Home Contra Costa County Anti-Gang Program will Expand Across Contra Costa

Anti-Gang Program will Expand Across Contra Costa

by ECT

MARTINEZ – Contra Costa County seeks to expand a successful anti-violence and anti-gang program to other parts of the county.

Operation Ceasefire began in Boston and spread to Chicago, Cincinnati and Indianapolis. These cities achieved reductions in gun homicide of 25 to over 60 percent. In California, Stockton reduced gun homicide by more than 43 percent between 1998 and 2001. Contra Costa’s District Attorney’s Office has been operating a pilot program in Richmond for several years.

“We have been monitoring the success of Ceasefire in Richmond since I chaired the Public Protection Committee” of the county, said Supervisor Federal Glover. “There has been a significant drop in violent crime in Richmond and we want to spread the program countywide.”

This strategy, based upon extensive research and experience, has evolved from a primary focus on deterring serious gang and youth gun violence, to a comprehensive approach that combines deterrence with workforce training, employment, and other services.

Contra Costa County is searching for a coordinator for the Ceasefire program, which will be run out of the County Administrator’s Office and work across the various county departments, including the District Attorney’s Office, the Sheriff’s Office, Probation and Health Services.

A Request for Qualifications (RFQ) has been issued for individuals interested in the position of coordinator. Interested individuals can view the RFQ at: http://www.cccounty.us/2366/Services-Programs

Final responses will be due at 651 Pine Street, 10th floor, Martinez, CA 94553 by noon, Nov. 17, 2016. Questions about the RFQ can be submitted to [email protected]
by 12 p.m. on Nov. 7, 2016.

“Reaching out to these gang members, or people who are thinking about joining a gang, might make them think twice before they break the law or commit an act of violence,” said Glover. “Ceasefire will help reduce incarceration and, in the end, reduce the social and financial costs to our society.”

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1 comment

Nick Nov 5, 2016 - 9:00 am

Try getting to the kids before they join a gang. In the mean time, this is a good program.

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