Oregon Law Enforcement Leaders Say Expanding Head Start, Early Head Start Will Cut Crime

Apr 30th 2010

Jefferson, Ore. (April 30, 2010) -- Oregon law enforcement officials today joined forces in thanking the Governor and the Oregon legislature for maintaining the state's Head Start program funding and making a first time commitment to Early Head Start, an early childhood education program for children birth to age three, by allocating the program $1 million.

During their visit to a Jefferson Head Start Center, Marion County Sheriff Jason Myers and Turner Chief of Police Gary Will visited with young children enrolled in the program and read them a story called Officer Buckle and Gloria. They also discussed the crime prevention benefits of providing at-risk kids with early education.

"I believe that child literacy and early childhood education are very important for our community," said Sheriff Myers. "As studies have shown, children who can read at grade level by the third grade have a greater chance of success. I also believe it is important for public safety officials to serve as positive role models for the youth of our community."

Research studies confirm that high-quality early childhood development programs for children birth to age five can reduce the likelihood that at-risk kids will commit crimes later in life. A study of the Perry Preschool in Michigan tracked at-risk children who attended the program and similar children left out until age 40. At age 40, the individuals left out as children were four times more likely to have been arrested for drug felonies and twice as likely to be arrested for violent crimes.

"The research is clear that investing in quality early care and education programs for kids ages birth to five helps reduce the likelihood that they'll end up serving a sentence of 25 to life," Chief Will said. "Oregon state legislators should continue to make progress in expanding access to more at-risk kids."

Even with the commitments from the legislature, Head Start still leaves almost 6,000 at-risk 4-year-olds in Oregon without access to quality early childhood education programs. Of Oregon's estimated 0-3 year-old populations, more than 27,700 at-risk children are eligible for enrollment. Currently, Oregon serves just fewer than 1,700 kids throughout the state.

Fight Crime: Invest In Kids State Director Martha Brooks said that the expansion marked a step forward for Early Head Start, the Oregon state legislature should build on this progress and make sure that all at-risk kids have access to high-quality programs.

"Investing in programs such as Head Start and Early Head Start is, quite simply, one of the smartest investments we can make for the future," Brooks said. "Not only do they reduce future criminal activity among the children they serve, they pay for themselves by saving taxpayer dollars and saving lives."

###