Assemblymember Skinner Announces $2M Grant for Oakland to Help Reduce Crime

Assembly Budget Chair Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) announced on Monday that the City of Oakland will receive a state-funded grant of up to $2 million designed to reduce crime and support communities facing high rates of violence.

“This is one-of-a-kind state funding to support crime prevention and re-entry programs in a community challenged with high crime rates and high levels of incarceration among its residents,” Assemblymember Skinner said. “These funds will strengthen violence and crime reduction efforts and support community-based strategies with proven track records.”

Signed by Gov. Jerry Brown in late June, the 2014-15 State Budget allocates $2 million to be distributed inOakland to prevent crime and violence. Upon applying for and receiving the grant, the City of Oakland will coordinate with law enforcement partners, community organizations, the courts, Oakland Unified School District and faith leaders with the goal of supporting re-entry efforts and reducing violence and criminal activity inOakland.

“With most major crime categories seeing big drops over the last year, we know our strategies are on the right track, but we have much more work left to do,” Oakland Mayor Jean Quan said. “I thank Assemblymember Skinner and all our leaders in Sacramento for providing Oakland with these crucial resources to strengthen our work making a safer city for all.”

“Our highest responsibility is to protect Oaklanders from crime and the fear of crime,” Oakland Police Chief Sean Whent said. “One of our biggest challenges is often the question of resources, and this funding will allow us to build our investment in the strategies we know show serious results.”

Over the last month, Skinner’s office and the City of Oakland have been conferring with crime prevention and re-entry community partners, such as job training and placement services, programs supporting formerly incarcerated, youth programs and Oakland’s successful Ceasefire strategy, to identify best methods for reducing crime and recidivism. Final funding decisions will be made in September.

—Information submitted by Office of Assemblymember Nancy Skinner