| Sumario: | In the present study, 14 representatives from various faith-based organizations (FBOs) participated in focus groups in which they explored the interactions of FBOs with the criminal justice system (CJS). Through the present study, 10 themes emerged from the data: (1) FBOs' programming difficulties and concerns, (2) perceptions regarding church involvement in the lives of offenders and the CJS, (3) lack of collaboration between the CJS and FBO treatment providers, (4) lack of offender family reunification, (5) FBOs' staff credentialing and associated myths, (6) community misperceptions about the CJS, (7) stigma and stereotypes associated with offenders and the CJS, (8) collaboration with other organizations, (9) perceptions of false religion in the CJS, and (10) dependence on the church as a social change agent. As the call for more community-based criminal justice related programming increases, the ability of communities to identify the role FBOs will play will assist communities in developing an accurate plan in order to meet their programming needs.
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