There were 73,900 other 9 to 12 year olds who were not known to the department. During the study 132 children between 9 and 12 were arrested in Sacramento county for criminal acts. Exactly 66 were known to the department, and 66 were not. The arrest rate for victims of abuse and neglect was 67 times the arrest rate of others. Needless to say, the likelihood that a child will commit future offenses is closely related to the number of court appearances between the ages of 9 and 12.
Intervention is cheaper, by far, than neglect.
Net investment in public works has been steadily declining as a percentage of gross national product. My argument today is that investment in our children and their families should be our highest national priority for the next decade. We know too much about the early years of life not to act now. Such a mission will require substantial federal assistance, but the major effort must be made at the grass roots by people who care enough to commit some of their resources and time and energy. All of us have a part to play.