Invest in children, reduce our jail system

Re the Dec. 14 frontpage story “County jails get big share of the property taxes:” Americans overall pay a lot of tax dollars to keep up what we euphemistically call corrections.

For a change, we should pay attention to years of research that show it is possible to reduce criminal behavior by focusing more resources on enhancing young children’s capabilities. Economists say the return on investment of public dollars in early childhood is between seven and 13 percent higher than most other investments.

The period before birth until kindergarten is when a child’s brain is rapidly developing. Children of that age are learning machines, but not all of those machines function to their best ability.

Even if we provide them with high quality early learning at home and in early care centers, if they are not well-nourished and healthy, they will have greater difficulty learning and will likely not be ready for kindergarten. Children who, at the end of third grade, aren’t proficient in reading are more likely to drop out of school or fail different courses.

We need to think holistically and meet social, emotional, physical and intellectual needs to enhance each child’s chance of becoming a fully functioning, law-abiding adult. The child, the family and society will benefit.

We can’t, however, overcome years of neglect overnight. Even if we begin today, we won’t see the eventual results for several years. But if we don’t make this change, expect to see much of our money continue to be misused.

We must demand the changes that will lead to a safer society, one in which far more brain power is available to prevent future problems and to handle present ones.

– Wil Blechman,

vice chair, The Children’s Forum,

Miami