A new UC Berkeley study finds that Richmond's community violence intervention program reduced firearm homicides and shootings by 61% over 14 years, according to research released this week.
The UC Berkeley Center for Global Healthy Cities studied Richmond's Office of Neighborhood Safety. Researchers compared Richmond with dozens of similar U.S. cities and found that reductions in firearm violence grew as the program continued. The program has received $10 million from California's Violence Intervention and Prevention Program.
California's crime rates fell to historic lows in 2025. The state's homicide rate reached 3.5 per 100,000 people—the lowest since statewide reporting began in 1966. Compared with 2024, California saw homicide down 18.6%, robbery down 19.9%, property crime down 14.3%, motor vehicle theft down 25.8%, and violent crime down 10.2%.
The state launched the Violence Intervention and Prevention Program as a $9 million-a-year initiative, which has grown roughly eightfold through state investment. Assembly Bill 28 created a dedicated funding stream. California is ranked #1 nationally for gun law strength by both the Giffords Law Center and Everytown for Gun Safety.
Enforcement efforts have also expanded. The California Highway Patrol's Crime Suppression Teams have made 15,197 arrests, recovered 7,042 stolen vehicles and seized 656 illicit firearms since launching in 2023. The state has recovered more than $293.4 million in stolen property through organized retail theft enforcement since October 2023. The California National Guard Counterdrug Task Force has supported seizure of approximately 39,644 pounds of fentanyl and 54.6 million fentanyl pills since 2021.