Unmasking the Hidden Influences to College Success in a Disadvantaged Urban Environment: Voices from Inner-City College Students An Examination into the Social Capital

• In Event: Advances in Research on Juvenile Delinquency and Crime

Abstract

Nearly 150 college students and university graduates who grew up in one of America’s “most dangerous and poorest cities” were interviewed about the influences of their social capital in an attempt to better understand their pathways away from crime and towards post-secondary education. To further comprehend how these respondents achieved educational success despite local crime and drop-out rates that tower over graduation rates, we employed in-depth semi-structured interviews and surveys examining the role of formal and informal support systems in familial, community, and educational settings. Previous examinations into academic preparation, neighborhood influences and collective efficacy as well as other structural-level factors yielded little predictive value into the pathways of educational success and desistance from crime for these individuals. However, the social capital results suggests that interpersonal relationships among these at-risk youth may be the most effective intervention for discouraging criminogenic actions and encouraging academic success. Research and policy recommendations are offered.

Authors

• Michelle Meloy, Rutgers University, Camden

• Kristin Curtis, Rutgers University, Camden

• Ashley Jensen, Rutgers University, Camden

• Shelby Tucker, Rutgers University, Camden

• Wayne Webb, Rutgers University, Camden