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It's a known fact that if you give kids at risk of becoming criminals or engaged in criminal activity an alternative, lots of them will take it. After school programs are one of those alternatives. They work. They reduce crime and turn lives around. But there just isn't anything in the way of political will to fund such programs. In California, schools offer more after-school programs than the nation as a whole. But the need for access to such programs among many low-income students is at an all-time high while the funding for the programs has bottomed out completely.
In Kern County the problem is particularly acute.
Kids that would gladly get involved in after school programs just don't have the opportunity. As a result, thousands of youngsters in Kern are at risk of being involved in crime, while after-school programs would provide a safe harbor, according to a new report from the anti-crime nonprofit Fight Crime: Invest in Kids California.
"What's important is to give students an opportunity for expanded learning time, and a safe and loving place. That's what after-school programs do," John Malloy, administrator of after-school programs for the California Department of Education told The Californian newspaper.
"The programs are just needed so badly." According to the report Kern has more low-income schools without funds to start after-school programs than any county in California, except for Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties.
For law enforcement professionals, supporting after school programs is a no-brainer.
Every kid who attends and learns about respect and character, team building and how to resolve conflicts represents massive cost savings in the criminal justice system. It's pay now or pay later.
The Fight Crime group is led by hundreds of law enforcement officials across the state, including Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood and Arvin Police Chief Tommy Tunson, a group committee member.
"I would rather pay now in after-school programs than later in prisons," Tunson said in a statement. "We must continue to take care of our greatest natural resource - our children." Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites        
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