U.S. Prison Seminaries: Structural Charity, Religious Establishment, and Neoliberal Corrections

Authors

Michael A. Hallett, University of North FloridaFollow
Bryon Johnson, Baylor University
Joshua Hays, Baylor University
Sung Joon Jang, Baylor University
Grant Duwe, Minnesota Department of Corrections

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-1-2019

Abstract

Using archival and site-based research, this article explores operational practices at six U.S. prison seminary programs regarding concepts of religious establishment. Further highlighted is a shift toward faith-based volunteerism as a “structural charity” in correctional budgeting. While religious programs offer powerfully transformative access to social capital for many inmates, the recent insertion of Christian “seminaries” into U.S. prisons arguably fosters religious establishment in four key areas: a lack of state neutrality toward religion, excessive state entanglement with religious service providers, inadequate solicitation of alternative programming, and a de facto measure of coercion in delivery of services.

Publication Title

Prison Journal

Volume

99

Issue

2

First Page

150

Last Page

171

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1177/0032885519825490

ISSN

00328855

E-ISSN

15527522

Citation Information

Hallett, Michael A.; Johnson, Bryon; Hays, Joshua; Jang, Sung Joon; and Duwe, Grant, "U.S. Prison Seminaries: Structural Charity, Religious Establishment, and Neoliberal Corrections" (2019). UNF Faculty Research and Scholarship. 942.
https://digitalcommons.unf.edu/unf_faculty_publications/942