Citizen Police Academies

The department provides youth services for Santa Monica residents, ages 6 to 17 through a variety of programs and activities. Services include an Officer Bill program for safety education; juvenile delinquency prevention programs, a citizen police academy for adolescent and young adults; and youth enrichment programs through the Police Activities League (PAL) program that operates year-round at a separate location; see the site list. Age and geographic restrictions apply for some programs.

Programs for youth are presented in schools and focus on school and traffic safety; they include an Officer Bill program for elementary school children to help prevent child molestation.

The department provides juvenile delinquency counseling for youth and their families who have been referred by schools or probation.

Youth enrichment programs include the The Police Activities League which sponsors youth activities for summer and for after school that include homework assistance, a variety of classes, sports, and fitness programs for youth ages 6 to 17.

The Explorer post provides an introduction to Law enforcement careers for youth ages 14 to 19. To qualify for the program, young people must maintain a C average in their school work and have no arrest record.