NCJ Number
204233
Date Published
2004
Length
68 pages
Annotation
This report summarizes the findings from new research in California and across the Nation that shows the effectiveness of after-school programs for high school students in preventing crime and other risky behavior while increasing academic performance.
Abstract
Evidence from police departments in California's largest cities shows that on school days the prime hours for violent juvenile crime are from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Recent California data also indicate that the after-school hours are the prime time for youth to become victims of violent crime. Further, after-school hours are the peak hours for drug and alcohol use and car crashes that involve teens. New research from California and across the Nation shows that quality after-school programs can transform these prime hours for juvenile crime into productive hours of academic enrichment, skill-building, recreation, and community service. After-school programs have been shown to cut teen crime and violence, reduce teen sex and pregnancy, cut drug and alcohol use, and prevent school discipline problems. New evidence also indicates that quality after-school programs for teens increase academic achievement, reduce school drop-out rates, promote civic participation, and provide the experiences and opportunities teens need to succeed. Even in the face of such evidence, however, there remains a significant shortage of after-school programs for California teens. California's only dedicated public funding source for high school after-school programs provides enough funding to serve students at only 3 percent of the State's high schools. In 2002 there was only enough funding to award grants to one in eight programs that applied for high school after-school funding. As the U.S. and California economies recover, government and community leaders should ensure that more resources are available for after-school programs for teens, particularly in high-crime neighborhoods. Research has made clear that this would be a cost-effective investment in public safety. This report offers recommendations for specific steps that can be taken to ensure that such programs, when properly funded, provide quality services to youth. 6 figures, 173 notes, and appended county-by-county analysis of California high schools served/unserved by Federal 21st Century funding, results from the California High School Principals Survey, and contact information for high school after-school programs in California