Here is one program that was apparently successful at reducing crime among young black people. Giving them jobs and an adult mentor reduced crime over an 18-month period.
The study says that teen employment is at a 60-year low, and obviously fatherlessness is a huge predictor of criminality. So finding a job and some employed adult to act as a positive influence in these kids lives had a positive effect. Wonderful.
I can't help but note that if illegal immigrants were deported, there would be many minimum wage jobs suddenly opening up to poor black kids that could help them make money in a legitimate way. Most studies of gangs that sell drugs find that the average guy selling drugs actually makes less per hour than the minimum wage. Working some crappy job also doesn't get you shot as often as gang work does.
The study:
http://news.uchicago.edu/article/2014/12/04/chicago-summer-jobs-program-students-dramatically-reduces-youth-violence
