Playing football cuts reoffending (From Hampshire Chronicle)
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Playing football cuts reoffending claims Southampton researcher
10:13am Friday 20th January 2012 in Education
Dr Rosie Meek
FOOTBALL could be the key to dramatically cutting the number of young criminals ending up back behind bars, a Hampshire academic has claimed.
University of Southampton psychologist Rosie Meek has found involving male inmates in sport while they are locked up can radically improve attitudes and cut reoffending rates by nearly two thirds.
The findings of her research, released today, come as the Prison Officers Association warned that the country’s jails are dangerously full, with fears this could lead to widespread riots.
Reoffending is seen as a major cause of the high numbers being locked up, with almost half of young men released from jail being sent back within 12 months.
Dr Meek’s research found those rates can be drastically cut by involving inmates in football and rugby.
The psychology lecturer at Southampton University’s Third Sector Research Centre has spent two years working with 81 young male adult offenders at Portland young offender institution in Dorset.
As part of her evaluation of the Portland Prison Sports Academy – an initiative developed by Bristol-based organisation the 2nd Chance Project – she monitored behaviour during and after participation in the intensive 15-week scheme and tracked inmates’ progress after release.
Of the 50 participants released over the past 18 months, nine have reoffended or been recalled to prison.
That 18 per cent reconviction rate represents a huge reduction on the prison average of 48 per cent after one year.
Dr Meek said: “Young offenders have one of the highest rates of reconviction after release, with around three quarters reoffending within a year.
“The current ‘revolving door’ effect ruins lives, damages communities and costs the UK economy billions.
“A clear finding from the research is that this innovative project is especially effective in using sport as a vehicle for change, engaging prisoners and motivating them to take responsibility for desisting from crime.”
Comments(18)
Shoong
says...
10:22am Fri 20 Jan 12
MGRA
says...
10:26am Fri 20 Jan 12
Goldenwight
says...
10:27am Fri 20 Jan 12
Linesman wrote:More likely because the research is not looking at a proper cross section of the prison population- those inmates who opt to join the team are more than likely atypical in the first place, and thus less likely to re-offend anyway.
Probably because football and other sports involves discipline. If you want to play, you have to play by the rules. In many cases young offenders have lacked discipline in the home, and the law has weakened disciplinary options in schools.
And as for football reducing crime rates, tell that to the Brighton & Hove Albion management...
cliffwalker
says...
10:38am Fri 20 Jan 12
Goldenwight
says...
10:50am Fri 20 Jan 12
cliffwalker wrote:What, you mean like "Bald men have higher testosterone levels, so if I shave my head I'll be more virile" sort of thing?
This looks like a classic error of the correlation and causation fallacy type.
George4th
says...
11:43am Fri 20 Jan 12
Organised activities on a regular basis can alter the view of the participants, especially if delivered in a thoughtful and enthusiastic manner. (Yes, I know, it won't suit everyone!).
>
The thing that baffles me is that there are successful programs running in parts of the UK so why aren't the successful programs rolled out nationally?!
Old-Dog
says...
11:47am Fri 20 Jan 12
Old-Dog
says...
11:56am Fri 20 Jan 12
Linesman
says...
11:58am Fri 20 Jan 12
Goldenwight wrote:She is dealing with people who have already offended and been sentenced, and I doubt whether she would claim 100% success.
Linesman wrote:More likely because the research is not looking at a proper cross section of the prison population- those inmates who opt to join the team are more than likely atypical in the first place, and thus less likely to re-offend anyway.
Probably because football and other sports involves discipline. If you want to play, you have to play by the rules. In many cases young offenders have lacked discipline in the home, and the law has weakened disciplinary options in schools.
And as for football reducing crime rates, tell that to the Brighton & Hove Albion management...
Practically every football club have had players who have served time, Saints included, so I don't think that you need look as far as Brighton & Hove Albion.
dango
says...
12:03pm Fri 20 Jan 12
Condor Man
says...
