Omaha Law Enforcement Leaders Say Quality Early Childhood Programs Pay Off
Crime fighters release new report showing early education cuts crime, saves taxpayers dollars
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Ted Eismeier, ted@fightcrime.org
Cell: 315-335-9222, Desk: 202-464-5350
OMAHA, NEB. (April 26, 2011) Noting that Nebraska taxpayers are spending more than $177 million a year on corrections, Omaha law enforcement leaders today called on state and federal lawmakers to support high-quality early education as a critical strategy to reduce crime, lower prison costs and save taxpayers money. The law enforcement leaders said they support a range of early care and education services for young children in Nebraska.
Omaha Chief of Police Alex Hayes and Douglas County Sheriff Tim Dunning signaled their support for early learning during a visit to the Wise Kids Child Development Center on Tuesday to read to children in the early learning program and discuss the value of early childhood education. They are members of the national anti-crime organization Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, which is sponsoring the event as part of a national law enforcement campaign to promote support for high-quality early childhood education and care.
Citing a new research brief called Pay Now or Pay Much More Later, the law enforcement leaders said that investing in high-quality early care and education can help at-risk children in Nebraska succeed, significantly reduce the likelihood that they will commit crimes and save taxpayer dollars from reduced prison costs.
While overall crime rates are decreasing in many jurisdictions, Nebraska still spent $177 million in 2010 on corrections with almost 4,500 adults locked up in either state or federal prisons as of the first day of 2010. According to the U.S. Department of Justice and the Census Bureau, Nebraskas corrections spending increased by 300 percent between 1982 and 2008.
The brief cited a long-term study of Michigans Perry Preschool, which found that at-risk children who did not participate in the high-quality program were five times more likely to be chronic offenders by age 27 than children who did attend. Because of their increased involvement in crime, the children who did not attend were 86 percent more likely to be sentenced to jail or prison by the age of 40.
Law enforcement leaders also agree that cutting funding for early childhood programs would be shortsighted and risky since quality early care and education programs actually save money in the long run. The Perry Preschool Program cut crime, welfare and other costs so much that it saved taxpayers an average of $180,000 for every child served, with the vast majority of the public savings coming from reduced crime costs alone.
The law enforcement leaders called on policymakers to maintain support for early care and education programs from birth to age five and, where possible, strengthen and expand support to ensure that at-risk children across the state have access to high-quality programs. Early care and education investment has gained significant traction as a statewide priority in Nebraska, with bipartisan support from voters, elected leaders and policymakers.
Law enforcement leaders are urging Nebraskas Congressional delegation, including Senators Ben Nelson and Mike Johanns, to protect federal funding for early care and education programs. Nearly 600 law enforcement leaders and crime survivors from all 50 states signed a letter this month urging Congress to maintain their support for early care and education programs.
Congress also has the opportunity to improve these programs through the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and other education initiatives that will help states to improve and increase access to high-quality early education. Law enforcement leaders are also calling on Congress to support a shift from the current “K-12″ system to a model that focuses on early education to high school graduation.
Chief Hayes and Sheriff Dunning are members of Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, the national anti-crime organization of police chiefs, sheriffs, prosecutors, other law enforcement leaders and violence survivors, with more than 80 in Nebraska and
over 5,000 members nationwide.
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