Religion and spirituality are commonly used as a rehabilitation approach within institutions. It is mostly proven to be effective, however, one must keep in mind that these studies mainly consist of adult male participants.
Religion has shaped the moral logic of incarceration. The term for prisons, “penitentiary,” was developed by the Quakers in the 1800s (Jarrett, 133). The Quakers, also known as the Religious Society of Friends, are an offshoot of the Church of England. They saw corruption in the religion and faced persecution from England and the American Colonies, and because of this, William Penn founded the Pennsylvania Colony to provide a safe space for Quakers (GotQuestions.org). They were looking to reform the purpose of prison as moral reflection and change the treatment of those who are incarcerated (Jarrett, 133). With an inherently religious background, there is no doubt that chaplains are crucial to certain people’s rehabilitation. Chaplains are trained religious or spiritual caregivers who provide support, counseling, and services in secular settings such as prisons, hospitals, and psychiatric wards. Today, almost all U.S. prisons employ chaplains, hold religious services, and provide spiritual guidance/counseling. Religious life is not optional in a correctional environment because it is woven into its historical identity and mission for rehabilitation. Harry Dammer states, “For centuries, churches were among the first institutions to provide asylum for accused criminals. The actual establishment of prisons and penitentiaries was a religious idea to that allowed the offender to obtain penance for his crimes, make amends, and convert while being isolated from others” (Dammer). Since churches were the first institutions to create the idea of penitentiaries, it makes sense that religion persists in prisons today. However, these early institutions seem predatory – either the person converts or they face serious danger.
In a study by Sung Joon Jang, he sought to examine how religion influences moral rehabilitation for prisoners. Jang conducted his experiment on a faith-based program in a maximum security prison in Texas and a state jail, using a sample of male inmates. In his study, he discovered that religion may have caused prisoners to seek changes in their behavior and cognition. Since religions outline core beliefs and strict morals, this gives incarcerated people a clear path to follow. Jang states, “Since the matter of rightness, goodness, worthiness, and justice is determined by something outside of self, moral reform needs to be based on a system of self-transcendence rather than expediency or self-interest” (Jang). Religion provides such a system of self-transcendence, and becomes a potential birthplace of moral reform. This quote shows that the study seeks to rebuild morals using religion as a way to transform the prisoners identity. Therefore, Jang believes that they have a chance to redeem themselves and replace their “old self” with a “new self” (Jang). Jang states, “Religion offers an opportunity to replace an ‘old self’ with a ‘new self’ (James, 2007), helping offenders write a ‘redemption script,’ a narrative that allows a new start built on the new self (Hallett & McCoy, 2015)” (Jang). Religion gives incarcerated people a new sense of meaning and purpose in life, which is important for rehabilitation and integration back into society. The Prison Fellowship, a “family” of former inmates who found God in prison and spread the word of Jesus in Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility, support this claim. One member, Calvin, was a drug addict, selfish, and a self-proclaimed menace to society. Someone in jail invited him to church, but he was so used to doing so much wrong that he felt like he would be out of place. However, he realized this could be a start of something different. Calvin signed up for a men’s bible study and worship, and since then he never went back to a life of crime. In fact, he’s helping other people in his situation find God and meaning. Another man, Roman, was a gang member who continued being a part of a gang for twenty years while he was imprisoned. He feels that he is a completely transformed man by the power of Jesus Christ in his life, and has been following God for the last fifteen years. There is a sentiment in this group that “God is making us better”. They were given the chance to be human and go back to their original way of being, which they say is showing kindness to fellow man. This family keeps each other accountable, and their love for one another is really impactful.
Data on the role of a chaplain in prisons is limited. Much of the literature in chaplaincy studies is speculative, which makes it hard to determine their impact (Jarrett, 134). However, a study by Maneula Jarrett looks into what chaplains do and what their role is.
Chaplains in prisons have roles that are broader than leading religious services. They have a wide range of duties, such as pastoral/emotional support, education classes, and material support (Jarrett, 135). Jarrett states, “A participant in one study said they preferred chaplain support over the prison psychologist as they did not ask questions the person who was incarcerated did not wish to answer, they simply listened” (Jarrett, 135). Since chaplains listen without judgement and do not push unwanted advice, this quote shows how their role differs from a psychologist. Instead of trying to “fix” these people, they simply listen and act as a companion to those who are struggling. Chaplains also help prisoners manage grief, guilt, mental health, and substance abuse. Jarret states, “…prison chaplains helping to address the mental health needs of incarcerated people (Forrester et al., 2018), problems with substance use (De Andrade et al., 2018), self-harm and suicidal ideation (Stijelja & Mishara, 2022), and in establishing links with the community for housing and employment (Ellison et al., 2017; McKernan, 2017)” (Jarret, 133-134). This quote shows the various things that chaplains are equipped to handle. A huge part of a their role is to support reintegration and prepare people for life post-release through creating a sense of community and belonging. Some incarcerated people reported that their interactions with chaplains contributed to their choice to leave a life of crime behind after release. Even when religious belief is not the central focus, a chaplain’s pastoral support and emotional companionship can make a meaningful difference in someone’s life.
Using a Mad Studies lens, there are some important questions that come up when Using a Mad Studies lens, there are some important questions that come up when studying spirituality in prison:
- Whose morality gets to define rehabilitation?
- When prisoners create their “new self”, did they genuinely transform into a new person? Or are they conforming to the institution’s expectations?
By asking these questions, we are encourages to examine how religion in prison functions in systems of disciplinary power, while also being attentive to how incarcerated people navigate and interpret spirituality in relation to the institution’s expectations of rehabilitation.
Sources:
Dammer, Harry. 2012. “Religion in Corrections.” Scranton.edu. August. https://www.scranton.edu/faculty/dammerh2/ency-religion.shtml.
GotQuestions.org. 2009. “Who Are the Quakers, and What Does the Friends Church Believe? | GotQuestions.org.” GotQuestions.org. November 12. https://www.gotquestions.org/Quakers-Friends.html.
Jang, Sung Joon, and Byron R. Johnson. 2022. “Religion and Rehabilitation as Moral Reform: Conceptualization and Preliminary Evidence.” American Journal of Criminal Justice 49 (December): 1–27. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s12103-022-09707-3.
Jarrett, Manuela, James Skinner, Ronalds Busulwa, Judith Dyson, and Joanne Brooke. 2024. “The Role and Impact of the Prison Chaplain: A Systematic Review and Narrative Synthesis.” Journal of Pastoral Care & Counseling Advancing Theory and Professional Practice through Scholarly and Reflective Publications, November. SAGE Publishing. doi:https://doi.org/10.1177/15423050241296487.
Prison Fellowship. 2025. “Meeting Jesus in Prison | Prisoners’ Testimonies and Volunteer Stories of Faith behind Bars.” YouTube. June 6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKM0gDMtKJA.