OUR MEMBERS IN THE NEWS
Recent News Clips About Our Work
Law enforcement leaders speak out in favor of proven crime prevention approaches.
The Morning Call (Allentown, Pa.)
Fight crime by investing in kids
By Bill White
8/24/2012
If you’re suspicious of bleeding heart social workers and columnists, remember that this is a collection of police chiefs, sheriffs, prosecutors, crime victims.
“I’ve said it many times before,” said Allentown Police Chief Roger MacLean, who has been active with the organization. “We can’t arrest our way out of it. We’ve got to figure out a way to stop the cycle.”
The Reno Gazette Journal
Report on Nevada: Early intervention heads off child abuse, crime
By Jaclyn O’Malley
7/31/2012
[Washoe County Sheriff Michael] Haley said the report showed that 185 Nevada child victims became criminals. He said children who are abused are 30 times more likely to engage in crime and abuse their own children.
“Come on, Nevada, we can do much better than this,” Haley said. “We have to. If we fail, we fail the kids.”
The Centre Daily-Times
Opinion: Home visits key to prevention
By State College Chief of Police Thomas R. King
7/13/2012
There are no criminal cases more heartbreaking than those involving a victimized child.
With the trial of Jerry Sandusky behind us, those terrible acts of abuse must serve as a wake-up call that all of us have a responsibility to protect children from harm.
While the response to the Sandusky case has focused much attention on important issues that come up after a child has been victimized, effective ways to prevent child abuse and neglect up front have received far less attention. For the sake of our kids and public safety, our lawmakers must prioritize child-abuse prevention efforts.
Click here for the full article.
The Syracuse Post-Standard
Letter: System will monitor early learning programs
By Baldwinsville Chief of Police Mike Lefancheck
6/24/2012
The early childhood learning boost offers a big payoff, but with an important caveat. Here’s the catch: The only way we get the long-range benefits is if we invest in high-quality early learning programs. There are good programs across New York, but no systematic way to check in on their quality and help programs increase their quality performance.
Click here for the full article.
The Birmingham News (Editorial)
OUR VIEW: Evidence overwhelming that money spent on quality prekindergarten will pay big dividends
6/3/2012
The front-line fighters in the war on crime have a plea for policy-makers: Put more money up front, where it will do the most good. That is, invest in high-quality prekindergarten and save money on future prison and crime costs.
“You can either spend more on the front end for education, or more on the back end for prisons,” said Jefferson County District Attorney Brandon Falls.
The evidence makes the case beyond a shadow of a doubt.
Click here for the full article.≈
The Missoulian
Missoula officials sign on to initiative to prevent child abuse nationwide
5/31/2012
“I can think of a number of cases where I am now dealing with the grandchildren of people I started arresting when I was a young cop in 1972,” [Sheriff Carl Ibsen] said Thursday. “I’m not far away from getting into dealing with their great-grandchildren.”
That’s why Ibsen is one of the 80 sheriffs, police chiefs and officers, and county attorneys from Montana who are among 1,560 people nationwide signing a letter urging Congress to approve funds for home-visiting programs designed to prevent child abuse.
Click here for the full article.
The Chicago Sun-Times (Editorial)
Teach kids now or pay later
5/18/2012
The returns, in terms of life outcomes for at-risk children who attend high-quality preschools, are significantly better than any other intervention society has dreamed up, including remedial education, job training or jail, where far too many kids who get off to a poor start in life end up.
Illinois’ police chief, prosecutors and sheriffs know this better than most — they see what happens to these kids.
Click here for the full article.
The Huffington Post
Illinois Preschool Funding Cuts: Sheriffs, Police Chiefs Say Early Education Prevents Crime
By Jen Sabella
4/30/2012
A group of Illinois law enforcement leaders joined forces last week to speak out against cuts to state preschool funding, claiming cutting early education funding now will cost more in crime down the line.
Members of “Fight Crime: Invest In Kids Illinois” include more than 300 police chiefs, sheriffs and state’s attorneys statewide. During a conference call with members of the media Thursday, they pointed to new research that shows a link between cuts to preschool funding and crime…
Click here for the full article.
Newsday
New Nassau meeting focuses on child abuse
By Sid Cassese
4/25/2012
Preventing child abuse and neglect was the focus of a gathering Wednesday of Nassau County law enforcement officials.
