Religious Identity and the Long-Term Effects of Religious Involvement, Orientation, and Coping in Prison

Abstract

Criminological literature has largely ignored the specific religious and spiritual ways people in prison identify and make meaning in their life. Analysis of whether identification predicts recidivism above and beyond criminal risk could have significant implications for assessment and treatment of people in prison. Using data from a Spiritual Assessment of 571 people in prison in Oregon, this study compares recidivism behavior of individuals who identify as both religious and spiritual with those who identify as only spiritual but not religious, religious but not spiritual, and neither spiritual nor religious. As expected, religious and spiritual participants were less likely to reoffend than spiritual but not religious inmates. Group differences were partially explained by intrinsic religious orientation and service attendance. The results highlight the importance of ensuring support for persons in prison in the process of making meaning, in addition to supporting the work of prison chaplains and religious volunteers in prison.