Art Therapy in Law Enforcement

For over 20 years, Saxony’s prisons have been employing art therapists besides the classic services of psychologist and social workers. Meanwhile, their work has become indispensable. In JVA Zeithain (Zeithain prison) even a creative centre could be created within a closed prison, which has developed a whole range of specific treatment forms. The goal of law enforcement (besides protecting the general public) is to allow the offender to live a life without committing new crimes.

 Goal of the session is to understand the fundamental problems and tasks of law enforcement and to get to know basic approaches and specific methods of art therapy for this work. The possibilities of art therapy in the context of prisons will be discussed together. In practical examples, simple but proven methods from the work will be introduced.

Workshop facilitator: Alfred Haberkorn