Thinking About the Role of Religion in Crime Prevention, Prisoner Reentry and Aftercare

Abstract

In this paper Dr. Johnson begins by systematically reviewing the religion-crime research literature in order to determine if and how measures of religiosity are associated with measures of crime or delinquency. Consistent with previous reviews and meta analyses on this subject, the results of the current systematic review confirm that increasing levels of religiosity tend to be inversely related to both measures of crime and delinquency. Dr. Johnson offers a number of reasons why one should not be surprised to discover that religion might both prevent and protect from crime as well as foster prosocial behavior. Turning to corrections, Dr. Johnson briefly discuss the historical role of religion in offender treatment and rehabilitation and examine what we know from recent research about the efficacy of faith based prison programs in reducing recidivism. Dr. Johnson concludes with a discussion of the uniquely catalytic role that faith based groups and individuals might yet play in a truly comprehensive and multifaceted approach to prisoner reentry as well as aftercare.