---
title: "Most State Prison Chaplains Say Religious Switching Common Among Inmates"
description: "About three-quarters of state prison chaplains (77%) say that a lot or some religious switching occurs among inmates in the prisons where they work."
date: "2012-03-27"
authors:
  - name: "Russell Heimlich"
    job_title: "Former web developer"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/russell-heimlich/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2012/03/27/most-state-prison-chaplains-say-religious-switching-common-among-inmates/"
---

# Most State Prison Chaplains Say Religious Switching Common Among Inmates

Efforts by inmates at state prisons to proselytize or convert other inmates to another religion are common, according to a survey of prison chaplains in all 50 states. More than seven-in-ten (73%) chaplains report this kind of activity as either very or somewhat common. That being said, these do not necessarily succeed.

Still, 77% of chaplains say that there is either “a lot” (26%) or “some” religious switching among inmates (51%). About one-fifth (21%) say that switching does not occur much in the prisons where they work.

Among chaplains who report some switching, about half (51%) report that the Muslim population in prison is growing in number. In addition, just under half (47%) say the same about Protestant Christians. A sizable minority of chaplains (34%) answering this question also say that followers of pagan or earth-based religions are growing. [Read More](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/Social-Welfare/prison-chaplains-exec.aspx#muslims?src=prc-number)