Boys And Girls Club Analysis

In this paper I will be discussing how Boys and Girls Clubs are used as a deterrence method to keep “at-risk” children off the streets. These programs are all across the country in inner cities and in rural areas. I will be using the Boys and Girls Club to look at its relationship with Social Disorganization theory. The Boys and Girls Club has been around since 1860, when three women decided to open their doors to underprivileged boys. They “believed that boys who roamed the streets should have a positive alternative” (Boys & Girls Clubs of America). In 1906 multiple boys clubs in Boston decided to join together and create the organization that sparked a national movement. In 1958 the Boys Club of America was given a congressional charter.

This theory gets to the root of most of the troubles and assists policymakers find a solution, even if it is just short term. Many of these policies are designed to protect the rights of children and reduce the number of delinquents. In Juvenile Delinquency in a Diverse Society, Kristin Bates writes that, “Plenty of other groups have utilized anomie theories to inform delinquency and crime-related policies today, such as the “I Have A Dream” Foundation and the Boys and Girls Club of America.” She argues that these and many of other organizations create and defend policies designed to influence the younger generation in a positive

Social Disorganization is an obstacle one has to overcome and the BGCA helps at-risk children defend against stereotypes and build a better tomorrow. The BGCA helps get kids off the streets, thus deterring crime in neighborhoods that are the most vulnerable. The BGCA gives children who are seeing evidence of social disorganization, such as broken windows and graffiti, to have a refuge that is safe and away from the wicked world outside. These organizations help kids struggling to find a place to stay. In areas where there is higher ethnic diversity there is a higher percentage of crime. Kubrin wrote in 2009 that “Heterogeneity can undermine ties between neighbors, limiting their ability to agree on a common set of values or solve commonly experienced problems, including those related to crime.” I think Kubrin is say that individuals who are not ethnically alike will be more hesitant to trust one another, which will cause a strain on the relationship; thus creating an uneasy feeling among neighbors who also live in that same area. The result is criminal conduct in hopes of getting out. The BGCA teaches kids that it is okay to trust others and to create good and lasting relationships. This is one of the many ways the BCGA tries to battle delinquency in younger