“As prosecutors and law enforcement officials, we see the consequences of child abuse every day. . . . Violence begets violence, and abused and neglected children often become abusive and violent themselves,” Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice said.
Click here for the full article.
Fios1 Long Island (Local Cable News Station)
Officials Push for More Investment in Fighting Child Abuse
By Carolyn Fortino
4/25/2012
Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice was joined by members of Fight Crime: Invest in Kids New York at a press conference Wednesday to highlight the growing problem of child abuse in New York State. Officials say 77,000 children suffered from abuse or neglect in 2010, with 7,013 instances of abuse happening on Long Island alone. Rice is urging local policy makers to invest in new support programs that have been proven to prevent child abuse. There are currently little to no programs or resources in Nassau County to prevent child abuse.
Click here for the full article.
The Kirkland Reporter (Washington State)
Kirkland police chief speaks out on child abuse awareness month
By Eric Olsen
3/23/2012
As a police officer, I have responded to all types of crimes during my 24 years with the Kirkland Police Department, from violent crime to domestic disturbances and all types of emergency situations. However, there’s no question that crimes involving child victims are the most distressing for an officer.
I vividly remember responding as a young patrol officer to a complaint of loud music coming from an apartment. My partner and I looked through the unlatched door of the apartment and we found a bruised, dirty and frightened toddler. There was no adult in sight.
Click here for the full article.
NBC 4 Washington
“Healthy Families” Program in Jeopardy in Maryland
Erika Gonzalez
3/22/2012
The “healthy families” program in Maryland is in jeopardy because of planned state budget cuts. News4′s Erika Gonzalez reports.
Montgomery County Chief of Police Thomas Manger is interviewed on child abuse prevention.
View more videos at: http://nbcwashington.com.
Click here for the full article.
The Gazette (Maryland)
Legislation combats child abuse
3/16/2012
The Maryland police chiefs, sheriffs and prosecutors of Fight Crime: Invest in Kids urge the General Assembly to pass this important legislation to ensure that Maryland tax dollars are invested wisely in voluntary, home-visiting programs proven through research to stop the cycle of child abuse and neglect, reduce crime and violence and save money.
Click here for the full article.
New York Daily News
7 DAs: Legislature must continue funding child abuse prevention
RICHARD BROWN, ROBERT JOHNSON, CYRUS VANCE, WILLIAM J. FITZPATRICK, SANDRA DOORLEY DANIEL DONOVAN
3/7/2012
As district attorneys, we prosecute those who commit all types of crimes, and the most disturbing, heartbreaking type of case we handle involves a young child who has been abused or severely neglected…
Law enforcement leaders across our state agree that safer communities begin with a safe and healthy start for kids. We have a moral obligation to protect children from child abuse. It’s also in the best interests of public safety and fiscal prudence, and we urge the Legislature to make resources for the prevention effort a top priority.
Click here for the full article.
The Albany Times-Union
Letter: Pre-kindergarten crucial to youth
By Nathan H. York
2/18/2012
While I spend my days focused on law enforcement, one thing I have learned very clearly is that if we want safer communities in the future, we need to invest in proven programs today, like pre-kindergarten that provides kids with a strong start to their education.
Click here for the full article.
Quad-City Times
Sheriffs voice support for social safety net
By James Q. Lynch
2/16/2012
After 32 years in law enforcement, Linn County Sheriff Brian Gardner is dealing with the grandchildren of offenders he saw as a young jailer.
He was at the Statehouse this week, asking lawmakers to help break that multi-generational cycle of crime. He wasn’t asking for more money, deputies, patrol cars or bulletproof vests…“We’re asking them to continue to support programs that are in place,” the first-term sheriff said. “We want to make sure (legislators) fund the programs that are working.”
Click here for the full article.
Education Week
Early Education a Crime-Fighting Weapon?
By Julie Rasicot
1/25/2012
You’d expect educators and parents to be front and center advocating for early childhood education as state legislatures debate school funding for the next fiscal year. In New York and Maine, these advocates have another ally: top police officers.
Sheriffs and police chiefs are on a mission to convince state legislatures that investing in early childhood education, such as quality prekindergarten and the federal Head Start program, can be an important crime-prevention weapon—and ultimately save states money in incarceration costs.
Click here for the full article.
