Law Enforcement Leaders Say High-Quality Early Care and Education Helps to Reduce Crime, Lower Prison Costs

Philadelphia District Attorney R. Seth Williams supports new federal grant initiative to help states improve and expand quality early care and education programs

WASHINGTON, May 25, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Flanked by Education Secretary Arne Duncan and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Philadelphia District Attorney R. Seth Williams today stressed the value of high-quality early care and education programs as a critical strategy to improve graduation rates, reduce crime, lower prison costs and save taxpayers' money.

Williams joined the two cabinet secretaries as they announced a new $500 million federal initiative to help states establish and expand high quality early learning programs. To view the complete press conference, go to http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/14949645.

Speaking on behalf of the national anti-crime organization Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, comprised of more than 5,000 police chiefs, sheriffs and prosecutors nationwide, District Attorney Williams praised today’s announcement but also called on Congress for continued federal support for high-quality early care and education programs.

Williams noted that Fight Crime: Invest in Kids has launched a national campaign calling on members of Congress to support early care and education programs as they continue intense negotiations over the federal budget.

"Hundreds of law enforcement leaders from all 50 states have signed a letter to Congress urging members of Congress to support high-quality early care and education," said Williams. "We know that budgets are tight, but I can tell you that one way or another we pay for at-risk kids.  Either we pay now by providing them a solid chance to succeed, or we pay a lot more later for their failure."

In the letter to Congress, law enforcement leaders cite several research studies showing that high-quality early care and education programs can reduce later crime and save significant public money by lowering corrections costs.  

Williams noted that Pennsylvania has experienced one of the fastest growing prison populations in the U.S. in recent years and is spending $1.95 billion in the current state budget fiscal year to house more than 51,000 prisoners.  "Our state prison population has increased seven times in 30 years, but we are not seven times safer," Williams said.

Williams reaffirmed his belief that criminals must go to jail, but also stressed that in today's economy, state and federal lawmakers need to recognize the tremendous costs associated with our criminal justice system and its prisons.  Improving early care and education now will mean lower prison costs in the future, he said.

SOURCE Fight Crime: Invest in Kids

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