RANDOM DRUG-TESTING AND RELIGION

Research recently has begun to examine the link between religion and s ocial control. It has been noted that religion, in particular Protesta nt conservatism, does play a role in shaping public opinion, and as a result, public policy on crime, crime control, and justice. The presen t research examines the issue of public support for random drug testin g by focusing on the role of religion, specifically religious affiliat ion, in shaping public opinion. Analysis of survey data from a city in the Southwest identifies two separate dimensions of public support fo r random drug testing-a utilitarian dimension that is grounded in safe ty concerns, along with a normative dimension that reflects conservati ve moral beliefs, including a concern with the ''evil'' of drugs. Evid ence from the data also indicates that conservative Protestants, compa red to liberal-moderate Protestants, Catholics, and those with no affi liation, display higher levels of normative-based support for random d rug testing. Researchers are encouraged to further explore the role of religion in shaping public support for the development of drug polici es and other more general social control policies.