Drop-in or Drop-out?

How effective are drop-in centres in deterring criminal activity in youth? According to the results of joint Swedish-American study, not very effective at all. In fact, these centres may actually increase the likelihood that a youth will commit a crime.

The drop-in centres are part of a national strategy in Sweden devised in the 1960's to provide increased recreational opportunities for youth and keep them out of dangerous situations. The centres are open in the evenings for youths 13 to 19, and offer a number of activities, but with minimal supervision and little or no structure. Instead, the youths are permitted to explore their interests independently.

The study followed 498 boys in a medium-sized Swedish community from age 10 to age 30, beginning in 1965 as part of a larger longitudinal study on Individual Development and Adaptation. At age 10, the boys were assessed for a number of risk factors, including those relating to potential for future juvenile and persistent criminal activity. Over 20 years, the longitudinal study has tracked their progress in life on a number of fronts.

This particular study examined the relationship between the youth drop-in centres and criminal behaviour in youths. Looking at the boys in this group who frequented the drop-in centres, the researchers found that the boys with higher risk factors were much more likely to frequent the drop-in centres than their counterparts with lower risk factors.

Unfortunately, this created an unforeseen problem. Boys with an increased tendency toward antisocial behaviour and criminal activity found themselves in an unstructured environment with other boys with an increased tendency toward antisocial behaviour and criminal activity. Instead of lowering their risk factor through the use of the centre, the boys who frequented the drop-in centres saw a universal increase in criminal behaviour.

Why is this? According to the researchers, "because the youth centres became available to children at an age when peer influence is particularly salient, this form of unstructured engagement with deviant peers may be especially likely to introduce or augment behaviour patterns of a negative, anti-social sort."

What does this mean for other drop-in centres, such as those under the Kids Count banner? Unlike the Swedish models, Kids Count drop-in centres are structured, with school staff and community volunteers providing support and leadership. Rather than being given free reign to do as they please, the youths are presented with stimulating activities and skill-building opportunities. These activities have included hip-hop dancing, cooking, art classes, basketball and the creation of the Gurlz Club. Special events at the drop-in centers have featured special speakers and manicures by Marvel Beauty. By focusing the attention of the youths on positive growth exercises, the Kids Count centres avoid the problems faced by the Swedish centres.

The study, entitled Youth recreation centre participation and criminal offendng: A 20-year longitudinal study of Swedish boys, was conducted by Joesph L. Mahoney of Yale University, Håkan Stattin of Örebro University in Sweden and David Magnusson of Stockholm University in Sweden and published in the International Journal of Behavioural Development.