NCJ Number
165195
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 63 Issue: 8 Dated: (August 1996) Pages: 26,29-32,34
Date Published
1996
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This article describes the planning, recruitment, activities, and evaluation of Illinois' Police and Children Together (PACT) camp project.
Abstract
PACT was designed to bring youth and law enforcement personnel together in a cooperative setting that would strengthen bonds between youth and police and enable positive teamwork among all of the participants. The camps were implemented statewide, with two in northern Illinois and two downstate. The planning committee decided that each camp would include at least one police-related activity; the involvement of police officers as officer-counselors; at least one community service project; at least one team-building activity that would involve police officers on the team; 15-30 minutes of structured, daily physical activities that youths could also do at home; the presence of the police chief for at least a portion of the camp; and a graduation ceremony at the end of the camp. Specific activities were left to the pilot sites. This article discusses the recruitment of campers, the identification of camp-site and transportation issues, liability concerns, and funding. Various activities conducted by each site are listed. Narrative responses from the campers have been favorable for the first-year's program. Planning for next year includes the development of an evaluation component that will provide feedback from officer-counselors.