Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life to Release New 50-State Survey of Prison Chaplains During Live Webcast

Study Provides Rare Window into Religion Behind Bars

WASHINGTON, March 21, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Thursday, March 22, the Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion & Public Life will release the findings from a new 50-state survey on prison chaplains during a live webcast from 12:30-1:30 p.m. featuring an event discussion with the survey's lead researchers as well as expert guest speakers.

State prisons hold nearly 1.4 million inmates, the bulk of America's convicted prisoners. Correctional authorities routinely release statistics on the age, sex and racial/ethnic composition of this population. But little information has been available to the public on religion in state prisons. What do chaplains say about their evolving roles in prisons, the changing religious composition of the inmate population, religious extremism and the effectiveness of rehabilitation and re-entry programs?

"Religion in Prisons: A 50-State Survey of Prison Chaplains," presents a rare window into religion behind bars from the vantage point of professional prison chaplains.  It was conducted from Sept. 21 to Dec. 23, 2011, using Web and paper questionnaires. Generous financial support for the survey and webcast was provided by the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

Live Webcast Details

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

WHEN:
Thursday, March 22, 12:30-1:30 p.m. EDT

ACCESS:
Available at www.pewforum.org

The Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion & Public Life conducts surveys, demographic analyses and other social science research on important aspects of religion and public life in the U.S. and around the world. As part of the Washington-based Pew Research Center, a nonpartisan, non-advocacy organization, the Pew Forum does not take positions on policy debates or any of the issues it covers. It is supported by The Pew Charitable Trusts.

Twitter: @pewforum

Facebook: facebook.com/pewforum

SOURCE Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion & Public Life

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