can the arts reduce crime?

Juveniles in Malibu, California, are spending a couple of days away from the detention center where they've been incarcerated to act in an improv troop, in front of a paying audience. The Christian Sceince Monitor writes about the performance in an article called Thug to thespian: Young offenders take the stage. Sounds like it was a great performance too. We need more programs like this one.