NCJ Number
34897
Date Published
1975
Length
50 pages
Annotation
AN ASSESSMENT OF PROJECT PERFORMANCE DURING TWO PHASES OF IMPACT FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM WHICH PROVIDED LEGITIMATE AND CONSTRUCTIVE LEISURE-TIME ACTIVITIES TO DELINQUENTS AND PRE-DELINQUENTS IN ORDER TO PREVENT JUVENILE CRIME.
Abstract
PRIOR TO IMPACT FUNDING, THE POLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUE (PAL) PROJECT HAD EXISTED FOR EIGHT YEARS AS A TOTALLY RECREATIONAL PROJECT WHICH OPERATED OUT OF EIGHT STRATEGICALLY LOCATED CENTERS WITHIN THE CITY OF CLEVELAND. THE PAL CENTERS WERE OPERATED ON A VOLUNTEER BASIS UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF OFF-DUTY POLICE OFFICERS. THE PURPOSE OF IMPACT FUNDING WAS TO ENABLE THE CENTERS TO INCREASE THE SCOPE OF THE SERVICES DELIVERED TO YOUTH BY ADDING CONSTRUCTIVE EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES TO THE EXISTING RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES. OTHER OBJECTIVES UNDER IMPACT FUNDING WERE TO INCREASE PAL CLIENT ENROLLMENT, TO INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF PAL, AND TO EXTEND THE HOURS AND SERVICES OF PAL. AMONG THE TYPES OF SERVICES PROVIDED BY PAL WERE RECREATIONAL AND ATHLETIC ACTIVITIES, CULTURAL ACTIVITIES SUCH AS FIELDTRIPS TO MUSEUMS, EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES SUCH AS DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION SEMINARS AND AN AFTERNOON SCHOOL PROGRAM, AND JOB TRAINING THROUGH COOPERATION WITH AN INDUSTRIAL FIRM, WARNER AND SWASEY. THE EVALUATION WAS CONDUCTED USING THE MANAGEMENT BY OBJECTIVES APPROACH. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE PROJECT WAS HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL IN REACHING ITS TARGET POPULATION, IN BROADENING AND REFINING ITS CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK, AND IN EXPANDING ITS SERVICES.