Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Religion as an insulator of delinquency in schools

  • Published:
American Journal of Criminal Justice Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

While much of the current social control literature has examined the role of religiosity in delinquency, very little attention has been given to its effect on school delinquency. This study sought to fill that void by examining the effectiveness of social bond theory in restraining students from committing school delinquency in a rural Southern county. Further, given the literature that suggests that delinquency varies along developmental stages, the authors also sought to determine the effect of the revised social bond along 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th grades. Findings indicate that social control theory was moderately successful in explaining school delinquency, while religion achieved significance in the 6th, 8th, and 12th grades, but not the 10th grade. Suggestions for practitioners and policy makers are also discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Albrecht, S. L., Chadwick, B. A., & Alcorn, D. S. (1977). Religiosity and deviance: Application of an attitude-behavior contingent consistency model.Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 16(3), 263–274.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baier, C. J., & Wright, B. R. E. (2001). If you love me, keep my commandments: A metaanalysis of religion on crime.Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 38(1), 3–21.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bauldry, S., & Hartman, T. A. (2004).Promise and challenge of mentoring high-risk youth: Findings from the national faith-based initiative. Philadelphia: Public/Private Ventures.

    Google Scholar 

  • Benda, B. (1995). The effect of religion on adolescent religion revisited.Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 32(4), 446–466.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Benda, B., & Corwyn, R. (1997). Religion and delinquency: The relationship after considering family and peer influences.Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 36(1), 81–92.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Benda, B., & Whiteside, L. (1995). Testing an integrated model of delinquency using LIS-REL.Journal of Social Science Research, 21(2), 1–32.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bourque, L. B., & Fielder, E. P. (1995).How to conduct self-administered and mail surveys. London: Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burkett, S. R., & Warren, B. O. (1987). Religiosity, peer association and adolescent mari-juana use: A panel study of underlying causal structures.Criminology, 25(1), 109–129.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burkett, S. R., & White, M. (1974). Hellfire and delinquency: Another look.Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 13, 455–462.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (1994).Health risk behaviors among adolescents who do and do not attend school. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chadwick, B., & Top, B. (1993). Religiosity and delinquency among LDS adolescents.Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 32(1), 51–67.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cochran, J. (1989). Another look at delinquency and religiosity.Sociological Spectrum, 9(1), 147–162.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cretacci, M. A. (2003). Religion and social control: An application of a modified social bond on violence.Criminal Justice Review, 28(2), 254–276.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davidson, J., & Knudsen, D. (1977). A new approach to religious commitment.Sociological Focus, 10(2), 151–173.

    Google Scholar 

  • DeVoe, J. F., Kaufman, P. K., Ruddy, S. A., Miller, A. K., Planty, M, Snyder, T. D., & Rand, M. R. (2003).Indicators of school crime and safety: 2003. Washington, DC: U.S. Departments of Education and Justice.

    Google Scholar 

  • Durkheim, E. (1951).Suicide: A study in sociology. Glencoe, IL: Free Press (Original work published 1897).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ericson, N. (2001).Public/private ventures’ evaluation of faith-based programs. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice.

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans, D. T., Cullen, F. T., Burton, V. S., Dunaway, R. G., Payne, G., & Kethineni, S. (1996). Religion, social bonds, and delinquency.Deviant Behavior, 17(1), 43–70.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Evans, D. T., Cullen, F. T., Dunaway, R. G., & Burton, V. S. (1995). Religion and crime reexamined: The impact of religion, secular controls, and social ecology on adult criminality.Criminology, 33(2), 195–224.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fromm, E. (1955).The dogma of Christ. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.

    Google Scholar 

  • Glock, C. Y. (1959). The sociology of religion. In R. K. Merton & L. S. Cottrell, Jr. (Eds.),Sociology today (pp. 175–176). New York: Basic Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hagan, F. (1993).Research methods in criminal justice and criminology. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hartman, T. (2003).Moving beyond the walls: Faith and justice partnerships working for high-risk youth. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hartshorne, H., & May, M. A. (1928).Studies in deceit. Oxford, England: Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Higgins, P. C., & Albrecht, G. L. (1977). Hellfire and delinquency revisited.Social Forces, 55(4), 952–958.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hindelang, M. J., Hirschi, T., & Weiss, J. G. (1979). Correlates of delinquency: The illusion of discrepancy between self-report and official measures.American Sociological Review, 44(6), 995–1014.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hirschi, T. (1969).Causes of delinquency. Los Angeles: University of California Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hirschi, T., & Stark, R. (1969). Hellfire and delinquency.Social Problems, 17, 202–213.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hockensmith, C. (2003).Improving juvenile delinquency through faith-based services. Midway, KY: Columbia Southern University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jang, S. J. (1999). Age-varying effects of family, school, and peers on delinquency: A multilevel modeling test of interactional theory.Criminology, 37, 643–686.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jang, S. J., & Smith, C. A. (1997). A test of reciprocal casual relationships among parental supervision, affective ties, and delinquency.Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 34, 307–337.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jenkins, P. H. (1997). School delinquency and the school social bond.Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 34(3), 337–368.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jensen, G. F., & Erickson, M. L. (1979). The religious factor and delinquency: Another look at the hellfire hypothesis. In R. Wuthnow (Ed.),The religious dimension (pp. 157–177). New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jessor, R., & Jessor, S. (1977).Problem behavior and psychosocial development: A longitudinal study of youth. New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, B. R., De Li, S., Larson, D. B., & McCullough, M. (2000). A systematic review of the religiosity and delinquency literature.Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice, 16(1), 35–52.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, B. R., Jang, S. J., Larson, D. B., & De Li, S. (2001). Does adolescent religious commitment matter?: A reexamination of the effects of religiosity on delinquency.Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 38(1), 22–43.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kaufman, P., Ruddy, S. A., Chandler, K. A., & Rand, M. R. (1999).Indicators of school crime and safety: 1999. U.S. Departments of Education and Justice.

