Low
Birthweight Infants
Each
year nearly thirty-five hundred Oklahoma babies (3,457 average
annual) are born too small (weighing less than 5 1/2 pounds).
A
disquieting and increasing number of these low-weight infants
(586 average annual) are born very, very tiny (weighing less than
3 pounds, 5 ounces).
During
the most recent three-year period (1996 -1998) the proportion
of Oklahoma babies born too small slowly and steadily continued
to worsen (increasing from 7.1% to 7.2% of all births) when compared
to the three year period just one year earlier (1995 - 1997).
Comparable rates also worsened during the year in most (44 of
77) of Oklahoma's counties.
This
trend has continued for years. A higher proportion of Oklahoma
babies (7.2% of all births) are born too small today as compared
to the population born in the mid-1980's (6.4% of all births),
with such rates also worsening in the majority (43 of 77) of Oklahoma's
counties during the same period.
The
rates of low birthweight births in the majority of Oklahoma counties
(40 of 77) were worse than the average county rate (6.8% of all
county births). The highest and worst low birthweight rate (10.4%
of all county births) is found in Cimarron County; the lowest
and best (2.2% of all county births) is in Grant County during
this most recent period.
The
low birthweight rate for African American infants (12.5% of all
African American births) continues to nearly double the rate for
White infants (6.7% of all White births). By race, the best low
birthweight rate is recorded for American Indian infants (6.3%
of all American Indian births). Hispanic mothers, who may be of
any race, have an even lower rate of babies born too small (6.0%
of all Hispanic births).
While
early prenatal care is known to improve these rates, over one-third
(35.8%) of Oklahoma's babies were born to mothers who failed to
receive the recommended level of prenatal care during the most
recent three-year period reported.
Ranking
near the middle of all the states, Oklahoma's rate of low birthweight
infants is average relative to other parts of the country. Oklahoma's
rank among the fifty states improved from 24th to 21st during
the most recent year (1997) measured.
Impact
on early childhood and Oklahoma's future
• Low birthweight is a predictor of early childhood
problems. Some die.
Almost 60 percent of the infant deaths each year result directly
from low birthweight. In Oklahoma seven out of 10 infants who
die in the first month of life are low-weight babies. Of those
who live, one in four will experience serious health and developmental
problems – dyslexia, hyperactivity, blindness, deafness,
chronic respiratory problems, mental retardation, mental illness,
cerebral palsy, and more.
•
Low birthweight is expensive and preventable.
The health costs over the lifetime of one low birthweight infant
can reach more than $500,000, while prenatal care (which is
likely to prevent low birthweight) can cost as little as $750.
•
The lower the birthweight, the greater the harm.
Twenty percent of very tiny (less than 3 pounds, 5 ounces)
babies experience cerebral palsy or other forms of brain injury.
Fifty percent of very tiny (less than 3 pounds, 5 ounces)
babies later enroll in special education.
• The first and most important
period of infant brain development occurs during pregnancy,
requiring a focus on prenatal care and education.
Infants are at risk of being born too small if their mothers
are poor, are adolescents, smoke during pregnancy, drink alcohol
or take drugs during pregnancy, or fail to receive adequate
prenatal care. Caring about young children requires caring about
their mothers by providing them with education and adequate
nutrition, reducing teen births, ensuring appropriate health
care, reducing poverty, changing behavior during pregnancy to
reduce smoking, drinking and drug use, and providing a greater
number of expectant mothers with adequate prenatal care.
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Infant
Mortality
Each
year nearly four hundred babies born in Oklahoma (389 average
annual) do not live to see their first birthday.
On the average at least one Oklahoma infant dies every day.
The
rate of Oklahoma infants who die in their first year of life worsened
slightly during the most recent three years (1996 - 1998) when
compared to the three-year period just one year earlier (1995
-1997). Oklahoma infant death rates worsened from 8.0 to 8.1 deaths
per 1,000 live births, with comparable rates also worsening in
less than half (35 of 77) of Oklahoma's counties.
Despite the recent slight increase, infant death rates have declined
substantially over the past dozen years. Today, proportionately
fewer Oklahoma babies (8.1 per 1,000 live births) die in their
first year of life than did in the mid-1980's (10.5 per 1,000
live births), with such rates also improving in the large majority
(55 of 77) of Oklahoma counties during the same period.
