RoadRunners: An Exploratory Study of an Activity Programme for Young Offenders in North Dublin

Abstract

Purpose The Children Act 2001, in a significant departure from earlier Irish juvenile justice legislation, introduces a range of community based sanctions for young offenders including a Probation (training and activity programme) Order. This study, in the context of these new developments, was concerned with a particular type of intervention for young offenders: an activity programme. Methods This small scale qualitative study explored a specific programme, the RoadRunners, from the perspective of eight male participants through the use of semi-structured interviews. Results It was found that prior to participation on the RoadRunners, the participants were disengaged from the education system and their time was characterised by boredom and offending. Participation provided the young men with the opportunity to have new experiences and learn new skills, such as teamwork. Following completion of the RoadRunners, six of the eight participants had re-engaged in education. Four had self-reported changes in their offending behavior and all reported changes in how they spent their leisure time. Conclusions In line with the limited literature on this topic, this research found that activities provided a medium for personal and social development. They also provided the young people with a constructive way to spend their time; providing a diversion from offending. This simple notion of the diversion mechanism has been largely ignored in the literature to date. This research also draws attention to the need for future research into the crucial role of staff as mentors in programmes of this nature