Police Activities League
P.A.L.

WHAT IS THE POLICE ACTIVITIES LEAGUE?

The Police Activities League is a youth crime prevention program that relies on educational, athletic, and other recreational activities to cement and bond between police officers and youth.

 The )Police Activities League program is based on the conviction that young persons - if they are reached early enough – can develop strong positive attitudes towards police officers in their journey through life toward the goal of maturity and good citizenship.

The Police Activities League promotes trust and understanding between youth and police officers.  The Police Activities League programs brings youth under supervision and constructive influence of a law enforcement agency and expands public awareness about the role of a police officer.  Part of that is the reinforcement of the responsible values and attitudes instilled in young people by their parents. 

Studies have shown that if a young person respects a police officer on the ball field or in a gym, the youth will likely come to respect the laws that the police officers enforce.  Such respect is beneficial to the youth, the police officer, the neighborhood and the business community.                            

HISTORY OF PAL

 The purpose of PAL is the same today as it was the day this crime prevention program began during the 1930’s.  PAL gives kids a chance to be respectful citizens by developing a special bond among police Officers, youth and the community.

PAL started with a bang-a rock through a window.  A youth gang in New York City, harassing storekeepers and generally making life miserable in the neighborhood, caused the problem that pioneered this approach to juvenile delinquency.   

A particular police lieutenant of the New York Police Department’s Crime Prevention Bureau liked kids.  He wondered at the uselessness of always punishing them.  He wondered whether kids might be touched before they got in trouble.  He searched out the gang’s ringleader.  They talked, and the lieutenant listened for reasons behind the kids’ antisocial behavior.  He learned of the kids frustration of the ghetto, no place to go, nothing to do and of being hassled by the police even for playing baseball in the street. The lieutenant wondered. Why to help the kids form a team?  Give them a place to play under police supervision.  Be a friend instead of an enemy.

 The lieutenant found a playground where the gang could play under the eye of friendly police officers.  The team was an instant success.  Before the year ended, there where close to a dozen such teams in the city.    

CALIFORNIA PAL

 California PAL is a non profit organization formed to provide assistance to the various Police/Sheriff Activities Leagues located throughout the State of California  
http://www.calpal.org/

 PAL has since broadened it’s scope to include arts and crafts, dance, music, drama, social services, vocational guidance, remedial reading, field trips or virtually any healthy activity that kids enjoy.