Religion and Rehabilitation as Moral Reform: Conceptualization and Preliminary Evidence

We examine how religion contributes to rehabilitation, which we conceptualize as moral reform and operationalize in terms of self-identity, existential belief, and character. We hypothesize that religion contributes to identity transformation, a sense of meaning and purpose in life, and virtue development. We also hypothesize that faith-based rehabilitation reduces negative emotions and the risk of interpersonal aggression. We conducted a quasi-experiment on a faith-based program in a state jail and a maximum-security prison in Texas, using a convenience sample of male inmates. To test our hypotheses, we compare inmates who graduated the program with those who did not and applied manifest-variable structural equation modeling to analyze data from pretest and posttest surveys. Program participation was linked to an increase in religiosity, which contributed to identity transformation (cognitive and emotional transformations and crystallization of discontent), the perceived presence of meaning and purpose in life, and virtues (including self-control, compassion, and forgiveness). Faith-based rehabilitation in turn reduced state depression and anxiety and the probability of engaging in aggression toward another inmate. This study provides preliminary evidence of religion’s rehabilitative effect on offenders; findings which hold promise for prison administrators looking for creative ways to support evidence-based and cost-effective approaches to rehabilitation within the correctional system.