2004 authors Komanduri Srinivasa Murty, Angela M. Owens, and Ashwin Vyas conclude the benefits of meditation programs in prisons include: reduced drug use, recidivism, violence, anger, and self-destructive and risk-taking behavior enhanced employability and balanced life-style increased self-awareness, self-confidence, and hopefulness. They further contend that those programs reduced alcohol and substance abuse. Controversies Prison contemplative programs attract controversy when they are seen as religious missionary work. Prisons have sometimes asked religious groups to explicitly offer non-religious programs. Not all prisons allow contemplative programs. Some inmates or organizations have used religious freedom provisions as a way to secure programs in prisons. In the United States prisoners are allowed to hold any religious beliefs, but the courts have decided that prisons have some latitude in deciding which religious practices occur. Prisons are allowed to consider inmate safety, security, and operations of the prison when considering a religious program. But court actions recognizing Zen Buddhism as an "acceptable religion" secured meditation programs in New York prisons. Author Christopher Queen feels that funding in the United States for prison contemplative programs was hampered in 1997 by the repeal of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993. Documentaries Two documentaries depicting prison meditation programs have received significant review. Doing Time, Doing Vipassana released in 1997 documented a large scale meditation program at Tihar Prisons in India with over a thousand inmates. The results of the program, organized by the Burmese Buddhist group led by S. N. Goenka, were considered very positive. That program and film brought greater attention to prison contemplative programs. The Dhamma Brothers released in 2007 documented a smaller scale, optional meditation program implemented at Donaldson Correctional Facility in Bessemer, Alabama. That film depicts controversy as the meditation program is perceived by residents as missionary and anti-Christian. See also Prison reform Prison religion Notes References Adamson, Christopher (2001) "Evangelical Quakerism and the Early American Penitentiary Revisited: The Contributions of Thomas Eddy, Robers Vaux, John Griscom, Stephen Grellet, Elisha Bates, and Isaac Hopper". Quaker History 2001 90(2): 35-58 24p. Alexander, Charles Nathaniel (2003) Transcendental Meditation in Criminal Rehabilitation and Crime Prevention Bartollas, Clemens (1985) Correctional Treatment: Theory and Practice Beckford, James A. and Gilliat-Ray, Sophie (1998) Religion in Prison: Equal Rites in a Multi-faith Society Brooks, Douglas Renfrew (2000) Meditation Revolution: A History and Theology of the Siddha Yoga Lineage Carlson, Peter M. and Garrett, Judith Simon (1999) Prison And Jail Administration: Practice And