Changes

[[File:Atheist Prison Population Percentages.jpg|400px|thumb|A [[pie chart]] delineating the percentage of irreligious in [[prison]] (shown in light blue) in the [[United Kingdom]]; Click the graphic above to enlarge the pie chart and text. Data courtesy of The National Archives (UK)]]

[[File:Atheist Prison Population Percentages.jpg|400px|thumb|A [[pie chart]] delineating the percentage of irreligious in [[prison]] (shown in light blue) in the [[United Kingdom]]; Click the graphic above to enlarge the pie chart and text. Data courtesy of The National Archives (UK)]]

The '''irreligious prison population''', according to government [[data]] of many sovereign states, as well as that of independent [[Opinion poll|survey]]s, makes up a large percentage of the overall [[prison|prisoner]] demographic. In the [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland]], according to the 2011 Census, the [[irreligion|irreligious]] make up only "around a quarter of the population."<ref name="Census">{{cite web|url = http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/2011-census/key-statistics-for-local-authorities-in-england-and-wales/rpt-religion.html|title =Religion in England and Wales 2011: Part of 2011 Census, Key Statistics for Local Authorities in England and Wales Release|publisher = Office for National Statistics (UK)|quote=Meanwhile the proportion of the population who reported they have no religion has now reached a quarter of the population.|date=December 11, 2012|accessdate = May 14, 2013}}</ref> However, they are over-represented in the [[prison]] population, forming over 34% of all [[criminal]]s.<ref name="Arcives">{{cite web|url = http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110220105210/rds.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs/hosb1501.pdf|title =Religion in Prisons 1999 and 2000|publisher = The National Archives (UK)|page=8|quote=Prisoners with No religion formed 34% of all untried prisoners and 31% of all convicted prisoners in September 2000.|authors=Farid Guessous, Nick Hooper and Uma Moorthy|accessdate = May 14, 2013}}</ref><ref name="Commons">{{cite web|url = http://www.parliament.uk/briefing-papers/sn04334.pdf‎|title =Prison Population Statistics|page=10|quote=30% were recorded as having no religion.|publisher=House of Commons Library (UK)|accessdate = May 14, 2013}}</ref> These statistics confirm recent scientific research, which has concluded that "the more involved people are with religious life, the less likely they are to fall into criminal behavior."<ref name="Templeton">{{cite web|last=Dreher|first=Rod|url = http://www.templeton.org/templeton_report/20110629/index.html|title =Is God an Effective Crime Fighter?|publisher = Templeton Report|quote=Research indicates that the more involved people are with religious life, the less likely they are to fall into criminal behavior.|date=June 29, 2011|accessdate = May 14, 2013}}</ref>

The '''irreligious prison population''', according to government [[data]] of many sovereign states, as well as that of independent [[Opinion poll|survey]]s, makes up a large percentage of the overall [[prison|prisoner]] demographic. In the [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland]], according to the 2011 Census, the [[irreligion|irreligious]] make up only "around a quarter of the population."<ref name="Census">{{cite web|url = http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/2011-census/key-statistics-for-local-authorities-in-england-and-wales/rpt-religion.html|title =Religion in England and Wales 2011: Part of 2011 Census, Key Statistics for Local Authorities in England and Wales Release|publisher = Office for National Statistics (UK)|quote=Meanwhile the proportion of the population who reported they have no religion has now reached a quarter of the population.|date=December 11, 2012|accessdate = May 14, 2013}}</ref> However, they are over-represented in the [[prison]] population, forming over 34% of all [[criminal]]s.<ref name="Arcives">{{cite web|url = http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110220105210/rds.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs/hosb1501.pdf|title =Religion in Prisons 1999 and 2000|publisher = The National Archives (UK)|page=8|quote=Prisoners with No religion formed 34% of all untried prisoners and 31% of all convicted prisoners in September 2000.|authors=Farid Guessous, Nick Hooper and Uma Moorthy|accessdate = May 14, 2013}}</ref><ref name="Commons">{{cite web|url = http://www.parliament.uk/briefing-papers/sn04334.pdf‎|title =Prison Population Statistics|page=10|quote=30% were recorded as having no religion.|publisher=House of Commons Library (UK)|accessdate = May 14, 2013}}</ref>  

 

These statistics confirm recent scientific research, which has concluded that "the more involved people are with religious life, the less likely they are to fall into criminal behavior."<ref name="Templeton">{{cite web|last=Dreher|first=Rod|url = http://www.templeton.org/templeton_report/20110629/index.html|title =Is God an Effective Crime Fighter?|publisher = Templeton Report|quote=Research indicates that the more involved people are with religious life, the less likely they are to fall into criminal behavior.|date=June 29, 2011|accessdate = May 14, 2013}}</ref>

== Religion and crime reduction ==

== Religion and crime reduction ==