The presentation will outline my dissertation research focused on understanding the landscape (frequency, type, identified purpose) of sport programs in long-term, secure juvenile correctional facilities across the United States as well as how these programs are implemented in a sample of exemplar facilities. There is an extensive literature base exploring the positive benefits of sport on the growth and development of young people in school and community-based settings, which has found significant physical, psychological/emotional, intellectual, and social benefits for youth participating in thoughtfully constructed sport programs (Holt et al., 2017; Neely & Holt, 2014; Whitley, Massey, & Wilkison, 2018; Blom, Bronk, Coakley, Lauer, Sawyer, 2013; Fox, Barr-Anderson, Neumark-Sztainer, & Wall, 2010; Camiré, Trudel, & Forneis, 2009). Yet, there is much more limited systematic exploration into sport with young people in secure settings, particularly in the United States. Considering the appeal of sport among young people, findings that show high levels of sport participation among incarcerated youth (Lewis & Meek, 2012), and poor health outcomes for youth who have been incarcerated (Massagolia, 2008); more research is needed in this area. The studies focused on addressing two significant gaps in the literature related to (1) the landscape of this phenomenon across the United States and (2) how such programs are implemented in secure facilities. Findings will be presented from both the first study: a national survey on sport programs in juvenile facilities conducted in partnership with the Council of Juvenile Justice Administrators (CJJA); as well as the second study: interviews with key informants at exemplar facilities, established through survey data, in which themes for implementation were identified. Implications of the findings will be discussed in connection with existing literature, policy, and practice.
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