Police Activities League (PAL) Program

The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program (JAG) allows states, tribes, and local governments to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime based on their own local needs and conditions. Grant funds can be used for state and local initiatives, technical assistance, training, personnel, equipment, supplies, contractual support, and information systems for criminal justice for any one or more of the following purpose areas: 1) law enforcement programs; 2) prosecution and court programs; 3) prevention and education programs; 4) corrections and community corrections programs; 5) drug treatment programs; 6) planning, evaluation, and technology improvement programs; and 7) crime victim and witness programs (other than compensation).

The City of Peoria will use its Fiscal Year 2008 JAG award in the amount of $11,059 to implement a Police Activities League Program (PAL Program). PAL Programs build partnerships between youth, police, and the community through educational, recreational, and athletic programs. A new PAL Program, the Youth Citizen's Police Academy program, will promote community oriented policing and educate seventh and eighth graders on various aspects of law enforcement and good citizenship. This program will be offered to participants for five-day sessions for three weeks during the summer. It will offer youth the opportunity to participate in a well-structured and positive-based activity. Department employees will teach classes on their specialties, such as ethics, underage drinking, gang awareness, patrol functions, criminal investigations, and many other topics. A police service dog and the SWAT team will provide demonstrations as well. Students will also get to use a firearms training simulator. Grant funds for the PAL Program will be used to pay for officer overtime, photo equipment for documenting activities, fuel costs for field trips, and various program materials and operational supplies.

NCA/NCF