The City of Oakland is known for its history
of activism, long list of notable entertainers,
and former successful professional sports
teams. The birthplace of the Black Panther
Party and home of Pointer Sisters, T ony! T oni!
T oné!, MC Hammer, T oo Short, T om Hanks,
Bill Russell, Ricky Henderson, Ryan Coogler,
and so many more—Oakland is a leader in
culture, advocacy, and innovation.
Oakland also has a historic reputation for
high rates of crime and violence. For many
years, Oakland held the dubious distinction of
being the most violent city in California and
regularly made the “top 10 most dangerous
US cities” list. However, toward the end
of 2012 (a particularly violent year), the
City implemented the Oakland Ceasefire
gun violence reduction strategy with great
success. Following implementation, Oakland
experienced six consecutive years of decline
in fatal and non-fatal shootings, culminating
in a 50% reduction in shootings and murders
and a seventh year that maintained those
reductions.
The Ceasefire strategy is bolstered by
a unique aspect of Oakland’s violence
prevention landscape: a voter-approved
fund that provides more than $20 million in
violence intervention funding each year. This
funding is split between the Oakland Police
Department and the City’s Department of
Violence Prevention, which supports a variety
of community violence intervention services.
Unfortunately, Covid temporarily unraveled
the successful Ceasefire strategy and,
similar to cities across the country, violence
escalated. The City is actively working to
reclaim the progress made from 2012 to
2020.
When someone is shot in Oakland, there is an
immediate, multifaceted, and very expensive
response from an array of government
agencies. The Fire Department dispatches
Emergency Medical T echnicians (EMTs),
government-contracted ambulances respond,
and several Oakland Police Department (OPD)
units descend on the scene. Investigators
from the Alameda County District Attorney’s
Office also often arrive, and if the victim is
declared dead on the scene, the Coroner is
called. All of this is only for the shooting scene
itself. For a surviving victim, there is also
typically a hospitalization, which is frequently
paid for by tax dollars. Rehabilitation follows
in the case of serious injury, and victim
compensation is generally provided. There
is also often a lengthy investigation by OPD
and the Alameda County District Attorney’s
Office, who are sometimes joined by the
US Attorney. A trial and a long incarceration
period frequently follow. When there are
multiple victims and/or suspects, these
efforts and costs multiply for a single shooting
incident. These are just some of the costs of
each non-fatal shooting in Oakland.
The National Institute for Criminal Justice
Reform (NICJR) has conducted this detailed
analysis that documents the government
expenses accompanying every fatal and
non-fatal shooting in Oakland. In tracking
the direct costs per shooting incident, NICJR
has deliberately used the low end of the
range for each expense. This study does not
include the loss-of-production costs when
the victim or suspect were working at the
time of the incident. Nationally, those costs
have been estimated at an additional $1–2
million for each shooting incident. This means
that the calculated cost of $3,191,722 for a
fatal shooting in Oakland is a conservative
estimate; the real cost is likely even higher.
In the past three years, Oakland has averaged
approximately 635 combined fatal and non-
fatal shootings annually, which cost taxpayers
almost $1,014,518,750 per year. If Oakland
could reduce its gun violence rate by just
20%, that could result in government savings
of about $202,903,750 every year.
Over the last decade, Oakland has invested
in effective gun violence reduction strategies,
which resulted in a 50% reduction in
shootings and murders. Although the
pandemic has challenged this progress, these
outcomes demonstrate that a relatively
small investment in effective gun violence
intervention strategies can yield significant
reductions in shootings, save lives, and
produce massive savings.
Oakland , California
THE COST
THE DIRECT COST TO TAX PAYERS
OF GUN VIOLENCE
1. Throughout the report, “fatal shootings” and “homicides” are not used synonymously. “Fatal shootings” refers to shooting incidents resulting in the death of the victim; “homicides” refers to all homicides in general. 1 There are significant community costs of gun violence beyond the direct costs included in NICJR’s calculations. In addition to the direct financial burden borne by taxpayers, areas with high rates of gun violence experience the loss of community resources.
Businesses, community events, and other vital resources often flee from violent neighborhoods. Communities impacted by violence also often experience decreases in property values. For example, a recent study by the Controller for the City of Philadelphia examining the economic impact of gun violence on property values found that, “a single homicide lowers sale prices by 2.3 percent in the immediate neighborhood (within 0.75 miles of the homicide).”
Residents of neighborhoods where rates of violence are highest also bear the burden of community tension and trauma. The normalization, or even expectation of violence can lead to high rates of gun possession, tension, and the resolving of minor disputes with gun violence. The public health approach to violence shows that violence is a contagion, like disease, that can breed in areas of social dysfunction.
In “The Contagious Spread of Violence Among US Adolescents Through Social Networks,” the National Institutes of Health found that “There are geographic ‘hot spots’ for contagious diseases, such as the 2015 measles outbreak linked to Disneyland in California involving clusters of unvaccinated children. Likewise, there are geographic hot spots for violent crime on specific streets and in specific neighborhoods.”
Experiencing violence, witnessing violence, and having close friends or family members victimized by violence produces trauma and vicarious trauma—particularly among children. The groundbreaking Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) study by the Centers for Disease Control and Kaiser Permanente revealed that children who have traumatic experiences when they are young have significantly higher rates of poor health outcomes as they age. Additional studies have proven that the experience of trauma negatively impacts the brain function of young people and can cause depression, behavioral challenges, academic disruption, and delinquency.
