RIDGELEY, W.Va. — Ridgeley Police Chief Mike Miller appeared before members of the U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Committee recently to cite the need for federal support to help reduce juvenile crime.

“We can’t arrest, re-arrest and imprison our way out of this problem,” said Miller.

“Once criminal behavior becomes part of a person’s lifestyle, it gets harder and harder to break the cycle. Interventions have to start much earlier to steer kids away from crime.”

Miller is a member of Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, a national anti-crime group of 5,000 police chiefs, sheriffs and prosecutors who advocate for policies that prevent crime by getting kids the right start in life.

In his testimony before the Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies, Miller told the panel chaired by Rep. Alan B. Mollohan, D-W.Va., that communities need funding for programs to reduce juvenile crime.

Effective juvenile interventions can drastically reduce expenses to the public. A study of the Functional Family Therapy Program found that it cuts repeat arrests among juveniles in half and saves the public $32,000 for every youth treated.

“Compare the costs. Honest taxpayers in my state have to front tens of millions of dollars to pay room and board for career criminals. I would much rather focus my time and money on early interventions that work rather than foot the bill for tomorrow’s criminals,” said Miller.

The Ridgeley town police chief said it was “very humbling” to appear in the nation’s capital before a congressional subcommittee.

“The subcommittee was very interested in hearing what I had to say. Congressman Mollohan was very interested and indicated that he may be back in touch with me about this matter,” he said.

Miller has been a member of Fight Crime: Invest in Kids since November 2007.

“Chief Miller volunteered his time to come to Washington to deliver testimony to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science about juvenile justice interventions,” said Ted Eismeier, communications assistant for Fight Crime: Invest in Kids.

Fight Crime: Invest in Kids has 62 members in West Virginia and 50 in Maryland.