The
rate of infant death in the majority of Oklahoma counties (43
of 77) was better than the average county rate (8.0 per 1,000
live births). During this most recent period, the highest and
worst infant death rate (32.3 per 1,000 live births) is found
in Roger Mills County; the lowest and best (0.0 per 1,000 live
births) is found in six Oklahoma counties (Major, Grant, Cimarron,
Ellis, Washita and Greer).
Infant death rates have improved for all races since the mid-1980's.
However, the most recent death rate for African American infants
(15.3 per 1,000 African American births) remains more than twice
as high as the comparable rate for White infants (7.4 per 1,000
White births). The lowest death rate is recorded for American
Indian infants (7.2 per 1,000 American Indian births).
Ranking
in the bottom half of all the states, Oklahoma's rate of infant
death is only fair relative to other parts of the country. Even
so, Oklahoma's rank among the fifty states improved from 39th
to 30th during the most recent year (1997) in which states were
compared.
Impact
on early childhood and Oklahoma's future
• Infant
death typically results directly from inad-equate early care.
Causes of death include poverty, inadequate living conditions,
abuse, neglect, preventable injuries, accidents and infections.
• The
infant mortality rate is an indicator of a community's overall
quality of life.
The rate reflects the effectiveness of educational, economic,
social and health care measures.
• Reducing
the number of infant deaths requires a focus on early childhood
care.
Lowering infant mortality rates requires providing education
on topics such as ways to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death
Syndrome (SIDS), ensuring adequate nutrition, reducing teen
births, providing appropriate health care, reducing poverty,
lowering child abuse rates, changing behavior during pregnancy
to reduce smoking, drinking and drug use, and providing a greater
number of expectant mothers with adequate prenatal care.
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Births
To Young Teens
For
the most recent three year period, an average of nearly eight
thousand (7,981) babies were born to Oklahoma females under the
age of twenty. Each year about five thousand (5,086) of those
babies were born to teen mothers ages 18 and 19. Nearly three
thousand (2,895) Oklahoma school-age girls (age 17 and under)
had babies. One hun-dred thirty-five of those school age girls
were between ten and fourteen years of age.
On
the average, every three hours an Oklahoma child (age 17 or younger)
becomes a mother.
The
rate of births to Oklahoma young teens continued its modest decline
(from 37.0 to 35.9 births per 1,000 girls ages 15 through 17)
during the most recent three years (1996-1998) when compared to
the three-year period just one year earlier (1995-1997). Birth
rates for that age group showed some improvement in most Oklahoma
counties (43 of 77) during the same period.
The
progress made in decreasing the high Oklahoma birth rate to young
teens of the mid-1980's (from 43.9 to 35.9 births per 1,000 girls
ages 15 through 17) has been evident at the county level where
such rates also improved in nearly every (69 of 77) Oklahoma county
during the same period of time.
The
rates of births to young teens in the majority of Oklahoma counties
(42 of 77) were worse than the average county rate (34.9 births
per 1,000 girls ages 15 through 17). During this most recent period,
the highest and worst rate (79.6 births per 1,000 girls ages 15
through 17) is found in Harmon County; the lowest and best (8.3
births per 1,000 girls ages 15 through 17) is in Dewey County.
The
large majority (67.9%, including Other) of Oklahoma's young teen
mothers are White. However, while non-White teenage girls comprise
only about one-fifth (21.6%) of the teenage girl population, they
account for almost one-third (32.1%) of the teenage girls giving
birth in Oklahoma.
Oklahoma's
teen childbearing rate was substantially above other states in
1980, but by 1997, the gap had narrowed. Even so, Oklahoma's young
teen childbearing ranking relative to other states is poor, with
more than two-thirds (37 states) having a teen (age 15 through
17) birth rate lower than Oklahoma during the most recent year
(1997) compared.
Impact
on early childhood and Oklahoma's future
•
Improving early childhood requires Oklahoma to reduce teen pregnancy.
The cycles of generational poverty prevent too many children from
receiving the physical, emotional, and mental nurturing necessary
during their early developmental years. Children born to teen
mothers are more likely to repeat the cycle of teen childbearing,
to be born too small, to have lifelong developmental and health
problems, to have lower cognitive function-ing, to do poorly in
school, and to exhibit problem behavior.
• Young
mothers are the most at-risk for being poor parents and face bleak
futures along with their children.
Each young mother is more likely to be poor, to be a victim of
physical violence, to have another child before reaching adulthood,
to drop out of school, to have unsteady employment, to be on public
assistance at some point in her life, to be less skilled, and
to experience marital instability compared to peers who delay
childbearing until age twenty or later.
