Religiosity As Social Capital: an Explanation of Desistance from Crime

This research presents a theoretical model that investigates whether religiosity exerts an effect on desistance from crime. In addition, it examines whether religiosity reinforces the salient life events such as marriage and employment and conventional values in the explanation of desistance from crime. Data derived from Wave 5 to Wave 7 of the National Youth Survey in US were employed to test the theoretical model. The findings suggested that religious behavior not only inhibited the initiation of several different types of delinquent behavior, but also deterred continued involvement of drug use. Religious behavior was found to be more influential for individuals? desistance from drug use than for their desistance from non-drug offenses. Religious behavior had a direct effect on individuals? desistance from drug use; it also exerted an indirect effect on individuals? desistance from non-drug offenses through conventional values. On the other hand, religious salience had a significant deterrent effect only on the onset of drug use; it did not have a significant effect on individuals? desistance.