The Impact of Universal Access to Post-Secondary Education on At-Risk and Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Youth. “Can universal access to post-secondary education deter at-risk and socioeconomically disadvantaged youth aged between 16-22 years old from engaging in crime and other forms of social deviance? write three paragraphs discussing the significance of the research problem.”

The Impact of Universal Access to Post-Secondary Education on At-Risk and Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Youth

The prevention of youth crime and social deviance through access to post-secondary education is an important research area which has yet to be adequately explored. This is especially true for at-risk and socioeconomically disadvantaged youth aged between 16-22 years old, who are disproportionately represented among those engaging in crime and other forms of social deviance. In order to understand the impact of universal access to post-secondary education on this cohort of youth, it is necessary to examine the current literature on the subject, as well as the potential benefits that such access may provide. Research has indicated that there exists a direct link between educational attainment and criminal activity. Studies conducted by the American Psychological Association (2015) and the American Sociological Association (2016) show that individuals who pursue post-secondary education are less likely to be convicted of a crime. Further, evidence from the National Center for Education Statistics (2018) suggest that individuals who attain a college degree are less likely to be arrested for a crime than individuals who do not. It is therefore reasonable to suggest that increasing access to post-secondary education for at-risk and socioeconomically disadvantaged… Cont…