•
Education and reading is one key to reducing teen births and improving
the lives of young children.
Poor literacy skills, poor progress in school and academic failure
are good predictors of early childbearing. Children who don't
read well are at risk for early pregnancy and early parenting.
There is a relationship between how much a child has been read
to and how well they learn to read. Only half of infants and toddlers
are routinely read to by their parents.
•
Communities and families can work together to reduce teen births.
Being connected with community, school and family decreases the
risk of teen pregnancy and birth. School success, involvement
in activities during non-school hours and opportunities to develop
decision-making and problem-solving skills join to prevent premature
pregnancy and birth. Having positive options, aspirations for
the future and goals for education and training beyond high school
help young men and women make good choices and avoid becoming
teen parents. Having healthy family communication and positive
peer and adult role models decrease the likelihood that children
will have children.
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Child
Abuse and Neglect
For
the most recent three-year period (Fiscal Years 1997 - 1999) an
average annual of more than fifty-five thousand (55,711) situations
were investigated by the Oklahoma Department of Human Services
(DHS) as possible abuse and/or neglect of one or more children.
During
this period DHS confirmed a near record-high number of those allegations.
On average more than fifteen thousand (15,518) of the incidents
investigated each year were found to be actual abuse and/or neglect.
In
Oklahoma, approximately every thirty-four minutes a child is a
victim of confirmed abuse and/or neglect.
During
the most recent three-year period (Fiscal Years 1997 - 1999),
the rate of confirmed child abuse and/or neglect in Oklahoma continued
to rise when compared to the three-year period just one year earlier
(Fiscal Years 1996 - 1998). Oklahoma abuse and neglect rates moved
from 15.9 to 17.7 confirmations per 1,000 children in the state,
with comparable rates also worsening in the large majority (62
of 77) of Oklahoma's counties.
Child
abuse and neglect is maintaining its record high rates. Today,
Oklahoma's rate of confirmed child abuse and/or neglect (17.7
confirmations per 1,000 children) is close to double what it was
in the mid-1980's (9.0 confirmations per 1,000 children). Such
rates also worsened in almost every (71 of 77) Oklahoma county
during the same period.
The rates of confirmed child abuse and/or neglect in the majority
of Oklahoma counties (45 of 77) were better than the average county
rate (18.7 confirmations per 1,000 children in the county). During
this most recent period, the highest and worst proportion of children
confirmed to be victims of child abuse and/or neglect (42.9 per
1,000) is found in Pushmataha County; the lowest and best (6.0
per 1,000) is in Beaver County.
A
total of forty-seven Oklahoma children died from child abuse and/or
neglect during FY 1999. Among the dead were nineteen girls and
twenty-eight boys of all races. Twenty were less than one year
of age; fifteen were toddlers (ages one through three). The dead
also included school age children ranging from preschoolers to
children old enough to be in high school. The oldest known to
have died at the hands of their caretakers this year were four
fifteen and sixteen year old girls. One was the victim of neglect.
Three died from abuse.
The
large majority (66.4%) of confirmations of abuse and/or neglect
in Oklahoma involve children who are White. However, while non-White
children comprise only about one-fifth (21.7%) of the child population,
they account for a greater proportion (37.4%, excluding Hispanics
and unknown) of the confirmed child abuse and/or neglect incidents.
Hispanic children, recorded as a nationality rather than a race,
comprise just over five percent (5.5%) of Oklahoma's child population.
A lower proportion of confirmed abuse and/or neglect in Oklahoma
(3.0%) involved children counted as Hispanic.
Impact
on early childhood and Oklahoma's future
• Child
abuse and neglect hurts and kills Oklahoma infants, toddlers
and preschool children.
During the most recent three-year period (FY 1997 -1999), more
than forty percent (40.6%) of the victims of child abuse were
not yet six years of age. Oklahoma's youngest abuse victims
are more likely to die. More than three-quarters (78.4%) of
the deaths attributable to child abuse or neglect during this
time were children under six years old. An Oklahoma child dying
as a result of abuse or neglect is most frequently an infant.
•
Oklahoma child abuse and neglect remains high, with child abuse
and neglect deaths worsening.
FY 1999 Oklahoma child abuse confirmations fell just under the
record high registered the prior year. Abuse and neglect related
deaths continue to increase. Deaths from neglect are more common
than deaths from abuse.
