NCJ Number
232326
Journal
Victims and Offenders Volume: 2 Issue: 2 Dated: April 2007 Pages: 141-160
Date Published
April 2007
Length
20 pages
Annotation
Results are presented from a study of young African-American children living in poverty attending a high-quality preschool program and a group of those in no-program on the program's effectiveness in the area of crime prevention over time.
Abstract
A sample of 123 young African-American children living in poverty were randomly assigned to a program group that received a high-quality preschool program at ages 3 and 4 or a no-program group. Data were collected regarding them on 14 occasions, from ages 3 through 40. The program group significantly surpassed the no-program group in tested ability and performance throughout childhood; higher adult earnings and rates of employment and home ownership; half as many lifetime arrests, including fewer lifetime arrests for violent, property, and drug crimes; and fewer convictions and months sentenced. The economic return to society was $17.07 per dollar invested. (Published Abstract)