On Thursday, March 18th, 400 community members, local religious leaders, law enforcement, and national violence prevention experts joined Oakland elected officials at St. Columba Catholic Church to call for a scale-up of proven violence intervention strategies.  The violence intervention strategies, focused on street outreach and call-in sessions, have proven successful in reducing violent crime in Oakland and dozens of other cities across the country.

In Oakland, the overall crime rate in Oakland is down by a third. According to Oakland Chief of Police Anthony Batts, "Usually crime fluctuates five to seven percent. When you're having dramatic drops of 37, 27 and 30, that means we're going in the right direction. Those are huge numbers."

The cost to scale up the street outreach program to 25 full-time workers is estimated at $1 million. Due to the current budget climate, "It's going to be very tough, but what we've agreed to do and what I'll pledge tonight, is to work with [Oakland Community Organizations] to see how we can find that funding," said Oakland City Council member Jean Quan.

For three years, the Oakland police department, Department of Human Services, and Oakland Community Organizations have been working together on a focused intervention strategy that combines street outreach with "call-in" interventions. Based on data that shows that most violent crime is committed by a small percentage of people, these strategies intervene directly in the lives of those people, connecting them with resources, opportunity and consequences. This strategy has been helping reduce violent crime in 46 US cities, including Cincinnati, Providence and Boston.

Currently, Oakland's street outreach workers go into our toughest neighborhoods to interact with young people connected to cycles of violence.  They offer support and resources to these young people. In addition to taking to the streets, Oakland police, social services, community, clergy, and job providers "call-in" young people for an intervention with law enforcement, religious leaders and community resources.

"Call-ins let me say, ‘Stop the violence, or I'm going to take you to jail,'" said Oakland Police Captain Paul Figueroa. "Now I can say, ‘I'm also going to show you a way out.'"

Dante Ingram, a street outreach worker from Cincinnati, OH, shared his success story at the event. He said he used to sell drugs and take the easy way out, until a street outreach worker came along and gave him some options. "Now I have a choice after I committed six felonies. I'm here to tell you these young men can be saved."

Cincinnati Police Chief Tom Streicher concurred. "There is another way of resolving conflict without killing each other, but everyone has to be committed. The community must come together and include people we've looked at as being lost for life."

Nassau County, New York Assistant District Attorney Risco Mention-Lewis told the crowd, "It's not just about reducing crime. It's about young people feeling the worth of their souls for once and forever." One year after rolling out the intervention program, Nassau County saw a 74 percent drop in crime.

Thursday's action was organized by Oakland Community Organizations, which is part of PICO National Network.  PICO represents 1.2 million families in 17 states across the nation and works for safe communities, housing opportunities and immigration reform.

Oakland Renews Anti-Violence Campaign, ABC7

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local/east_bay&id=7338913

Oakland out of cash for outreach efforts, officials say

http://www.insidebayarea.com/oakland/ci_14712149

Oakland Community Organizations reach out to defuse street violence

http://oaklandnorth.net/2010/03/20/oco-event/

500 expected at Oakland crime-reduction meeting tonight, Oakland Tribune

http://www.insidebayarea.com/oakland/ci_14698708