The syracuse police athletic/activities league (PAL) works to inspire and encourage youth to build positive relationships with law enforcement

This $415,000 federal Project Grant award from the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (CFDA 16.753 Congressionally Recommended Awards) will support the Syracuse Police Athletic/Activities League (PAL) in expanding its programming to engage youth ages 14-19. The goal is to build positive relationships between law enforcement and young adults, encouraging them to see police officers as trusted individuals they can rely on. Specific activities funded through this 4-year grant include implementing sports and other recreational activities, creating a sense of belonging and purpose for participating youth, and generally working to keep them safe and on a path to success. This funding will enable the Syracuse Police Department to expand its existing PAL program and further its community-oriented policing efforts focused on juvenile delinquency prevention and strengthening police-community ties.

The proposed expansion with this grant will reach those young adults in the group of 14 to 19 years of age. The overall goal is for theseyoung adults to see law enforcement as people that they can count on and look up to. The goals areto keepall kids safe and help put them on a path to success, keep them involvedin programs like sports and other activities, and createa sense of belonging, purpose and pride for them.