US prisons are now giving out virtual reality headsets to help them learn how to live outside the prison.
The program takes place in common areas of correctional facilities, where special cages with a chair are installed. Inmates are placed in these cages and given a virtual reality headset that is programmed to work in cramped conditions.
During the seven-day intensive program, participants experience scenes from everyday life, as well as some more adventurous ones, such as a trip to Paris or paragliding, for four hours each day. At the end of each day, Creative Acts facilitators ask them to express the emotions that arise in these VR scenes through a variety of artistic exercises, including theater, poetry, and painting. “VR triggers, traumas, and emotions — and then the art is transformed,” explains Creative Acts founder Sabra Williams.
The results speak for themselves – in just one prison, the number of violations fell from 735 to 1 in a week.
