Despite recent reductions, crime remains a primary concern in many communities, especially during the summer months when violence often spikes. Crime tends to be seasonal in part because many young people, particularly those at higher risk of involvement with the justice system are outside, out of school, and can lack access to structured and supportive activities.
To reduce crime, enhance public safety, and improve outcomes for people involved with the criminal justice system, we need to follow the evidence. Across the country, we have seen how proactive strategies like summer youth employment programs (SYEPs) have been proven to counter this seasonal crime spike, offer at-risk youth a more constructive path forward, and reduce violence. Moreover, these programs have a lasting effect, helping to bring down crime and violence throughout the year.
SYEPs are publicly or privately (often a mix of both) funded programs that provide young people – typically between the ages of 14 and 24 – with paid summer work and mentorship. They connect young people with opportunity, mentorship, and purpose, helping them improve their personal skills and feel more feel more connected to their communities.
From Chicago, New York City, Boston, and Philadelphia, there is strong causal evidence that shows SYEPs have helped reduce the number of youth encounters with the criminal justice system. This means fewer arrests, arraignments, and convictions. In Chicago, SYEP advocates have highlighted the work of One Summer Chicago Plus, a program that brings together government institutions, community-based organizations, and companies to offer employment, mentorship, and internship opportunities to youth and young adults. In 2024, the program hired more than 27,000 students for summer jobs, reducing violence by nearly 50%.
Further research demonstrates the impact of these programs extends beyond the summer months, showing that SYEPs are not just a short-term fix. In Boston, youth who participated in SYEPs and gained social-emotional skills through structured programming were involved with 35% fewer violent-crimes over the 12-18 months following their SYEP program participation.
Given the success of these models, some states are now investing in expanding summer youth programs statewide. In May of this year, New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced $56.5 million in funding for the expansion of its SYEP program as part of the 2026 fiscal year budget. This will help 21,000 youth from low-income families enter the job market this summer. Connecticut also recently restored and doubled its funding of SYEPs to $10 million for fiscal year 2026. Its programs serve over 4,100 youth — with a waitlist of 3,000.
Some cities and states are expanding their programs beyond the summer months. Baltimore extended their programming to include spring break, while California’s Youth Employment Opportunity Program offers mentoring and support services year-round.
Despite these strong results, the reality is that SYEPs remain largely under-resourced and inconsistently supported across much of the country. In many communities, these programs are still viewed as temporary add-ons — supported by short-term grants or philanthropic dollars rather than built into public safety or workforce development systems.
Organizations like the National Youth Employment Coalition (NYEC) and the Council of State Governments (CSG) are working to change that — supporting state legislatures in developing model policies that expand youth employment as a core component of violence prevention and economic opportunity.
SYEPs are a promising, evidence-based approach to improving public safety, and as such we should be committed to helping close the gap. This entails continuing to support research and replication, identifying what works, supporting cross-sector partnerships, and advancing policy solutions that make these programs scalable and sustainable. Lawmakers, funders, and the public to seriously consider SYEPs as a critical tool for crime prevention and youth development.
Summer youth employment programs show what’s possible when we invest in mentorship, structure, and youth potential rather than punishment. SYEPs reduce crime, improve educational and employment outcomes, and generate long term benefit for communities. With strong models and momentum building in different states, now is the time to embed SYEPs into our public infrastructure, expand access, and ensure that every young person has a chance to build a better future for themselves and their communities.
Marc Krupanski 