Crime and Punishment in America: An Encyclopedia of Trends and Controversies in the Justice System [2 Volumes] by Laura L. Finley

Author:Laura L. Finley
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781610699280
Publisher: ABC-CLIO

Music and Crime Prevention

Some have suggested that music can be a tool for crime prevention. The National Crime Prevention Council promotes efforts to engage troubled youth in learning and performing music. The idea is to give them something productive to do as a means of keeping them out of trouble. For example, in Clarksdale, Mississippi, two programs bring the Delta Blues musical tradition to at-risk youth. The Delta Blues Education Program was established in 1992. It offers free instruments and instruction to over 120 impoverished youth ages 9 to 19 from six schools. In addition, the program, run by local musicians, offers daytime, after-school, and summer activities for students. In addition to teaching music, instructors provide lessons in personal conduct, money management, and effective communication skills. Based on the success of that program, the Delta Blues Museum Program was added to offer additional lessons and performance opportunities. Some of the students who were trained have gone on to become professional musicians.

Police in West Palm Beach, Florida, claim that crime decreased by 40 percent in some of the public parks in which they began playing classical music over a loudspeaker. Police in Duncan, British Columbia, used the same tactic to combat rampant drug dealing, while officials in Sydney, Australia, maintain that crime decreased at several public transit stations in which classical music was played.

Music is also used by various organizations as a tool to heal victims of various types of violence, including sexual and domestic violence. Victims can listen to music and discuss or journal about it or in some cases engage in their own song writing. The American Music Therapy Association, which uses music for physical rehabilitation, believes that music therapy increases people’s motivation to change their behavior and can provide emotional support for both clients and families.

Laura L. Finley

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