God behind Bars: An Empirical Approach to Prison Ministry in the United States and Germany

This first empirical study on differences between prison ministries in the US and Germany enables a dialogue between chaplains of both countries. What can they learn from each other? What do they have in common – that thus has been transculturally tested? The divergent theological-philosophical backgrounds of the two criminal justice systems are presented along with their different accentuations of retributing punishment and rehabilitating restoration. Religious extremism of inmates and “switchi