YPI programming occurs over five sessions, 2.5 hours each, with up to 15 youth (ages 13-18) and up to eight officers participating. The YPI program training is highly structured yet based on a great level of participants’ involvement.
Initially, youth share aspects of their lives by talking about choices they have made. Police, in turn, are asked to share their choices about how they became officers. This exchange moves both groups past stereotyping and negative histories. Other exercises include scenario-based role playing, team building and open dialogues.
As youth progress through the program, they make personal connections to individual participating officers, experiencing the cognitive dissonance that accompanies change. The police are surprised by the admiration their participation elicits from the youth and, most importantly, begin to identify with the youths’ challenges.
The attitudinal changes which occur among the youth and police by the conclusion of the session are dramatic. The two groups move from suspicion and mistrust to discovering what they have in common and begin to develop mutual trust and respect.
Participating youth receive a stipend at graduation for their time and contributions to the success of the program.