It costs approximately $40,000 to incarcerate a juvenile offender for one year. With that money, San Carlos Parks and Recreation could:

Have him or her attend camp for 2 weeks, play soccer for three months, play basketball for three more months, receive help at the Youth Center Homework Center/ Computer Lab everyday after school, participate in daily Youth Center programs, take 3 supervised adventure trips, 36 classes of Spanish, 9 Piano lessons, 13 Ballet lessons, 3 Cartooning classes, 8 Mad Science classes, 5 Karate classes, 9 Acting lessons through the Children’s Theater, 7 Ice Skating classes, 5 Rock Climbing classes, 7 Ice Hockey classes, 8 Tap Dance classes, 8 Tennis lessons, 9 Masters Art classes, 9 Gymnastics classes, 5 Fencing Classes and receive a Babysitting Certificate after taking 3 classes...

After which we could return to you: $37,797 and one much happier and healthier kid.

The right of a child to play, sing and dance: the right of youth to sport for sport’s sake; the right of men and women to use leisure in the pursuit of happiness in their own way are basic to our American heritage.
- Harry S. Truman