• Child
abuse and neglect is a predictor of early childhood problems.
In Oklahoma, child victims of abuse are most commonly beaten
or sexually abused. Mental injuries are on the rise; Shaken
Baby Syndrome is a common cause. Half of the young victims will
suffer delay in their development or serious physical or emotional
impairments. Attachment disorders are common. The number of
very young Oklahoma children removed from their homes to live
in foster care has grown rapidly over the past decade.
• Early
childhood problems are a predictor of child abuse and neglect.
Low birthweight infants, infants born premature, and children
with disabilities, chronic illnesses or developmental delay
are at higher risk of abuse and neglect.
• Child
abuse and neglect is part of a cycle threatening future generations
of infants, toddlers and preschool children.
Children of adolescent mothers are more than twice as likely
to be victims of child abuse and neglect than are the offspring
of mothers who are either twenty or twenty-one years of age.
There is a direct relation-ship between being a victim of sexual
abuse and later teen pregnancy. Teen mothers and their babies,
in turn, face bleak futures. Victims become abusers. Research
indicates that victims of child abuse are at a higher risk of
abusing their own children when they become parents.
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Child
and Teen Death
About
nine Oklahoma children and youth from the ages of 1 through 19
die every week. During the most recent three-year period an average
of four hundred forty-four died each year. Just under half (47.5%
or 211) of these annual child deaths are children from the ages
of 1 through 14; the remainder are teenagers (ages 15 through
19).
The average annual rate of death among Oklahoma children from
the ages of 1 through 14 improved slightly (from 33.2 to 31.3
per 100,000) during the most recent three-year period (1996 -
1998) when compared to the three-year period just one year earlier
(1995 - 1997). In a majority of Oklahoma counties (45 of 77) child
death rates stayed the same or improved during the year.
A
lower rate (31.3 per 100,000) of children from the ages of 1 through
14 die currently than did in the mid-1980's (41.5 per 100,000),
with such rates also improving or staying the same in the large
majority (51 of 77) of Oklahoma's counties during the same period.
The
rates of death for children from the ages of 1 through 14 in the
majority of Oklahoma counties (46 of 77) were better than the
average county rate (31.8 per 100,000 children age 1 through 14
in the county). During this most recent period, the highest and
worst rate of child death (193.9 per 100,000 children age 1 through
14 in the county) is found in Dewey County; the lowest and best
(0.0 per 100,000) is found in nine Oklahoma counties (Roger Mills,
Johnston, Woods, Harmon, Major, Ellis, Marshall, Beaver and Nowata).
More
than half (52.2%) of the child and teen deaths during the most
recent three year period were accidental. Oklahoma children and
teens are less likely to die of diseases (26.4%) or violence (21.4%).
Violence
among non-white children and teens is more common with well over
one-third (37.1%) of all such African American deaths and well
over one-fourth (28.6%) of all such American Indian deaths resulting
from violence. A young African American is more than twice as
likely to die of violence in Oklahoma than his or her White peer
(17.9%).
Oklahoma's
young people kill themselves at a rate almost twice the national
average. The number of young people committing suicide continues
to increase with an average of forty Oklahoma victims under age
20 each year (1996 - 1998). While most are older White male adolescents,
recent Oklahoma suicides have victimized all races, both sexes
and children as young as ten.
Even with the improvement in death rates since the 1980's, Oklahoma's
ranking relative to other states for the most recent year compared
(1997) remains among the worst (44th in child death) in the nation.
Impact
on early childhood and Oklahoma's future
•
Infants, toddlers and preschool children make up a large portion
of child deaths in Oklahoma.
During the most recent three-year period (1996- 1998), almost
forty-five percent (44.2%) of all child deaths (ages 1 through
14) were not yet six years of age. More than half (53.1%) of
Oklahoma's youngest were victims of accidental death.
•
Disquieting trends.
Over the last several decades, the leading causes of death for
children and teens have changed from natural causes, such as
illness and birth defects, to injury and violence. Children
increasingly imitate the violence they observe on television.
Poor children are three times as likely to die during their
childhood than non-poor children.
• Decreasing
child death requires a focus on early childhood care.
Being connected with community, school and family decreases
the risk of violence and death. One out of every six children
has no health insurance. Half of those are poor. Risk of death
increases when the lack of health insurance or money makes it
difficult to obtain appropriate and necessary medical care.
