Mock Chapter 1

Introduction

Overview

The recidivism rates of inmates may be greatly reduced by the placement of chaplains in correctional facilities. This study seeks to measure the impact of the placement of Good News Jail and Prison Ministry chaplains on inmate recidivism. Good News Jail and Prison Ministries places chaplains in jails and prisons throughout the United States, and around the world (Good News Jail and Prison Ministry, 2015). Research herein focuses on whether or not the presence of a chaplain affects inmates in such a way as to incline the inmate not to reoffend after release (Stansfield et al., 2019). Measurement considered includes correctional facilities with placement of a chaplain primarily from Good News Jail and Prison Ministries, then other organizations, as well as jails and prisons with no chaplain placement.

An original quantitative survey instrument has been developed for the purpose of collecting information from at least 20 active prison chaplains. The survey seeks to obtain results in discovering chaplains’ perceptions with regard to their impact on the recidivism rate within the correctional facilities they serve, based on their work inside the prison walls. It is anticipated that comparative outcomes, measured against the readily available statistical data, and potential data accuracies of participant perceptions will provide an overall solution to the problem. However, it is also anticipated that a positive outcome of the study may make evident that more research in the area of the effect of chaplaincy placement on reduced inmate recidivism would be beneficial (Creswell & Creswell, 2018).

Background and problem statement

Placing chaplains in correctional facilities may prove to reduce inmate recidivism rates, and the present survey seeks to answer that question. The research includes a comparison of chaplains’ perceptions of their impact on prison recidivism versus other data. The goal is to consider prisons in heavily populated urban areas, including urban areas with the highest rate of incarceration. Correctional facilities will be selected from quantitative data provided by official readily available statistical information. Significant data will be pulled from the Bureau of Justice Statistics (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2021). The intent is to accumulate cross-sectional responses from active prison chaplains, both from Good News Jail and Prison Ministry, and elsewhere, and potentially fill an existing gap in the research (Good News Jail and Prison Ministry, 2015). Some consideration will need to be given to ensure that participants have a similar understanding of the definition of recidivism (Ostermann et al., 2015).

Limited research, and therefore, data, exist surrounding whether or not the placement of chaplains in general has a positive impact on inmate recidivism. Therefore, the anticipated research results seem to suggest a great need for further research. Chaplain perceptions of the success of their presence, and their faith-based programs within the prison walls, as it relates to reduced inmate recidivism is compared to data pulled from Bureau of Justice Statistics (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2021). The importance of inmate spiritual, and religious identity as it relates to inmate well-being, positive realignment with society upon release, and a decreased chance of re-offending and returning to prison after incarceration is evident in some prior research studies. Providing

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inmates options for attendance and learning via self-improvement, faith-based and other programs under the leadership of a chaplain and team of volunteers, assists with the reduction of inmate recidivism (Stansfield et al., 2019).

Purpose of the study

The intent of this study is to comparatively ascertain whether or not placement of a chaplain within prisons is a model that is beneficial to the conceptual framework of reducing recidivism of inmates under the tutelage of a chaplain. More specifically, the study takes into account the three independent variables of Good News Jail and Prison Ministry chaplains, other chaplains, and no chaplain placement. The general purpose of chaplains is to provide faith-based guidance and support to incarcerated individuals. The study seeks to define the relationship between the three independent variables, and the one dependent variable, which is inmate recidivism. Recidivism is defined as a former inmate’s re-offense and return to incarceration in a correctional facility (Creswell & Creswell, 2018).

Significance of the study

Should the placement of chaplains in correctional facilities prove to positively impact the reduced rate of prison inmate recidivism, then the present study will provide evidence of great results toward reducing inmate re-offense. Additionally, discovering whether or not the chaplaincy model established by Good News Jail and Prison Ministry is beneficial in reducing recidivism versus other placed chaplains is of great significance, as well as comparative to prisons with no chaplain on staff. Further, the study may prove to be significant in providing feedback from chaplains, based on their perceptions of their impact on the recidivism rate within the facilities they serve, or, alternatively, assist chaplains in further understanding the impact of their role on recidivism, based on obtained quantitative data. Researchers, prison chaplains, organizations that place chaplains, correctional facilities, as well as city, county, state, and federal prison policy makers stand to benefit greatly from the study.

