U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.
        Here's how you know
      Here's how you know**Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
      **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            
            A **lock** (
            A locked padlock
            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Menu

      
        close

            
            
                                              About NIJ
        
                    
  
          About NIJ
      
    
          The NIJ Director
          How NIJ Is Organized
          Mission and Guiding Principles
          Research and Development Process
          Strategic Framework
          Assessments of NIJ
          Annual Reports & Reports to Congress
          Staff Directory
          Funding & Awards
        
                    
  
          Funding & Awards
      
    
          Current Funding
          Forthcoming Funding
          Expired Funding
          Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
          Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
          Fellowship & Student Programs
          Travel Scholarships
          NIJ Challenge Program
          Library & Multimedia
        
                    
  
          Library & Multimedia
      
    
          NIJ Journal
          Podcasts
          Publications Listing
          Multimedia Listing
          Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
          Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
          Software & Databases
          Datasets
          Patents
          Topics
        
                    
  
          Topics
      
    
          Article Listing
          Corrections
          Courts
          Crime Prevention
          Crimes
          Drugs and Crime
          Equipment and Technology
          Forensic Sciences
          Youth Justice
          Justice System Reform
          Law Enforcement
          Tribal Crime and Justice
          Victims of Crime
          Events
        
                    
  
          Events
      
    
          NIJ 2024 Research Conference
          Scheduled Events
          On-Demand Events
          Research Meetings & Workshops
          NIJ-Hosted Online Training

                            
                                About
          Contact Us
          Subscribe
          Topics A-Z
                  Share
FacebookXLinkedInRedditPinterestEmail Home
                            Library & Multimedia
 Religiousness and Post-Release Community Adjustment Graduate Research Fellowship--Executive Summary
NCJ Number
              184509

Author(s)
          Melvina T. Sumter
Date Published

2000
Length
              17 pages
Annotation
              This study explored the relationship between the religiousness and post-release community adjustment of male inmates, as measured by official Federal Bureau of Investigation criminal history reports.
Abstract
              The study was based on a quasi-experimental design of two groups of prisoners, a religious group and a non-religious comparison group. Inmates completed a battery of questionnaires about their background characteristics, religious beliefs and activities, and institutional experiences during the last weeks before their release from prison. Within 3 months after their release, surveys were conducted with inmates who could be reached by telephone. The telephone survey included questions about the emotional adjustment of ex-inmates to freedom and about their civic and religious activities, drug and alcohol use, and criminal behavior during the 3-month post-release period. Results showed the religion measures of belief, society, personal identity, morality, and history were not statistically significant. In contrast, the religion measures of transcend and ritual were statistically significant, with transcend being the most important determinant of recidivism. According to the ex-inmates, religion gave them an opportunity to compensate for their past behavior and to seek forgiveness from God. This belief in God was strengthened and reinforced through ritual participation in various religious sacraments and activities. Moreover, participation in religious programs reinforced and strengthened the ex-inmate's religious commitments and beliefs. Offenders who identified themselves as Protestants were less likely to recidivate than offenders who were not Protestants. Risk measures of offender age at the time of release were statistically significant, and the reduction in arrest rates for ex-inmates was primarily the result of maturation effects. Most prison adjustment measures were not statistically significant, but the prison adjustment measure of self-esteem was statistically significant. Overall, total number of prior arrests and age of offender at release were the most significant predictors of recidivism. Religiousness and religion measures are listed in an appendix. 2 footnotes
      
  
          Additional Details
Grant Number(s)
        99-IJ-CX-0001


  
  
        
  Agencies
        NIJ-Sponsored


  
  
        
  Publication Type
        Report (Study/Research)
    
  
  
Date Published: January 1, 2000
    
          Downloads
        
                      PDF

Related Datasets
        
                      http://dx.doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR03022
Side navigation
  

        

  
  
              NIJ Journal
    
      
            
            
            
      Podcasts
    
      
            
            
            
      Publications Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Multimedia Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Software & Databases
    
      
            
            
            
      Datasets
    
      
            
            
            
      PatentsRelated Topics
        
                Corrections
        Corrections research
        Inmate background characteristics
        Inmate characteristics
        Male offenders



  
Similar Publications
        
                      Differentiation of Structurally Similar Phenethylamines via Gas Chromatography-Vacuum Ultraviolet Spectroscopy (GC-VUV)
                  Body Fluid Identification Using a Targeted mRNA Massively Parallel Sequencing Approach - Results of a EUROFORGEN/EDNAP Collaborative Exercise
                  Mass Spectrometry Imaging of Latent Fingerprints Using Titanium Oxide Development Powder as an Existing Matrix
 Top

      National Institute of Justice

        
        
                        About NIJ
                    About NIJ
      
    
                  How NIJ Is Organized
      
    
                  NIJ Director
      
    
                  Research Disclaimer
      
    
                  Funding & Awards
                    Funding & Awards Home
      
    
                  Awards Listing
      
    
                  Current Funding
      
    
                  Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
      
    
                  Resources
                    Events
      
    
                  Podcasts
      
    
                  Publications
      
    
                  Topics
      
    
                  Multimedia
      
    
                  Reuse Policy
      
    
                  Contacts
                    Contact NIJ
      
    
                  Staff Directory
      
    
                  Submit a FOIA Request
      
    
                  File a Civil Rights ComplaintFacebook
          
                      X
          
                      YouTube
  

      810 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20531
      
              Secondary Footer link menu
            Accessibility
              Plain Language
              Privacy Policy
              Legal Policies and Disclaimer
              No FEAR Act
              Freedom of Information Act
              USA.gov
              Justice.gov