Juvenile delinquency is one of the challenges that the US criminal justice system faces today. While all young Americans are at greater risk of being involved in crime, youth from minority communities face an even greater risk (Wihbey, 2013). The US government and other stakeholders who wish to create a nation where young people are protected from crime have developed various strategies. After-school programs are among these strategies. Essentially, the after-school programs are initiatives that are intended to provide young people with opportunities for gainful engagement. Some of the services that are delivered through these programs include mentorship, arts, sports and support (“Afterschool Programs”, n.d). An analysis of the impact that the after-school programs have had reveals that they are effective in tackling juvenile delinquency. A proposal for a research which will examine the impacts of afterschool programs is presented. The following discussion highlights some of the issues that the research will examine.
Whether afterschool programs help to prevent juvenile delinquency is a question that has fascinated the scholarly community for years. This community has established that these programs are indeed some of the most effective approaches to tackling criminal behavior among young people. Gottfredson (2004) and his colleagues are among the scholars who have determined that the programs work. After conducting a study, they found that afterschool programs are generally effective in persuading young people to reject the life of crime. They noted that these programs are particularly effective when they are accompanied by initiatives which seek to build the social skills of young people. Moreover, young people in middle school derive the greatest benefit when they take part in the afterschool programs. Cordero Tanner (2015) is another scholar who investigated the effectiveness of afterschool programs. The result of his investigation confirms the finding that Gottfredson and his colleagues made. There appears to be consensus within the scholarly community regarding the impact of afterschool programs. When designed with the goal of providing young people with opportunities for growth, afterschool programs do indeed prevent juvenile delinquency.
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The discussion above has established that afterschool programs are among the most effective strategies for shielding young people against crime. It is important to examine the numerous ways through which the programs prevent juvenile delinquency. When they leave school, children and young people are no longer under the protection and supervision of their teachers. As a result, they are exposed to the threat of crime and other destructive behaviors. In a report submitted to the US Attorney General, James Alan Ford and Sanford Newman examined the role that afterschool programs play in protecting young people. They noted that between 3 and 8 pm, the commission of crime is at its peak (Fox & Newman, 1997). It is also during this time that most afterschool programs run. The fact that the afterschool programs coincide with the peak of crime means that young people are offered the choice to select programs which help them grow instead of being involved in criminal activities. Therefore, by serving as a compelling and beneficial alternative to crime, afterschool programs help to curb juvenile delinquency.
The impact of afterschool programs is not limited to offering young people an alternative to crime. The programs have also been shown to help children and young people from poor neighborhoods (Miles, 2010). Poverty is among the risk factors for criminal behavior. In addition to denying individuals access to basic conveniences, poverty also robs them of the opportunity to access social and support services. In an effort to tackle juvenile delinquency, the city of Dallas developed dozens of afterschool programs that targeted at-risk children from poor neighborhoods. The programs ranged from those that offered tutoring to others which provided opportunities for recreation (Miles, 2010). As a result of these programs, Dallas has witnessed a significant drop in juvenile crime. Parents are among the stakeholders who are fully in support of the programs. They state that since the programs were put in place, there children now have access to activities and opportunities which facilitate growth. The Dallas business community has joined the parents in supporting the programs. For example, apartment owners in this city offered to cover part of the costs of running the programs (Miles, 2010). The strong endorsement that the programs have received from parents and business people is clear evidence that the programs are effective. There are dozens of other cities in the US which have adopted the afterschool programs. As is the case with Dallas, nearly all the cities have also recorded encouraging declines in juvenile delinquency. There is no doubt that the afterschool programs help to curb youth criminal behavior.
Today, nearly all parents in American households work long hours. The implication of this is that the parents are unable to offer adequate supervision to their children. It was pointed out in an earlier section that when they leave school, young people are beyond the supervision of their teachers. The lack of supervision creates opportunities for the young people to venture into crime. By sparing parents of the need to worry about their children, afterschool programs help to contain juvenile delinquency (Weinstein et al., 2014). Moreover, through these programs, the young people gain exposure to prosocial influence. When the programs incorporate such elements as recreation, they have an even more profound impact on the youth. In addition to facilitating enjoyment, recreation has also been determined to promote youth development (Weinstein et al., 2014). Overall, the afterschool programs play a critical role in preventing juvenile delinquency and safeguarding the wellbeing of American children and youth.
Researchers have examined the impacts that criminal behavior has on school graduation. For example, Shannon Ward and Jenny Williams (2015) joined forces to examine the impact of juvenile delinquency on high school graduation. They determined that crime does indeed reduce the rates of high school graduation. This finding is significant as it highlights the role that afterschool programs play in preventing juvenile delinquency. In his article, Miguel Pulido (2015) observes that the programs help to keep students in school. He asserts that “study after study shows that after-school programs boost test scores, school attendance and graduation rates” (Pulido, 2015). With education certificates, American youth gain access to such opportunities as employment. Through these opportunities, they are able to shun crime and invest in their lives. Therefore, since they provide young Americans with tools for gainful employment while encouraging them to graduate, afterschool programs work.
Substance abuse is among the factors that set the stage for criminal behavior (Sharma, Sharma & Barkataki, 2016). When they consume drugs, young people are likely to engage in such issues as gang activity. One of the goals that afterschool programs seek to achieve is to discourage substance abuse among young people. Evidence reveals that the programs are achieving this goal. There has been a significant decline in the cases of drug use among young people who take part in the programs (Pulido, 2015). This is indeed encouraging and highlights the need for further investment in and unwavering support for the after-school programs. It is not surprising that dozens of American government agencies are rallying behind the programs. For example, legislators in Illinois had announced plans to reduce the amount of funds dedicated to the after-school programs. The plans were met with strong opposition from lobby groups and law enforcement agencies which are convinced that the programs are the key to tackling juvenile delinquency (“Local, State Law”, 2015). The strong support for the programs and the effect that they have on juvenile substance abuse show that the programs aid the effort against juvenile delinquency.
There is near consensus within the scholarly community regarding the benefits and effectiveness of afterschool programs. However, there are some isolated voices which raise concerns about the ineffectiveness of these programs. It is important to hear these voices. Sema Taheri and Brandon Welsh (2015) are among those who feel that the programs do not work. After conducting a study, they determined that the programs do not have a significant impact on juvenile delinquency. They mention that “moderator analyses indicated that not one of the intervention types was associated with a significant effect on delinquency” (p. 272). While Taheri and Welsh agree that the programs have some effect, this effect is not significant enough to justify the huge amounts that the US spends on the programs. However, these scholars maintain that the programs should not be maintained. Their call for the programs to be continued suggests that they feel that the programs possess some potential. Therefore, while there is some evidence that after-school programs are not necessarily effective, this evidence is inconclusive. On the other hand, the evidence that points to the effectiveness of the programs is overwhelming and solid. Thus, afterschool programs remain among the most effective interventions for preventing youth delinquency.
In conclusion, juvenile delinquency remains a serious challenge for law enforcement authorities in the US. In addition to compromising security, juvenile delinquency also erodes the potential of American youth. In an effort to tackle delinquency, the US has invested heavily in after-school programs. The benefits that these programs present are numerous and wide-ranging. They discourage substance abuse while providing young people with opportunities for recreation, mentorship and education. Since they are effective, the US should continue to support these programs.
References
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