Law Enforcement Leaders Tell Bingaman: School Reform Bill Can Help Fight Crime
Jun 30th 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 30, 2010
Contact: Ted Eismeier, ted@fightcrime.org
Cell: 315-335-9222, Office: 202-464-5350
WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 30, 2010) — Law enforcement officials met with Senator Jeff Bingaman in Washington, D.C. today to discuss opportunities to reduce crime through the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Senator Bingaman will be a key legislator in the renewal of that bill as a senior member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee—the panel responsible for writing the reform legislation in the U.S. Senate.
Ruidoso Downs Chief Alfred Ortiz and District Attorney Donald Gallegos (8th Judicial District) met with Bingaman urging his support for education reforms that will help reduce future crime. They recognized Bingaman’s strong focus on education issues in Congress and asked him to consider reforms that will help cut crime by helping kids succeed academically and stay out of trouble. They specifically recommended providing kids with early education, keeping school-age kids on track to graduation, and reducing bullying, school violence and drug abuse, which would all have a positive effect on preventing later crime.
The law enforcement leaders asked that the reauthorization of the federal education bill provide incentives for states to increase access to high-quality pre-kindergarten, encouraging a shift to pre-k through 12 education, not just a K-through-12 approach. Providing at-risk children with high-quality pre-kindergarten can significantly reduce later involvement in crime and improve graduation rates.
A study of the Perry Preschool in Ypsilanti, Mich. found that at-risk kids left out of the high-quality program were 5 times more likely to be chronic offenders by age 27 than their peers left out of the program. The kids who attended were also 44 percent more likely to graduate from high school than those left out.
Research shows a clear connection between educational success and decreased involvement in crime. One study found that high school dropouts are eight times more likely to be incarcerated than graduates. Nationally, nearly 70 percent of state prison inmates lack a high school diploma. Research compiled by the anti-crime group Fight Crime: Invest in Kids also shows that a one-year increase of staying in school reduces murder and assault by almost 30 percent, motor vehicle theft by 20 percent, arson by 13 percent and burglary and larceny by about 6 percent.
They also urged that the Elementary and Secondary Education Act ensure graduation rates are calculated consistently and accurately, and hold schools accountable for improving graduation rates. Additionally, they asked that the reform measure include evidence-based programs that reduce dropout rates and cut down on bullying, school violence and drug abuse.
“We can cut crime by funding programs that have strong research supporting them. Intervening with at-risk kids and affording them greater educational opportunities will improve public safety in the long run. I urge Senator Bingaman to take into account the perspective of New Mexico law enforcement as he makes his contributions to this education bill,” Chief Ortiz said.
The law enforcement leaders were representing Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, a national anti-crime organization of police chiefs, sheriffs, prosecutors and violence survivors with over 53 members in New Mexico and more than 5,000 members nationwide. Fight Crime: Invest in Kids is a non-profit organization and accepts no state or federal funding.
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