Young, poor and minority children are less likely to receive
lifesaving preventive services. One in five Oklahoma two-year-olds
has not received all the immunizations necessary to prevent
illness, disease and medical problems. Risk of accidents and
the resulting death increases for low-income families as they
are less likely to use safety devices due to lack of money,
lack of trans-portation to obtain them and/or a lack of control
over their housing conditions. Reducing poverty, providing effective
education and ensuring adequate health care prevents premature
death.
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High School Dropouts
During
the most recent three-year period (School Years 1996/97 - 1998/99)
an annual average of more than eleven thousand (11,286) young
Oklahomans quit school without graduating. Over nine thousand
(9,289) of those dropping out were ages 18 or younger.
Nearly
one of every five students in Oklahoma who starts high school
as a freshman does not earn a high school diploma. Compared to
any other grade, the largest numbers leave school during the ninth
grade.
Even
though the rate of children leaving school without graduating
improved slightly (from 5.5% to 5.4%) during the most recent three-year
period when compared to the three-year period just one year earlier,
the average number of Oklahoma children (under age 19) dropping
out of high school (grades 9 through 12) each year is virtually
the same. The dropout rates improved in a little more than half
(40 of 77) of Oklahoma's counties during the same period.
Oklahoma's
high school dropout rate (5.4%) during the most recent three-year
period is slightly better, but remains close, to that of the comparison
three-year period (5.5% for School Years 1994/95 - 1996/97). Such
rates also improved in a small majority (41 of 77) of Oklahoma's
counties during the same period.
The
dropout rates were worse than the average county rate (4.3%) in
most of Oklahoma's counties (42 of 77). During this most recent
period, the highest and worst rate of children leaving school
without graduating (7.6%) is found in Hughes County; the lowest
and best (0.8%) is in Dewey County.
During
School Year 1998/99 the proportion of high school dropouts who
were girls (45.1%) and the proportion who were boys (54.9%) did
not change from the prior year.
During
the most recent year on record (School Year 1998/99) the large
majority (61.0%) of children failing to finish high school are
White. However, while non-White children comprise only about one-fifth
(21.7%) of the child popula-tion, they account for about one-third
(33.4%, excluding Hispanics) of the high school dropouts. Hispanic
children, recorded as a nationality rather than a race, comprise
just over five percent (5.5%) of Oklahoma's child population.
A slightly higher proportion of Oklahoma dropouts (8.5%) are counted
as Hispanic.
During
the most recent year for which comparison data is available (1997),
Oklahoma remained at about the middle of all states (29th) in
the percent of teens who are high school dropouts (9.0% of those
ages 16 through 19).
Impact
on early childhood and Oklahoma's future
•
Preventing youth from dropping out of high school begins before
kindergarten.
Children from families whose parents never completed high school,
or started the family as teens themselves, are more likely to
drop out than their peers. Poor literacy skills, poor progress
in school and academic failure push young people out of school.
If a child can't read well by the end of third grade, their
entire school experience is at risk. There is a relationship
between how much a child has been read to and how well they
learn to read. Only half of infants and toddlers are routinely
read to by their parents.
Oklahoma
must lower its high school dropout rate in order to improve
early childhood care.
Children born to mothers without adequate education are likely
to be born too small, to have lifelong developmental and health
problems, to have lower cognitive functioning, to do poorly
in school, to exhibit problem behavior, to have babies too soon
and too often, and to drop out of school themselves.
•
Lack of education is part of a cycle threatening future generations
of infants, toddlers and preschool children.
A parent's lack of education prevents too many children from
receiving the physical, emotional, and mental nurturing necessary
during their early developmental years. Youth not completing
high school face severe economic consequences including poverty,
little employment opportunity, poor earning ability and the
possibility of a lifetime of financial dependence. Unemployment
rates for workers over age 19 are twice as high for dropouts
than for graduates. The lack of education is intertwined with
crime. A majority of Oklahoma inmates were high school dropouts.
About four thousand Oklahoma infants, toddlers and preschool
children have one, both or their only parent in prison. High
school dropouts and their babies face bleak futures. Research
indicates that children of high school dropouts are at a higher
risk of quitting school themselves.
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Juvenile
Violent Crime Arrests
In
1998, juveniles accounted for just under one-fifth (18.5%) of
all persons arrested for all Oklahoma crimes.
