Engaging Underprivileged Youth in the Nation's Capital
The Officer Oliver Cowan Story
Engaging Underprivileged Youth in the Nation's Capital
The Officer Oliver Cowan Story
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Description
In 1942, when urban youth violence was on the rise, District of Columbia Metropolitan Police rookie, Oliver A. Cowan, set up a youth engagement program initially known as the “Junior Police Corps.”
At that time, D.C.'s government was overseen by segregationists in Congress and most Blacks residing in the nation's capital were living under the conditions of “Jim Crow laws.” Yet, Officer Cowan managed to build an integrated program drawing upon the strengths of Washington's youth as well as civic minded citizens, community organizations, and business leaders. For fundraisings, performing artists and sports figures gave of their time. Although Officer Cowan was assigned to one of the city's most impoverished precincts, he was able to convince the leaders of his precinct's worst gangs to help him form a recreational and citizenship building program. When youth crime plummeted, the program was adopted citywide. This book tells his story and the development of youth engagement programs from the Progressive Era to the end of the 20th century. Emphasis is given to the struggles for civil rights, juvenile justice, and the notable events of the 20th century.
Table of Contents
Foreword
Preface
Part I
Chapter 1 Introduction: Officer Cowan and the World of Juvenile Justice
Chapter 2 A Brief History of Washington, DC
Chapter 3 Junior Police and Youth Crime Prevention
Chapter 4 Life in Washington, DC: The Depression Years
Part II
Chapter 5 Cowan's Plan: The Junior Police and Citizens Corps
Chapter 6 Initiation of the Corps: 1942-1949
Chapter 7 Consolidation of the Corps: 1950-1959
Chapter 8 Transformation of the Corps: 1960-1965
Chapter 9 Last Decades of the Corps: 1966-1990s
Chapter 10 Community Engagement and the Legacy of Officer Cowan
Appendix A Commentary About Junior Police (1947)
Appendix B NYPD's PAL Program
Appendix C President's Executive Order No. 7732 (1938)
Appendix D Report by the DC Council of Social Agencies (1946)
Appendix E Proclamation on the Prevention and Control of Juvenile Delinquency (1948)
Appendix F Members of the Advisory Board for Trustees of the Junior Police and Citizens Corps, Inc. (1952)
Notes
References
Index
About the Author
Product details
| Published | Dec 10 2026 |
|---|---|
| Format | Hardback |
| Edition | 1st |
| Pages | 416 |
| ISBN | 9781666973433 |
| Imprint | Bloomsbury Academic |
| Illustrations | 41 images |
| Dimensions | 9 x 6 inches |
| Publisher | Bloomsbury Publishing |
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