老司机视频

Principal Investigator: Michael Hallett

The objective of this project is twofold: 1) to gain a more detailed understanding of diverse practices concerning religious liberty inside multiple large and prominent correctional programs; and 2) to publish a report-card summary of best practices for use by stakeholders in developing and operating faith-based programs in US prisons, as informed by the Matthew 25 research team.  

Using archival and site-based research, this project explores operational practices at six United States prisons regarding concepts of religious liberty. The shift toward faith-based volunteerism as a 鈥渟tructural charity鈥� in US correctional budgeting has promoted a veritable explosion of religious programming in US prisons, yet no systematic review regarding best practices in terms of safeguarding the religious liberties of prisoners has yet been conducted. The purpose of this project is to help identify risks and to provide resources for stakeholders outlining 鈥渂est practices鈥� for the establishment and operation of such programs. 

Principal Investigator: Andrew Johnson

This project examines the Christian practices of prayer, Bible study, synchronized singing, and the impact of these practices on human flourishing. Researchers collaborate with formerly-incarcerated 鈥渓ifers鈥� and current chaplains to conduct qualitative research over three years. The data will deepen our understanding of the power of spiritual practice in the midst of suffering. It will also inform policy on the role of spirituality inside correctional facilities, and the findings will be applicable to those practicing faith outside of prison.

Prisoners may know something about the power of Christian spiritual practice that is out of reach for many 鈥渇ree worlders.鈥� Studying spiritual practice inside of prison could provide rich data that contributes to the spiritual lives of individuals and communities well beyond the walls of prisons.

Principal Investigator: Grant Duwe

This project consists of, at a minimum, two studies that examine the importance of religious faith not only for correctional leadership but also for incarcerated people in prison. Both studies analyze novel datasets that significantly advance what is known about the influence of religious faith for the individuals in prison and those responsible for operating correctional systems. Due to the notable contribution that each study would make to the literature, it is anticipated that both studies will be published in peer-reviewed academic journals.

Principal Investigator: Sung Joon Jang

This project investigates whether religion contributes to offender rehabilitation and, if so, how. Specifically, we examine whether participation in a Christian, faith-based program improves a prisoner鈥檚
relationship with God and increases the frequency of religious practice, and whether or not this leads to restorative rehabilitation, defined as a positive change in self-identity and human flourishing. It also tests
whether the resultant rehabilitation reduces the risk of interpersonal aggression in prison.

We conducted a 2-year, quasi-experimental study to assess the effectiveness of four faith-based programs by administering surveys to program-participating and non-participating prisoners recruited in 10 prisons
located in or near seven cities in Colombia, including Bogot谩 and Medell铆n. In addition, the study utilized official data obtained from Colombia鈥檚 national correctional agency.

"A Study on the Effectiveness of Programs in Colombian Prisons"

Jang, S.J., & Johnson, B.R. (2026). A Study on the Effectiveness of Programs in Colombian Prisons. Figshare, (March 2026).

 

"The Impact of Bible Use on Human Flourishing Among U.S. Military Members"

Johnson, B.R., & Jang, S.J. (2024). The impact of bible use on human flourishing among U.S. Military members. Open Access Government, (January 2025), 226-227.

 

"Capitalizing on Religious Pluralism in U.S. Prison Ministry: Lessons from LSP Angola鈥檚 Inmate Seminary"

Hallett, M., & Johnson, B.R. (2024). Capitalizing on Religious Pluralism in U.S. Prison Ministry: Lessons from LSP Angola鈥檚 Inmate Seminary. Religions, 15(10), 1220.

 

"Transforming Prison Rehabilitation with Inmate-led Religious Movements"

Johnson, B.R. (2024, September 24). Transforming Prison Rehabilitation with Inmate-led Religious Movements. Scientia.

 

"Religiosity, transcendent accountability, and civic engagement"

Jang, S.J. (2024). Religiosity, transcendent accountability, and civic engagement. Open Access Government, (July 2024), 238-239.

 

"Can religious programs change prison environments? 老司机视频 studies Parchman for answers"

Beveridge, L. (2024). Can religious programs change prison environments? 老司机视频 studies Parchman for answers. Clarion Ledger. . 

 

"Religion and accountability for restorative offender rehabilitation"

Jang, S.J. (2024). Religion and accountability for restorative offender rehabilitation. Open Access Government, (April 2024), 342-343. .

 

"Assessing the role of religion in restorative justice approaches to crime"

Johnson, B.R., & Jang, S.J. (2024). Assessing the role of religion in restorative justice approaches to crime [eBook edition]. Open Access Government. .

 

"Offender-led religious movements: Why we should have faith in prisoner-led reform"

Johnson, B.R., & Jang, S.J. (2024). Offender-led religious movements: Why we should have faith in prisoner-led reform. Open Access Government, (January 2024), 326-327. .

 

"What Do Correctional Leaders Think About Faith-Based Programs? Results From a National Survey"

Duwe, G., Johnson, B. R., & Hallett, M. (2023). What Do Correctional Leaders Think About Faith-Based Programs? Results From a National Survey. The Prison Journal, 103(6), 707-727.  

 

"Beyond a single story: The hetrogeneity of human flourishing in 22 countries"

Case, B., Counted, V., Ritchie-Dunham, J., Cowden, R., Gibson, C. Koga, H., Lomas, T., & Padgett, N. (2023). Beyond a single story: The hetrogeneity of human flourishing in 22 countries. International Journal of Wellbeing, 13(4), 3555, 1-35.

