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Summary Of More God Less Crime By Byron R. Johnson

1739 Words7 Pages

In the novel “More God Less Crime” the author Byron R. Johnson analyzes the effects of several different approaches to introducing faith into the criminal system. Through various different case studies, Byron Johnson proves that by utilizing faith-based programs the reduction of crime and rehabilitation of criminals will be far more successful in comparison with non-faith-based programs. He further articulates that through the reduction of crime and its motivating causes society as a whole will benefit greatly by being cost-effective and by keeping high-risk citizens out of jail.
One of the cases observed by Byron Johnson is the Texas InnerChange Freedom Initiative (IFI) program which was developed by the Prison Fellowship organization in …show more content…

Firstly, the program focused on around the clock care for inmates that allowed them to be fully submerged in a Christian environment. By creating and emphasizing a constant Christian environment they began to replace corrupt morals and beliefs with new ones that helped the participants to rehabilitate into society successfully. Secondly, the Texas IFI program was a unique combination of secular and religious goals that enabled both parties to work together but separately. By keeping the two entities autonomous the Texas IFI program was able to grow organically without unnecessary hindrance. Thirdly, the Texas IFI program was the most effective because it provided meaningful aftercare to released inmates. The meaningful aftercare provided by the Texas IFI program lowered the risk that newly freed inmates will re-offend by promoting prosocial …show more content…

The Texas IFI is designed to foster and grow Christian faith through rehabilitative programs aimed at reducing recidivism. As an entity hired by the state the state is “obliged to respect the freedom of religious functionaries” and recognize that the religious activity of the Texas IFI does not constitute state activity (Roberts 2002).
Since the Texas IFI program’s launch recidivism has greatly decreased for participants who have completed all the phases of the program. In 2003 a study conducted by the Texas Policy Council demonstrated that only eight percent of the participants returned to prison while twenty percent of inmates who chose not to participate in the program, though they were eligible, returned to

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