CNS Briefs

Early education key to stopping crime

A report connecting a lack of early, high-quality childhood education with aggressive behavior and crime was released by Virginia law enforcement offi cials and the non-profi t organization Fight Crime: Invest in Kids at the General Assembly this past Tuesday.

The report, “Early Education for Children Birth to Five in Virginia: An Investment in the Future,” states quality care and educational programs provided for children newborn to age 5 reduces aggressive behavior and the possibility of future criminal behavior.

Fight Crime: Invest in Kids is a national orga-
nization consisting of district attorneys, sheriffs, police chiefs and violent-crime victims.

Jeff Kirsch, vice president of the organization, said investments in early education won’t only have an effect on children now but will have an impact on their lives in the future.

“It greatly reduces the chances that those kids will get involved in crime later in life,” Kirsch said.

Richmond Police Chief Rodney D. Monroe said the key to fighting crime is a three-pronged approach of focusing on the people who are break- ing the law, forming partnerships for resources and determining what is allowing crime to repeat across generations.

“This is a no-brainer for us in law enforcement,” Monroe said.

The goal is to build a foundation so children don’t think the only resources they have to survive are found in the streets, Monroe said.

Brief by Travis Lyle

Virginia Tech shooting prompts mental health debate

This year, lawmakers are seeking to overhaul the commonwealth’s mental health system, which many experts say lags behind those in the rest of the nation.

A special legislative subcommittee met Wednes-
day night to receive public comments on more than 40 Senate bills that propose changes to the state’s mental health laws. Many speakers pointed to the Virginia Tech shootings as a belated wake-up call that many changes needed to be made to the current framework.

“We are, as everyone I believe knows, very far down among the states in what we do to assist our mentally ill citizens,” said Sen. Janet D. Howell, D-Reston, co-chair of the Special Subcommittee on Proposed Mental Health Legislation.

Jonathan Stanley, executive director of the Treatment Advocacy Center, spoke before the subcommittee in favor of expanding the commonwealth’s criteria for involuntary commit-
ment to an institution and for qualifi cations for assisted outpatient treatment. The center, based in Arlington, is a nationwide advocacy group for mental health reform.

Brief by Alexander Harris

Massey mission

Board members and volunteers from the Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center teamed up with cancer survivors at Capitol Hill Thursday to gain legislators’ support for a $5 million budget increase for Massey’s research funding.

If House Budget Amendment 210, fi led by Delegate John M. O’Bannon III, R-Henrico, is approved, Massey’s budget would increase from $1 million to $6 million.

Andrea Butler, communications director at Massey, said the budget increase will be allocated over the next two years.

“It could really make a difference in our ability to put more researchers and add more breadth and depth to our research program,” Butler said. “It could bring more clinical trials and it can save lives for the people of Virginia.”

Sen. John C. Watkins, R-Midlothian, is the chief patron in the Senate for the budget amendment.

Butler said Massey volunteers and board members wanted to thank the legislators who proposed and supported the amendment.

“We really appreciate the opportunity to have this $6 million budget amendment to support cancer research,” Butler said.

Massey, one of 63 National Cancer Institute-
designated centers, focuses on cancer research, advanced treatment for cancer patients and clinical trials.

Brief by Suzanne Hoyle