NCJ Number
213233
Date Published
2005
Length
416 pages
Annotation
This book is an expanded and updated account of an evaluation of Kainos Community, a Christian faith-based program for inmates housed in separate units in four British prisons, three for adult men and one for adult women.
Abstract
The reconviction rate for the Kainos sample (n=84) 2 years after release was 36.9 percent. This was not significantly lower than that for other released prisoners with similar characteristics. The most significant reduction in reconvictions was with those offenders who had higher levels of exposure to the Kainos program. Regarding prosocial and anti-criminality attitudes and beliefs, the evaluation concluded that Kainos had some modest desirable effects on participants over time. Kainos participants were more religious and had more positive attitudes toward Christianity than non-Kainos prisoners. None of the dependent variables suggested that participating in the Kainos community adversely affected participants. Any changes found were in positive directions. The evaluators recommended that, at the very least, the Kainos communities that had strong support from local management should be allowed to continue; however, based on cost considerations, the Prison Service decided that the program was not sufficiently effective to warrant its continuation. The basic structure of Kainos was similar in all four prisons. Prisoners choosing to enter the program had an introductory short course in Christianity. The overall intent of the units was to address life on the unit and the attitudes and beliefs of residents from the perspective of Christian beliefs and attitudes. This was done through required weekly meetings that addressed problems on the unit. Prisoners voluntarily held their own Bible studies and prayer groups. The evaluation consisted of interviews with staff, stakeholders, and participants, as well as an analysis of recidivism rates over the period of 2 years after release. Chapter notes, a large bibliography, and a subject index