"Inmates who graduate from one of the state's chaplaincy programs re-offend at half the rate of the state's general inmate population ..." "The rate of TLC inmates was even better ..." "... chaplaincy program graduates ... New Horizons Safe Living Home faith-based halfway house ... recidivism rate drops to 18 percent ..."
These percentages are impressive ... but what is unspoken is that the chosen inmates are first carefully screened for "suitability". These particular inmates were already judged to be in the lowest class for potential risk of re-offending.
The programs progressively sort out the ones least likely to re-offend, and "graduates" only them. The programs resemble more of a "vetting" process, rather than a 'treatment" program.
It would be more impressive if these programs took the ones most likely to re-offend, and "treated" them ... but they don't, because they can't.
I have spoken with several of the programs managers, and many inmates ... so I have a founded opinion.