Maine Members in the News

Print Clips in the News

Our members frequently appear in newspapers across Maine. In Letters to the Editor, Op-Eds and articles about an area Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Maine works. Below are samples of appearances by our members:

"Today, too many young people turn to crime instead of college or a career. That makes them a drain on our economy instead of a productive participant. We need to stop that trend. Support for quality early learning for Maine's youngest citizens is not only good business for Maine, it's a public safety priority."
Yarmouth Chief of Police Michael Morrill and Freeport Chief of Police Jerry Schofield
Portland Press Herald, 4/29/11

"Helping vulnerable kids get a good start in life and avoid later involvement in crime will save us far more than the cost of the programs. We hope our policymakers will maintain state funding for home visitation and look for ways to strengthen these programs. It's a necessary commitment for preventing child abuse and keeping communities safe for years to come."
Lincoln County Sheriff Todd Brackett
Times Record, 4/18/11

"We know and research shows that high-quality early childhood education can help kids start school ready to learn, graduate high school and avoid problem behaviors, reduce violent crime, improve public safety and save tax payers far more than they cost in the long run."
Houlton Chief of Police Butch Asselin
Houlton Pioneer Times, 4/13/11

"The costs are clear. After many years working in law enforcement, we have reached an unmistakable conclusion - one way of another - we pay for at-risk kids. Either we pay on the front end by providing them a solid change to succeed, or we pay a lot more for their failure."
Aroostook County Sheriff James Madore
Bangor Daily News, 4/13/11

"Home visiting helps parents be better parents and children grow up to be well-adjusted, productive citizens. Violence produces more violence. Law enforcement knows and research has proven that if children are physically or mentally abused or neglected, they are more likely to become abusers and be involved in later crime."
Veazie Chief of Police Mark Leonard
Bangor Daily News, 3/30/11

"In-home parent coaching not only saves lives, it saves money. Child abuse and neglect costs Americans, Maine and our communities huge sums of taxpayer dollars each year. Wouldn't it be wiser to spend much less money on prevention on the front end?"
Lisbon Chief of Police David Brooks
Lewiston Sun Journal, 3/20/11

"Supporting high-quality early care and education is a crime-fighting and community-building necessity.... There's no substitute for tough law enforcement, but it's far more expensive to deal with the consequences after crimes are committed. We need to support and improve on programs that prevent at-risk children from getting into trouble in the first place. Our public safety and fiscal well-being depend on it."
Sagadahoc County Sheriff Joel Merry
Times Record, 3/4/11

"As a law enforcement leader, my experiences have taught me that the early development during the first few years of a child's life is critical not only for their social, emotional and academic growth. It's also the time when we can make an impact in teaching them right from wrong, so they will become responsible and law-abiding adults."
Waterville Chief of Police Joseph Massey
Morning Sentinel and Kennebec Journal, 2/20/11

"Strengthening early childhood development programs is the key to preparing young people for the future and for Maine's economic prosperity. It is also a proven way to reduce crime."
Auburn Chief of Police Phillip Crowell Jr. and Androscoggin County Sheriff Guy Desjardins
Lewiston Sun Journal, 12/12/10

"From a cost-benefit analysis: the cost of high-quality early education is minimal when compared to later public safety and correctional costs. High-quality early education makes smart business sense. It also reduces crime."
South Portland Chief of Police Edward Googins
Portland Press Herald, 10/18/10

"Such high-quality early learning programs are critically important to our future. Not only do these programs help our children succeed in school and provide a boost for our state economy, but they also can play an important role in reducing future crime."
Brunswick Chief of Police Richard Rizzo
Maine Sunday Telegram, 10/03/10

"As someone who has served in the Penobscot County Sheriff's Department for 33 years, the last eight as sheriff, I can tell you that the majority of the inmates we see in our jail are people who either live in poverty currently or who grew up in poverty. The sad fact is children who grow up in poverty, especially sustained poverty, are two and a half times more likely to be involved in crime later in their lives....Reducing child poverty can significantly lower future crime. These reports shed new light on the need for Congress to extend the current Child Tax Credit, which helps low-income working families keep more of their paychecks. The current child tax credit provides help to 60,000 Maine children who could either lose benefits entirely or see their benefits reduced if Congress allows this tax credit to expire. We should not let that happen."
Penobscot County Sheriff Glenn Ross
Bangor Daily News, 9/25/10

