Reducing Crime through the

integration of basketball courts

throughout crime-situated areas:
Crime is a devastating problem resulting from the formation of gangs throughout Trinidad and
Tobago. Trinidad and Tobago has the 6th highest crime rate in the world despite its population.
In this portfolio, to assist in the reduction in crime rates in Trinidad and Tobago, we plan on
developing a standardised basketball court, including a basketball hoop and basketball itself, to
be placed throughout the highest crime-situated areas of Trinidad and Tobago such as
Laventille, Morvant, Sea Lots, South Belmont. Many sources prove our reasoning behind
choosing sports, especially basketball to effectively achieve our purpose.

Firstly, sports have been shown to teach important life skills and values, improve well-being,
and social inclusion and increase opportunities. A prime example comes from Camp Kilpatrick
(the flagship location of the Los Angeles County Probation Department’s “L.A. Model” for
juvenile rehabilitative service facilities.), which has shown to use sports to better the lives of
inmates having proof of real anecdotes of those who lives were changed to due to the teaching
of sports at the campus.

Secondly, an example of basketball being used comes from the Midnight Basketball Program
initiative that emerged in the United States during the 1990s it was a community-based initiative
whose purpose was to provide a positive and safe outlet for young people during late-night
hours, typically on weekends. By offering organized basketball games and related activities, the
program sought to keep participants engaged in constructive pursuits and away from potential
involvement in criminal activities. Despite through comprehensive studies showing that these
programs do not show a direct causation to the reduction in crimes, it showed that through
community involvement of basketball becoming popular on the streets, that crime has been
reduced.

In conclusion, therefore it is justified that through creating the designs of the basketball court,
hoop and basketball to be set in these crime-situated areas, through the involvement of the
community, can crime be ultimately reduced.

Bibliography:

1. Is Trinidad and Tobago Safe? Crime, Scams and Travel Tips (worldnomads.com)

2. International NGO: Trinidad and Tobago has sixth highest crime rate - Trinidad and
Tobago Newsday
 3. Sport as a tool for crime and violence prevention | sportanddev

4. Sean Porter True Story - Gridiron Gang Movie and Documentary (chasingthefrog.com)

5. document (psu.edu)

6. National Association of Midnight Basketball - Midnight Basketball (amblp.org)

7. McGruff the Crime Dog® and the Association of Midnight Basketball are teaming up for
the “Midnight Magic” trick shot challenge! - Midnight Basketball (amblp.org)

APA Format:

1. Nomads, W. (2022, September 27). Is Trinidad and Tobago Safe? 13 Travel Safety Tips.
Www.worldnomads.com. https://www.worldnomads.com/travel-safety/caribbean/trinidad-
and-tobago/trinidad-and-tobago-high-crime#:~:text=There%20are%20a%20few%20areas%20of
%20the%20capital%2C
2. International NGO: Trinidad and Tobago has sixth highest crime rate. (2022, May 27). Trinidad
and Tobago Newsday. https://newsday.co.tt/2022/05/27/international-ngo-trinidad-and-
tobago-has-sixth-highest-crime-rate/
3. Sport as a tool for crime and violence prevention. (n.d.). Sportanddev.

https://www.sportanddev.org/latest/news/sport-tool-crime-and-violence-

prevention#:~:text=Sport%20as%20a%20tool%20for%20crime%20and%20violence

4. Gridiron Gang Movie True Story - Real Coach Sean Porter. (n.d.). ChasingtheFrog.com.

https://www.chasingthefrog.com/reelfaces/gridirongang.php

5. Hartmann, D., & Depro, B. (2006). Rethinking Sports-Based Community Crime Prevention.

Journal of Sport and Social Issues, 30(2), 180–196. https://doi.org/10.1177/0193723506286863

6. National Association of Midnight Basketball. (n.d.). Midnight Basketball.

https://www.amblp.org/

7. admin. (2023, April 14). McGruff the Crime Dog® and the Association of Midnight Basketball are

teaming up for the “Midnight Magic” trick shot challenge! Midnight Basketball.

https://www.amblp.org/mcgruff-the-crime-dog-and-the-association-of-midnight-basketball-are-

teaming-up-for-the-midnight-magic-trick-shot-challenge/