Pew Research Center

FOR RELEASE MARCH 22, 2012

Webcast of Report Release Event: Religion in Prisons

According to a Pew Forum survey of professional prison chaplains, America’s state penitentiaries are a bustle of religious activity. Chaplains say that efforts by inmates to convert other inmates are common and that at least some religious switching occurs. And chaplains overwhelmingly consider religion-based programming an important aspect of rehabilitating prisoners. Watch a video from […]

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Pew Research Center, March 2012, "Webcast of Report Release Event: Religion in Prisons"

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  • About Pew Research Center

Webcast of Report Release Event: Religion in Prisons

According to a Pew Forum survey of professional prison chaplains, America’s state penitentiaries are a bustle of religious activity. Chaplains say that efforts by inmates to convert other inmates are common and that at least some religious switching occurs. And chaplains overwhelmingly consider religion-based programming an important aspect of rehabilitating prisoners. Watch a video from […]

According to a Pew Forum survey of professional prison chaplains, America’s state penitentiaries are a bustle of religious activity. Chaplains say that efforts by inmates to convert other inmates are common and that at least some religious switching occurs. And chaplains overwhelmingly consider religion-based programming an important aspect of rehabilitating prisoners.

Watch a video from the release event highlighting the key findings of the survey. The video features a presentation by the report’s lead researchers as well as additional insights from experts who have worked with the correctional system. Follow along with the presentation by flipping through the slideshow underneath the video.

Speakers: Stephanie Boddie and Cary Funk, Senior Researchers, Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life John Dilulio, Frederic Fox Leadership Professor of Politics, Religion, and Civil Society, University of Pennsylvania Tom O’Connor, CEO of Transforming Corrections and former Research Manager for the Oregon State Department of Corrections

Moderator: Alan Cooperman, Associate Director of Research, Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life

Read the event transcript here.

Read the full report here.

You will need Adobe Flash Player to view the video. Click here to download it.

(Slides updated May 3, 2012)

Read the full report here.