Stockton saw roughly 13% fewer homicides than did comparable cities during its violence reduction work with gang members in recent years, a 2024 study found.
From 2018 to 2022, there were 12.7% fewer killings in Stockton than in Anaheim, Bakersfield, East Palo Alto and eight other similar cities, according to study by University of Pennsylvania criminologist Anthony A. Braga and others.
“Our analyses suggest that Stockton Ceasefire prevented the city from experiencing an upturn in homicide that was as sharp as what occurred in other California cities following the COVID-19 pandemic and (George) Floyd protests,” the study stated.
The ceasefire model includes three goals:
- Reduce gang homicides and shootings
- Decrease recidivism and incarceration rates
- Strengthen police-community relations
Under the city’s current violence-reduction approach, led by the Office of Violence Prevention, city officials and community leaders contact gang members they believe, based on shooting data, are most likely to be involved in imminent violence.