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Good on Paper

Why Does Crime Go Up When School Starts?

Sep 24, 2024
Ezra Karger, an economist who investigates crime patterns linked to school schedules, sheds light on a surprising phenomenon: juvenile crime rates spike when school starts. He discusses the complexities of crime behavior among teens, the impact of school environments on delinquency, and intriguing seasonal crime trends. Karger emphasizes the need for further research to understand these dynamics, while also contemplating how factors like bullying and curfews influence students’ experiences and could shape effective crime prevention strategies.
44:47

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Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Juvenile crime rates peak during the school year, challenging the belief that summer is the most problematic time for youth crime.
  • The school environment, while providing essential resources, can paradoxically exacerbate delinquent behavior, necessitating a reevaluation of school policies and interventions.

Deep dives

The Dual Nature of School's Impact on Youth

Schools are traditionally viewed as beneficial environments for children, offering essential resources such as food, adult supervision, and educational support. However, recent findings indicate that while schools provide these advantages, they may also contribute to negative outcomes, such as increased rates of crime and mental health issues, particularly during the school year. Research shows that, surprisingly, juvenile crime peaks during the school year, contradicting prior beliefs that summer would be the most problematic season. The complexities of student interactions and school dynamics potentially catalyze delinquent behavior, raising questions about the environment schools create for youth.

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