Extracurricular Activities' Effects on Juvenile Crime

Some studies suggest that children in after-school programs are less likely to commit crimes.

There are many contradictory opinions regarding after-school programs. Some say the programs are crucial to a child's development; others say they distract children from schoolwork. Few studies have thoroughly examined the relationship between extracurricular activities and school work, and there seems to be confusion over the correlation between the two.

Sports

Boys who participated in after-school sports programs were more likely to commit "rule-breaking" behavior, according to a 2005 study by the Department of Psychology at Glasgow Caledonian University. Sports had the opposite effect on girls. Northeastern University's College of Criminal Justice in 2008 produced a study on extracurricular activities that said sports had little effect on boys' potential -- or lack thereof -- to break rules, but concluded athletic activities were a factor in preventing misbehaving.

Church

The Northeastern University research suggests that boys involved in church activities were less likely to take part in delinquent behavior, while girls were mostly unaffected. Findings suggested that while church participation prevented boys from engaging in violent behavior such as fighting, it does not make a difference to their likelihood of "risky behavior" such as smoking.

Satisfaction

Despite all these studies suggesting that extracurricular activities may not have a large effect on delinquency, many parents say they are satisfied with the after-school programs their children participate in. "America After 3 PM: A Household Survey on Afterschool in America," a 2009 project the JCPenney Afterschool Fund produced, revealed more than 90 percent of parents believe their children's after-school program is effective and worthwhile.

Other Benefits

There is some benefit to extracurricular activities; along with social benefits, participation in after-school programs seems to improve students' grades. The difference can be up to 20 percent higher grades than for students not involved with extracurricular programs. Christy Lleras, a professor of human and community development at the University of Illinois, contended that students who participate in after-school programs are more likely to be successful later in life. She cited employers' high value for teamwork, which students learn early on in extracurricular activities -- whether participating in a sport, working together to produce a play or encouraging others in a painting class.

References

• PubMed.gov: Protective Factors for Youth Considered at Risk of Criminal Behavior
• ScienceDaily: Can Involvement In Extra-curricular Activities Help Prevent Juvenile Delinquency?
• BookRags: All Kids Should Have an Extracurricular Activity
• PhysOrg.com: Social Skills, Extracurricular Activities in High School Pay Off Later in Life