The Youth Community Outreach Division of the Greenville Police Department places emphasis on education and rehabilitation over punishment when dealing with juvenile and young offender complaints. The department is committed to developing and implementing programs that are designed to reach and encourage youth participation. These programs educate youth and prevent juvenile delinquency. Youth programs within this department are designed to build mutual relationships with agencies that provide services to juveniles and youth in the community. These relationships help the department in our mission to provide outreach and delivery of services that are specifically designed to address the communities concerns related to the juvenile population.  
 
Police Athletic League (PAL)
 
The mission of the Police Athletic League is to offer the opportunity for the youth to interact with police officers and to build a positive relationship through participation in educational activities, cultural and character development, athletic and recreational activities. In 2019, The PAL program served approximately 100 youth during the summer camp, 50 youth during the afterschool programs (each school semester), and 30 youth during the spring break camp. 

 

The PAL summer camp started in 2007 and has run each year since its inception. This is an eight-week program that is held at South Greenville Recreation Center, E.B. Aycock Middle School, and Eppes Recreation Center. The program serves youth from the ages of 5-13 years old. In the summer of 2019, a total of 100 youth participated in the summer camps at these three locations.  In addition to the PAL Officers and part-time staff, seven School Resource Officers (SRO’s) rotate through the summer camps during the eight-week program. We also partner with the Girl Scouts to provide workshops and activities for the female participants.    
 
After School Program  

 

The PAL after school program started in the fall of 2007. The program is held every day when Pitt County Schools are in session. There are two sites that serve the after school program; Eppes Recreation Center and South Greenville Recreation Center.  In 2019, the two sites served 50 students each semester. The after school program partners with several local agencies and programs to provide additional staffing and programs for the youth enrolled in this program. ECU Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement (CLCE) partners with the PAL Program and now provides additional activities to engage our participants. CLCE implemented Design for Change (lesson plans and workshops). They also have provided tutors and Pirate PALS (sports related activities) where college student volunteers interact with the PAL Participants as mentors. PAL also partners with ECU’s College of Education STEM – CORPS EAST. The purpose of this partnership is to improve student achievement in mathematics and science through STEM tutoring and enrichment activities. This partnership will continue through the summer to incorporate STEM related activities in our summer camps.     
 
Youth Police A-kid-emy

 

This program is typically held during Pitt County Schools Spring Break. Approximately 30 local youth were enrolled in 2019. The youth, between the ages of 5 and 13, spent all day during the week long program interacting with police officers and experiencing various aspects of the police department. The program consisted of group building exercises, mentoring activities, classroom instruction, arts and crafts, recreation activities, sport activities, field trips and hands on activities.   

 

 

PAL sports programs consist of three football teams in the East Carolina American Youth Football League. The football program has approximately 75 youth participating.  All three teams were Conference runners-up in 2019.

PAL also sponsors two baseball teams in the Jackie Robinson Baseball League. . 
 
Shop with a Cop
 
Every year the Greenville PAL program partners with the Greenville Noon Rotary Club and JC Penny to provide selected under privileged children with a back to school shopping spree for school clothes.  Funding is provided by the Greenville Noon Rotary Club.
 
Reading and Money Skills Programs 
 
In cooperation with The Benevolence Corps, PAL afterschool children participate in reading activities at Carver Library and the PAL Sites. Individuals from the community read stories to the children and relate their stories to life experiences and life skills.  The Executive Director of the Program also facilitates an online course for PAL Kids to participate in a program called "Money Skills."  This program teaches life and money skills. Upon completion of the money skills program, children received a certificate and a $25 gift card.  

 
 Police Exploring Program
 
The Police Exploring Program was established in October 2008 at the direction of the Chief of Police to meet goals and objectives set forth by the City Council. The Police Explorers program is based on the Boy Scouts of America’s Learning for Life Program. This is a career education program that allows youth between the ages of 14-21 to interact with police officers.  The Explorer Program meets at least monthly in the evenings.  During these meetings, the explorers are introduced to the field of law enforcement: they meet officers from different law enforcement agencies, learn basic knowledge of building searches, handcuffing, traffic stops and firearms. Police Explorers learn these skills and practice to prepare for regional competitions with other Police Explorers Posts.  

Adopt-A-School
 
The Adopt-A-School program was adopted in 2014 as a way for the local elementary and private schools to get police coverage where there is not a School Resource Officer assigned.  There are currently 8 schools in the City of Greenville that are covered under this program.  

 
 
Citizens Youth Academy
 
The Citizens Youth Academy is a one week camp conducted during summer break for children ages 9-13. Due to overwhelming interest from the public, we held two camps this summer. The camp is forty hours and held during the business workday. 20 children participated in each of the camps. The participants were selected for enrollment by community recommendations and from social media.  

School Resource Officer Program (SRO’s)
 
The School Resource Officer Program is designed to provide officers as a resource for students and staff in our public schools.  Officers provide the sense of safety and security in our schools and help reduce juvenile delinquency.  Officers provide guidance on ethical issues in a classroom setting, provide individual counseling and/or mentoring to students and explain the law enforcement purpose in our public schools.  Officers interact with students in the hallways and while in the classroom; sitting in on parent/teacher conferences; and mediating disagreements and disputes between students.  Other duties include providing security at events, investigating criminal activity, and presenting presentations for students and staff.  The SRO Program currently has 1 Sergeant and 10 officers are assigned in our public schools. 
 
G.R.E.A.T. Program

G.R.E.A.T. stands for Gang Resistance Education and Training.  The G.R.E.A.T. program is a middle school curriculum that is designed to be taught at an entry level of middle school (6th grade).  The program’s primary objective is prevention, which is intended as an immunization against delinquency, youth violence, and gang membership.  The Greenville Police Department teaches G.R.E.A.T. at the two middle schools that are within city limits of Greenville.
 
Approximately 500 6th grade students go through this thirteen week program.  The students are taught how to set goals, anger management, anti-gang and violence norms, problem solving, communication skills, social responsibility, etc.  
 
Teen Court
 
This program is administrated by the Mediation Center of Eastern North Carolina.  This program is designed to be an alternative to court for juveniles that have come in contact with law enforcement as a result of criminal or delinquent behavior.  School Resource Officers and juvenile court counselors typically make referrals to teen court when they have problems with students within the school system.  If a juvenile is referred to Teen Court, the juvenile will be a defendant in a “mock” trial.  A real judge from our judicial system heads the trial.  Students serve as the prosecuting attorney, the defense attorney, and the jury.  The findings of this court are upheld as if in a real court with the exception of incarceration.  After the trial and the juveniles’ completion of his/her sentence, the juvenile agrees to be called back at a later date to be a member of the jury in future trials.