1/ Is there a way to massively reduce shootings without ramping up the number of cops and arrests?
Yes, there is. And a unique program in Oakland has shown how it’s done. (Thread.)
Yes, there is. And a unique program in Oakland has shown how it’s done. (Thread.)
2/ In recent years, Oakland has cut shootings in HALF—not by arresting more people, but by investing in social services and helping people build relationships with others in their community. bit.ly/3k17z7Z
3/ Just look at these charts. Here’s how homicide numbers have changed in Oakland over the last 8-9ish years compared to a few other major cities, according to @GiffordsCourage. bit.ly/31cMbUK 
4/ For example, in one of Oakland’s programs, called Operation Ceasefire, people who are at the highest risk of shooting someone or being shot themselves are paired with a life coach and are offered access to housing, jobs, and medical care.
5/ In 2018, fewer than 1% of the men who completed the life coaching were rearrested for another shooting that year.
6/ Part of this success is due to collecting data about who was more likely to be in a shooting: In Oakland, officials found that 0.1 percent of the city’s population was responsible for most homicides. And they weren’t young teens fighting over drugs, as had long been believed.
7/ Historically, many men at the highest risk of this violence—often members of gangs—were also the most isolated from social services. Activists convinced Oakland to pay better attention to them.
8/ New York, Chicago, DC, and other cities have sent officials to study Oakland’s success. Some Minneapolis City Council members say they want to invest in a similar strategy as they try to dismantle their police department.
9/ Dozens of cities have tried programs like Operation Ceasefire, but they’ve had mixed results because they’ve implemented it in different ways. Some cities emphasize the policing aspect more than social services. Oakland stands out for really investing in life coaching.
10/ The community’s involvement is key to driving down shootings. One study found that 65% of potential Ceasefire participants in Oakland accepted social services when a community member was present at the ask, compared with just 25% when only police reached out.
11/ This is not to say that Oakland has everything figured out. Activists worry the city’s strategy still leans too heavily on law enforcement, who still arrest people who engage in violence. Some are calling to defund police and invest more in social services.
12/12 But overall, Oakland has seen astonishing results—and could serve as a template for how to lower crime while reducing police budgets. Read @sjmichaels’ feature story about Operation Ceasefire here: bit.ly/3k17z7Z
