Manchester Police Athletic League

Juvenile court diversion- accredited program holds juvenile offenders accountable while helping them gain skills and support needed to stay on track. Participants avoid court and a criminal record, preserving opportunity for success. In fy2024, twelve monthly panels convened to hear cases from juvenile offenders and develop individualized contracts mapping out goals for making amends and building skills needed to make better choices in the future. This alternative approach to juvenile justice has proven effective:of the first 50 youth to complete mpal's diversion program, 93% avoided subsequent arrests in the first year following program completion compared to only 59% of youth going through the traditional court-based justice system.

Life skills programming-mpal provides a wide variety of educational enrichment programming for youth throughout the year with the aim of developing essential life-skills and preparing youth for the future. The "ambassadors" program, cooking class, girls empowerment & movement, "futures" early intervention program and all school vacation enrichment classes provide practical life skills while encouraging youth to plan for the future. Yourth are given the opportunity to experience new things while keeping a focus on respect, responsibility and community so they can be inspired to become contributing members of society. In fy2024, nearly 300 youth participated in mpal life-skills programs.programming was provided 49 weeks out of the fiscal year.

Athletics- during fy2024, mpal offered youth opportunities to train in aikido, baton twirling, boxing, jiu jitsu, skateboarding and wrestling. Involving youth in athletics builds self-confidence and encourages healthy-living habits while instilling the values of respect, responsibility and community. Over 650 youth ages 5-18 participated in mpal Athletic programs in fy2024. With the exception of wrestling, which has an academic year season, all Athletic programs ran weekly all twelve months of the fiscal year.