Amid the nationwide push for police reform in the US, our research focuses on transforming public safety in communities impacted by crime and violence. Based in Oakland, California, our project pioneers innovative, community-engaged models for reform. Supported by California 100, a statewide initiative addressing key policy issues, we aim to help map an equitable, long-term policy future for California.
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Our Impact
For Oakland residents, this project can catalyze conversations about community safety and empower them to advocate for solutions that work best in their localities.
For policymakers and political leaders, it provides essential data from the communities most affected by public safety policies. The diverse frameworks and language Oakland residents use to assess safety open the door to a broader range of reforms and solutions.
Our research demonstrates that co-created measures of public safety can engage a broader array of solutions. These solutions are more likely to center the health and well-being of residents, families, and communities, and to illustrate the interconnectedness of the many outcomes, causes, consequences, and root conditions that both create and limit safety
For city leaders evaluating public safety reforms, firsthand indicators—such as children playing outside in the park or residents knowing their neighbors’ names—could serve as more accurate metrics to gauge success.
For peacebuilders, this project highlights significant connections between the understanding of peace internationally and domestically in the US. Our conversations in Oakland mirror those we’ve had about peace in conflict zones or countries with histories of war. While Americans may use different language, focusing on safety, security, terrorism, crime, illegal drugs and immigration, the underlying concerns are remarkably similar.
We believe that those most impacted by policy reforms should play a pivotal role in shaping their design.
The Firsthand Framework project was genuinely affirming for community members. To be able to go deeper, beyond binary conversations around public safety and move to true community safety, was not only refreshing, but it felt right, more centered, and like we were talking about issues with the long-term in mind, that solutions would have a more sound, comprehensive, lasting impact
Nothing about us without us. Although this is known, limited resources make it difficult to move beyond short-sighted and short-term solutions around public safety which makes the community feel as if we are doing the same thing over again expecting a different result. The First hand Framework is putting feet and teeth to centering community to determine how public resources are allocated. Perhaps we can move beyond public safety into community safety, with even health and wellness in mind.
Naomi Levy
Santa Clara University, EPI Research Coordinator
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