Project S.A.F.E. — Safety Awareness and Firearms Education — was developed last year within the Maricopa County juvenile justice system to serve youths on probation for first-time gun offenses.
Through online lessons and in person mentoring, program officials say Project S.A.F.E. is empowering the youths to take accountability while looking toward the future.
Judge Lori Bustamante is one of the program's developers. She said Project S.A.F.E. lets kids create a future for themselves that isn’t defined by their time in the justice system.
“We feel like it’s really having an impact on them and they're really focusing on their future, " Bustamante said. “And creating that positive future for themselves and having a better understanding of what that looks like and putting themselves in a positive light.”
Project S.A.F.E. can also serve as an incentive and motivator for kids in the program. Bustamante said if the program is completed in a timely manner on top of all other probation requirements, it’s possible for youths to terminate their probation early.
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