The Secret Behind Newark’s 71% Drop in Homicides!

Written By Jonathan McMillan

Can you reduce murders by taking money away from the police? Newark just proved it's possible. In Newark, NJ, they didn't just talk about police reform—they delivered results. By reallocating 5% of the police budget into community-led public health, Newark saw a staggering drop in homicides: from 112 down to just 32.

In this episode, Deputy Mayor Lakeesha Eure reveals the "unapologetic" blueprint for transforming public safety and saving lives through the Office of Violence Prevention and Trauma Recovery.

Key Takeaways:

  • 07:15 - The 5 Demands: The specific policy shifts that broke the cycle of violence.

  • 18:01 - Real-World Coordination: How Newark got "The Streets" and Police to communicate daily.

  • 27:10 - The $16 Million Investment: Breaking down exactly where the reallocated budget went.

  • 43:18 - The "Building Takeover": Converting a police station into a community hub

TAKE ACTION: THE NEWARK BLUEPRINT

  1. Replicate the Model: Don't reinvent the wheel. Access the exact frameworks used by the Office of Violence Prevention and Trauma Recovery (OVPTR) and the Brick City Peace Collective to see how Newark coordinates its "7 Lanes of Work" .

  2. Explore the Newark Peace Collective Hub
    https://www.newarknj.gov/departments/brick-city-peace-collective

  3. Access Trauma Recovery

    https://www.newarknj.gov/departments/violence-prevention-trauma-recovery 2. Support the Frontline: The Newark Community Street Team (NCST) and the Newark Anti-Violence Coalition (NAVC) are the "Credible Messengers" you heard about in this episode .

Support the boots on the ground:

Jonathan McMillan https://www.jonathanmcmillan.com
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