Beyond the Costly Warehousing of Inmates

Our Approach:
Freedom Behind Bars

The origins of criminal behavior, while difficult to pinpoint precisely, can often be traced back to the long-term impact of traumatic stress. Unless a rehabilitation program for the men and women behind bars effectively targets this disorder, too often the rehabilitation will prove ineffective, and incarceration and recidivism rates will continue to climb—resulting in considerable pain and suffering for the victims of crime, significant expense to taxpayers, and substantial waste of human potential to those incarcerated.

For 35 years, Transcendental Meditation has been taught with significant benefit to inmates and guards in some of America’s toughest prisons, including San Quentin, Folsom, and Walpole. This program has been warmly received by the prison population because it is easy to learn and requires no belief or change in lifestyle. And the results are immediate: deep relaxation and relief from stress, anxiety, and depression. This has been found to result in fewer rule infractions as well as reduced recidivism rates.

The David Lynch Foundation employs specially qualified teachers of Transcendental Meditation who are prepared to work in the prisons, to help with the genuine rehabilitation of offenders by lifting the oppressive stress within the prison community that undermines existing rehabilitation programs.

If you would like to support the David Lynch Foundation’s programs for prisons and rehabilitation centers, please contact Chris Busch at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

If you would like more information about implementing a program, please contact Lynn Kaplan at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Immediate Funding Needs

Support the David Lynch Foundation
— Freedom Behind Bars Project

In official collaboration with the Departments of Corrections in states throughout the country, the David Lynch Foundation offers the Transcendental Meditation program to inmates and guards to promote wellness and reduce health care costs, decrease stress and substance abuse, and reduce rule infractions and recidivism rates nationwide.

Funding Target: $75,000 a year for each specially trained teacher to provide an intensive 12-month program of individualized instruction and follow-up in Transcendental Meditation for 200 inmates and guards at the Oregon State Prison in Salem. Total funding: two trainers for 400 inmates and guards: $150,000.

Support the David Lynch Foundation – Lincoln Center of Detroit Project

The Lincoln Center of Detroit provides specialized residential treatment for chronic and violent male offenders between the ages of 12 and 20.

Funding Target: $35,000 a year to employ one specially trained teacher to provide an intensive 12-step program of individualized instruction and follow-up in Transcendental Meditation for 50 young men. Total funding: $35,000.

Additional Research Funding: $30,000 Total Funding: $65,000