The police work to build positive relationships with youth in the community through programs like the Police Athletic League (PAL) to prevent crime. Statistics show that arrests of juveniles for crimes like robbery, rape, arson and vandalism declined between 1980-2008. The PAL was formed in the early 20th century and helped keep kids off the streets through athletics and other activities, supported by the Works Progress Administration. It has since expanded nationwide to continue contributing to lower youth crime rates.
2. Thesis - The police work tocreatepositive relationships with the youth community to prevent crime.They run organizations such as P.A.L to help keep adolescents off the street. They work with detention and probation faculties to keep adolescent away from crime.
3. Research Police officers want to accomplish having a positive impact on the youth Middle school and elementary school teachers our trying to help children understand Officers benefits
1914 Police Commissioner Arthur Woods opens New York City's first play streets Captain John Sweeney of Lower East Side police precinct formed The Junior Police Junior Police aspired to develop a good relationship between children and the policeThe Junior Police organization had many actives the children got involved in.
In 1917 the Junior Police precincts expanded to 32 precincts.Captain John Sweeney retires and the Junior Police organization was disbandedDuring the 1920’s the playstreet program grew with the help of Traffic Commission and the Mayor’s Committee Creates an additional 50 playstreets in 1924
1929 Police Commissioner Grover A. Whalen is appointed advisory committee on crime prevention Points out concerns of juvenile delinquency To stop future crime from happening the police department focused on youth of the city and provided positive recreation1931 Mayor James J. Walker signs bill that makes the Crime Prevention Bureau permanent in the Police Department.
1931 Crime Prevention Officer takes interest in a group of boys and forms Twilight Baseball LeagueThe whole community gets involved and donates material and labor to build a full baseball fieldThe popularity grew and when basketball and football was added to the organization it became the Twilight Athletic League.
1932 the Great Depression hits the police department reports there concern about childrenConcerned the Crime Prevention Bureau forms the Junior Police Athletic LeagueThe new oversee of the organization was now run by Babe Ruth, Police commissioner Edward Mulrooney and Deputy Commissioner of the Crime Prevention Bureau Henrietta AdditonIt become a branch off the Twilight Athletic League
The league focused a lot on baseball but started to introduce boxing instruction, football and the first girls basketball teams1933 issues membership cards to Junior Police Athletic LeagueLater in the year P.A.L’s all-star baseball team travels to Baltimore and plays rival school Saint MaryThe trip is highlighted by a tour of Washington D.C and a meeting with the First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt
The Police Athletic League was reorganized in 1936.Junior memberships were available at ten dollars and adult associate members sold a one dollar each.P.A.L starts to work with the Board of E education and Police Commissioner Lewis J. ValentineThey receive a list of 5,000 truants in an effort to enroll the children in P.A.L programs
President Franklin D. Roosevelt lends support to P.A.L With the nation still suffering from the Depression the Police Athletic League was supported on a national level520 workers from the Education and Recreation Department of Works Progress Administration were given to P.A.L
P.A.L starts to rapidly growSupported by the WPA staff, P.A.L had 70,000 junior members in 1937 and had 69 indoor centersThe faculties were dedicated after officers who died in the line of dutyMore recreational actives were added including games and sports
P.A.L kids help by organizing scrap salvage drivers, helping with the Red Cross, knitting and working in Junior Commando and training as massagers for civilian defenseDevoted air time from there radio station to promote sales of war bonds and collection of fats and waste paper
P.A.L reached out to disabled kids with a therapeutic horseback riding programVolunteer skaters helped raise funds for P.A.L Roll-a-thon.Playstreets continued to increase