The Unionville Times: Hogan, Area DAs Push for Pre-K to Cut Crime
KING OF PRUSSIA – Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan and other Southeast Pennsylvania prosecutors came out strong this week to support an initiative to Gov. Tom Wolf to fund pre-kindergarten programs as a long-term way to boost high school graduation and cut crime in the commonwealth.
Hogan and the other southeast region district attorneys who are members of Fight Crime: Invest in Kids participated in a regional Pre-K for PA legislative breakfast Wednesday to release a new report – We’re the Guys You Pay Later – documenting how Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposed $120 million state funding increase for high-quality pre-kindergarten programs could boost high school graduation rates, reduce the number of people who are incarcerated in Pennsylvania and lead to more than $350 million annually in Corrections and other cost savings to society over the lifetimes of the children served.
Delaware County District Attorney John J. Whelan, Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman, and Philadelphia District Attorney R. Seth Williams joined Hogan to participate in a panel discussion that focused on research documenting the impact of high-quality early childhood programs on educational and life outcomes for at-risk children and the resulting crime reduction.
Read the entire article here.
Pottstown Mercury: Area D.A.s Tout the Importance of Early-Education Programs to Prevent Crime
UPPER MERION – Spending money on pre-kindergarten programs now will inevitably save the taxpayers of Pennsylvania money in the long run when they are not paying as much to lock up criminals, according to a report by Fight Crime: Invest in Kids.
To drive that point home on Wednesday, District Attorneys Risa Ferman of Montgomery County, Seth Williams of Philadelphia, Jack Whelan of Delaware County, and Tom Hogan of Chester County, joined each other on stage at the Double Tree Hotel in King of Prussia to introduce the report dubbed “We’re the Guys You Pay Later.”
In short, the report states that much more money is spent on prosecuting defendants and locking them up in the county jails and state prisons than is spent on investing in education for children before Kindergarten.
“Pennsylvania jails are full of people serving time for serious and costly crimes. It doesn’t have to be that way – providing at-risk kids with high-quality early learning programs can reduce the costs and impact of crime in the future,” the report states.
Ferman said sending her three children to a high-quality preschool when they were younger sent them on the right path in life and society’s problems cannot be fixed by arresting people.
“Public safety is our primary concern as prosecutors and you know that we do that job and we lock people up when we need to. But what we know, perhaps more than anyone, is that we cannot arrest and prosecute our way out of the crime problem that we have. We have to look deeper,” Ferman said.
The report boasts that an investment in early childhood education now can save Pennsylvania taxpayers a total of $350 million in the future. Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposed budget seeks to increase early childhood education funding by $120 million. That increase, according to the report, would allow for 14,200 additional children to take part in state-funded pre-k programs.
To read the entire article, click here.
Erie Times: Education notes – DiNicola, Scott honored for pre-K work
Ronald A. DiNicola and Nick Scott Jr. were honored by the Pennsylvania Association for the Education of Young Children at the organization’s annual dinner in Harrisburg on April 17.
The two Erie natives each received the first Vision Award presented to Pennsylvania leaders who have made significant contributions advocating on behalf of young children.
“The Northwest PA Pre-K for PA campaign has been a shining example of how leaders can rally behind a cause and make progress,” PennAEYC President Jodi Askins said.
“Ron and Nick signed on to lead with enthusiasm and are still fighting the good fight. Pre-K for PA and young learners who may benefit from their hard work are fortunate to have them on their team.”
Over the past year, Scott and DiNicola have co-chaired the Pre-K for PA Campaign in N.W. Pennsylvania, a statewide effort to expand access to Pre-K for all 3- and 4-year-olds in Pennsylvania. increased investment in Pre-K.
Read the full article here.
Southeast PA Prosecutors: Pay Now for Pre-K or Pay Later for Crime
KING OF PRUSSIA (April 29) – Southeast Pennsylvania prosecutors who are members of Fight Crime: Invest in Kids participated in a regional Pre-K for PA legislative breakfast today to release a new report –We’re The Guys You Pay Later – documenting how Governor Tom Wolf’s proposed $120 million state funding increase for high-quality pre-kindergarten programs could boost high school graduation rates, reduce the number of people who are incarcerated in Pennsylvania and lead to more than $350 million annually in Corrections and other cost savings to society over the lifetimes of the children served.
