Police Athletic Leagues: Perceptions, Challenges, and the Imminent Need for Academic Inquiry

• In Event: Police Youth Mentoring, Athletic Leagues and Social Workers, and the Community Context of Police-Community Initiatives

Abstract

Organized sports programs are recognized for fostering positive character development in youth, facilitating social integration, and potentially reducing juvenile delinquency. As a seemingly successful example of community-oriented policing, Police Athletic Leagues (PALs) leverage the apparent benefits of organized sports to address juvenile delinquency by engendering direct relationships between law enforcement officers and ‘at-risk’ youth. These police-led, sports-based programs serve an estimated 1.5 million young individuals annually and receive millions of dollars each year in federal funding. However, despite the ubiquity of PALs, academic inquiry into their effectiveness is noticeably absent, raising questions as to whether these programs are genuinely effective or are simply perceived as such. This mixed-methods study systematically examines the current state of academic research into PALs and assesses the effectiveness of these organizations from the viewpoint of program leaders from several U.S.-based PALs. Overall, the findings highlight a significant lack of scholarly inquiry into PALs, while program leaders perceive them as beneficial for youth development and juvenile delinquency prevention among ‘at-risk’ youth. However, inconsistent police commitment, negative public perception of police officers, and financial constraints will likely limit program efficacy.

Authors

• Kevin Daly, Florida International University

• Tim Goddard, Florida International University