Impact of Religious Motivation on Rate of Recidivism in Rural Areas of District Okara (Pakistan)

Abstract

The focus of present study is to critically review the religious component of the probation system in community correction and provides an insight into the overall effectiveness of the spiritual element in the probation system as this is based on empirical and scientific research. In this research, the human universe is all the Muslim offenders (residing in rural areas of district Okara) referred to probation officers for re-socialization and have completed their rehabilitation process. The sampling frame was obtained from the office of district probation officer Okara, whereas sample 308 was selected from district Okara using simple random sampling. The researcher himself collected data by developing two interview schedules, named Religious Motivation Scale (RMS) and Rate of Recidivism Scale (RRS), and analyzed by using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 20 and Microsoft Excel 2010. All the respondents were male and belonged to rural areas of district Okara. Most participants (76.0%) were business people, whereas the ratio of Unemployed respondents was 9.75%. Most participants (92.0%) fall in the age group of 26 to 45 years, while (72.9%) were married. The distribution of participants based on income depicts that most participants (57.3%) have income between 6100- and 10,000, whereas 32.6% of respondents have an income of more than 10000 rupees. A large no. of participants (80.9%) has more than three children. There was a significant difference among participants' recidivism rate mean scores based on age group and income. Hence, it was found that the mean difference in religious motivation was (0.15972) between participants belonging to (the 26-45 years) and (46-above) age groups was significant at p<0.05. The mean difference in religious motivation was (.38810&.34314) between respondents belonging to the (3100-6000) and (10000 & above) income group, whereas respondents belonging to the (6100-10000) and (10000& above) income group was significant at p<0.01 respectively. A meaningful positive relationship exists between participants' religious motivation and recidivism rate.