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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 30, 2006
Contact:
Erica Terry Derryck
(510) 435-4345 cell
(510) 836-2050 x 305
ederryck@calfightcrime.org
California Police Chiefs Association, California State Sheriffs' Association and FIGHT CRIME: INVEST IN KIDS California Endorse the Preschool Ballot Initiative
Law Enforcement Leaders Statewide Urge Voters to Say Yes to Prop. 82 to Cut Crime and Give Kids a Strong Start in Life
Today, the California Police Chiefs Association, the California State Sheriffs' Association and FIGHT CRIME: INVEST IN KIDS California announced their endorsements of Proposition 82, the Preschool for All Act, and urged voters to support the ballot measure at the polls on June 6th. The state's top law enforcement leaders said that making high-quality preschool available to every California four-year-old will help children succeed in school and reduce the risk that they will commit crimes as teens or adults.
Police Chiefs and Sheriffs held press conferences in Los Angeles and Sacramento to announce their support for Proposition 82. The leaders gave California voters three clear reasons to vote for Prop. 82, the Preschool for All Act:
- Quality preschool prevents crime;
- Quality preschool improves children's ability to read, learn, get along with other kids and grow up to become productive, responsible adults;
- Quality preschool saves future taxpayer dollars by reducing crime and increasing productivity.
"If our state invests now in high-quality preschool for every four-year-old, all Californians will reap the benefits for generations to come," said Steve Krull, President of the California Police Chiefs Association and Livermore Police Chief. " Police Chiefs and Sheriffs support Prop. 82 because research proves that quality preschool gets kids ready to learn, read and become productive members of society."
Every day, four out of five California kids don't have access to preschool that is of high quality - depriving them of the best start in life and denying all Californians a better and safer future. Based on a hard-nosed look at this current research and years of long-term studies, as well as their experience on the front lines of crime fighting, law enforcement leaders concluded preschool dramatically improves the chances that kids will reject crime when they grow up.
"The research shows that children who attend high-quality preschool programs are more likely to end up in caps and gowns than handcuffs," said Los Angeles County Sheriff Leroy Baca. "Prop 82 represents the wisest investment we can make in the education of our children and in the safety of our state."
The RAND Corporation study of California found if quality preschool were available to all kids, the result statewide would be a 19 percent reduction in juvenile crime, with 29,000 fewer juvenile petitions filed annually. The study of the landmark High Scope/Perry Preschool Program in Michigan found that kids left out of quality preschool were five times more likely to become chronic offenders by age 27 compared to kids in the program. The study of Chicago's Child-Parent Center preschool program found that kids excluded from quality preschool were 70 percent more likely to be arrested for violent crimes by age 18 than similar kids who did attend.
"I'd much rather guarantee all kids a place at circle time in a high-quality preschool than see some of them serve hard time in prison later in life," said Sheriff Jim Denney of Sutter County. "Given the solid research on the benefits of preschool, we would be irresponsible not to invest in the single most effective tool for placing all kids on the path to a successful, crime-free life. That's why I support Proposition 82."
Preschool also improves the chances that kids will learn to read and do well in elementary school. Studies of high-quality preschool programs showed that kids who attended preschool had higher literacy and math achievement, were less likely to be held back a grade or be placed in special education and more likely to graduate high school on time. The RAND study estimates 10,000 fewer California students will drop out of high school each year once a high-quality preschool for all system is in place.
"Law enforcement wants kids to succeed in school rather than serve time in juvenile hall," said Alameda County District Attorney Tom Orloff. "Proposition 82 will prepare kids to be life-long learners and reduce criminal behavior."
"Prop 82 will increase access to high-quality preschool programs. That will have lasting benefits for our children and our community" said Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer. "We can expect much lower crime and dropout rates, which is why the California Police Chiefs Association and I support Prop. 82."
The law enforcement leaders also stressed that preschool must be of high quality to obtain dramatic benefits, including reductions in crime. They emphasized that Prop. 82 will greatly improve the overall quality of preschool in California.
"The drafters of Prop. 82 got it right by providing enough resources to offer all children a high-quality program, said Sheriff Curtis Hill of San Benito County. "Prop. 82 would ensure that all the components of a high-quality program - including well-trained teachers and an age-appropriate curriculum - are offered to every family that chooses to participate."
The law enforcement leaders added that universal voluntary access to preschool is needed because the high cost of high-quality preschool puts it out of reach for most middle-income families in addition to families with lower incomes. California's law enforcement leaders also cited research by the RAND Corporation that showed that Californians would save $2.62 for every dollar invested in quality universal preschool. In crime costs alone, each juvenile petition prevented will save $22,000 in costs to the criminal justice system and crime victims.
"California's law enforcement leaders know that if we reach kids when their brains are developing most rapidly, they'll be much less likely to have problems in school and with the law down the line," said Barrie Becker, State Director for FIGHT CRIME: INVEST IN KIDS California. "Prop. 82 will deliver high-quality preschool with strong fiscal accountability measures to all families who choose to enroll their child in any qualified private or public preschool."
The law enforcement leaders said they would crisscross the entire state to urge voters to vote for Prop 82 to move California into a smarter century. They also launched a new web site www.preschoolpreventscrime.org/. The growing list of more than 100 California law enforcement leaders who personally say "YES" on Prop. 82 is available on the web site.
- Local law enforcement leaders available for comment
- Local data on quality preschool and crime reduction and high school dropout rates available
The California State Sheriffs' Association (CSSA) is a nonprofit professional organization comprised of the 58 sheriffs along with thousands of law-abiding citizens throughout the state.
The California Police Chiefs Association (CPCA) is a nonprofit professional organization that represents municipal law enforcement agencies in California
FIGHT CRIME: INVEST IN KIDS California hundreds of police chiefs, sheriffs, prosecutors, other law enforcement leaders, and violence survivors preventing crime and violence. www.fightcrime.org/ca
This press release was produced by Law Enforcement Leaders for Quality Preschool - Yes on 82, A Committee Sponsored by FIGHT CRIME: INVEST IN KIDS. Major funding provided by the Action Against Crime and Violence Ed. Fund.