Law Enforcement Group Releases New Report for Rhode Island Showing Quality Child Care Cuts Crime, Saves Money

10/9/2003

From: Clay Wilkinson of Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, 202-776-0027, ext. 108, or 202-550-6172 (cell)

PROVIDENCE, R.I., Oct. 9 -- A law enforcement organization released a report today showing that quality child care cuts crime, and called on Sen. Lincoln Chafee (R-RI) to back an increase in federal child care investments.

That's especially important for Rhode Island, where, according to the report, only one in seven eligible children is currently served by the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), the federal government's primary source of child care assistance for working families.

The new report, "Preventing Crime with Quality Child Care: A Critical Investment in Rhode Island's Safety," shows that Rhode Island stands to gain $18.9 million in child care assistance if Congress increases funding for CCDBG by $5 billion to $6 billion over the next five years. The group called on Senator Chafee to support that increase when it comes before Congress in the coming days.

At a news conference at The Genesis Center, a child care facility in Providence, Rhode Island Executive High Sheriff Gary Dias pointed to the results of several studies that show the effectiveness of quality child care in cutting crime.

Dias cited a government-funded pre-kindergarten program in Chicago that has served over 100,000 at-risk three- and four-year-olds since 1967. For 14 years, researchers tracked nearly 1,000 children in the program and 550 similar kids not in the program. By the time they turned 18, those who had not been in the program were 70 percent more likely to have been arrested for committing a violent crime.

Dias also highlighted a 22-year study of the High/Scope Perry Preschool in Ypsilanti, Michigan. At-risk three- and four-year-olds left out of the program were five times more likely to become chronic lawbreakers by the time they reached adulthood compared to kids in the program.

Both programs were also shown to save money as a result of the reduction in crime. In fact, for every $1 invested, the public saved $7.

"There is no substitute for tough law enforcement," said Dias. "Dangerous criminals must be prosecuted and locked up. But by investing now in our most vulnerable youth, we can dramatically decrease the chances that you or someone you love will become a victim of violence."

Fight Crime: Invest in Kids is a bipartisan, nonprofit, anti-crime organization of more than 2,000 police chiefs, sheriffs, prosecutors and victims of violence, including 25 in Rhode Island. The organization takes a hard-nosed look at what works and what doesn't work to prevent crime and violence. It then makes recommendations on effective strategies to the public and policy makers.

The report also makes the following points:

-- Fifty-eight percent of children in Rhode Island under six have both parents or their only parent in the workforce. That means most children are in some form of child care. Good care can help kids learn to get along with others and succeed in school and later in life, while care that amounts to little more than a parking space in front of a television set can have long term, damaging consequences on a child's development.

-- Most low- and moderate-income families in Rhode Island need assistance to afford quality care for their kids. Tuition for a child care center in Rhode Island averages $6,300 for a toddler and $4,400 for an older preschooler. Tuition for two children can exceed the entire income of a parent employed at the minimum wage.

-- If an increase of $5 to $6 billion in CCDBG funding is not approved, Rhode Island would lose the opportunity to serve an additional 1,400 children a year from low- and moderate-income families.

-- Some CCDBG money can be used to help low- and moderate-income families afford after-school programs for children up to age 13. Crime data shows the after-school hours are the prime time for juvenile crime. They also are the hours when kids are most likely to experiment with alcohol, drugs and sex. Research proves that programs putting kids in touch with caring adults during the after-school hours cut crime and help kids learn the skills and values necessary to become contributing adults.

-- Law enforcement professionals are nearly unanimous in their support of educational child care and after-school programs as a means to prevent crime and violence. Dozens of state and national law enforcement organizations, including the Rhode Island Police Chiefs' Association, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Fraternal Order of Police, and the National District Attorneys Association, have endorsed investments in educational child care and after-school programs as means to prevent crime.

Providence Police Chief Dean Esserman, a member of Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, helped release the report. "When Congress fails to support child care programs, it forces police to fight crime with one hand tied behind our backs," said Esserman. "By investing now in our most vulnerable youth, we can guarantee they never grow up to become our most wanted adults."

Narragansett Chief of Police J. David Smith also helped release the report. "To win the fight against crime, we need to be as willing to guarantee our kids a space in a good child care program as we are to guarantee a criminal room and board in a prison cell, said Smith.

Crystal Allen, a working mother from Providence, uses CCDBG funds to help her afford child care at The Genesis Center for her two children, Aaron and Amelia. She spoke of the benefits quality child care has provided them and the necessity for child care subsidies for working families in Rhode Island.

Esserman said "law enforcement leaders would stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Senator Chafee" if fights for the full $5 billion to $6 billion increase in CCDBG funds when the issue comes before Congress in the next few weeks.