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FISCAL YEAR 2025-26 FULL YEAR (Q1-Q4) ON IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MARSHALL PLAN (OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION)
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RECOMMENDATION
Information item only. No action is required.
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Summary
City staff will present an update on the implementation of the Marshall Plan through June 30, 2026.
DISCUSSION
Background
One of the City Council’s Strategic Initiatives to reduce crime and enhance public safety is the Marshall Plan on Crime (Marshall Plan). Adopted in 2013, the Marshall Plan is a comprehensive, multi-jurisdictional strategy to address violence in San Joaquin County.
In November 2013, Stockton’s voters approved Measure A and the companion Measure B, which provide funding to implement four components of the Marshall Plan:
1) Rebuilding the Stockton Police Department by adding 120 new police officers and 33 civilian support positions. However, on December 5, 2023, the City Council approved the renewal of Measure A, which included a recruitment and retention plan reallocating funding from 60 vacant police officer positions to support recruitment and retention incentives for Stockton Police Department personnel.
Effective on April 1, 2024, Measure A funds 60 police officer positions, along with additional pay and benefits to support the recruitment and retention of Police Officers and Police Sergeants.
2) Expanding the Neighborhood Services Section.
3) Establishing a Neighborhood Betterment Team.
4) Creating an Office of Violence Prevention.
In 2013, Ceasefire collaboration and Stockton’s violence reduction strategy was revised with the Office of Violence Prevention being created. Measure A passed in 2014, providing additional funding to support Ceasefire efforts.
The City of Stockton’s Gun Violence Reduction Strategy
In 2016, the City of Stockton partnered with the California Partnership for Safe Communities (CPSC) and the Stockton Police Department (SPD) to conduct a Gun Violence Problem Analysis identifying the characteristics of those driving most of the violence. The findings showed that most violent crime is committed by 18-35 year olds; which happens to be less than 1% of the overall city's population-totaling 250-350 people. Additional demographics found that most were Black or Hispanic males, with the average age of a perpetrator being 24-25, and the average age of victims being 30- 32 years old. Most (if not all) have criminal records with an average of being arrested 4 times or more. As a result, the City of Stockton partnered with additional consultants to strengthen the newly implemented violence reduction strategy called Operation Ceasefire.
Proactive, Data-Driven Violence Prevention Efforts
Each week, OVP participates in the City’s Ceasefire strategy meeting with the Stockton Police Department and other partners. During these meetings, staff review real-time shooting data, identify individuals currently driving violence, and coordinate immediate outreach and intervention plans. This collaborative process allows Peacekeepers to make proactive contact with high-risk individuals before further violence occurs.
Once individuals are identified, OVP offers intensive case management, which includes life-planning, behavioral health services, employment pathways, and ongoing mentorship aimed at reducing risk, stabilizing households, and providing long-term alternatives to violence.
Annual Ceasefire Call-Ins
As part of the focused-deterrence model, OVP and all county law enforcement agencies host annual Ceasefire Call-In meetings. Each year, at least 100 high-risk gang-involved individuals are invited to hear a unified message of hope, opportunity, and accountability. Historically, more than 75% of participants voluntarily accept OVP’s offer of intensive case management immediately following these meetings.
Extensive research, including Dr. Anthony Braga’s recent study on Stockton’s Ceasefire efforts, found that individuals who hear the Ceasefire message and engage in OVP services experience a 40% reduction in involvement in guns and group violence, compared to those who received the message but declined support. This validates that OVP’s proactive work, built on relationships, structure, and accountability, produces measurable outcomes in reducing violence.
Research also underscores the complexity of gun violence involvement. As noted in Dr. Anthony Braga’s study on the Stockton Ceasefire model, high-risk individuals often fluctuate between being victims and perpetrators of group- and gun-related violence. This dual exposure makes consistent, relationship-based engagement essential. OVP’s strategy is built around this reality, meeting individuals wherever they are in the cycle and working consistently to de-escalate violence, stabilize crises, and redirect behavior before harm occurs. So, in essence, Peacekeepers work with individuals on both sides of conflicts.
Preventing Violence Through Daily Contact and Relationship-Based Engagement
A core component of OVP’s prevention strategy is the daily contact Peacekeepers maintain with high-risk clients. Because these relationships are built over time, with trust, consistency, and credibility, Peacekeepers are able to intervene long before conflicts escalate. Every interaction is centered on violence de-escalation, reinforcing non-retaliation, helping clients regulate emotions, and encouraging choices that reduce risk. These ongoing conversations are preventive by design, as they interrupt cycles of conflict, provide accountability, and offer individuals a supportive alternative to violence.
