The Impact of Comprehensive Student Support on Crime: Evidence from the Pathways to Education Program / Adam M. Lavecchia, Philip Oreopoulos, Noah Spencer.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Lavecchia, Adam M.

Contributor:

National Bureau of Economic Research.

Oreopoulos, Philip.

Spencer, Noah.

Series:

Working Paper Series (National Bureau of Economic Research) no. w32045.

NBER working paper series no. w32045

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource: illustrations (black and white);

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, Mass. National Bureau of Economic Research 2024.

Summary:

This study finds substantial reductions to criminal activity from the introduction of a comprehensive high school support program for disadvantaged youth living in the largest public housing project in Toronto. The program, called Pathways to Education, bundles supports such as regular coaching, tutoring, group activities, free public transportation tickets and bursaries for postsecondary education. In this paper, we use a difference-in-differences approach that compares students living in public housing communities where the program was offered to those living in communities where the program was not offered over time. We find that eligibility for Pathways reduces the likelihood of being charged with a crime by 32 percent at its Regent Park location. This effect is driven by a reduction in charges for breaking and entering, theft, mischief, other traffic offenses and Youth Criminal Justice Act offenses.

Notes:

Print version record

January 2024.