Wyoming Law Enforcement Leaders Urge Sen. Enzi To Support Reforms That Put More Kids on the Right Path

Sheriff, police chief, county attorney back early childhood education, dropout prevention programs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Ted Eismeier, ted@fightcrime.org
Cell: 315-335-9222, Desk: 202-464-5350

WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 10, 2011) – Albany County Sheriff James Pond met with Senator Mike Enzi on Tuesday to discuss opportunities to reduce crime by enacting new education reform legislation that would help give more at-risk children the right start in life. As the ranking Republican member on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, Senator Enzi will be a key legislator in reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, currently known as No Child Left Behind.

Joined on the phone by Gillette Police Chief Jim Hloucal and Sweetwater County Attorney Brett Johnson, Sheriff Pond recognized Senator Enzi’s longtime work on education issues in the Senate and asked him to consider reforms that will help cut crime in Wyoming communities by helping kids succeed academically and stay out of trouble. They specifically recommended moving away from the traditional K-12 focus toward an early learning through graduation approach, 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.

“For some kids, it comes down to this: We can pay a lot less for early education now, or much more for a prison bunk later,” Sheriff Pond said. “My colleagues in law enforcement and I know that Senator Enzi is a leader when it comes to education, and we hope he will help us get these approaches in place that help kids finish school and make our communities safer.”

Research shows a clear connection between educational success and decreased involvement in crime. 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. A study funded by the Gates Foundation found that high school dropouts are eight times more likely to be incarcerated than graduates.

The law enforcement leaders asked that the reauthorization of the federal education bill provide new incentives for states to increase access to high quality pre-kindergarten. Providing at-risk children with high-quality pre-k can significantly reduce later involvement in crime and improve graduation rates.

“As law enforcement officials, we would be remiss if we did not use every tool at our disposal to keep the public safe,” County Attorney Johnson said. “That means looking at long-term, cumulative effects. The best way to cut crime later and increase school success now is to get kids involved in early education.”

A study of the Perry Preschool in Ypsilanti, Michigan 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 who participated in the program. The kids who attended were also 44 percent more likely to graduate from high school than those left out.

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 cut down on drop-outs, bullying, school violence and drug abuse.

“High-quality early childhood education is a proven crime-deterrent that helps at-risk children acquire lifelong learning skills and social development they need to be successful,” Chief Hloucal said. “Law enforcement understands the need to get more children involved in these programs.”

Sheriff Pond, Chief Hloucal, and County Attorney Johnson are members of FIGHT CRIME: INVEST IN KIDS, a national anti-crime organization of police chiefs, sheriffs, prosecutors and violence survivors with over 40 members in Wyoming and more than 5,000 members nationwide.

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