Early educational investment cuts later youth violence more than prison does

Evidence

Once youths get into trouble with the law, they cycle through the prison system, with most coming out worse than when they went in. Investment in developmental programs that cultivate children’s interests, aspirations, competencies, and resilient beliefs in their efficacy to realize their hopes pays large future dividends. — Albert Bandura, Moral Disengagement, 1153 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

The effects of this early multifaceted effort were assessed in a six-year follow-up when the students were 17 years old and in high school. Compared with children in matched control schools that did not offer the program, those who had the benefit of this early developmental aid were more likely to remain in school, were less likely to repeat grades, had higher academic achievement, and were less likely to commit violent crimes, take up heavy drinking, father a baby, or give birth to one. The children from poor, crime-ridden areas benefitted the most. Society can provide prosocial guidance for children living in disadvantaged conditions or pay dearly later. Youth violence is better reduced by investment in education than investment in incarceration. — Albert Bandura, Moral Disengagement, 1155 (#expands, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Early school-based social and academic programs reduce later youth violence — Albert Bandura, Moral Disengagement: How People Do Harm…, 1155; Prison spending crowds out childhood development investment and worsens criminal trajectories — Albert Bandura, Moral Disengagement: How People Do Harm…, 1153; Prison makes most youths worse while early developmental programs pay dividends — Albert Bandura, Moral Disengagement: How People Do Harm…, 1153 (+3 more)

Broader Connections

• Prison makes most youths worse while early developmental programs pay dividends #corroborates (0.96) — Albert Bandura, Moral Disengagement, 1153
• Early school-based social and academic programs reduce later youth violence #expands (0.95) — Albert Bandura, Moral Disengagement, 1155