An alarming number of young children aged between 10 and 17 years get arrested for violence in the world, and more so in the United States. Law enforcers are pushing for tougher legislation in an attempt to contain these kids in jail. Is this the right way to address violence and law breakage among the youth? Well, let us look at the role played by education in fighting off crime and lawlessness.
The question lies; is it possible to reduce the crime rate by raising the education levels of potential criminals? If yes, would it be cost effective with respect o other crime prevention measures? Estimating the effect of education on crime may shed some light on the magnitude education plays in the elimination of social rot.
The Value of Mandatory Education
In theory, there are many reasons to relate how raising the levels of education can contribute to a reduction in crime. First, education increases wages, to face-lift those educated away from poverty. Secondly, according to Lochner and Moretti (2004), young people may learn to be patient with life through schooling, due to the hope and promise of good life education brings – through potential future earning.
Time spent in school could also be significant among the youth, regarding limiting the time spend for participating in criminal activity. Research has found out that time spend in school and at work during a year is negatively correlated to the probability of getting arrested for a crime, in a particular year.
Education may directly influence the psychological or financial rewards from the offense itself. Schooling may alter other preferences in indirect ways, which may affect decision ti engage in criminal acts. Education could increase one’s patience or risk aversion.
It makes a lot of sense to reconnect young criminals to schools as quickly as possible. Juvenile offenders need to be exposed to programs that can impact positive attitude on their negative life. It is quite necessary to establish more schools separate centers for those young offenders who get released from prison and might be lagging behind academically, or those who might be experiencing difficulties being accepted back in the society.
It calls for the community and related institutions to initiate and promote educations programs that are geared towards ensuring our children get the basic education. Promises of the good life that come with education are many, and our youth shall work hard to commit to education with the goal of getting such rewards at a later time.