Can community-based approaches to public safety help reduce crime and disorder? A new Stanford University study found that crime declined at San Francisco intersections where Urban Alchemy street ambassadors were deployed. Researchers analyzed five years of reported crime data across 624 San Francisco intersections, finding that overall crime declined by approximately 20% in areas where Urban Alchemy street ambassadors were deployed, with the largest reductions in behavioral health-related incidents.
Join SPUR President and CEO Sean Elsbernd and Stanford Professor Forrest Stuart for a conversation about the research and its implications for San Francisco. The discussion will explore how unarmed, trained community members can help de-escalate conflicts, connect people with services and contribute to safer public spaces and what the findings could mean for the future of public safety in the city.