Faith Based Prisons - Research Paper Example

Faith-Based Prisons Faith-based prisons are the prison cells that comprise of all denominations. Most of the programs in the faith-based prisons use less disciplinary action and lower recidivism. It is not a new phenomenon to see the life of the worst and the most dangerous criminal being transformed to a law abiding and God-fearing person. Many churches have jail or prison ministry, through which they reach out to prisoners within their localities. Sharing the word of God with them and leading them to receive Christ in their lives. In addition to this, there is growing trend of extending this outreach from traditional prison or jail ministry into setting up of formal faith-based dorms, programs and even a whole faith-based prison. The goal of the article is to discuss faith-based prisons in the current penal system. First, I will define and outline the types of faith-based prisons. Secondly, I will outline reasons for the establishment of faith-based prisons and provide arguments supporting their establishment by discussing the effectiveness of faith-based programs to date, the paper also presents evidences and arguments against faith-based prisons. Finally, a critique on the efficacy of faith-based prison in reducing recidivism is drawn basing on the two sides of the argument followed by recommendations. Faith-based prisons do not take away the thought of being in prison and paying for a wrongdoing. Just like in traditional prisons, inmates participate in all normal day-to-day prison activities but at weekends and evenings, they undergo extra classes that deeply examine issues like spirituality, good parenting, anger management, effect of crime on victims, moral expectations of a believer among others. There are evidences of people who after going through a faith-based prison, they have totally changed and are now working towards the development of a morally upright society. An example of this is Cooper Ken, a convicted bank robber who is now an evangelical leader (Goddard, 2003). Definition and types The term faith-based refers to any idea, plan, program or organization that has been established based on religious beliefs. In this case, a faith-based prison is a type of program that seeks to transform offenders through religious teachings on morality and spirituality. There are no distinctive types of faith-based prisons. However, they can be established by a religious organization like a church, an example of this being the Lawtey Correctional Institution program in Raiford, Florida. Alternatively, they can be incorporated into existing traditional prisons as a faith and character program. In this case, those who choose to enroll for the faith and character program are assigned to a different dormitory where they hold meetings with leaders and clergy to discuss issues of spirituality and morality. Faith-based prisons accommodate inmates that have chosen to participate in faith-based rehabilitation programs regardless of their spiritual beliefs. Reasons for the establishment of faith-based prison Faith based prison is the re-entry program for the prisoner which aims at helping those individuals returning from the prison re-integrate themselves back into the public. Volunteers run most of the faith-based prisons. In the faith, based prisons inmates are enlightened about the possible way of rehabilitating. MacKenzie (2006) explains that faith-based prisons have taken a different focus on the prison environment by transforming the prison environment from one that promotes anti-social behavior into one that fosters a positive social behavior The main reason for the establishment of faith-based prisons is the high rates of recidivism among people who graduate from traditional prisons/rehabilitation programs. A study carried out on recidivism in traditional prisons indicated that after going through rehabilitation programs, the rates of recidivism among offenders were almost as high as those who did not go through any rehabilitation program. The difference is only 5-10% (Petersilia, 2003). This shows that the treatment programs found in traditional prisons have failed to reduce recidivism significantly. It is necessary to acknowledge that a significant confrontation of social problems/issues requires the involvement of support networks and volunteers especially religious people and faith-based networks. Within the faith based prisons, there are programs which are meant to help in the rehabilitation of the inmate. Unlike the traditional prisons, the post-release services of faith-based prisons mainly focus on offenders with high-risk profiles and those who have higher support needs. They provide closer supervision and help to offenders who are likely to be arrested upon release from prison. In addition, they always help to assimilate the offender into the community through supportive and productive relationships with local churches, family members and workplace. This is critical in the formation of a new network of friends and formation of new lifestyles for avoiding re-offense (MacKenzie, 2006). According to Mears et al (2006), faith-based prisons are effective in filling rehabilitation voids presented by resource-trapped prisons. Faith-based programs- faith based programs are the programs that are