Research Questions

The questions to be analyzed in this study are:

1. Is the rate of prison inmate recidivism impacted by placement of chaplains in correctional facilities?

2. Is the rate of prison inmate recidivism impacted by placement of Good News Jail and Prison Ministry chaplains in correctional facilities?

3. How does the recidivism rate between prisons with the placement of Good News chaplains compare to prisons with other chaplains or with none?

4. What are chaplains’ perceptions with regard to their impact on the recidivism rate within the facilities they serve?

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Limitations of the Study

The study encompasses a limited number of correctional facilities in and around major cities in the United States, which limits the quantitative data retrieved, and may not equate similar results from correctional facilities in rural areas. Additionally, quantitative data retrieved may not include all desired parameters of the research study, such as accurate city populations, area prisons, recidivism statistics, and chaplaincy data. Further, there is not a significant amount of recent research on the topic, which combines prison chaplaincy and inmate recidivism. Further limitations to be considered are the limited number of quantitative instrument chaplain participants, that being 20, as well as the possibility that the chaplains surveyed may be unaware of or disinterested in recidivism rates of inmates.

Assumptions

The study assumes that the overall outcome will evidence at least a slight benefit of prison chaplaincy placement on reduced inmate recidivism. Additionally, the research takes on the assumption that Good News Jail and Prison Ministry and other chaplains have a perception of some sort regarding their effect on inmate recidivism.

Definitions

Correctional Facility – A city, county, state, or federal jail or prison (Ostermann et al., 2015).

Recidivism – The return of an ex-offender to incarceration after release and reoffending (Ostermann et al., 2015).

Reoffender – A previously convicted and incarcerated individual, once released from prison, commits another crime to which he or she is found guilty, and is incarcerated again (Ostermann et al., 2015).

Original quantitative survey instrument – Survey instrument developed by present survey researcher, which intends to present 20 quantitative questions to at least 20 active prison chaplain survey participants, measuring the chaplains’ perceptions of the effect of their presence on inmate recidivism (Creswell & Creswell, 2018).

Summary

The rate of inmate recidivism may be improved by placement of chaplains in prisons. The strategy of the present research is to include results based on one organization that places chaplains in correctional facilities around the United States, and compare the data with chaplains placed otherwise, or correctional facilities with no chaplains. In order to fine-tune the study, geographical locations will be selected based on the heaviest U.S. city populations, and the highest number of individuals incarcerated in jails and prisons in and near urban areas. The goal is to select correctional facilities from quantitative data provided by official readily available statistical information from the Bureau of Justice Statistics (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2021). Chaplains to be surveyed will be selected from the readily available listing of chaplains from the selected

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chaplaincy placement organizations, primarily Good News Jail and Prison Ministry (Good News Jail and Prison Ministry, 2015). The research intends to focus on whether or not the presence of a chaplain affects inmates in such a way as to incline the inmate not to reoffend (Stansfield et al., 2019). Data collected will take into account the perceived impact of religious programs presented to inmates. Some consideration will need to be given to ensure that data reflects a well-defined and understood definition of recidivism (Ostermann et al., 2015). Literature selected and reviewed herein is intended to assist in supporting specifics outlined in the introduction. Additionally, detailed methodology, research findings, and discussion of research results will be detailed herein.

References

Bureau of Justice Statistics. (2021). Home page. https://bjs.ojp.gov.

Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (5th Edition). SAGE Publications, Inc.

Good News Jail and Prison Ministry. (2015). Home page. https://goodnewsjail.org.

Ostermann, M., Salerno, L. M., & Hyatt, J. M. (2015). How different operationalizations of recidivism impact conclusions of effectiveness of parole supervision. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 52(6), 771-796. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0022427815580626

Stansfield, R., O’Connor, T., & Duncan, J. (2019). Religious identity and the long-term effects of religious involvement, orientation, and coping in prison. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 42(2), 337-354. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0093854818801410