Religiosity and Institutional Deviance: The impact of Religious Variables upon Inmate Adjustment

Abstract

A number of studies in recent years have examined the extent to which religious commitment is related to deviance. Generally, this literature indicates that religiosity is inversely related to various forms of deviance. The present research attempts to determine if religiosity is also inversely related to various forms of deviance within the prison setting. The study examines three distinct measures of religiosity associated with adult prison inmates in Florida. Unlike most prior research, the findings indicate that measures of religiosity are not related to deviance in the institutional setting. Explanations and implications of the findings are offered.