Delaware County District Attorney John J. Whelan, Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman, Philadelphia District Attorney R. Seth Williams, and Chester County District Attorney Thomas P. Hogan all participated in a panel discussion that focused on research documenting the impact of high-quality early childhood programs on educational and life outcomes for at-risk children and the resulting crime reduction.
Media Coverage:
The Kennett Times – Hogan, area DAs push for PreK to cut crime (run in 3 regional newspapers)
“I know from years of experience that we can’t simply arrest, prosecute and incarcerate our way out of our crime problems,” said Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman. “We have to implement strategies that keep people from turning to crime in the first place. High-quality pre-k is one of those strategies.” Read full article.
Norristown Times-Herald -Philadelphia region district attorneys agree: Pay for pre-k education now, or prison later (run in 5 regional newspapers
“I think it speaks volumes as to the fact that all of us share how important it is for our children, for our community to invest in pre-k education,” said Delaware County District Attorney John J. Whelan. Whelan said he, Ferman, Williams and Hogan are all parents and understand that dilemma facing Pennsylvania. He explained that in Delaware County, his office prosecutes approximately 10,000 cases a year and an additional 4,000 cases in the county’s juvenile justice system. “Can we avoid this? I believe many of these cases can be avoided. Many of the adults, many of juveniles by investing in pre-k programs,” Whelan said. Read the full article.
NBC10 – Local DAs: Pay for Pre-K or Pay for Crime Later
A conference advocating for early education and Pre-K programs that proponents say could boost graduation rates and reduce the number of people who wind up incarcerated if every three and four-year-old had access. Watch the video.
The Intelligencer -Jim Cawley leads call for expansion of early learning
A Bucks County man shared the experience of his son to underline the value of early education for kids between ages 3 and 5.
The man said when he and his wife adopted a son, the child was behind socially, emotionally, academically and physically when compared to his peers. Read the full article.
CBS3 -Local DAs: “Pay Now For Pre-K or Pay Later For Crime”
Among the speakers was Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan. He says studies show money can be spent on children now when they’re young, or…“Or they’ll have to deal with me as a prosecutor later,” Hogan says, “when they’ve taken the wrong steps in life, when they haven’t had the right support and they’re in the criminal justice system, and that’s too late.” Hogan compares quality pre-K education to immunizations. “When we’re out with police, you will run into three or four-year-old kids that are in a family, and the police will say to you, based on their background, they’re going to end up in the criminal justice system someday.” Read the full article.
CBS 3: Local DA’s: “Pay Now for Pre-K or Pay Later for Crime”
By Jim Melwert
KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa. (CBS) — There was a show of support Wednesday morning for the expansion of “Pre-K” and early childhood education, as advocates were joined by the district attorneys from Philadelphia, Montgomery, Delaware and Chester Countries at the Double Tree Hotel in King of Prussia.
Among the speakers was Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan. He says studies show money can be spent on children now when they’re young, or…
“Or they’ll have to deal with me as a prosecutor later,” Hogan says, “when they’ve taken the wrong steps in life, when they haven’t had the right support and they’re in the criminal justice system, and that’s too late.”
Hogan compares quality pre-K education to immunizations.
“When we’re out with police, you will run into three or four-year-old kids that are in a family, and the police will say to you, based on their background, they’re going to end up in the criminal justice system someday.”
Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams says study after study shows one of the best ways to prevent crime is quality early childhood education.
“People don’t expect DAs talking about early childhood education, like ‘What are you a social worker?’ I am the social worker of last resort,” he says, “I am the prosecutor.”
Read the entire article here.
NBC10: Local DA’s: Pay for Pre-K or Pay for Crime Later
A conference advocating for early education and pre-k programs that proponents say could boost graduation rates and reduce the number of people who wind up incarcerated if every three and four-year-old had access.
