Stopping Crime for the Future

PUNXSUTAWNEY, JEFFERSON COUNTY - It was reading time to stop future crime at the Punxsutawney Communtiy Center of Monday.

Officials gathered at the school as part of the Fight Crime Invest in Kids initiative set forth by the State. Annually, the program costs $300 million; officials say this cost is nothing compared to the $1.8 billion dollars spent per year incarcerating criminals.

By speaking to at risks kids early officials hope to decrease the crime rate and therefore decrease the amount taxpayers spend on criminals.

"40 years of research it's very clear at risk kids who get high quality instructional pre-kindergartner are much less likely to be involved in the criminal justice system later on" said director of the program Bruce Clash.

"When you sit down and really look at the rewards that come out of it, it's a great item for the state budget and it's a great place for us to invest tax payer dollars" said Scarnati.

For more visit on the program visit: fightcrime.org