Crime, Punishment, and Justice Among Muslim Inmates (The Meaning of Crime and Punishment to Muslim Inmates and Its Policy Implications)

Abstract

This study explores how incarcerated Muslim men understand crime and punishment from their religions perspective. It analyzes responses to open-ended questions posed in a mail survey delivered to Muslim inmates from Ohio State prisons. The inmates understanding of concepts such as crime, punishment, repentance, reconciliation, and forgiveness is then compared to the normative textual explanations to better understand the religious experiences of Muslims in U.S. prisons. The results suggest that more moderate or normative religious education might help counter extremist interpretations of Islamic texts and, correspondingly, reduce the prospects of terrorist-related activities.