Yoke of Anger: A Brief Look at the Lives of Four Inmates (From Crime, Values, and Religion, P 211-233, 1987, James M Day and William S Laufer, eds. -- See NCJ-119399)

• NCJ Number: 119406
• Author(s): J G Arnold III
• Date Published: 1987
• Length: 23 pages
• Sale Source: Ablex Publishing Corporation
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Four inmates reveal the role of religious values and experiences in their return to a productive life.

Abstract

The first inmate emphasizes his religious conversion after a life of dependency. He learned to be dependent from an upbringing that made him feel unworthy and evil. Counseling enabled him to establish his self-worth, and the counselor believed this was due in large part to religious faith. The second inmate details her life as an orphan and as the victim of sexual abuse by her foster family. While in prison, she attended a religious crusade and was converted. After release from prison, she married and now has a family; she still recognizes the role of religion in her life. The third inmate became a Christian while in prison, even though he stated he attended church regularly prior to incarceration. Despite regular church attendance, he was abused as a child, and subsequently committed and was jailed for sex offenses. He indicates that Christianity is a growth process that has made him want to compensate for the harm he has done. The fourth inmate says that religion has given him the strength to pursue his career goal of becoming a minister. The author notes that all four inmates managed to deal with their anger toward family members and the world in general through religion.