During
the most recent three-year period (1997 -1999) more than a thousand
(1,089) Oklahoma youths from the ages of 10 through 17 were arrested
each year for committing violent crimes. Each year an average
of twenty-six were arrested for murder, three for manslaughter,
60 for forcible rape, 268 for robbery and 732 for aggravated assault.
During these three years the overwhelming majority of youth arrested
for violent crimes in Oklahoma were male (83.8%).
During
the most recent three-year period (1997 -1999), the proportion
of Oklahoma youths from the ages of 10 through 17 arrested for
violent crimes continued to decrease when compared to the three-year
period just one year earlier (1996 -1998). Oklahoma violent crime
arrest rates for this age group moved from 297.9 to 271.4 per
100,000 youth, with comparable rates staying the same or improving
in most (56 of 77) of Oklahoma's counties.
The
current proportion of Oklahoma youths from the ages of 10 through
17 arrested for violent crimes continues to improve from the record
highs recorded during the 1990's. The rate of arrest for these
youth (271.4 arrests per 100,000 youth) during the most recent
three-year period (1997 - 1999) is substantially improved over
that per 100,000 youth for 1990 - 1992). Comparable rates also
improved or remained the same during the same period in just under
half (36 of 77) of Oklahoma's counties.
The
current juvenile violent crime arrest rate is better than the
average county rate (161.2 arrests per 100,000 youth) in most
of Oklahoma's counties (45 of 77). During this most recent period,
the highest and worst rate of youths from the ages of 10 through
17 (568.3 arrests per 100,000 youth) arrested for violent crimes
is found in Tulsa County. The lowest and best rates (0.0 arrests
per 100,000 youth) are in seven Oklahoma counties (Alfalfa, Beaver,
Ellis, Grant, Harper, Love and Roger Mills).
While
non-White children comprise only about one-fifth (21.7%) of the
child population, they accounted for nearly half (44.1%) of the
violent crime arrests of children under age 18 during the most
recent three-year period. Hispanic children, recorded as a nationality
rather than a race, comprise just over five percent (5.5%) of
Oklahoma's child population. A similar proportion of the juvenile
violent crime arrests in Oklahoma (5.7%) are arrests of Hispanic
youth.
Based
on the latest figures available, Oklahoma's 1997 rate (289 per
100,000 youths ages 10 through 17) of arresting young people for
violent crimes continued to remain well below the corre-sponding
national violent crime arrest rate (412 per 100,000 youths ages
10 through 17).
Impact
on early childhood and Oklahoma's future
•
Juvenile crime prevention begins in early childhood.
Experts blame the rise in juvenile crime on the failure of families,
schools, and communities to recognize early warning signs. Being
connected with community, school and family decreases the risk
of later violence, death and crime. Denying an at-risk child
access to a quality child development program may multiply by
five times the risk that he or she will be a chronic law-breaker
as an adult. Children enrolled in public-funded Child-Parent
Centers had their risk of being arrested for juvenile crimes
cut in half. Children receiving care in high quality centers
as infants and toddlers were only half as likely to have serious
behavioral problems upon entering kindergarten. Impressionable
young children are numbed to the real effects of violence by
viewing over 10,000 murders, rapes and aggravated assaults each
year on television. Children imitate the violence watched on
television in their own homes.
•
Early childhood problems are a predictor of future crime.
Children at higher risk for involvement in violence and crime
include boys born to teen mothers, children from families whose
parents never completed high school and young people doing poorly
in school. Victims of child abuse and neglect are more likely
than others to later be arrested for delinquent behavior, adult
criminality, crimes of violence and prostitution. Girls who
are abused and neglected in childhood are seventy-seven percent
more likely to be arrested as juveniles. A young poor child
is more likely than a non-poor one to be a current victim and
a later perpetrator of violent crime.
• Disquieting
trends.
The number of juveniles arrested for carrying or being in the
possession of a weapon is on the rise in Oklahoma. Juvenile
drug possession arrests have tripled in the past decade. Juvenile
arrests for violent crimes are outpacing juvenile arrests for
non-violent crimes. Police in Oklahoma are increasingly likely
to refer juvenile violators to criminal or adult court.
•
Fight Crime – Invest in Kids.
Good educational child care is one of the most powerful weapons
against crime. Poor quality child care multiplies the risk that
a child will grow up to be a threat to society. Nine out of
ten police chiefs say crime would be greatly reduced by expanding
educational child care programs and after-school programs. Failure
to invest now will result in paying far more later in crime,
welfare and other costs.
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