Key points: 

• Kindness and compassion make us stronger and promote positive change
• An empathetic approach can lead to rehabilitation and recidivism 
• Our program, Kindness Matters increases compassion, supports personal growth, and sets individuals on the path to rehabilitation in prisons
• Our daily kindness pledge sends one simple idea to your inbox twice a week

Kindness is transformative

We can all use a reminder to practice kindness once in a while – towards ourselves and others. For incarcerated individuals in environments where kindness and vulnerability can be viewed as weakness, that reminder is integral. In reality, the impacts of kindness and self-compassion are quite the opposite of weakness. By reducing our stress levels, bringing down our blood pressure, and lessening strain on our blood vessels and heart itself, acts of kindness actually make us stronger. 

When an environment of kindness and compassion is fostered within prisons, there’s less violence and more positive behavior change. And when that compassion begins to create a ripple effect, everyone can thrive. 

The road to rehabilitation

Kindness has the power to not only help incarcerated individuals succeed, but to also increase public safety and reduce recidivism, or reoffense. 

Rehabilitation becomes more and more possible when an empathetic and kind approach is taken within correctional facilities. For example, the Compassion Prison Project within Central California Women’s Facility helps incarcerated women recognize and overcome physical, emotional, and social traumas. “From this, they will learn to love themselves, forgive themselves, and have respect and compassion for others” (CDCR). 

When incarcerated individuals are treated with empathy and invited to be vulnerable, they feel encouraged to become better individuals in their communities. As a result, the likelihood of future offenses is reduced. Studies have shown that non-punitive approaches like empathy and compassion are more effective in reducing recidivism than punishment. 

At One Kind Act A Day, we aim to foster this type of positive change within Utah’s correctional facilities with approaches centered on kindness and connection. 

One Kind Act A Day proves that Kindness Matters

We’re passionate about helping incarcerated individuals on their road to rehabilitation. In partnership with the Utah Department of Corrections, we facilitate Kindness Matters classes in prisons that provide inmates with tools to strengthen empathy, resilience, and positive connection. Our interactive sessions explore themes like kindness to self, inclusion, dignity, leadership, and the impact of small acts of compassion – helping individuals build healthier relationships and prepare for reintegration into their communities. 

The positive impact of kindness in prisons is best told through the experiences of incarcerated individuals themselves. Watch the below video to hear from real Kindness Matters participants and see just how influential and empowering kindness can be. 

One Kindness Matters participant says, “Looking for positive acts of kindness and gratitude, teaches you [to] appreciate what you don’t typically see.” Learn more about Kindness Matters and its impact here. 

This program has proven that a kind and supportive environment can have a positive impact both individually and interpersonally.  These efforts support personal growth, reduce conflict within facilities, and help lay the foundation for long-term transformation. Watch ABC’s news coverage of our program for a few more testimonies.

Commit to daily kindness 

If you’ve made it this far, you know that kindness can be transformative. Are you ready to make a positive behavior change in your life? All it takes is a commitment to doing one kind act a day. Hold yourself accountable with our Pledge of Kindness. It can be as simple as inviting someone new into a conversation, sharing a compliment, or practicing active listening with a friend. And yes, self-compassion counts too! 

When you take the pledge, you’ll receive a kindness prompt twice a week that contains a quote about why kindness is so inspiring, and one simple kind act you can take today.