'Jeopardy' Game Helps Austin Youth Interact With Police

AUSTIN, TX — Alex, we'll take "How to effectively interact with police" for $200, please.

The Austin Police Department and Police Activities League of Austin (PAL), in conjunction with Strategies for Youth are presenting the Juvenile Justice Jeopardy (JJJeopardy) games for Austin-area youth. An interactive game inspired by the television trivia show, Jeopardy, the police version teaches youth how to navigate interactions with peers and officers on the streets at at school. The aim is to gain awareness among youth of the short- and long-term implications of arrest and court involvement on their future educational and employment opportunities, police explained in a press advisory.

A primer on the new offering is scheduled on Tuesday, Feb. 4, at the Boys and Girls Club of Austin Area and Wednesday, Feb. 5, at the Gustavo “Gus” L. Garcia Recreation Center. Each day at 4:30 p.m., a pilot game will be conducted with game leaders and youth at both locations. Game leaders will consist of Austin Police Officers and officers from surrounding agencies.

Pilot Game #1

When: Tuesday, Feb. 4, 4:30 p.m.

Where: Boys and Girls Club of Austin Area, 6648 Ed Bluestein Blvd.

Pilot Game #2

When: Wednesday, Feb. 5, 4:30 p.m.

Where: Gustave “Gus” L. Garcia Recreation Center, 1201 E. Rundberg Lane

"Our department has always valued the importance of positive interactions between youth and law enforcement," Officer Jeremy Bohannon said in a prepared statement. "This game will be a fun spin on our attempts to keep kids out of the system and on a path for a successful life."

Added Lisa Thurau, executive director of Strategies for Youth, the organization that created the game currently used in 19 states across the country: “JJJeopardy is a very interactive, lively way to engage youth in conversations with law enforcement and other members of the community about risk-taking with peers, about the implications of their conduct, and helps relieve young people’s anxiety about how to interact with law enforcement. It is more important than ever to provide youth with accurate information about the juvenile justice system and the implications of interactions with peers and police.”

Gives new meaning to the term "double jeopardy," but yielding important lessons along the way.