Educates youth on the risks and consequences of gun possession
The Judicial Branch of Arizona in Maricopa County’s Juvenile Court and Probation Departments’ have developed one of the most innovative gun safety programs in the country with Project S.A.F.E. (Safety Awareness and Firearms Education). Stemming from a steady increase in youth gun possession, this program is designed to reduce gun violence and empower young people with the knowledge, skills, and support to change their futures.
Launched in July 2024, Project S.A.F.E. is a comprehensive digital and in-person program that guides youth through a personal growth journey using interactive content, storytelling, and mentorship. In its first year, the program reached more than 180 youth, logged more than 1,000 hours of programming, and helped participants complete over 2,700 learning activities.
“This program is a blend of quality community supervision, research-based learning and growth principles, and committed local community stakeholders who genuinely care about our youth and the safety of our community,” said Juvenile Probation Chief, Eric Meaux. “The peer-to-peer learning and support is critical—so the youth understand they are not alone and begin to envision their future selves, making small, incremental yet meaningful progress toward the person they want to become and not defined by their arrest.”
Juvenile Department Presiding Judge Lori Bustamante played a key role in launching Project S.A.F.E. in partnership with the Juvenile Probation Department. She was recently named Innovator of the Year by the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ), in recognition of her leadership and pioneering work in youth justice through the creation of Project S.A.F.E. Her leadership shaped the project into a model of transformative juvenile justice reform, providing inspiration to professionals nationwide in fields related to juvenile justice, law, and public safety.
“I am deeply honored to receive this award and profoundly grateful for the opportunity to help positively shape the lives of our youth and strengthen our community,” said Juvenile Department Presiding Judge Lori Bustamante. “This recognition is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and collaborative efforts of so many in Maricopa County who helped develop our program. Project SAFE has been a team effort, and I share this honor with all those who are truly making a meaningful difference and leading the way in building a brighter, more hopeful future for our community.”
Supervised and guided by a probation officer, the program requires youth to participate in focused peer-to-peer interactive learning modules through a platform called Journey.do (Lifelab Studios) that allows youth to relate to others in similar circumstances, invites youth to learn from other peers, reflect on their own experiences, share personal stories of change and growth, and develop a plan for continued growth and success. The initiative recognizes that peer pressure significantly influences why youth choose to carry firearms, often leading to poor decisions and stress. This is also supplemented by in-person victim impact and credible messenger panel sessions that require parental participation.
“From a youth perspective, guns are seen as symbols of power or status—a way to "flex"—but they quickly learn the dangerous consequences of this behavior,” said Deputy Chief of Juvenile Probation Celena Angstead. “As they work through the program, they realize how destructive this mindset is. Project S.A.F.E. teaches them that setting and striving for goals can be powerful drivers of positive, long-term change.”
Youth in the program often share that they have dealt with low self-esteem, anxiety, and emotional numbness, often turning to firearms to cope with unresolved trauma or feelings of insecurity. For most, guns became a way to hide their emotional pain. However, through the program's Journey.do lessons, the youth begin to understand how their actions are connected to their emotions, opening the door to personal growth.
To complete the program, youth must create a presentation that demonstrates to the Court and parents what they’ve learned. The final presentations take place in a large group setting, holding youth accountable in front of their peers, families, and the Court.