In 2012, Oakland launched Ceasefire, a gun violence prevention program that uses trained, non-law enforcement workers to contact individuals at the highest risk of picking up a gun or falling victim to gun violence, and offering them life coaching and other services from community organizations.
One study from 2018 credited Ceasefire for reducing homicides in Oakland by 31% and shootings by 20% between 2013 and 2018. But starting in 2016, the city gradually disinvested in the program, in part due to scandals at OPD, and eventually shifted its focus to other public safety initiatives.
The city began reinvesting resources in Ceasefire in 2024. Since then, homicides and shootings in Oakland have been trending downward. OPD’s most recent crime data shows homicides are down 28% and shootings are down 25% year-to-date compared with the same period last year. It’s unclear whether Ceasefire is causing this drop in crime, as many other factors could be playing a role…