Toxic stress and trauma impact everyone in the prison system—

incarcerated individuals, 

families and communities, and

corrections officers.

Meditation can change this.

Unlocking calm, courage, and compassion within.

The WITHIN Project helps incarcerated individuals access calm, release stress, and heal trauma—improving mental health and increasing post-release success—by bringing a research-supported meditation program to correctional facilities and reentry organizations in Wisconsin.

THE PROBLEM

Most incarcerated individuals suffer from trauma and lack access to the care they need.

2 million people are incarcerated in the US.

PTSD is 10x higher in prisons than the general population.

The WI prison funding and staffing crisis has caused severe emotional distress.

This is an issue for all of us.

For the health and safety of our communities—because  40% of released individuals in WI are reincarcerated within 3 years and 80% rearrested within 10 years.

For the wellbeing of all—each year WI spends 3x more on incarceration than education, or $30K per incarcerated person, costing $220 per state resident.

  • "Meditation helps me feel calm, cool, and collected."

    —Jeremiah, Racine Correctional Institution

    WITHIN meditation course graduate

  • "Meditation helps me manage my emotions. It helps me handle that responsibility."

    —Robert, Racine Correctional Institution

    WITHIN meditation course graduate

  • "Meditation really helps me. I don’t react like I used to... I just let things go instead of fighting."

    —Tony, Racine Correctional Institution

    WITHIN meditation course graduate

  • "In here, you always have to be aware of what's going on around you. It’s exhausting. Meditation helps me turn inward and get a break from that."

    —Ryan, Racine Correctional Institution

    WITHIN Meditation Course Graduate

PROGRAM

In a four 90-minute sessions, participants learn how to:

  • Practice a simple, enjoyable, and self-sufficient mental technique that removes stress and dissolves trauma.

  • Calm the mind and relax the body in order to experience deep rest.

  • Access a quiet stillness within that leads to greater presence, resilience, and compassion.

  • Overcome fear or resistance to quieting the mind or making space for meditation.

  • Apply the transformative power of meditation to daily life.

BENEFITS

Scientific research continue to reveal the dramatic effect of meditation on personal wellbeing, such as:

  • Decreases anxiety and depression

  • Improves sleep & relieves insomnia

  • Reduces anger and impulsive reactivity

  • Boosts immune system

  • Enhances mood, focus, and self-awareness

  • Lowers risk of heart disease and levels blood pressure

  • Deepens sense of meaning and purpose