Religion, Punitive Sentiment, and the Mediating Effect of Racial Resentment

A “tough on crime” attitude has dominated criminal justice policy and practice in the United States since the 1970s. In an effort to understand this rise in punitiveness, scholars have identified racial attitudes and religion as significant predictors of punitive sentiment. However, little or no ext...

Full description

Saved in:  
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal for the scientific study of religion
Authors: Harris, Jacob (Author) ; Jones, Melissa (Author) ; Monson, J. Quin (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
Journals Online & Print:
Drawer...
Fernleihe:Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste
Published: Wiley-Blackwell 2022
In: Journal for the scientific study of religion
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B USA / Christianity / Racism / Punishment / Law / Juvenile delinquent
RelBib Classification:AD Sociology of religion; religious policy
CH Christianity and Society
KBQ North America
NCB Personal ethics
NCC Social ethics
XA Law
Further subjects:B Punitive attitudes
B Public Opinion
B Race
B Religion
B Evangelical
B racial resentment
Online Access: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
Description
Summary:A “tough on crime” attitude has dominated criminal justice policy and practice in the United States since the 1970s. In an effort to understand this rise in punitiveness, scholars have identified racial attitudes and religion as significant predictors of punitive sentiment. However, little or no extant research has examined the potential mediating effect of racial resentment on the relationship between religion and punitive attitudes. Using data from the 2017 Kids’ Wellbeing Survey, ordinal and logistic regressions are employed to measure the relationships between religion, racial resentment, and punitive attitudes toward youth criminals. Findings indicate that the effects of religion, particularly Mainline Protestant, Evangelical, and Catholic affiliation, on punitive attitudes toward criminally involved youth is mediated by racial resentment. This suggests that racial resentment plays a significant role in understanding the relationship between religion and punitive sentiments.
ISSN:1468-5906
Contains:Enthalten in: Journal for the scientific study of religion
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1111/jssr.12769