Abstract:

It is determined Since 1974, the Turkish Presidency of Religious Affairs has organizedconferences in penal institutions on such topics as worship, morality, belief, and social unity and fraternity. These activities rely on the voluntary attendance and participation of inmates at said institutions. As such, the characteristics of those who areinterested in and attend these conferences, as well as of those who do not, are a question of no small relevance. This study was carried out in order to identify the factors affecting attendance at and participation in such conferences on the part of adolescent children with criminal histories. This study utilized a descriptive survey model, with the voluntary participation of 72 adolescents with criminal histories. It was found thatage, a low level of education, literacy problems, having an illiterate mother, and having a job were all factors that corresponded to a lower degree of attendance at and participation in religiously the medactivities. Conversely, factors corresponding to a higher degree of attendance and participation included having a sentence of less than sixmonths, not having been previously incarcerated, and involvement in a vocational training program in the penal institution. This study found that the most important factor affecting attendance at and participation in religiously the medactivities was inmates’ level of education. Another conclusion was the necessity of offering spiritual support programs to adolescents before they become involved with crime or during or after incarceraton.

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