Oakland has seen a dramatic reduction in violence through the Ceasefire strategy, which aims at the small percentage of the population responsible for most gun violence. The program, overseen by Holly Joshi, reported a 30% drop in homicides and a 50% reduction in shootings since its reimplementation. Mayor Barbara Lee emphasized the strategy's success based on research showing its effectiveness. Support services like job training and counseling enrich the outreach efforts, aiming to prevent violence and retaliation in the community.
"Last year, we had over 30 percent reductions in homicides and shootings when we reimplemented the strategy. And so far, 18 months in, shootings have been reduced by 50 percent in 18 months."
"Our Ceasefire strategy works because it focuses on a simple truth. That violence is concentrated among less than one percent of Oakland's population."
"So, essentially, we understand who is involved in what violence. And then we focus on those individuals at the highest risk for drawing or driving gun violence."
"So bringing it back and seeing the decline in the number of homicides and shootings that we are seeing, is proof-positive that it works."
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