Preventing Retaliation After Violent Incidents
When a shooting occurs, the strength of these relationships allows Peacekeepers to engage within minutes.
Their presence and credibility enable them to:
• Discourage retaliation
• Stabilize elevated emotions
• Remind clients of their commitments
• Defuse emerging conflicts before they escalate
• Provide emergency relocations to preserve life and other necessities.
• Connect victims and families to victim services and other trauma-informed services to begin the healing process.
Community Events in Neighborhoods Most Affected by Violence
OVP also conducts regular community events in neighborhoods disproportionately impacted by shootings.
These events have several goals:
• To show residents they are not alone in their pursuit of safety and healing.
• To reinforce to individuals driving the violence that they have choices-and that OVP stands ready to help them take a different path.
• To support families facing food insecurity by providing meals and resources.
• To bring in local community-based organizations, offering onsite support such as mental health services, youth programming, employment pathways, legal aid, and family support.
These events strengthen trust, reduce isolation, and create visible alternatives to violence for both youth and adults in the community.
Present Situation
Ceasefire, the Office of Violence Prevention's (OVP) strategy, mitigates gang and gun violence through targeted outreach, community engagement, and law enforcement collaboration. OVP works to interrupt violence cycles via direct communication with high-risk individuals, providing support for alternative paths and addressing root causes to foster a safer and more resilient Stockton community.
OVP provides intensive case management to empower high-risk individuals to become self-sufficient and reduce violent activities.
• OVP Total Average Caseload: 76
o Average Caseload - Youth: 24%
o Average Caseload - Adults: 76%
• Social Services: 251
• ID, Driver’s License, BC & DMV - 268
• Education Achievement:
o Highschool/ GED: 45
• Educational Assistance and Advancement: 175
o Reflective Travel- Exposing clients to prosocial activities outside of Stockton: 132
• Trauma-informed Care for Effective Violence Prevention:
o Cognitive Behavioral Training “You’ve Got Choices” Curriculum from Choices for Freedom: 45 Graduates
o Individual Mental Health Support: 48
o Group Mental Health Support - Managing Trauma: 442 participants (44 sessions)
• Violence Prevention: Through Mediation, Intervention, Relocation, and Direct Engagement
• Conflict Mediation: 133
• Hospital-based Violence Intervention Response:121
• Emergency Relocation or Permanent Housing Assistance: 238
• Referral Follow-Ups: 223
• Community Engagement: Engaging communities for violence prevention, our initiatives encompass conflict mediation, hospital-based intervention, and collaborative partnerships, aiming to build resilience, empower individuals, and create lasting positive change.
• Provided Groceries to families impacted by violence: 4,302
• Provided hot meals to clients and families impacted by violence: 7,105
Staffing as of September 30, 2025 (Quarter 1):
1) Office of Violence Prevention:
a. five of the five professional staff positions were filled.
b. three of the four full-time Peacekeeper positions were filled during this period.
Below is staffing data as of December 31, 2025 (Quarter 2):
1) Office of Violence Prevention:
a. five of the five professional staff positions were filled.
b. three of the four Peacekeeper positions were filled during this period.
Below is staffing data as of March 31, 2026 (Quarter 3):
1) Office of Violence Prevention:
a. five of the five professional staff positions were filled.
b. three of the four Peacekeeper positions were filled during this period.
Below is staffing data as of June 30, 2026 (Quarter 4):
1) Office of Violence Prevention:
a. five of the five professional staff positions were filled.
b. three of the four Peacekeeper positions were filled during this period.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
The Office of Violence Prevention underspent its overall budget allocations during the fiscal year due to leadership transitions, restructuring of program activities, staffing vacancies, delayed hiring, and adjustments to spending priorities. A critical incident resulted in a negative overtime variance under Measure A, while General Fund overtime remained under budget. Despite these variances, OVP maintained essential services and continued to manage available resources in alignment with operational needs and program objectives. See Attachment A - Office of Violence Prevention Year-End Financial Summary for the detailed budget-versus-actual expenditures by fund and budget category under Measure A.
Additional updates to the OVP program will be presented during the committee meeting.
Attachment A - Office of Violence Prevention Year-End Financial Summary