NCJ Number
134004
Date Published
1988
Length
183 pages
Annotation
Programs and studies from the United States and, to a lesser extent, some other countries were reviewed to determine the impact of sport and recreation on offending behavior of youth with particular attention directed to the capacity of sport and recreation to have an effect upon Aboriginal delinquent youth.
Abstract
Overseas research has revealed a negative association between sport and delinquency for males, but it has not been established that the connection is causal. It also is unclear whether the sports and delinquency connection exists to the same extent for females. Socioeconomic background appeared to be a factor affecting the sports and delinquency association. Sporting male youth committed less crime than their non-sporting counterparts and also were involved to an even lesser degree in the more serious offenses. The majority of overseas wilderness/survival camp programs have reported short-term success with regard to improved participant self-concept and similar characteristics. In Australia, outdoor/wilderness programs have revealed mixed results. The use of a sport and recreation program as a whole rather than solely as crime prevention program is a strategy with much potential for Australia. 4 appendixes and 180 references