An Evidence-Based Assessment of Faith-Based Programs: Do Faith-Based Programs “Work” to Reduce Recidivism?

Faith-based organizations administer many of the prison-based programs aimed at reducing recidivism. Many of these organizations also manage treatment programs for substance abusers, at-risk juveniles, and ex-offenders. Much of the research on religiosity and delinquency indicates that the two are inversely related. Therefore, it seems plausible that faith-based programs, which are rooted in religious organizations, may be effective tools for reducing deviant and criminal behavior. However, it is unclear whether the empirical evidence supports such a claim. This study is an evidence-based assessment of the effectiveness of faith-based programs for reducing recidivism. The results of this study indicate that faith-based programs "work" to reduce recidivism. Directions for future research are discussed. KEYWORDS: faith-based programsprison programsrecidivismreligion and criminalityreligiosity Notes Note. T = treatment group; C = control group. Source: (Sherman, Farrington, Welsh, & MacKenzie, Citation2002). Note: X = present and O = absent. There were black respondents but they were subsequently dropped from the analysis because their response rates were not representative of the population from which they were selected.