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What Sets Us Apart
Most kids meet an officer on the hardest day of their life.
That single fact shapes how a generation grows up thinking about the people sworn to protect them, and how those officers come to see the neighborhoods they patrol. It is not anyone's fault. It is a scheduling problem. The only place the two ever meet is in a moment of emergency.
Meanwhile, Wwe have fields. We have gyms. We hHave kKids. What has been missing across East Baton Rouge Parish is the connective work.
That is why PAL of South Louisiana exists: to make the connection!
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Making the connection.
In partnership with NFL Flag and National PAL, PAL of South Louisiana is bringing youth and law enforcement together in a positive space, around shared interests, to strengthen the bond of trust and understanding between kids and the officers committed to protecting their community.
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If your child is interested in taking part in PAL’s first program, sign up for our NFL Flag League!
Sixty years of evidence.
PAL is not a new idea. It is the nation's longest-running model for connecting young people and law enforcement through sustained, positive engagement. The results are consistent enough that more than 200 communities now run chapters nationwide in partnership with National PAL.
Proven results.
2 million+
youth reached each year through PAL programs
80%
of PAL youth report growth in respect and trust of law enforcement
1 in 4
PAL youth report increased interest in a law enforcement career
25%
showed improved attendance and academic performance
200+
communities nationwide, where the majority of chapters report lower youth arrest rates
Change Starts Here.
Through mentorship, PAL of South Louisiana creates environments where young people feel supported, encouraged and capable of growth. These relationships help strengthen connections between youth, law enforcement, and the broader community, laying the foundation for positive outcomes now and into the future. For more information, please email programming@nationalpal.org.
PAL of South Louisiana is a board-governed committee of the Louisiana Law Enforcement & Criminal Justice Foundation. LECJF's mission is to implement sustainable solutions that promote public safety, uplift local law enforcement agencies, and build trust between the public and law enforcement.
"Everything we do at the LECJF comes back to collaboration and partnership. PAL is perfect example of that... law enforcement, recreation, health care, and youth-serving organizations coming together to invest in our kids and in the long-term safety of our community."
Clay Young
Board President, LECJF