This case study is part of the Reimagining Public Safety Impact Updates Resource, which highlights successful programs in cities, towns and villages across the country. View the Reimagining Public Safety Initiative to learn more about NLC’s work in creating safe, equitable communities for all. This is one of several municipalities illustrating Community Violence Intervention, in which credible community members establish relationships with individuals most impacted by violence through street outreach and violence interruption efforts. This Case Study was added in 2025.
Richmond, CA (pop. 109,884): Office of Neighborhood Safety (ONS)
Richmond’s Office of Neighborhood Safety (ONS) took shape in 2006 as the first city office of violence prevention; the same year the city experienced a record-breaking homicide rate (42 homicides per 100,000 residents). In 2023, 16 years after the creation of the ONS, there were 8 homicides (down from 47 in 2006, an 83 percent decrease). Annual firearm assaults have dropped from 242 in 2006 to 37 in 2023 (an 85 percent decrease).
In 2022, the National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform estimated that the government cost for each shooting in Richmond resulting in injury is $1.2 million per suspect and each fatal shooting cost $3.2 million per suspect. These figures do not include loss-of-production costs of victims or suspects which nationally have been estimated at an additional $1-2 million for each shooting incident. ONS estimates that their cyclical and retaliatory gun violence interruptions in 2023 had savings for the government between $7.5 and $20 million.
The street resource and outreach initiative focused on changing the behaviors and supporting community members, known as Advance Peace, is a model that has spread across the nation.
The ONS conducts street outreach via Neighborhood Change Agents (NCAs) and the Operation Peacemaker Fellowship; these key positions connect with youth and young adults identified as most likely to commit and/or be victims of gun violence, and they provide these individuals with intensive mentoring and connection to services.
In 2023, NCAs provided 5,243 street outreach engagements, totaling 13,027 hours of engagement. NCAs also mediated 132 community conflicts, or 259 total hours of mediation. The Operation Peacemaker Fellowship component of ONS includes: daily engagement with NCAs; individualized goal development plans (called LifeMAPs); case management, referrals and support navigating social services; life skills training; intergenerational mentoring through the Elders Circle framework; transformative travel, which focuses on building prosocial relationships among fellows; internship opportunities; and stipends based on completing specific goals. In 2023, 165 young people have participated in the fellowship, of which 100% are alive, 98% did not have new injuries due to gun violence, and 93% have not been arrested.
The ONS staff includes six NCAs, two field coordinators, an administrative assistant, and a program manager. The office is funded by the city, and its budget is $2.1 million for FY2024-2025.
Some key performance metrics collected include:
- Number of street outreach and fellow contacts
- Number of participants connected to services
- Number of gun violence conflict interruptions
Number of conflict mediations
- Number of fellows and rates of survival, re-offenses, and revictimizations
Acknowledgements for contributions and review from Monica P. Bhatt, Senior Research Director, University of Chicago Crime Lab and Education Lab; and Kimberly Smith, Director of Programs, University of Chicago Crime Lab and Education Lab.
View the Reimagining Public Safety Impact Update
Learn more about what different cities have done to support public safety, including qualitative and quantitative measures highlighting the impact of community responder models, group violence interventions, hospital-based violence interventions and community violence interventions.