Project Sentry

The District of Connecticut's Project Sentry program enables the U.S. Attorney's Office to expand its primary and traditional prosecutorial role in the community by reaching out to juveniles in an effort to deter juvenile gun crime and promote school safety. In this regard, the Project Sentry seeks to:

• spread the message to at-risk youth that there are serious consequences associated with being involved with firearms;


• increase the investigation and prosecution of adults who furnish juveniles with firearms juveniles who possess firearms; and


• improve school safety.

Project Sentry also has enhanced, established and expanded partnerships with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, federal, state and municipal governments, community groups and the faith community. In order to encourage youth participation in workshops on nonviolence we employed basketball tournaments and other social activities. To play in the basketball tournaments, youth were required to attend the workshops that were held the previous day. We also use other fun activities to provide a forum to present our nonviolent message, including Camp DEFY, events within our Weed and Seed sites and Police Basketball Camps (Officer Friendly Camps).

(From left to right) James I. Glasser, Chief of Criminal Division, Keith A. King, Project Sentry AUSA, Kevin J. O'Connor, United States Attorney, Lori A. Potter, Paralegal Specialist, Assistant Chief Lester McKoy, Hartford Police Department, and Thomas Daily, AUSA

In 2003, the Department of Justice announced that the City of Hartford's Project Sentry Task Force was one of 14 recipients of the First Annual Project Safe Neighborhoods Achievement Awards. At a ceremony during the 2003 National Conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the task force received the award for "Exceptional Juvenile Gun Crime Reduction Program".

With respect to our goal of promoting school safety, Project Sentry has expanded Safe School Task Forces in Hartford, New Haven and Bridgeport. Project Sentry has also become a regular part of school's curriculums in Hartford, New Haven and Bridgeport. Since 2002, the violence prevention message has been given to more than 14,000 students in PSN's target cities.

In addition to promoting the anti-violence message in Connecticut's schools, many partnerships have been formed to benefit at-risk youth in our communities.

A unique partnership to keep children away from gun violence was created by teaming up with the New Britain Rock Cats, the farm team for the Minnesota Twins. Our partnership with the Rock Cats allowed 1000 youth from across Connecticut to take part in the baseball experience during the course of the '04 season. The children were given the opportunity to serve as "shaggers" during batting practice prior to each home game; a meet and greet with the players and each child received a baseball glove and a t-shirt. Prior to attending a game, the children received an anti-gun violence workbook that they filled out which included writing an anti-gun violence poem or rap. One child was given the opportunity to recite their anti-gun violence poem at the beginning of every home game prior to the National Anthem.

Plans are currently underway to continue the relationship with the Rock Cats throughout the school year through school programming, as well as the upcoming '05 season.

In addition to the partnership with the New Britain Rock Cats, Project Sentry has enhanced, established and expanded partnerships with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, federal state and municipal governments, community groups and the faith community. In order to encourage youth participation in workshops on non-violence we employed basketball tournaments as well as other social activities, including a non-violence talent show in Hartford.

Project Sentry is also developing a law enforcement mentoring program with the Connecticut Juvenile Training School ("CJTS") and the Department of Children and Families. Project Sentry is soliciting volunteers from state, federal and local law enforcement to mentor the juvenile offenders as they are released from CJTS.