Oregon's law enforcement leaders know from experience and the research that the hours from 3 to 6 PM on school days are the "prime time for juvenile crime." More than 6 of Oregon's school-age children in every ten are in households where both parents or the only parent are in the workforce. Almost one third of Oregon's children are regularly left to care for themselves. Studies show that after school is the peak time for teens to commit crime, be a victim of crime, be in or cause a car crash and smoke, drink or use drugs. Quality, constructive and highly supervised programs can cut crime immediately and convert after school hours into safe learning time. One high-quality program found that boys left out of the program averaged six times more crimes than teens in the program. A study of Boys & Girls clubs showed that housing projects without the clubs had 50 percent more vandalism and 37 percent worse drug activity. Teens in one California after-school program were half as likely to be rearrested than teens not in the program.

Reports

All Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Oregon reports on after-school:

"I know violent juvenile crime triples when the school bell rings and kids leave school for the day. But I also know that after-school programs reduce juvenile crime and violence, reduce drug use, and keep kids safe and out of trouble."

-David Nelson, Troutdale Chief of Police, President of the Oregon Association of Chiefs of Police

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• The single hour most likely for a teen to commit a violent crime-homicide, rape, robbery, or assault-is between 3 PM and 4 PM.
• High school kids commit four out of five juvenile crimes in California.