Religion, the Community, and the Rehabilitation of Criminal Offenders

by Thomas P O'Connor

Overview

Explore the relationship between faith-based programs, religion, and offender rehabilitation!

This book reports on current research from several disciplines to help the reader understand the nature and impact of the relationship between faith-based programs, religion, and offender rehabilitation. Religion, the Community, and the Rehabilitation of Criminal Offenders is a unique resourcethere has been very little research published on this important topic.

President Bush's faith-based initiative recognized that religion plays a role in the justice system and corrections that is overlooked but essentialit increases the role of community and caring in the system in a unique and important way. This pathbreaking book points the way toward a system of faith-based programs that are not only effective but also economical, as these programs are often staffed by volunteers.

Religion, the Community, and the Rehabilitation of Criminal Offenders addresses important questions regarding the importance and effectiveness of faith-based rehabilitation programs, including:

• What is the relationship between prison religion and offender rehabilitation?
• What motivates inmates to become involved with religious programs and activities?
• What is the prison chaplain's role in rehabilitation?
• Are certain religious denominations more effective than others in preventing crime, delinquency, and recidivism?
• How does religious activity help inmates adjust to the prison environment?
• What do inmates have to say about the religious programs they encounter within the system?
• How did Islam develop within American correctional institutions and what changes has the movement gone through in recent years?
• Why do female African-American inmates tend to resist conversion to Islam while their male counterparts embrace the Muslim faith in increasing numbers?
• How can sacred texts and social theory be utilized as teaching tools and intervention strategies in the transformation processes of men incarcerated for violent crimes? (A fascinating study from the Sing-Sing prison)
• and more!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781136409318
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	01/11/2013
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	306
File size:	7 MB

About the Author

Thomas P. O'Connor

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Introduction: Religion-Offenders-Rehabilitation: Questioning the Relationship, THOMAS P. O'sCONNOR; Chapter 2 Prison Religion in Action and Its Influence on Offender Rehabilitation, THOMAS P. O'CONNOR, MICHAEL PERREYCLEAR; Chapter 3 The Reasons for Religious Involvement in the Correctional Environment, HARRY R.DAMMER; Chapter 4 The Role of the Prison Chaplain in Rehabilitation, JODY L. SUNDT, HARRY R. DAMMER, FRANCIS T. CULLEN; Chapter 5 Intersections of Race, Religion, and Inmate Culture: The Historical Development of Islam in American Corrections, FELECIADIX-RICHARDSON, BILLY R.CLOSE; Chapter 6 Resistance to Conversion to Islam Among African American Women Inmates, FELECIADIX-RICHARDSON; Chapter 7 Prisoners, Prison, and Religion: Religion and Adjustment to Prison, TODD R. CLEAR, MELVINA T. SUMTER; Chapter 8 Religiosity and Drug Use Among Inmates in Boot Camp: Testing a Theoretical Model with Reciprocal Relationships, BRENT B. BENDA, NANCY J. TOOMBS; Chapter 9 Denominational Differences in Self-Reported Delinquency, LEE ELLIS; Chapter 10 Evaluating Religious Initiatives in a Correctional Setting: Do Inmates Speak?, ANDREWSKOTNICKI,, OCARM.; Chapter 11 Shame and Religion as Factors in the Rehabilitation of Serious Offenders, KENNETH D.JENSEN, STEPHEN G.GIBBONS; Chapter 12 Social Theory, Sacred Text, and Sing-Sing Prison:A Sociology of Community-Based Reconciliation, VICTORIALEE ERICKSON; Chapter 13 The Prisoner as Scapegoat: Some Skeptical Remarks on Present Penal Policy, T. J.GORRINGE; Chapter 14 Rethinking God, Justice,and Treatment of Offenders, TEDGRIMSRUD, HOWARDZEHR;