"As a correctional administrator, I'm personally concerned that this recession could lead to greater crime in the future. Kids who grow up in poverty, especially sustained poverty, are at greater risk for involvement in crime. In fact, research shows that children in poverty are two-and-a-half times more likely to be convicted of a violent crime later in their lives than the rest of kids. That's why I support tax benefits that can help shield at-risk kids from the most severe forms of poverty and prevent kids from becoming criminals."
Two Bridges Regional Jail Authority Correctional Administrator Mark Westrum
Times Record, 8/20/10

"We believe that crime can be prevented if we get out in front on the issues, like extending the child tax credit, which research shows makes a real difference in the lives of at-risk kids. Tax benefits such as the child tax credit can help change the odds by putting more poor kids on the right path and giving them a better shot of being successful - and that's the ticket to ultimately reducing crime."
Androscoggin County Sheriff Guy Desjardins and Lewiston Deputy Chief of Police James Minkowsky
Lewiston Sun Journal, 08/08/10

"As a law enforcement professional, I understand that when we invest in preparing our children to succeed in school, at work and in life, we not only help our children but we also make our communities stronger and safer by reducing crime and saving tax dollars. Research demonstrates that access to quality early learning programs, including quality pre-kindergarten programs, makes future unemployment and crime much less likely, especially among low-income, at-risk children. "
Bath Chief of Police Mike Field
Times Record, 06/11/10

"Child abuse and neglect doesn't affect just the child being abused; it affects entire families and communities. But we do have a good sense of how to prevent it. Voluntary home visiting services send professionals to help coach parents and teach them about the health and needs of their children. They also model techniques to reduce stress and anxiety and point out where to turn for additional help. With home visiting, we can help families avoid life-altering trauma, and we can help kids grow up to be productive citizens."
Kennebec County Sheriff Randy Liberty
Kennebec Journal 4/7/10

"Those of us in law enforcement know that violence breeds violence. Kids who grow up with violence are more likely to grow up to be violent adults and/or commit crimes. Home visiting programs helps break the cycle of abuse and future crime."
Lewiston Chief of Police Michael Bussiere
Lewiston Sun Journal 4/1/10

"We know that young people who drop out of school are much more likely to become criminals. Consider the fact that about 70 percent of state prison inmates lack a high school diploma. High school dropouts are significantly more likely than their high school graduate peers to be arrested and incarcerated. That's why raising graduation rates is really a matter of public safety. "
Penobscot County Sheriff Chief Deputy Troy Martin
Bangor Daily News 3/22/10

"The earlier the boosting of academic achievement and social development starts with a young child, the higher the returns to our society. It helps young people achieve their goals, whether that's a military career, or some other field. It also keeps them out of my custody."
Bangor Chief of Police Ron Gastia
Bangor Daily News 11/11/09

"As law enforcement leaders, we also know that high quality early care and education levels the academic playing field and reduces future crime. Studies show that at-risk youngsters who are not provided high quality early care are more likely to struggle academically, drop out and become involved in crime. Unfortunately, we have seen too many of these young people in our line of work."
Gardiner Chief of Police James Toman and Winthrop Chief of Police Joseph Young
Kennebec Journal, 3/5/09

"My fellow law enforcement leaders and I know the value of preventive investments for at-risk youngsters. Every day we see kids who start out behind their peers and never catch up. All too many of these kids turn to crime and end up in places like the jail I oversee. Law enforcement leaders also know, and research has shown, that investments in high-quality early care and education level the playing field and give children the right start in life."
Two Bridges Regional Jail Authority Correctional Administrator Mark Westrum
Times Record, 3/4/09

"Home visiting not only saves lives, it saves money. Child abuse and neglect costs Americans more than $80 billion every year - $400 million in Maine alone. Yet a study by the Washington State Institute for Public Policy found that the Nurse Family Partnership program would save the people of Maine $5 for each dollar invested."
Rockland Chief of Police Bruce Boucher and Caryn Drapkin, program manager of Parent Education & Family Services of Knox County
Courier Gazette, 9/4/08

"The cold, hard truth is that high school dropouts are more likely to turn to crime. A recent report released by Fight Crime: Invest In Kids shows that high school dropouts are three-and-a-half times more likely than high school graduates to be arrested, and more than eight times more likely to be incarcerated."
Waldo County Sheriff Scott Story
The Republican Journal, 9/3/08