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The Role of Religion and Spirituality in Disengagement from Gangs

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Gangs in the Era of Internet and Social Media

Abstract

Despite increased attention to the process of disengagement from gangs, there is still much to learn. Recent research has underscored the importance of religious beliefs and practices in the process of disengaging from membership in gangs and desisting from involvement in crime. Using a large sample of prison inmates (N = 802), 301 of whom were former gang members, we examine the role that religion played in both the motives and methods for leaving a gang. Data come from the LoneStar project, the Texas Study of Trajectories Associations and Reentry. First, we examine the role of motives for leaving the gang and methods of leaving that have a religious component. We do not find that religion functions as a primary motivation or method for disengaging from gangs. However, in combination with other variables, it plays an important role, particularly for gang exits in prison. Second, using multiple measures of religiosity and spirituality we compare current and former gang members, finding rather large and consistent differences. Former gang members were more religious and spiritual, both in beliefs and practices. Finally, based on the temporal proximity to leaving a gang, religiosity and spirituality increase as individuals continue to transition away from the gang. Overall, our results point to religion and spirituality as a viable although irregular pathway out of gangs, one that is employed more frequently in prison than on the street.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    It should be noted that age is a possible confounder in the relationship between gang disengagement and religion/spirituality. If religion/spirituality and age are positively related that may render their relationship with disengagement spurious. That said, our findings suggest that religion/spirituality play a comparable role among younger and older gang members for most measures. The exceptions were that current gang members were as likely to report spiritual/religious reentry needs and to declare no religious affiliation as former gang members.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ, USA

    Scott H. Decker

  2. Department of Sociology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA

    David C. Pyrooz

Authors
  1. Scott H. Decker
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  2. David C. Pyrooz
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Correspondence to Scott H. Decker .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA

    Chris Melde

  2. NSCR/Erasmus University, Amsterdam/Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Frank Weerman

Appendix A: Items comprising the spirituality and religious fundamentalism scales, partitioned by gang status (N = 441)

Appendix A: Items comprising the spirituality and religious fundamentalism scales, partitioned by gang status (N = 441)

 

Current gang members

Former gang members

Stat. diff.

 

Mean/%

(SD)

Mean/%

(SD)

| t |

Spirituality: beliefs scale

     

You find strength in your religion or spirituality

3.057

(1.117)

3.293

(0.881)

2.398*

You feel guided by your God in the midst of daily activities

2.764

(1.191)

3.170

(0.915)

3.921*

Your faith helps you know right from wrong

2.829

(1.181)

3.220

(0.865)

3.918*

Your spiritual beliefs help define the goals you set for yourself

2.779

(1.106)

3.093

(0.910)

3.150*

Spirituality: practices scale

−0.297

(1.156)

0.139

(0.886)

4.340*

You pray or meditate regularly

2.707

(1.300)

3.087

(0.950)

3.454*

You read the Bible, Koran, or other religious literature regularly

2.257

(1.380)

2.816

(1.148)

4.449*

Religious fundamentalism scale

     

God has given people a perfect guide to happiness and salvation, which must be totally followed

4.286

(1.924)

4.827

(1.674)

3.012*

The basic cause of evil in this world is Satan, who is always fighting against God

3.978

(2.101)

4.382

(2.108)

1.869

It is more important to be a good person than to believe in Goda

2.229

(2.144)

1.703

(2.108)

2.421*

There are religious teachings that are so true because they are the actual message that God has given people

3.757

(2.091)

4.483

(1.720)

3.843*

There are two kinds of people: the Righteous who will be rewarded by God and the rest who will not

3.786

(2.077)

4.328

(2.007)

2.608*

To lead the best, most meaningful life, one must belong to one, fundamentally true religion

2.629

(2.268)

3.190

(2.309)

2.389*

Satan is what people call their own bad impulses. There really is no prince of darkness who tempts usa

3.550

(2.219)

3.793

(2.214)

1.069

God’s religion should never be tampered with, or compromised with other’s beliefs

1.621

(1.801)

1.283

(1.808)

1.830

  1. Note: statistical differences (stat. diff.) were determined using bivariate OLS regression. * p < 0.05
  2. aReverse coded in the construction of the scale

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Decker, S.H., Pyrooz, D.C. (2020). The Role of Religion and Spirituality in Disengagement from Gangs. In: Melde, C., Weerman, F. (eds) Gangs in the Era of Internet and Social Media. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-47214-6_11

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