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.

我们研究宗教如何促进康复，我们将其概念化为道德改革，并根据自我认同、存在主义信仰和性格进行操作。我们假设宗教有助于身份转变、人生意义和目的感以及美德发展。我们还假设基于信仰的康复可以减少负面情绪和人际攻击的风险。我们使用男性囚犯的便利样本，在德克萨斯州监狱和德克萨斯州最高安全监狱中对基于信仰的计划进行了准实验。为了检验我们的假设，我们比较了毕业于该项目的囚犯和没有毕业的囚犯，并应用清单变量结构方程模型来分析来自测试前和测试后调查的数据。计划参与与宗教信仰的增加有关，这有助于身份转变（认知和情感转变以及不满的具体化）、生活中意义和目的的感知存在以及美德（包括自我控制、同情和宽恕）。基于信仰的康复反过来减少了抑郁和焦虑状态以及对另一名囚犯进行攻击的可能性。这项研究提供了宗教对罪犯改过自新效果的初步证据；调查结果为监狱管理人员带来了希望，他们正在寻找创造性的方法来支持以证据为基础且具有成本效益的惩教系统内的康复方法。和美德（包括自制力、同情心和宽恕）。基于信仰的康复反过来减少了抑郁和焦虑状态以及对另一名囚犯进行攻击的可能性。这项研究提供了宗教对罪犯改过自新效果的初步证据；调查结果为监狱管理人员带来了希望，他们正在寻找创造性的方法来支持以证据为基础且具有成本效益的惩教系统内的康复方法。和美德（包括自制力、同情心和宽恕）。基于信仰的康复反过来减少了抑郁和焦虑状态以及对另一名囚犯进行攻击的可能性。这项研究提供了宗教对罪犯改过自新效果的初步证据；调查结果为监狱管理人员带来了希望，他们正在寻找创造性的方法来支持以证据为基础且具有成本效益的惩教系统内的康复方法。