Law Enforcement Leaders Discuss Long-Term Fiscal Impact of Crime Prevention With Rep. Schakowsky

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Law Enforcement Leaders Discuss Long-Term Fiscal Impact of Crime Prevention With Rep. Schakowsky

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 27, 2010
Contact: Ted Eismeier, ted@fightcrime.org
Cell: 315-335-9222, Office: 202-464-5350

CHICAGO, Ill. (September 27, 2010) — Park Ridge Police Chief Frank Kaminski and Harwood Heights Police Chief Mario Ricchio met with Rep. Jan Schakowsky today to urge that the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform prioritize investments that give the most at-risk kids the right start and help keep them away from crime.

The meeting with Rep. Schakowsky comes as the Fiscal Commission examines how to prioritize spending to address the deficit. Schakowsky is one of 18 members serving on the commission, which is charged with improving the nations fiscal position for both the short-term and the long-term. The police chiefs pointed out today to Rep. Schakowsky that proven crime-prevention strategies that help kids stay on track have a remarkably high rate of return on investment and promote long-term fiscal stability.

The law enforcement leaders provided Rep. Schakowsky with several examples of such investments. At-risk kids left out of Chicagos Child-Parent Centers, government-funded early care and education programs which haves served over 100,000 three-and-four-year-olds, were 70 percent more likely to be arrested for a violent crime by age 18, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Because of crime reduction and other positive outcomes, these programs also save money. A study of the Child Parent Centers program found that it produced more than $10 in benefits for every $1 spent.

Despite the proven potential of high-quality early education, programs like Head Start, Early Head Start, and quality child-care remain underfunded. Nationally, Head Start only serves about half of the low-income three- and four-year-olds eligible for the program, while Early Head Start serves less than five percent of the eligible babies and toddlers. Fewer than one in seven eligible children in low-income, working families receives support for child care through the Child Care and Development Block Grant.

Now is not the time to be penny wise but pound foolish, said Chief Kaminski. Doing what we can to keep kids away from crime is a sound fiscal policy, and one that more than pays for itself.

Another example of impactful, cost-effective approaches involve mental health treatment or interventions with high-risk youth and their families that can help prevent repeat offenses. For kids who have already become involved in crime, intensive family therapy approaches such as Multisystemic Therapy, Functional Family Therapy or Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care can help reduce recidivism and problem behaviors. These programs have also been shown to save up to $89,000 for every family served.

We all know that economic times are tough and that hard choices need to be made, said Chief Ricchio. The choices we make, however, should be based on sound fiscal judgment which looks at the cost-benefit analysis. Keeping kids away from crime is one of the best investments we can make and one which ultimately pays for itself many times over.

The law enforcement leaders are members of FIGHT CRIME: INVEST IN KIDS, a national anti-crime organization of police chiefs, sheriffs, prosecutors and violence survivors with 320 members in Illinois and over 5,000 nationwide.

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