on, D.C. sociology specialists found that Job Corps participants were five times more likely to have earned a high school diploma or GED than comparison youth (Howell 105). Another program of this type, the Summer Youth Employment Program, was found to make a large difference in the number of area youth who were in school and had part time employment, where other youth not involved in the program, of similar backgrounds were not in school, and were often jobless (Howell 106). By increasing the education levels of these young people, and decreasing the levels of poverty by increasing their job skills, the chances of them becoming criminals also were drastically reduced. A more controversial set of prevention programs are those related to guns. There have been many gun restriction laws passed, and tighter gun regulations, pertaining to the time period it takes to obtain a hand gun, or the types of guns that are legal to own. Also, some towns and cities have enacted Gun Buy-Back programs where people are offered cash, food, or clothing incentives in exchange for assault weapons (Howell 110). A town in Connecticut with one of the highest crime rates in the nation put together a program to entice impoverished youths to turn in their guns for gift certificates for food, clothing, or toys. The metal from the guns will be used to craft a peace bell which will ring throughout the city (Ryan 10). In Washington D.C., firearm homicides decreased twenty-five percent immediately following enactment of such restrictive gun legislations, and continued to decrease years afterwards (Howell 111). By taking weapons out of young peoples hands, and off of the streets, many cities were able to make their citizens lives safer. Programs such as tougher gun restrictions, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America and other mentoring programs, after school recreation programs, and counseling for at risk youth all play major roles in cities throughout the United States. ...
