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Religious Participation and Criminal Behavior

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Effective Interventions in the Lives of Criminal Offenders

Abstract

This chapter examines and summarizes the current state of our knowledge regarding the relationship between religious participation and criminal behavior, especially in regard to crime reduction, offender rehabilitation, and offender aftercare. Aided by multiple systematic reviews of the relevant research literature, this chapter confirms that religious participation influences the behavior of many people in multiple settings such as family, peers, and school. The overwhelming majority of studies reviewed document the importance of religious participation in protecting individuals from harmful outcomes as well as promoting beneficial and prosocial outcomes. As policy makers consider strategies to reduce delinquency, gang violence, crime, and prisoner reentry, it is essential to seriously and intentionally consider the role religious institutions and religious practices are willing to play in implementing, developing, and sustaining multifaceted approaches to crime reduction. From after-school programs for disadvantaged youth to public/private partnerships that bring together secular and sacred groups to address problems like prisoner reentry, it is increasingly apparent that any crime-fighting strategy will be needlessly incomplete unless communities of faith and their vast networks of social and spiritual support are integrally involved.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Though most of this research quite naturally focuses on samples of Christian populations, it is does not mean that other religions are irrelevant to these discussions. Indeed, in years to come it is hoped that we will begin to compare and contrast the relative efficacy of interventions from different religious groups, traditions, or faith communities. However, the current chapter largely focuses on the extant research which happens to be based largely on Christian samples.

  2. 2.

    For popular coverage of the “Boston Miracle”, see, for example, Newsweek cover story, “God vs. Gangs: What’s the Hottest Idea In Crime Prevention? The Power of Religion,” June 1, 1998.

  3. 3.

    The 1970 movie that starred Pat Boone as Rev. David Wilkerson and Erik Estrada as former gang member Nicky Cruz was based on the 1962 best-selling book by the same name.

  4. 4.

    For a systematic review of the research literature documenting the protective role of religion in depression, suicide, mortality, promiscuous sex, alcohol abuse, and drug use/abuse, see H. Koenig et al. (2001) Handbook of Religion and Health, Oxford University Press; see also Johnson (2002) “Objective Hope - Assessing the Effectiveness of Religion and Faith-Based Organizations: A Systematic Review of the Literature,” Institute for Studies of Religion, ISR Research Report, Baylor University (2002).

  5. 5.

    Social control theory is not unique in its theoretical relevance for the role of religion in reducing or preventing crime and delinquency. Social disorganization, labeling, differential association, life course perspective, rational choice, and strain are but a few of the theoretical perspectives within criminology that easily allow the introduction of religious variables and influences within existing frameworks. These lines of inquiry make it possible for researchers to generate and test hypotheses of direct and indirect contributions of religion variables in explaining any number of outcomes relevant for criminology and delinquency studies.

  6. 6.

    Based on a Catholic model, the faith-based prison went by the name Humaita.

  7. 7.

    In 2000, the Braganca prison was widely promoted as an exemplar and a model for future prisons in Brazil.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Studies of Religion, Baylor University, One Bear Place, Waco, TX, 76798, USA

    Byron R. Johnson Ph.D. (Distinguished Professor of the Social Sciences)

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  1. Byron R. Johnson Ph.D.
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Correspondence to Byron R. Johnson Ph.D. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Criminal Justice Department, Saint Anselm College, Manchester, New Hampshire, USA

    John A. Humphrey

  2. Department of Criminal Justice, Saint Anselm College, Manchester, New Hampshire, USA

    Peter Cordella

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Johnson, B.R. (2014). Religious Participation and Criminal Behavior. In: Humphrey, J., Cordella, P. (eds) Effective Interventions in the Lives of Criminal Offenders. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-8930-6_1

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