Oakland’s radical scheme to cut gang violence with life coaches, not prison

NewsWorldAmericasUS Crime NewsOakland’s radical scheme to cut gang violence with life coaches, not prisonThe California city of Oakland has driven homicides to historic lows by offering services including life coaches to people most likely to get pulled into gang-related shootingsJanie Har Wednesday 29 April 2026 09:31 BSTBookmarkBookmark popoverRemoved from bookmarksClose popover{"translations":{"comments":"Go to comments","share":"Share","copyLink":"Copy link","bookmark":"Bookmark","removeBookmark":"Remove bookmark"},"showComments":false,"showBookmark":true,"articleId":"CF1:2966873To1","articleMeta":{"url":"https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/crime/oakland-murder-homicide-rate-lowest-b2967001.html","title":"Oakland’s radical scheme to cut gang violence with life coaches not prison"}}Oakland attributes a 6-decade low in homicides, in part, to life coachesShow all 5{"adUnitPath":"71347885/_main_independent/gallery","className":"","title":"Oakland attributes a 6-decade low in homicides, in part, to life coaches","gallery":[{"data":{"title":"California Oakland Homicides","description":"Oakland Ceasefire-Lifeline life coach LaSasha Long, right, talks to Bernard C. during an interview Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)","caption":"California Oakland Homicides","copyright":"Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved","credit":"ASSOCIATED PRESS","alt":null,"url":"https://static.independent.co.uk/2026/04/29/05/California_Oakland_Homicides_15843.jpg","id":"592ab6bc31584d55a2f2ac0a70d555a4","mid":6647106,"uid":0,"smartframe":null,"extra":{"imageSize":{"width":5980,"height":3987}}},"type":"image"},{"data":{"title":"California Oakland Homicides","description":"Oakland Ceasefire-Lifeline life coach LaSasha Long, left, puts her arm around Bernard C. during an interview Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)","caption":"California Oakland Homicides","copyright":"Copyright 2026 The Associated Pre...