Youth employment program has impact on violent crime arrests

At-risk youth who participated in the 2012 One Summer Plus program experienced a 51 percent drop in arrests for violent crime, according to a new study released from the University of Chicago Crime Lab. City officials are building upon that success by studying the impact of One Summer Plus on participants in 2013 and establishing the model for future youth programs. One Summer Plus offers youth from neighborhoods with elevated rates of violent crime with employment opportunities, mentoring and therapy. The drop in violence demonstrates the program's positive impact and its lasting effects, as participants were monitored for nine months after starting the program. "We are not waiting for our kids to become victims of violence, but instead are reaching out to keep them safe and offer opportunities for learning and employment to address one of the root causes of crime," said Mayor Rahm Emanuel. "Given the results, we hope this program will serve as a model for future youth employment programs in Chicago and nationwide." Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle created the One Summer Chicago program in May 2011 to provide youth with educational, safe summer activities. In 2012, the program evolved and Mayor Emanuel directed the Chicago Department of Family and Support Services to work with the Crime Lab to design a specialized violence prevention program, One Summer Plus, focusing on youth from neighborhoods with elevated rates of violent crime.