Dear Colleagues,

Over the last several decades, a significant body of evidence has emerged that consistently documents that religiosity is inversely associated with delinquent behavior. The relationship remains significant even when accounting for other factors that might also explain delinquency. These findings are consistent with other empirical evidence linking religiosity to relatively low levels of crime among adults and young adults. Whereas criminologists have tended to focus on the effects of living in communities with profound disadvantages that predispose youth to delinquent behavior, we are now beginning to understand the effects that religion or religious institutions may have in providing “advantages” (or protection) for those who live in these same communities. 

Research is needed that answers the less-often addressed question of why and how religion matters. While criminological theories suggest that religion should reduce crime and delinquency by increasing social control and self-control and decreasing antisocial learning and the effect of criminogenic strain, they are limited in offering explanations unique to religion, such as fostering virtues and religious coping. In addition, the emerging sub-field of “positive criminology” has generated research findings suggesting that positive and restorative practices in criminal justice may be more efficacious than the predominantly punitive approaches currently in use. Such positive and restorative programs may include efforts to foster social support and connectedness, enhance meaningful service to others, promote transformative spiritual experience, and develop non-criminal identity change.  Research is beginning to help us to understand the importance of religious influences in not only protecting people from harmful outcomes, but in how faith promotes salutary and prosocial outcomes. This beneficial relationship is not simply a function of religion’s constraining function or what it discourages—opposing drug use or criminal behavior—but is also mediated through what it encourages—promoting behaviors that can enhance purpose, well-being, or educational attainment. New research will allow us to more fully understand the ways in which religion directly and indirectly impacts crime, delinquency, and prisoner rehabilitation, as well as provide insights for rethinking prison reform.

As policymakers consider strategies for reducing crime, it is essential for such deliberations to seriously consider the role of religion and religious institutions in implementing, developing, and sustaining new and more restorative approaches to resolving the challenges of crime and deviance. From after-school programs for disadvantaged youth to public/private partnerships that bring together secular and sacred groups to tackle social problems, such as through mentoring offenders and addressing the prisoner reentry crisis, it is apparent that any effective strategy will be needlessly incomplete unless the role of religion and religious communities, and the religious networks of social support found within them, are integrally involved. Indeed, a better understanding of the mechanisms associated with prosocial behavior will assist in the development of future prevention and intervention strategies. This Special Issue of Religions solicits papers that seek to unravel the role of religiosity, religious institutions and congregations in combating crime and delinquency as well as promoting prosocial behavior. 

Prof. Byron JohnsonGuest Editor

Prof. Dr. Byron R. Johnson
Prof. Dr. Sung Joon Jang
Prof. Dr. Michael Hallett
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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• crime/delinquency
• prisons
• offender treatment
• prosocial behavior
• religion/religiosity
• congregations