Research and Evaluation Library

Strengthening Impact Through Research

Prison Fellowship International is committed to transforming the lives of prisoners, their families and victims through a global network of ministry partners. As part of this commitment, we pursue accountability and continual growth by partnering with leading academic institutions such as Baylor University and Pepperdine University to study and evaluate our programs. These research partnerships contribute to the growing body of empirical evidence demonstrating the impact of faith-based programming in prison settings and advancing the understanding of effective approaches to prisoner rehabilitation. We value our long-standing collaboration with research leaders working at the intersection of criminology, faith and restorative justice.

Key Studies Conducted

The Prisoner’s Journey Study

  • Who? Led by Dr. Byron Johnson & Dr. Sung Joon Jang, Baylor University
  • What? Quasi-experimental study of The Prisoner’s Journey, an in-prison program designed to transform the lives of prisoners by introducing them to Jesus.
  • When? Data collected from January 2018 to April 2021.
  • Where? In 7 prisons in Colombia and South Africa.
  • Hypotheses:
    • Participation in TPJ increased religiosity
    • Religiosity contributed to rehabilitation, measured by identity transformation, a new sense of meaning and purpose in life, and virtue development
    • Prisoner rehabilitation enhanced emotional well-being and reduced the risk of interpersonal aggression

 

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Related Publications

  • Jang, S. J., Johnson, B. R., Anderson, M. L., & Booyens, K. (2023). Religion and Rehabilitation in Colombian and South African Prisons: A Human Flourishing Approach. International Criminal Justice Review, 33(3), 225–252. View PDF
  • Jang, S. J., Johnson, B. R., & Anderson, M. L. (2024). Virtuous effects of religion on negative emotions among offenders in a Colombian prison. Journal of Crime and Justice, 47(2), 280–298. View PDF
  • Jang, S. J., Johnson, B. R., & Anderson, M. L. (2022). Religion and Rehabilitation in Colombian Prisons: New Insights for Desistance. Advancing Corrections Journal. View PDF
  • Anderson, M. L., Burtt, J. J., Jang, S. J., Booyens, K., Johnson, B. R., & Joseph, M. (2023). Religion and Responsibility-Taking Among Offenders in Colombia and South Africa: A Qualitative Assessment of a Faith-Based Program in Prison. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 67(1), 66–88. View PDF
  • The Restorative Prison: Essays on Inmate Peer Ministry and Prosocial Corrections. Research from the Colombia study is highlighted in the chapter “The Consequences of Failing Prisons.” View PDF
  • Baylor University Research Findings: “The Prisoner’s Journey” Transforms Prisoners, Leads to Culture Change in Prisons View PDF

Study on the Effectiveness of Programs in Colombian Prisons

  • Who? Led by Dr. Byron Johnson & Dr. Sung Joon Jang, Pepperdine University
  • What? Quasi-experimental study of four in-prison programs: The Prisoner’s Journey, Sycamore Tree Project, Prison Project Philip, and Train and Multiply.
  • When? Data collected from November 2023 until September 2025.
  • Where? In 7 prisons in Colombia.
  • Hypotheses:
    • Participation in a faith-based program will be positively associated with a change in religious involvement or religiosity among offenders in prison.
    • A change in prosocial self-identity and human flourishing will be inversely related to a change in the risk of interpersonal aggression.
    • A change in religiosity will be positively related to a change in prosocial self-identity and human flourishing of the five domains: (1) happiness and life satisfaction, (2) physical and mental health, (3) meaning and purpose, (4) character and virtue, and (5) close social relationships.

Forthcoming Publications

  • Preliminary Findings Briefing View PDF

Related Publications

  • Pepperdine Study Symposium: Human Flourishing, Justice, Offender Rehabilitation and Restorative Prisons View More
  • Pepperdine University and Prison Fellowship International Partnership View More
  • Multinational Organizations Partner for Extensive In-Prison Study on Prison Programming Efficacy Read Press Release

Want More Information?

For more information on these studies, please contact [email protected].