An analysis of the correlation between municipal government recreation spending and juvenile crime rates: A Pennsylvania case study

This study was conducted to determine if there is a correlation between municipal government recreation spending and juvenile crime rates. A review of literature in how recreation can affect crime rates and delinquent tendencies is presented to explain why a correlation may exist. A hypothesis that increasing recreation spending in a municipality would lower the juvenile crime rate in that municipality was made. The Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient test was choosen to be the methodology used to determine if a correlation exists. Data gathering techniques and their limitations were discussed. After an analysis and the Pearson correlation test was ran on the data sets, the hypothesis was concluded to be false. This conclusion should not be interpreted that there is no correlation between youth participating in recreation and that youth being less likely to be delinquent. There is still evidence in the literature review that recreation can help resolve many community problems, including juvenile crime.