Saint Marys College professor awarded 1M grant to study religious freedom in prisons

Professor Barbara McGraw of Saint Mary’s College received a $1 million grant to investigate religious liberty in U. S. prisons through her project, “Prison Religion: Advancing Religious Liberty in Correctional Institutions as Exemplars of Pluralism and Institutional Change. ” This initiative aims to produce scholarly insights and practical tools for correctional institutions and policymakers over the next three years, starting September 1. McGraw will lead a multidisciplinary team to explore the complex legal and cultural challenges of accommodating diverse religions in prisons and evaluate how embracing religious liberty can enhance inmate well-being.

The John Templeton Foundation, known for its $3. 4 billion endowment and nearly $140 million in annual grants, is funding the project. McGraw, who serves as the founding director of the Center for Engaged Religious Pluralism at Saint Mary’s, has nearly three decades of experience advocating for religious freedom in correctional settings. She stated that addressing the intersection of religious liberty and prisons could foster a more compassionate future. The project aims to provide valuable insights that could influence policies affecting incarcerated individuals across the U.

S.