WHEN Jordan entered juvenile detention shortly after his 17th birthday, following a conviction for assault and robbery, all he could think about was getting out. The rowdy teenager from Anaheim, California, struggled to control his temper. But when he began working with Lulu, a poodle mix, he got a new leash on life. “I was too busy taking care of the dog to get into fights,” he says.

Jordan was taking part in “Pups and Wards”, a programme that pairs shelter dogs with young inmates. The perps train the pups and, with luck, learn something about personal responsibility. Other programmes allow prisoners to train dogs to be adopted by people with disabilities, such as traumatised veterans. Such training often requires full-time care—but prisoners have plenty of time on their hands.

Researchers estimate that there are more than 150 similar programmes at American prisons and detention centres, and that they are growing in popularity. Several recent studies show that pets reduce stress hormones in people and cause the body to produce more endorphins, which inhibit pain and may produce feelings of euphoria.

“All the research about the human-animal bond has buoyed these programmes,” says Gennifer Furst, a professor of criminal justice. “We have discovered that prisoners often identify with rescue dogs—they have both experienced trauma—and they are eager to become their protectors.” Crystal Wood, an officer at a maximum-security prison in Lancaster, California, says that several inmates on her yard—who are in prison for life—wept after interacting with dogs. “Many of these guys haven’t seen an animal in decades. It’s been striking to see how much working with a dog has reduced their anxiety levels.”

Three-quarters of American prisoners released in 2005 were arrested for a new crime within five years, estimates the Bureau of Justice Statistics. No quantitative studies exist to show whether working with animals helps reduce recidivism, but experts find ample anecdotal evidence that it does. “It gives inmates a sense of responsibility and helps prepare them for a job, once they get out,” says Joan Petersilia of Stanford Law School. “But it also gives something back to the community.”

Since his release, Jordan has avoided being locked up again. He lives with his girlfriend, has a steady job and studies business at a community college. He has his own dog now, a Shih Tzu Pekingese mix. An inspiring tail, indeed.