meant to rehabilitate and change the life of a criminal. Only the criminals who pass through the faith-based prison receive these programs. Spiritual guiding is used as a guideline in the faith based programs. The programs are designed to change the internal motivation as well as the external behavior of an inmate. Some of the programs are rehabilitation programs, correction programs, mentoring inmates, welfare and social programs. The effectiveness of faith-based programs in reducing recidivism Faith based programs are effective in enabling people to overcome persistent social ills. A study of the New York prisoners who had taken part in the faith-based programs had some results. It showed them to have a much lower recidivism rate than the other group of prisoners who had not taken part in the program. Of those who participated, only a few were re-arrested, but out of those who did not participate in the program, a larger percentage of them were re-arrested. A supportive argument for this is that if we can manage to change what is inside a person, then we can manage to give offenders the opportunity to lead a morally upright life. The Inner Change Freedom Initiative (IFI) is a clear evidence of the effectiveness of faith-based programs to reduce recidivism. The program was launched in 1997 in Texas, and a 6-year follow up of some of its participants indicate that those who completed the program had lower recidivism than those who did not take part in it. The results were 17.3% vs 50% and 17.3% vs 35% respectively within the first two years after release (Johnson, 2004). Graduates from the program state that they were taught to respect, and were treated with respect and given hope. While in the program, the volunteers function as personal mentors for the inmates. They offer each one of them the support they require both during and after their incineration. The mentorship is more effective in helping the inmates re-integrate and settle in the community after completing their sentences. Faith-based prisons also have provided better post-release services and supervision that help to reduce recidivism resulting from the inability to reintegrate into the community. Arguments against faith-based prisons One of the arguments given by church-state separations against faith-based prisons is that it tries to force people into being Christians. However, this has been ironed out by the extension of this program to include teachings or programs based on other religions that can offer quality teachings on morality. The programs are also non-discriminative on participants basing on their religious backgrounds. Another argument is that there is inadequate evidence supporting their effectiveness over traditional prisons. Critique on the efficacy of faith is based-prison in reducing recidivism Although more evidence is needed to validate claims that faith-based prisons are more effective in reducing recidivism, their approach to re-offense is more promising. These prisons provide the needed all round approach to crime reduction. They not only aim at transforming prisoners into morally upright and law abiding citizens but also attempt to transform the prison culture from one that promotes anti-social behavior to one that is conducive to the inmates, and fosters promotion of social behavior. Such an environment is essential in the development of a change in attitude towards crimes. By making it a goal to transform the prisoners from within, faith-based prisons provide a more viable form of rehabilitation. Only such an approach to human rehabilitation can result in the development of long-term and suitable change in character among inmates, and thus, provide a powerful way of reducing recidivism. Conclusion and recommendation Faith-based prisons take an all round approach to offender rehabilitation and crime reduction. By changing the prison environment to that which promotes the respect for the laws/commands of God, encourages moral and spiritual regeneration of prisoners, these prisons have been more effective in stimulating the development of a sustainable moral character among inmates. Added to its supportive and constructive re-integration programs, faith-based prisons can be said to be more effective in reducing recidivism. Therefore, institutions should follow a faith-based model in order to reduce recidivism. Traditional correctional institutions should integrate such programs to their existing rehabilitation program while churches and the government should develop more faith-based prisons. References Goddard, J. (2003). Floridas new approach to inmate reform: a faith-based prison. Retrieved from http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/1224/p01s04-usju.html. Johnson, B. (2004). Religious programs and recidivism among former inmates in prison fellowship programs: A long-term follow-up study. Justice Quarterly, 21(2), 329-354. MacKenzie, D. (2006). What works in corrections: Reducing the criminal activities of offenders and delinquents. New York: Cambridge University Press Mears, D. et al (2006). Faith-Based Efforts to Improve Prisoner Reentry: Assessing the Logic and Evidence. Journal of Criminal Justice, (34), 351-367. Petersilia, J. (2003). When prisoners come home: Parole and prisoner reentry. New York. Oxford University Press. Read More