NCJ Number
128809
Date Published
1990
Length
73 pages
Annotation
This report details research conducted between July 1989 and June 1990 that was designed to evaluate the extent to which criminal justice research focuses on religious commitment and prison ministry and the long-term outcome of the Washington, D.C. Discipleship program of 1975-79.
Abstract
The research also focused on designing a new evaluation of the In-Prison Seminar/Bible Study and Mentor Programs. Results showed that religious commitment variables are rarely studied in criminal justice research and are usually included only in a peripheral way. In addition, the methods used to measure religious commitment have not been the best ones to account most accurately for the complexity of religious commitment. The research also found that prisoners who were selected for 2 weeks of intensive Christian discipleship training had a lower rate of recidivism and committed less severe crimes than did a control group. Findings also showed that the Discipleship Program worked better for white males, women, and low-risk prisoners than for others. Finally, the evaluation study has been fully designed and is being carried out in New York in cooperation with State agencies. Tables and reference lists