The Role of Religion in Reentry of Offenders

This study addresses the role of religion, reentry, and recidivism in the correctional setting of offender's after release from prison. The assumption is that many faith institutions, as well as the criminal justice system, view reformation and/or the transformation of the lost as an essential mission. For the church it is mandated by its faith to facilitate a process by which those who are imprisoned may be redeemed, restored, and transformed. The process of reform most used by the criminal justice system is incarceration, whereby the system seeks to enforce punishment and retribution. The church wants to see restoration and wholeness. Churches and faith-based organizations have been dubbed as experts in the transformation of a sinner to a saint, thus making the church and faith-based institutions a natural fit in transformation of lives for reentry of individuals back to community.

Today, the use of religion as a correctional program or treatment modality is commonplace in most correctional facilities across the United States.

This dissertation examined the role of religion on the reentry of an offender returning to community and if religion had an impact on their behavior after release from prison that is identifiable in the community.