San Francisco Violence Reduction Initiative (SF-VRI)

The VRI champions collaborative policing, shifting the focus from enforcement-only to collective action.

• Integrated Action: SFPD works in lockstep with the Sheriff’s Department, District Attorney’s Office, Probation, key nonprofits, and community organizations. This unified approach demonstrates the Department's commitment to addressing violence comprehensively.

• Strengthening Trust: This robust partnership model is designed to build bridges and strengthen relationships with community groups that have historically experienced distrust with law enforcement--fostering a unified front against violence.

The VRI moves beyond reactive enforcement by addressing the root causes of violence and embracing the principles of Procedural Justice.

• Prevention, Not Reaction: Instead of simply responding to crime, the VRI offers high-risk individuals mentorship, housing support, job training, and mental health services – connecting them with opportunity alongside accountability that reduce their at-risk behaviors and get them on a more positive path.

• Proven Impact: This respectful, dialogue-based approach treats participants with dignity and yields tangible results, including reductions in recidivism and re-victimization, as well as an increased sense of community trust in police legitimacy.

The VRI delivers concrete, externally validated data that defines "safety with respect" – demonstrating that improving public safety and building community trust are complementary goals. Our approach tracks outcomes at two distinct levels:

• Public Safety Outcomes: Measurable reductions in gun violence incidents, homicides, and shootings across District 10 and citywide, validated by external evaluation through the University of Pennsylvania's Crime and Justice Policy Lab.

• Program Metrics: Recidivism rates, victimization outcomes, and program engagement—providing insight into whether the intervention is reducing at-risk behaviors and activities for those most vulnerable to violence involvement.

This dual-level accountability demonstrates that improving public safety and building community trust are not competing priorities but reinforcing outcomes. Transparent reporting on both dimensions shows SFPD's commitment to evidence-based intervention and measurable responsibility to the communities we serve.

The VRI is a model for the community-oriented policing values SFPD is building toward, integrating prevention expertise directly into departmental culture.

• Integrated Teams: The program models an advanced approach by pairing sworn officers with specialized civilian staff and community-based Life Coaches.

• Building Skills: Officers in the VRI gain a deeper understanding of community needs and develop critical skills in de-escalation, relationship-building, and trauma-informed engagement, setting a new standard for policing practice.

As a cornerstone of Strategy 2.0, the VRI represents forward-thinking violence prevention that adapts and innovates.

• Adaptable & Scalable: The program continuously adjusts to changing violence dynamics across the city, incorporates stakeholder feedback, and generates scalable models that are currently being studied by other departments nationwide. Through our partnership with the University of Pennsylvania's Crime and Justice Policy Lab, the VRI actively contributes to the expanding field of community violence prevention.

• Innovation Leader: By rigorously testing and documenting our model, SFPD is advancing the field of violence prevention research and practice. This positions the department as a leader in evidence-based intervention – rather than being limited to reactive crisis management – while strengthening the knowledge available to communities and departments nationwide working to reduce gun violence.

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San Francisco Violence Reduction Initiative Evaluation by Dr. Anthony Braga (2024): The evaluation finds that San Francisco’s Violence Reduction Initiative (VRI)—implemented in District 10 using focused deterrence, direct engagement, and services for individuals at highest risk—was associated with a statistically significant 50% reduction in homicides and nonfatal shootings in that district during 2022–2023 relative to the rest of the city, after controlling for other factors; this suggests that roughly half of the observed reduction in serious violence in District 10 can be attributed to the program’s implementation. The analysis shows that these reductions were greater than trends in other parts of San Francisco, indicating a stronger localized impact where VRI was fully deployed compared with areas that did not receive the intervention. While the report emphasizes promising results and supports the continuation and possible expansion of the initiative, it also notes that causal attribution has limitations and recommends further rigorous evaluation as the program grows. For more information or copies of the report, please contact us via the link below. 

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BSCC Cohort 3 San Francisco Local Evaluation Report (Violence Reduction Initiative): The report reviews the implementation and outcomes of the San Francisco’s Violence Reduction Initiative funded by the California Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) as part of Cohort 3, detailing program activities, process evaluation, and outcomes. It highlights significant reductions in key gun violence indicators from 2020 to 2023, including a notable decrease in homicides and non-fatal shootings in targeted areas like District 10, while noting the report does not establish causal links between the initiative and these trends. The evaluation combines quantitative trends with qualitative analysis to assess the initiative’s progress toward its goals and provides insights for future public safety strategies in the city. For more information or copies of the report,  please contact us via the link below. 

• Mayor Breed and SFPD Chief Bill Scott Announce Homicides in San Francisco Reach Historic Low Not Seen in Over 60 Years open_in_new (opens in a new window)

• Instagram post from Mayor London Breed | San Francisco has achieved a historic milestone open_in_new (opens in a new window)

• Mayor London Breed Announces $6 Million Grant for Gun Violence Prevention Program open_in_new (opens in a new window)

• May 17, 2023 Police Commission meeting details open_in_new (opens in a new window)

• Police Commission Presentation: VRI SF End of Year Report open_in_new (PDF file) (opens in a new window)

San Francisco Chronicle: 09/20/24
San Francisco on pace for lowest number of homicides since 1960 open_in_new (opens in a new window)

CBS News: 12/10/24
San Francisco homicide rate lowest in decades as 2024 wraps up, officials say - CBS San Francisco open_in_new (opens in a new window)

San Francisco Chronicle: 12/10/24
New program credited for drop in shootings in S.F.'s Bayview open_in_new (opens in a new window)

Mission Local: 10/21/25
No anti-violence programs in the Tenderloin — yet open_in_new (opens in a new window)

NBC Bay Area
San Francisco to host gun buy-back event  open_in_new (opens in a new window)