Rigorous studies show a strong link between more education and reduced rates of violent crime (Lochner 2004). A one-year increase in the average level of schooling in a community is associated with almost a 30 percent decrease in the murder and assault rates (Lochner 2007), results which are particularly reliable through high school. Of course, one important reason is that more school generally brings higher wages and expanded job opportunities and thus less incentive to engage in criminal activities. However, wages and jobs are not the end of the story. Classrooms help instill values that oppose criminality and socialize students to become better citizens. In many cases, schooling may also teach patience, reduce tolerance for risk-taking, and provide a supervised environment that tempers negative interaction among young people. And finally, youth who leave school early risk being influenced by a more negative set of peers, while those who stay are more likely to build a constructive social network and set off on a path toward productive work experiences.
The physical and emotional scars to families due to violent crime run deep; and the price of reduced productivity and decreasing property values in American communities is steep. Compared to incarceration, educational outlays are a far cheaper and more productive investment. Public costs for one year in prison are $24,000, while public outlays to educate a K-12 student are $9,000, on average. While additional funding for education does not automatically
guarantee decreased crime, the numbers point to the tremendous potential to expand young people’s choices and opportunities while simultaneously building greater security in our communities.
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