PHYSICAL FITNESS, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND DELINQUENCY

• NCJ Number: 43282
• Journal: JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND RECREATION Volume: 48 Issue: 6 Dated: (JUNE 1977) Pages: 23
• Author(s): T R COLLINGWOOD; M ENGELSGJERD
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 1 page
• Corporate Author: American Alliance for Health, Physical Education and Recreation
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

DATA FROM A DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT DIVERSION PROGRAM FOR JUVENILE OFFENDERS INDICATES INCREASED PHYSICAL FITNESS AND PARTICIPATION IN RECREATION PROGRAMS IS RELATED TO DECREASED RECIDIVISM.

Abstract

AS A RESULT OF A STATEWIDE TEXAS NEEDS ASSESSMENT FOR JUVENILES, WHICH SHOWED THAT JUVENILE OFFENDERS AND JUVENILE DELINQUENTS AS A GROUP TEND TO BE LESS PHYSICALLY FIT THAN THE NORMAL POPULATION AND ARE MUCH LESS INVOLVED IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY SUCH AS RECREATION AND SPORTS, THE DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT DIVERSION PROGRAM DEVELOPED A SPECIAL PHYSICAL FITNESS COMPONENT FOR ITS PROGRAM. THIS YOUTH SERVICES PROGRAM, A UNIT OF 14 COUNSELORS ATTACHED TO THE YOUTH SECTION OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, DEVELOPED A 6-MONTH PLAN. DURING THE FIRST 2 MONTHS, ARRESTED JUVENILE OFFENDERS (MOSTLY AGED 10-16) RECEIVE TRAINING IN PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, AND INTELLECTUAL SKILLS. DURING THE 4-MONTH FOLLOWUP, INTELLECTUAL AND EMOTIONAL SKILLS ARE IMPROVED, AND THE YOUNG PEOPLE IDENTIFY A RECREATIONAL ACTIVITY THEY LIKE AND USE THE DALLAS RECREATION PROGRAM. STUDY OF 264 OFFENDERS WHO COMPLETED THE PROGRAM THE FIRST YEAR SHOWED FITNESS INCREASED 12 PERCENT, AS MEASURED BY THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR HEALTH, PHYSICAL EDUCATION, AND RECREATION TESTS. AT THE SAME TIME, ABOUT 50 PERCENT PARTICIPATED IN FOLLOWUP RECREATION AFTER THE PROGRAM. THIS INCREASE IN PHYSICAL FITNESS AND PARTICIPATION IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY/RECREATION CORRESPONDED WITH A DECREASE IN REARREST RATES. COMPARED TO A BASE RECIDIVISM RATE OF 35 PERCENT, THESE YOUTHS HAD A 2.7 PERCENT REARREST RATE. THE IMPLICATION SEEMS TO BE THAT IF A SYSTEMATIC ATTEMPT IS MADE TO INCREASE PHYSICAL FITNESS OF DELINQUENTS BY GETTING THEM INVOLVED IN PHYSICAL PROGRAMS, RECREATION, OR SPORTS ACTIVITIES, THIS CAN HAVE AN IMPACT ON THEIR EVENTUAL INVOLVEMENT IN CRIME. WHILE EMOTIONAL AND INTELLECTUAL FACTORS ARE EMPHASIZED IN THE PROGRAM, THE PHYSICAL FITNESS ASPECTS APPEAR TO BE IMPORTANT COMPONENTS OF THE REHABILITATION EFFORT.