Sport, Physical Activity and Criminal Justice (Routledge Research in Sport, Culture and Society)

This book explores the various ways in which participation in sport and physical activity might contribute to effective solutions within criminal justice systems.

Focusing on a range of different sporting and physical activities across an array of social contexts involving both adult and youth populations, the book offers insight into the way in which sport and physical activity is interpreted by participants and practitioners, and how these interpretations relate to broader policy objectives within and across justice systems. It focuses on a series of key issues, including how sport policy (national and international) has developed in recent years in this area; how and to what extent such policy developments have impacted organisations and interventions (both custodial and non-custodial) across sport and criminal justice systems and sectors; and how participant cohorts (such as disadvantaged and/or ‘at-risk’ young people) have experienced these changes.

With shifting debates around criminal justice and the need for policy and practical solutions to extend beyond tougher and longer sentencing, this book is important reading for students, researchers, and practitioners working in sport pedagogy, sport-for-development, sport and leisure management, sport coaching, physical education, criminology, youth work, youth studies, social work, and health studies.

Haydn Morgan is Senior Lecturer in Sport Management in the Department for Health at the University of Bath, UK. Haydn’s research concerns the connection between participation in sport and physical activity and the enhancement of social inclusion and wellbeing in marginalized populations.

Andrew Parker is Visiting Professor in the Faculty of Business and Law at the University of the West of England, UK. Andrew’s research interests focus on sport and disadvantaged youth, and he has undertaken research and evaluation studies of sport-based initiatives both in community and custodial settings.