Prison Religion in Action and Its Influence on Offender Rehabilitation

• NCJ Number: 198671
• Journal: Journal of Offender Rehabilitation Volume: 35 Issue: 3/4 Dated: 2002 Pages: 11-33
• Author(s): Thomas P. O'Connor; Michael Perreyclear
• Editor(s): Thomas P. O'Connor, Nathaniel J. Pallone
• Date Published: 2002
• Length: 23 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: For related articles see NCJ-198670 and NCJ-198672-82.

Annotation

This exploratory study conducted in the South Carolina Department of Corrections examined whether the level of religious involvement influenced rehabilitation as measured by in-prison infraction.

Abstract

In the United States, it is believed that religion plays a significant and essential role in the creation and maintenance of a moral and law-abiding community. This belief has inspired a great deal of religiously motivated social action aimed at rehabilitating criminals in the United States. Prior research has found a significant inverse relationship between religious involvement and crime. This study built upon the knowledge and understanding obtained in these previous studies, however, finding their findings inconclusive. So, an exploratory study was conducted at South Carolina's Lieber Correctional Institution, a large medium/maximum security prison for men. The study’s intent was to determine whether the level of religious involvement influenced rehabilitation measured by in-prison infractions. The study found the religious involvement of inmates in this facility was extremely varied and extensive. During a 1-year period 49 percent of the incarcerated men (779 out of 1,579) attended at least one religious service or program. Two significant findings were revealed: (1) religious practice in the Lieber prison was extensive and (2) when a number of demographic and criminal history variables were controlled for, the intensity of religious practice was inversely related to the presence of in-prison infractions. The findings suggest that correctional theory and practice ought to include active religious participation among those factors that are predictive of in-prison infractions, such as criminal history and risk factors such as attachment to work and family. This study was able to discern patterns of a global religious impact on reducing infractions, supporting the cultural belief in the United States that religion plays a role in the creation and maintenance of a law-abiding community and that religion is important in “best correctional practices” relating to offender rehabilitation. References