1:14pm Fri 20 Jan 12
Goldenwight
says...
3:44pm Fri 20 Jan 12
Linesman wrote:No, perfectly true in every sentence of what you say- but Brighton just happened to be the most recent news-worthy case. And I'm in Brighton today, anyway so it's not far!
Goldenwight wrote:She is dealing with people who have already offended and been sentenced, and I doubt whether she would claim 100% success. Practically every football club have had players who have served time, Saints included, so I don't think that you need look as far as Brighton & Hove Albion.Linesman wrote: Probably because football and other sports involves discipline. If you want to play, you have to play by the rules. In many cases young offenders have lacked discipline in the home, and the law has weakened disciplinary options in schools.More likely because the research is not looking at a proper cross section of the prison population- those inmates who opt to join the team are more than likely atypical in the first place, and thus less likely to re-offend anyway. And as for football reducing crime rates, tell that to the Brighton & Hove Albion management...
Goldenwight
says...
3:46pm Fri 20 Jan 12
George4th wrote:George, pardon me for saying this, but you sound like a methodist preacher from the 1890s there. Or maybe a relative of Dr Kellog.
The lady is on the right track. It is a known fact that exercise is good for you, both for your physical well being and your mental well being. Organised activities on a regular basis can alter the view of the participants, especially if delivered in a thoughtful and enthusiastic manner. (Yes, I know, it won't suit everyone!). > The thing that baffles me is that there are successful programs running in parts of the UK so why aren't the successful programs rolled out nationally?!
The reason they aren't rolled out nationally? Because they haven't been proven to work, probably.
Linesman
says...
4:20pm Fri 20 Jan 12
Goldenwight wrote:Newsworthy, but none of them have even faced trial yet, let alone being found guilty and sentenced.
Linesman wrote:No, perfectly true in every sentence of what you say- but Brighton just happened to be the most recent news-worthy case. And I'm in Brighton today, anyway so it's not far!
Goldenwight wrote:She is dealing with people who have already offended and been sentenced, and I doubt whether she would claim 100% success. Practically every football club have had players who have served time, Saints included, so I don't think that you need look as far as Brighton & Hove Albion.Linesman wrote: Probably because football and other sports involves discipline. If you want to play, you have to play by the rules. In many cases young offenders have lacked discipline in the home, and the law has weakened disciplinary options in schools.More likely because the research is not looking at a proper cross section of the prison population- those inmates who opt to join the team are more than likely atypical in the first place, and thus less likely to re-offend anyway. And as for football reducing crime rates, tell that to the Brighton & Hove Albion management...
George4th
says...
5:31pm Fri 20 Jan 12
Goldenwight wrote:"George, pardon me for saying this, but you sound like a methodist preacher from the 1890s there. Or maybe a relative of Dr Kellog."
George4th wrote:George, pardon me for saying this, but you sound like a methodist preacher from the 1890s there. Or maybe a relative of Dr Kellog.
The lady is on the right track. It is a known fact that exercise is good for you, both for your physical well being and your mental well being. Organised activities on a regular basis can alter the view of the participants, especially if delivered in a thoughtful and enthusiastic manner. (Yes, I know, it won't suit everyone!). > The thing that baffles me is that there are successful programs running in parts of the UK so why aren't the successful programs rolled out nationally?!
The reason they aren't rolled out nationally? Because they haven't been proven to work, probably.
OK. You re-write it for me please.
>
"The reason they aren't rolled out nationally? Because they haven't been proven to work, probably."
A masterful contribution!
IronLady2010
says...
9:28pm Fri 20 Jan 12
Georgem
says...
10:26pm Fri 20 Jan 12
IronLady2010 wrote:Err.. no. It's pretty obvious that, for starters, sports which actually ARE violence, are more violent than football
Considering football is the most violent sport in the world, with brain dead players I fail to see how this can be taken seriously.
Linesman says...
10:21am Fri 20 Jan 12
In many cases young offenders have lacked discipline in the home, and the law has weakened disciplinary options in schools.