District Initiatives
Project Sentry
Project Sentry
Eastern District of Michigan
Overview
Project Sentry is an initiative of Project Safe Neighborhoods (“PSN”) that is dedicated to the protection of our youth from gun violence. Its enforcement component focuses on the prosecution of gun crimes committed at our nation’s schools; the prosecution of adults who illegally provide guns to juveniles; and the prosecution and supervision of juveniles who violate firearms laws. Project Sentry also focuses on protecting our youth from gun crime through strategies aimed at prevention and deterrence.
Like all PSN initiatives, Project Sentry relies on partnerships between federal, state, and local law enforcement, partnerships within the community, and partnerships between the community and law enforcement. The Weed and Seed sites in the Eastern District of Michigan coordinate the Project Sentry Program within their site areas under the direction the US Attorney’s Office. For venues outside the Weed and Seed sites, the US Attorney’s Office can be contacted directly at 313-226-9100.
Objective
One of Project Sentry’s primary objectives is the coordination of efforts through the US Attorney’s Office and the district’s Weed & Seed sites to educate school students about the medical, legal, emotional, and societal consequences of gun violence. Medical doctors, nurses, and technicians; federal, state and local law enforcement officers; federal and local prosecutors; probation and parole officers; corrections officers; judges; social service personnel; as well as the students’ peers, are uniting together with school officials and administrators to instruct students about the dangers and consequences of gun violence.
Methodology
In our district, Project Sentry combines some of the best practices used throughout the country to reach and teach the youth on the problems of gun violence. Such efforts include:
- Fellow peers reaching out to students in classrooms with skits and role playing;
- Medical professionals instructing students on the immediate and long-term effects of gun violence – physically and emotionally – as well as dispelling common myths about gunshot injuries;
- Law enforcement officers, prosecutors, judges, corrections officers, as well as probation and parole officers, informing students on the harsh reality that they may confront as a result being involved in gun violence;
- Social service personnel reaching out to students with real life examples and testimonies of victims of gun violence, as well as insights of those previously involved in gun violence;
- Community groups and organizations teaching students how to diffuse conflicts by improving their conflict resolution skills, and;
- Students and parents pledging to stand firm in their commitment to reduce and refrain from gun violence.
Other Initiatives
Project Sentry also teaches the parents of our youth about gun safety and proper storage and safeguarding of firearms through our Parents Gun Safety Program. The program is an extension of our in-school youth program, and is presented to the parents in the evening of the same week as the youth program. Parents also sign a pledge agreeing to safeguard their children from firearms and to properly secure them if they have guns in their homes.
For additional information regarding Project Sentry please send e-mail correspondence to:
Robert Poikey, Law Enforcement Specialist
robert.poikey@usdoj.gov