Ready for Release: Exploring Offenders’ Acceptance of Virtual Reality for Reintegration Training

Virtual Reality is increasingly recognized as a promising tool for rehabilitation and training; however, its acceptance and perceived suitability within correctional contexts remain under-explored. This study reports on a ten-week immersive VR reintegration training programme delivered in twenty sessions across nine prisons in four European countries. An extended Technology Acceptance Model was used, incorporating Immersion, Enjoyment, VR Sickness, and Computer Anxiety alongside Perceived Usefulness, Ease of Use, Attitudes, and Behavioral Intention. Mixed-methods data collected from prerelease incarcerated individuals indicate high levels of acceptance, with participants describing the VR experience as enjoyable, immersive, and relevant, while reporting relatively low anxiety and discomfort. Qualitative findings further suggest that realistic interpersonal communication scenarios were perceived as valuable and engaging by both incarcerated individuals and facilitators. The study provides evidence of the feasibility and acceptability of embedding VR-supported training in correctional systems and offers an empirically tested model for examining acceptance of immersive rehabilitation-related interventions in prison settings.