars. The Martin County Sheriff’s Office created the River Farms Program which allows inmates to get outside, spend time with animals, and farm.