Youth Violence Reduction

Since August 2010 YOUTH VOICE have been campaigning to get Ceasefire, a successful youth violence reduction model, implemented in the City of Detroit. Finally, thanks to YOUTH VOICE organizing, on August 9, 2012 Mayor Bing announced the city will receive $1.5M grant  to implement the program. Read more about this accomplishment here and here. 

Youth Violence in Detroit: The Facts

Ceasefire: A Proven Solution

Ceasefire is a targeted, strategic and proven method to reduce youth homicides significantly in a short period of time. Here is how it works:

1. Targeted Data - use police data to dig deep into the “who, what, when & where” of local gun violence to identify the small group of gang-involved youth (1-4%) who are “driving” a large proportion of the violence (40-60%).
2. Street Outreach Workers - hired to reach out to offenders on the streets and work with them if they choose to participate in the program.
3. Call-In - offenders are invited to a call-in meeting where community and faith leaders, service providers, outreach workers, and criminal justice agencies stand united to send a clear and simple message to gang-involved youth: “We will provide strong support to those who step away from violence…BUT enforcement, supported by the community, will be focused on the very few of you who persist in violence”.
4. Social Services and Assistance - if they choose to participate gang members are provided with services and other types of assistance “out of violence”, including job training, life skills, education, mentoring, job placement, street outreach support and faith-based support.

What are the results?

• Boston, MA: 63% reduction in youth homicides
• Cincinnati, OH: 68% decrease in homicides
• Chicago, IL: 37% decrease in monthly homicides AND 30% decrease in recidivism 
• High Point, NC: 57% decrease in violent crime

Who and What will it take to pilot this in 3 Detroit Neighborhoods?