New Mexico Law Enforcement Leaders Meet with Governor Martinez to Discuss Early Childhood Care and Education

 

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“…Support for high-quality early education programs not only makes our communities safer, but also saves money in both the short and long term…”

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Law Enforcement Delegation Meets with Gov. Martinez;

Crime Fighters Say Early Childhood Funds Pay Off

SANTA FE, N.M.–Law enforcement leaders were grateful to meet with New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez in Santa Fe to discuss their support for early childhood education and other children’s programs to help improve public safety and reduce crime. Their belief in this approach to crime prevention stems from research showing that children who receive high-quality early learning are less less likely to commit crimes as adults.

Participating in the meeting were Ninth Judicial District District Attorney Matthew Chandler, Chaves County Sheriff James “Rob” Coon, retired Ruidoso Police Chief Lanny Maddox and Santa Fe Chief of Police Aric Wheeler.

“In addition to the necessities of tough policing, prosecution and corrections, we need a crime-prevention approach to improving public safety that offers at-risk kids opportunities to succeed,” Chief Wheeler said. “High-quality early care and education programs can have a profound impact on reducing later crime and violence.”

A long-term study of Michigan’s Perry Preschool found that children who did not attend the high-quality program were seven times more likely to be arrested for possession of dangerous drugs, four times more likely to be arrested for drug felonies, and 50 percent more likely to be arrested for violent crimes by age 40 than those who participated.

“Early care and education is a fiscally-responsible priority for New Mexico,” D.A. Chandler said. “Support for high-quality early education programs not only makes our communities safer, but also saves money in both the short and long term. There are short term savings from reduced costs associated with special education and repeated grades, and long-term savings from fewer criminal justice costs.”

In fact, research shows that New Mexico saves $5 for every dollar invested in the state pre-kindergarten program.

Many young children in New Mexico still do not have access to high-quality early care and education. The state’s pre-kindergarten program served approximately 15,600 children during the 2008-2009 school year, which is only 14 percent of all 3-year olds and 38 percent of all 4-year olds. Cuts to funding for early childhood programs could cause more children to lose the opportunity to benefit from these programs.

“Making sure that more children have access to high-quality early care and education can help improve public safety and reduce costs from crime and corrections,” Sheriff Coon said. “Many young children still do not have access to these programs. We should do our best to maintain funding so more kids don’t miss out on early learning opportunities.”

The group is asking New Mexico policymakers to maintain funding for child care assistance, state pre-kindergarten and other early care and education programs for the state’s youngest children.

“If we can help a child start school ready to learn, we give them an edge that will help them succeed in grade school, graduate from high school and avoid criminal behavior,” Chief Maddox said. “We urge state policymakers to make these crime-fighting investments a high priority in the budget by maintaining investments in early childhood care and education, and work to build upon current levels of funding.”

The law enforcement leaders were representing Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, a national anti-crime organization of more than 5,000 police chiefs, sheriffs, prosecutors and violence survivors nationwide, including more than 50 in New Mexico.

From left to right are Fight Crime: Invest in Kids National Director Miriam Rollin, Sheriff Coon, D.A. Chandler, Governor Martinez, Chief Maddox, Chief Wheeler and Natasha O’Dell, Membership Director for Fight Crime: Invest in Kids.