12/7/95 Agenda & Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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• The Issue The issue to be addressed in this analysis is, "Is constructive recreational programming an effective crime prevention strategy for Ramsey County?" In examining this issue, the project team reviewed 30 promising recreational programs targeting at-risk youth in cities and towns throughout the country. Additionally, three model programs in Phoenix, Cincinnati, and Fort Meyers are highlighted. After analyzing case studies, reviewing research findings, and examining relevant articles and books, we concur with Smith's observation that, although it has not yet been conclusively demonstrated that participation in recreational activities prevents juvenile • delinquency, it is generally accepted that recreational programming can serve as a primary element of prevention (Smith, 1991). Problem Context The primary concern of most Americans is not unemployment or economic well being, but crime (The Trust for Public Land, 1994). Many politicians have responded to this concern by increasing expenditures for additional police officers, more jails and more prisons. Increasingly, the approach to crime has been concentrated on incarceration with limits on parole and probation (Mendel, 1995). The result? The prison population has doubled since 1980 and crime has not gone away (Mendel, 1995).