Posted: September 4th, 2022

Impacts of Faith-based Programs on Individual in Correctional Contexts

Impacts of Faith-based Programs on Individual in Correctional Contexts
The criminal justice system is slowly adopting a variety of alternatives rehabilitation programs for inmates today. Many correctional facilities in the United States are adopting faith-based programs as one of the most viable tools for preparing prisoners for their reentry into society. These programs have created different impacts for inmates, while some have embraced the religious program positively, the rest are reluctant to change (Copes, 2016). The religiosity-crime relationship has become an imperative topic of consideration for policymakers as they attempt to evaluate the faith-based inmate programs on its impacts on reducing recidivism. Inmates that involve in faith-based programs are likely to be involved fewer infractions compared to non-religious inmates perceived to likely commit serious infractions in response to stressors that induce psychological distress (Kerley et al., 2006). This paper seeks to expound the impacts of these programs on an individual in a correctional context.
According to research, faith-based programs increases the confidence for drug recoveries through collaborative coping styles associated with internal or God Loci of control. These programs help the users to identify their future with God while maintaining hope of sobriety once they are out of incarcerations. Through this program, they identify their problems solving skills and realizing that drug addiction is not one form of solving problems but understanding that through spirituality by having the internal locus of control (Kerley et al.,2014). Moreover, conferring to the research from the former drug methamphetamine addicts, the women claimed that living a faith-based life had enabled them to remain their control reclaim their lives back. Additionally, they can now identify their future and strategies having reclaimed their lives form drug bondage that had completed overruled their lives and overshadowed their purpose. This is a positive benefit of the religious faith-based programs in helping them cope with their new lifestyle (Copes, 2016).
Alarmingly, with the high rise in incarcerations in the united states over the past three decades. It is has been essential to understanding the nature in which inmates’ cope with prison stressors and cope during the period of serving their time (Kerley et al., 2011). Numerous research has been conducted to ascertain the influence of religiosity for both emotions and behavioural aspect of coping with the life behind bars. Following a study at the Southeastern prison facility, introduction of faith-based programs reduced the likelihood of inmates involved in arguments that to could consequently lead to serious prison fights (Kerley et al., 2009). This is a clear indication that religiosity and inmate programs in prison play an imperative role in promoting the basic prosocial behaviours among inmates, whereby, they solve their issues more amicably without resorting to violent means conflict resolution.
Religious coping has had a lot of controversies based on their influence to control the internal locus of control for drugs addicts to speed up their recover (Kerley et al.,2005). While faith-based programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous Have suffered a lot of controversies, questioning their effectiveness compared to other rehabilitation programs. However, empirical evidence indicates a positive relationship between reforms and the efficacy of religiosity in helping individual dealing with deleterious circumstances in life to overcome them. They facilitate problem-solving thou collaborative efforts between the individual and God, deterring from deleterious circumstances and self-directing where a person tries to finds balance and purpose (Kerley et al.,2014)

Conclusion
With the increase in the number of incarcerations in the united states, interventions are necessary to reduce the crime rate and reduce recidivism. Most of the inmates are serving sentences owing to drug and substance abuse. Several programs help to rehabilitate these inmates and help their recovery from faith-based addictions. Following the research, it indicates the immense impacts the faith-based organization making an immense contribution to the criminal justice reforms in America.

References
Copes, H., Leban, L., Kerley, K. R., & Deitzer, J. R. (2016). Identities, boundaries, and accounts of women methamphetamine users. Justice Quarterly, 33(1), 134-158.
Kerley, K. R., Deitzer, J. R., & Leban, L. (2014). Who is in control? How women in a halfway house use faith to recover from drug addiction. Religions, 5(3), 852-870.
Kerley, K. R., Copes, H., Linn, A. J., Eason, L., Nguyen, M. H., & Stone, A. M. (2011). Understanding personal change in a women’s faith-based transitional centre. Religions, 2(2), 184-197.
Kerley, K. R., & Copes, H. (2009). “Keepin’My Mind Right” Identity Maintenance and Religious Social Support in the Prison Context. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 53(2), 228-244.
Kerley, K. R., Allison, M. C., & Graham, R. D. (2006). Investigating the impact of religiosity on emotional and behavioural coping in prison. Journal of Crime and Justice, 29(2), 69-93.
Kerley, K. R., Allison, M. C., & Graham, R. D. (2006). Investigating the impact of religiosity on emotional and behavioural coping in prison. Journal of Crime and Justice, 29(2), 69-93.
Kerley, K. R., Matthews, T. L., & Schulz, J. T. (2005). Participation in Operation Starting Line, the experience of negative emotions, and the incidence of malicious behaviour. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 49(4), 410-426.

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