Some prisons in California have introduced virtual reality (VR) programs to support the mental health and social reintegration of inmates held in solitary confinement.
Prisoners enter a small, iron-walled space—barely the size of a single square meter—where they are restrained at the hands and feet and fitted with a VR headset. Through this, they experience various scenes such as a Thai market, the streets of Paris, and paragliding.
Led by the nonprofit organization Creative Acts, the program offers inmates opportunities for emotional expression and social connection, aiming to help them better adjust to life after release.
In fact, inmates at California’s Cochrane State Prison who participated in the program have shown a significant decrease in disciplinary violations.