  • King, M., & Hunt, R. (1972). Measuring the religious variable: Replication.Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 11(3), 240–251.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krohn, M. D., Lizotte, A. J., Thornberry, T. P., Smith, C., & McDowall, D. (1996). Reciprocal causal relationships among drug use, peers, and beliefs: A five-wave panel model.Journal of Drug Issues, 26, 405–429.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kvaraceus, W. C. (1944). Delinquent behavior and church attendance.Sociology and Social Research, 28, 284–289.

    Google Scholar 

  • La Grange, R. L., & Raskin-White, H. (1985). Age differences in delinquency: A test of theory.Criminology, 23, 19–45.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Loconte, J., & Fantuzzo, L. (2003).Churches, charity, and children: How religious organizations are reaching America’s at-risk kids. Philadelphia: Center for Research on Religion and Urban Civil Society.

    Google Scholar 

  • Manhattan Institute for Policy Research. (2004).Religion: The forgotten factor in cutting youth crime and saving at-risk urban youth. [On-line]. Available: www.manhattaninstitute.org/html/jpr-98-2.htm#religiosityandatriskurbanyouth.

  • Marx, K. (1967).Capital. New York: International Publishers (Original work published 1848).

    Google Scholar 

  • Regnerus, M. D. (2003).Living up to expectations: How religion alters the delinquent behavior of low-risk adolescents. Philadelphia: Center for Research on Religion and Urban Civil Society.

    Google Scholar 

  • Regoli, R. M., & Hewitt, J. D. (1997).Delinquency in society (3rd ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rhodes, A. L., & Reiss, A. J., Jr. (1970). The religious factor and delinquent behavior.Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 17(2), 83–98.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rohrbaugh, J., & Jessor, R. (1975). Religiosity in youth: A personal control against deviant behavior.Journal of Personality, 43(1), 136–155.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schiraldi, V., & Ziedenberg, J. (1999).School house hype: Two years later. Washington, DC: Justice Policy Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, C., & Faris, R. (2002).Religion and American adolescent delinquency, risk behaviors and constructive social activities. [On-line]. Available: www.youthandreligion.org/ publications/docs/RiskReportl.pdf.

  • Stark, R., Kent, L., & Doyle, D. P. (1982). The ecology of a “lost” relationship.Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 19(1), 4–24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tittle, C. R., & Welch, M. R. (1983). Religiosity and deviance: Toward a contingency theory of constraining effects.Social Forces, 63(3), 653–681.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trulear, H. D. (2000).Faith-based institution and high-risk youth. Philadelphia: Public/ Private Ventures.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wattenberg, W. W. (1950). Church attendance and juvenile misconduct.Sociology and Social Research, 34, 195–202.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weber, M. (1965).The sociology of religion. Boston: Beacon Press (Original work published 1922).

    Google Scholar 

Cases Cited

  • Elk Grove Unified School District v. Newdow, 000 U.S. 02–1624 (2003).

  • Engel v. Vitale, 370 U.S. 421 (1962).

  • Lee v. Weisman, 505 U.S. 577 (1992).

  • Sante Fe Independent School District v. Doe, 00 U.S. 99-62 (2000).

  • Wallace v. Jaffree, 472 U.S. 38 (1985).

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Correctional and Juvenile Justice Studies, Eastern Kentucky University, 109 Stratton Building, 521 Lancaster Avenue, 40475, Richmond, KY

    Lisa Hutchinson Wallace & Nathan T. Moore

  2. University of Louisiana at Monroe, USA

    Stacy C. Moak

Authors
  1. Lisa Hutchinson Wallace
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Stacy C. Moak
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Nathan T. Moore
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lisa Hutchinson Wallace.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wallace, L.H., Moak, S.C. & Moore, N.T. Religion as an insulator of delinquency in schools. Am J Crim Just 29, 217–233 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02885736

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02885736

Keywords

Search

Navigation