Social distance widens the gap between at-risk youth and police. For nearly a century, social distance scales have been used to measure the divide between groups, both nationally and internationally. The findings are consistent: when contact and familiarity increase, social distance decreases. This means that when at-risk youth spend more time with police officers in a positive, community-focused setting—like TAPS Academy—trust grows, and the connection between these teens and law enforcement strengthens.

 

Research shows that youth, particularly those deemed “at-risk,” tend to have the least trust in law enforcement and the broader criminal justice system. This mistrust is rooted in a complex mix of direct and indirect experiences, family attitudes, historical discrimination against minority groups, and specific examples of excessive force, profiling, and delayed response times. These factors build a sense of disillusionment, widening social distance and reducing support for law enforcement.

 

TAPS Academy, a research-based educational, skill-building and crime-prevention program, actively works to bridge this gap through it's officer-led programming.