Law Enforcement and Civic Leaders Urge Governor, State Lawmakers to Designate Funds for After School Programs

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Law Enforcement and Civic Leaders Urge Governor, State Lawmakers to Designate Funds for After School Programs

May 3rd 2007

COLUMBUS, May 3-Law enforcement and civic leaders today urged Ohio state lawmakers to designate $28 million in federal funds for after school programs because they are proven to cut crimes committed by youths.

The funds are available via a federal grant, but have not been set aside for after school programs, as they were in the past. Without the funds, many of Ohio's after school programs would be put in financial jeopardy. The $28 million would pay for 19,000 children in Ohio to attend after school programs.

At a news conference held at The Salesian Boys & Girls Club, Columbus Police Chief James Jackson said quality after school programs connect children to caring adults and provide constructive activities, and are among the most powerful tools for preventing crime. Chief Jackson said research has shown that the peak hours for youth crime are from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., after school lets out.

Chief Jackson cited a study that compared five housing projects without Boys & Girls Clubs to five receiving new clubs. At the beginning, drug activity and vandalism were the same. But by the time the study ended, the projects without the programs had 50 percent more vandalism and scored 37 percent worse on drug activity.

"Our state lawmakers must do everything possible to provide enough resources so that after school programs are available to all school children," Chief Jackson said. "We can pay now for after school programs and invest in success. Or we can spend far more later on prisons."

In response to a Mason-Dixon Polling and Research survey, an overwhelming 69 percent of Ohio's law enforcement leaders chose providing "more educational child care programs for preschool age children and after school programs for school age youngsters" as the most effective strategy for reducing youth violence and crime.

Brother Tom Sweeny, executive director of The Salesian Boys & Girls Club, and Cyndy Rees, state director of Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Ohio, participated in the news conference.

Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Ohio has more than 250 police chiefs, sheriffs, prosecuting attorneys and violence survivors who are members. Chief Jackson is a member.