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Oakland Homicides Hit 6-Decade Low as Ceasefire-Lifeline Expands
Officials say the Oakland Ceasefire-Lifeline program helped cut homicides 43% from 2012 to 2017 and reach a record low of 57 last year.
- Oakland hit a record low of 57 homicides last year, marking the lowest rate for the city of roughly 400,000 people since 1967. Officials credit the Oakland Ceasefire-Lifeline program for driving this historic decline.
- Following a 2023 audit, city officials implemented changes that reduced annual homicides from 118 in 2023 to 78 in 2024. The city adopted the lifeline program from Boston after gun violence killed three children in 2011.
- Life coaches like LaSasha Long work with high-risk individuals through the Department of Violence Prevention. Bernard, a 27-year-old former gang member, began working with Long after serving six years for attempted robbery.
- Long describes life coaching as "heart work," helping clients see light in dark tunnels. Today, Bernard holds a full-time job and maintains an apartment, crediting the support he received for his new outlook.
- At Lakeshore Avenue Baptist Church, emeritus pastor Jim Hopkins tells at-risk men, "If you put down the gun, start taking the city's services, we'll help you find another way," emphasizing support over punishment.
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13 Articles
13 Articles
Associated Press News+10 Reposted by 10 other sources
Oakland attributes a 6-decade low in homicides, in part, to life coaches
The California city of Oakland has driven homicides to historic lows by offering services including life coaches to people most likely to get pulled into gang-related shootings.
·United States
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources13
Leaning Left7Leaning Right1Center4Last UpdatedBias Distribution59% Left
Bias Distribution
- 59% of the sources lean Left
59% Left
L 59%
C 33%
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