Wisconsin Law Enforcement: “Early Childhood Education Proven to Cut Violent Crime.”
Apr 22nd 2008
MILWAUKEE, WISC. -- Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn and Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke joined with Fight Crime: Invest in Kids' President David Kass and several Wisconsin law enforcement officials today to call for increased funding for Wisconsin Head Start programs and quality childcare assistance for at-risk children. Law enforcement leaders recognize that among the most powerful weapons to prevent crime and violence are quality early childhood care and education programs, including Head Start and quality childcare, that help kids get the right start in life.
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According to the report, Head Start and Child Care Prevent Crime in Wisconsin, fully funding Head Start and childcare programs can prevent as many as 1,050 Wisconsin children each year from becoming future criminals. Research shows that at-risk children who don't receive early childhood programs like Head Start and high-quality childcare are five times more likely to go on to commit violent crimes than similar at-risk kids who participated in these programs.
"Investing in early care and education for at risk-kids has a real impact on behavior later on in life," said Chief Flynn. "Law enforcement veterans like myself know that to win the fight against crime, America's commitment to holding criminals accountable must be matched by its commitment to preventing kids from becoming criminals in the first place."
The more than 3,500 police chiefs, sheriffs, district attorneys and victims of crime that make up Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, urge Wisconsin Congressman Rep. David Obey, Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee and Senator Herbert Kohl (Senate Appropriations) to seek increased funding for Head Start and quality child care programs.
"Dangerous criminals belong behind bars, but let's not bar kids from these programs," Flynn added. "Just to get back to serving kids the way we did in 2002, it would take $2 billion additional dollars. We want to thank Congressman Obey and Senator Kohl for all their efforts in making sure that the Head Start and quality child care programs get the critical funding they need. And we will be with them all the way to make sure that our children get the necessary resources they need."
Despite the well-documented benefits of quality early childhood programs, a large number of children in Wisconsin are not participating in quality early childhood care and education programs due to inadequate funding. Last year, 56 percent of Wisconsin children eligible for Head Start, more than 18,000 kids, were not served by Head Start or another quality childcare program.
"More than 172,00 violent crimes were committed in Wisconsin in 2006, and more than 100,000 juveniles were arrested," said Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke. "Small children are falling through the cracks and some later turn to life on the street, which often leads to a life of crime. These patterns will continue unless serious measures are taken before- not after--crimes occur."
Several other members of Wisconsin's law enforcement community in attendance also commented on the need to fully fund Head Start and other quality childcare programs:
Racine County Sheriff Robert Carlson: "We cannot afford to put the kids who are in the greatest need of a high-quality early education at risk. If we do so, we'll pay dearly not only in tax dollars and prison costs, but in crime, violence and lost lives."
West Bend Police Chief Kenneth Mueler: "Investments in quality early education programs are investments in the quality of life for all of Wisconsin's children and families. A targeted investment now will lead to a lifetime of positive outcomes for those kids and our communities."
