By Cynthia Grau

PONTIAC – State Representative Tom Bennett (R-Gibson City) joined local law enforcement to read to preschoolers in Pontiac Monday morning to showcase that children attending preschool make them less likely to commit crimes later in life.

Bennett’s group met at Central School in Pontiac for a morning of reading to preschoolers.

Bennett said crime prevention really does start with children.

“Connect the dots; it all makes sense,” Bennett said. “If we have good folks that grow and develop and are educated and understand their communities and support their communities, it’s a wonderful thing to have.”

Livingston County Sheriff Tony Childress says, while it will take time to see results in the children as they grow, he knows early intervention is the way to go.

“I think we owe it ourselves and to these children to the best we can to keep them from becoming criminal statistics,” Childress said. “The best intervention with children as I have always said and will always believe is early intervention.”

Livingston County State’s Attorney Randy Yedinak looks for youth crime to fall as preschool programs improve.

“Hopefully those numbers continue to drop,” the prosecutor said. “We’re doing an excellent job her in the county with our school programs, specifically the pre-K program, so hopefully it continues.”

The group Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Illinois organized the day.

Cynthia Grau can be reached at [email protected].