Laserfiche WebLink
• <br /> Executive Summary <br /> The Issue <br /> The issue addressed in this analysis is, "Can constructive recreational <br /> programming be an effective crime prevention strategy for Ramsey County?" <br /> Problem Context <br /> The primary concern of most Americans is not unemployment or economic well- <br /> being, but crime (The Trust for Public Land, 1994). Of particular concern is the rising <br /> level of juvenile crime, a trend that is projected to worsen as the number of young <br /> people between the ages 14 and 17 continues to increase over the next decade <br /> (Wilson, 1994). <br /> The traditional approach to controlling crime--incarceration--has not stemmed <br /> burgeoning juvenile crime rates. The enormous cost of imprisoning juvenile offenders <br /> has renewed interest in alternative approaches. One promising approach is the use of • <br /> recreational programming to deter criminal behavior by providing organized <br /> recreational opportunities. Although it has not yet been conclusively demonstrated <br /> that participation in recreational activities prevents juvenile delinquency, it is generally <br /> accepted that involvement in wholesome recreational programs can serve as a <br /> primary element of prevention (Smith, 1991). <br /> This analysis examines the use of recreational programming to deter juvenile <br /> crime. In addition to identification of 30 promising public and private recreation-based <br /> programs throughout the country, the analysis highlights three highly successful <br /> programs in Phoenix, Cincinnati, and Fort Meyers. A recurring theme throughout the <br /> analysis, however, is that.the "greatest potential for prevention lies not in any single <br /> program... but in a comprehensive, community-driven continuum of programs" <br /> (Mendel, 1995). <br /> Policy Alternatives <br /> The cost of doing nothing is already clear. According to James Sharpe, mayor <br /> of Newark, New Jersey and president of the National League of Cities, "We are going <br /> to recreate or we are going to incarcerate. The choice is ours. We cannot afford to <br /> put a cop on every corner and we can't build a jail cell for every youthful offender' <br /> (The Trust for Public Land, 1994). • <br />