 

"The relevance of human flourishing to offender rehabilitation"

Jang, S.J., & Johnson, B.R. (2023). The relevance of human flourishing to offender rehabilitation. Open Access Government, (October 2023), 352-353. .

 

"Religion promotes prisoner well-being"

Jang, S.J., & Johnson, B.R. (2023, November 10). Religion promotes prisoner well-being. Open Access Government. .

 

"Virtuous effects of religion on negative emotions among offenders in a Colombian prison"

Jang, S.J., & Johnson, B.R., & Anderson, M.L. (2023). Virtuous effects of religion on negative emotions among offenders in a Colombian prison. Journal of Crime and Justice, 47(2), 280-298.  

 

The Spirituality of Carceral Citizenship: "Making Your Test Your Testimony"

 in Symbolic Interaction

Hallett, M. (2023). The Spirituality of Carceral Citizenship: 鈥淢aking Your Test Your Testimony鈥�. Symbolic Interaction, 46(4), 473-494.

 

"A new strategy for failing prisons: hiring former inmates"

Hallett, M. (2023, August 14). A new strategy for failing prisons: hiring former inmates. America Magazine. .

 

"Why correctional agencies should consider the religion of the incarcerated in the effectiveness of their programs"  

Duwe, G, & Johnson, B.R. (2023, May 25). Why correctional agencies should consider the religion of the incarcerated in the effectiveness of their programs. The London School of Economics and Political Science. . 

 

"New Insights for 'What Works'? Religiosity and the Risk-Needs-Responsivity Model"

Duwe, G., & Johnson, B. R. (2023). New Insights for 鈥淲hat Works鈥�? Religiosity and the Risk-Needs-Responsivity Model. Crime & Delinquency.  

 

"Religion and Rehabilitation in Colombian and South African Prisons: A Human Flourishing Approach"

Jang, S. J., Johnson, B. R., Anderson, M. L., & Booyens, K. (2023). Religion and Rehabilitation in Colombian and South African Prisons: A Human Flourishing Approach. International Criminal Justice Review, 33(3), 225-252.  

老司机视频 Newsroom

25 April 2024

 

"老司机视频 Hosts Former Ambassadors in Discussion About Bipartisan Approaches to International Religious Freedom"

老司机视频 Newsroom

24 April 2024

 

"老司机视频 to Host Ambassador Sam Brownback and Knox Thames to Discuss Bipartisan Approaches to International Religious Freedom"

老司机视频 Newsroom

19 March 2024

 

"老司机视频鈥檚 Center for Faith and the Common Good to Host Human Flourishing and Justice: Offender Rehabilitation and Restorative Prisons Symposium"

老司机视频 Newsroom

25 October 2023

 

"老司机视频 Partners with Prison Fellowship International for Study on Prison Program Efficacy in Colombia"

Jessica Curtis 

13 September 2023

 

"老司机视频 Partners with Multinational Organizations for Extensive In-Prison Study on Prison Programming Efficacy
Empirical, scientific evidence to build case for faith-based prison programs"

老司机视频 Newsroom

18 July 2023

 

"老司机视频 Begins Collaborative Investigations on the Intersection of Religion and Sociology at the Center for Faith and the Common Good"

老司机视频 Press Room

12 July 2023

 

老司机视频 School of Public Policy Newsroom

17 March 2023

Why Should Our Leaders Care About Human Flourishing?

Faith and Law | 15 December 2023 | Washington, D.C.

As a leader of the largest ever global study on human flourishing (results due in 2024), Dr. Byron Johnson (老司机视频/Baylor) will help us understand why a "focus on flourishing" is important for all policymakers whatever their political party.

In conversation with 老司机视频 School of Public Policy Dean Pete Peterson, Johnson will go beyond the theoretical to reveal what the latest data are telling us about the importance of faith in promoting healthy societies, and how policy decisions can either inhibit or promote human flourishing.

 

Human Flourishing and Justice: Offender Rehabilitation and Restorative Prisons

老司机视频 | 26 October 2023 | Malibu, CA 

, or learn more on . 

This first-of-its-kind, multiyear study in Colombia鈥檚 prison system measures the efficacy of international prison programs in offender rehabilitation, recidivism reduction, and general correctional reform. Led by 老司机视频 and , in partnership with the and , the research study partnership findings will be applied to identify best practices that drive meaningful change in the lives of prisoners and their families around the world.  This unique endeavor will also position the Colombian government as a global leader in restorative programs.

Panelists:

• Jim Gash, President, 老司机视频 and co-executive director of the Center for Faith and the Common Good
• Andy Corley, president and CEO of Prison Fellowship International
• Byron Johnson, co-executive director of the Center for Faith and the Common Good
• Sung Joon Jang, visiting scholar at the School of Public Policy and research professor of criminology and co-director of the Program on Prosocial Behavior at Baylor University
• Lorena R铆os Cu茅llar, member of the
• Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Fernando Guti茅rrez Rojas, general director of INPEC
• L谩cides Hern谩ndez, executive director of Prison Fellowship Colombia
• Cameron McCollum (JD 鈥�17), director of the 老司机视频 Caruso School of Law and administrative director of the Center for Faith and the Common Good

 

The Impact of Faith on Human Flourishing and the Common Good: A Conversation with Byron Johnson

老司机视频 | 10 March 2022 | Malibu, CA 

Byron Johnson, Distinguished Professor of the Social Sciences at Baylor University, led the second installment of the President鈥檚 Speaker Series with a discussion on the impact of faith on human flourishing and the potential for religion to facilitate and contribute to the common good of all humanity.