Difference between revisions of "Irreligious prison population"
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[[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> |
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| + | 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 == | ||
Revision as of 00:11, February 21, 2017
The irreligious prison population, according to government data of many sovereign states, as well as that of independent surveys, makes up a large percentage of the overall prisoner demographic. In the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, according to the 2011 Census, the irreligious make up only "around a quarter of the population."[1] However, they are over-represented in the prison population, forming over 34% of all criminals.[2][3]
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."[4]
Religion and crime reduction
See: Religion and crime reduction
Irreligion, illegitimate births and criminality
See: Atheism, illegitimate births and criminality
Atheists and the prison population in the United States: Commentary by Skepchick
See also: Atheists in U.S. prisons argument and atheist morality and Western atheism and race and Demographics of atheism
The atheist Heina Dadabhoy published at the atheist website Skepchick an article entitled Fellow Atheists: Quit Bragging About Our Prison Underrepresentation which declared concerning the United States prison population:
| “ | Atheism is a movement comprised mostly of middle-to-upper-class white people. A middle-to-upper-class white person is far less likely to be incarcerated than a poor person and/or a person of color. The only way atheists as a whole might be less likely to be incarcerated than theists would be if we were a female-majority community. Atheism is hardly the cause of white middle-to-upper-class people’s underrepresentation in the prison population, injustice in the criminal justice system is...
Intersectional issues aside, being arrested and convicted means being caught breaking the law. Would most of us atheists consider, say, possession of small amounts of marijuana to be a crime worthy of incarceration, let alone an immoral act? Yet prisons teem with non-violent drug offenders. As for being caught, I will return to the example of marijuana. How many of us class and race privileged* atheists would be imprisoned for drug possession had it not been for residence in low-density housing in areas rarely patrolled by the police? Living in a detached home reduces the likelihood of a neighbor or passer-by reporting drug use to the authorities but is hardly an indicator of superior moral character. Given that we’re a movement of people not exactly known for dealing so well, if at all, with issues of race or class.[6] |
” |
For more information, please see: Atheists in U.S. prisons argument and atheist morality
See also
External links
- Belief in Hell Lowers Crime Rate, According to International Study (TLD News)
- Lies, damned lies and atheists in prison, Christian Thinker
- Jeffrey Dahmer Interview - MSNBC Footage (Video)
References
- ↑ Religion in England and Wales 2011: Part of 2011 Census, Key Statistics for Local Authorities in England and Wales Release. Office for National Statistics (UK) (December 11, 2012). Retrieved on May 14, 2013. “Meanwhile the proportion of the population who reported they have no religion has now reached a quarter of the population.”
- ↑ Religion in Prisons 1999 and 2000. The National Archives (UK). Retrieved on May 14, 2013. “Prisoners with No religion formed 34% of all untried prisoners and 31% of all convicted prisoners in September 2000.”
- ↑ Prison Population Statistics. House of Commons Library (UK). Retrieved on May 14, 2013. “30% were recorded as having no religion.”
- ↑ Dreher, Rod (June 29, 2011). Is God an Effective Crime Fighter?. Templeton Report. Retrieved on May 14, 2013. “Research indicates that the more involved people are with religious life, the less likely they are to fall into criminal behavior.”
- ↑ Serial Killer Jeffrey Dahmer blames Atheism and Evolution belief for Murders
- ↑ Fellow Atheists: Quit Bragging About Our Prison Underrepresentation (Related to United States statistics)