COMMUNITY COST
OF GUN VIOLENCE
GREATER
Homicide
Clearance Rates
Homicides and Non-Fatal Shootings
102 123 120
499 605 456
Population
430,553
Police Force
697
2. Report on the Economic Impact of Homicides: Philadelphia Controller
3. The Contagious Spread of Violence Among US Adolescents Through Social Networks
4. While the CDC-Kaiser ACEs study is not available to the public, information about the study may be found here 2 3
4 2
Oakland, California
COST BREAKDOWN
Many victim support costs are covered
by the California Victim Compensation
Board. Surviving victims of non-fatal
shootings and families of fatal shooting
victims get, on average, $70,000 in
compensation to cover costs such as
burial expenses, medical expenses,
and counseling. Including costs such as
autopsies and Social Security benefits
increases the total cost for victim support
to anywhere from $91,000 to over
$117,000.
California has a sales and use tax of 6%.
Alameda County has a county general
tax of 3.25%. When an fatal or non-fatal
or shooting occurs, the City loses the
ability to collect both income and sales
tax from the incarcerated individual(s)
and fatal shooting victim(s). Each incident
can represent lost tax revenue from a
minimum of two individuals for 9 to 25
years.
Incarceration accounts for a large portion
of the costs once a suspect is arrested.
A stay in the Alameda County jail system
costs an average of $205,470 for the
pretrial incarceration period. Following
a trial, an inmate is incarcerated within
the California prison system at a cost
of $742,917 for those convicted of
attempted murder and $2,441,013 for
those convicted of homicide.
CRIME SCENE
RESPONSE
HOSPITAL &
REHABILITATION
CRIMINAL
JUSTICE
Justice system costs include police
investigation, prosecution and defense
attorneys, court personnel and judges,
and the use of court facilities. Due to the
consequences of a homicide conviction,
these cases go to trial more often than
other types of cases. Sometimes these
cases involve multiple suspects with
multiple court dates and separate trials.
From the time of arrest, court proceedings
in an non-fatal or fatal shooting case
average about two years.
Once a victim has been transported
to the hospital, the costs of treatment
in a trauma unit, surgery, inpatient
stay, and rehabilitation are exorbitant.
Average costs can range from $88,000
to $144,000 per incident. With a little
more than 40% of gunshot victims
either uninsured or on Medicaid, these
costs represent a tremendous strain on
Oakland’s hospital network.
The crime scene response to a fatal or
non-fatal shooting typically includes a
heavy police presence, fire/EMT staff,
and medical transport staff. According
to former Oakland Police Department
officials, up to 17 officers, including patrol,
homicide unit, and forensic personnel,
respond to a typical fatal shooting.
INCARCERATION LOST TAX
REVENUE
VICTIM
SUPPORT
3 HOSPITAL
$88,525
$244,114
VICTIM
SUPPORT
$116,981
INCARCERATION
$2,646,483
LOST REVENUE
$80,950
$9,572
$144,617
$948,387
$91,324
$35,046
$16,190
Fatal
Shooting
Cost
Non-Fatal
Shooting
Cost
CRIME SCENE
$14,669
CRIMINAL
JUSTICE
$3,191,722
Police Response: $9,343
Scene Cleanup: $2,500 $2,500: Scene Cleanup
Fire/EMT: $2,826 $2,826: Fire/EMT
ER/Trauma Center: $1,428 $1,428: ER/Trauma Center
Gunshot Surgery: $87,097 $87,097: Gunshot Surgery
Police Investigation: $3,900 $936: Police Investigation DA & Public Defender: $229,346 $32,628: DA & Public Defender Pre-Trial Incarceration: $205,470 $205,470: Pre-Trial Incarceration Prison Placement: $2,441,013 $742,917: Prison Placement Coroner's Office: $4,333 $70,000: Victim Compensation
Victim Compensation: $70,000
Lost Tax Revenue: $80,950 $16,190: Lost Tax Revenue
Social Service Benefits: $42,648
Court Process: $10,868 $1,482: Court Process
(one year of support for two families)
(one year of support for one family)
(both suspect & murder victim)
$4,246: Police Response
$56,092: Rehabilitation
$21,324: Social Service Benefits
Per Fatal
Shooting
per
suspect
CRIME SCENE
HOSPITAL
CRIMINAL
JUSTICE
INCARCERATION
VICTIM
SUPPORT
LOST REVENUE
Per Non-Fatal
Shooting
$1,245,136
per
suspect
THE COST Per Shooting
The governmental cost of gun violence to the City, County, and State Oakland
California
4 Subject: Police Response Fire/EMT Transport Scene Clean Up Subject: Emergency Room / Surgery for Gun-Shot Victim
Subject: Police Investigation District Attorney & Public Defender Court Process Subject: Pre-Trial Incarceration State Prison: Attempted Murder Case State Prison: Murder Case Subject: Victim Compensation Social Service Benefits Coroner’s Office Subject: Lost Tax Revenue: One Person Incarcerated Lost Tax Revenue: Murder (Loss of Revenue for Two people)
HOSPITAL CRIME SCENEINCARCERATIONVICTIM SUPPORTLOST REVENUE CRIMINAL
JUSTICE
Data Sources Oakland
California
Source
Source
Source
Source
Source
Source
Notes
Notes
Notes
Notes
Notes
Notes
• Oakland Police Department Interview • City of Oakland Adopted Policy Budget, Fiscal Year 2019-2021
• The National Cost of Gun Violence: The Price Tag
for Taxpayers
• 2020 National Trends and Cost Burden of Surgically Treated Gunshot Wounds in the US • 2021 Firearm Injuries: Health Care Service Needs and Costs • New Thinking in Community Corrections • The 2020-21 Spending Plan: Judiciary and Criminal Justice
• How much does it cost to incarcerate an inmate?
• Corrections and Rehabilitation Budget
•The 2020-21 Spending Plan: Judiciary and Criminal
Justice
• How much does it cost to incarcerate an inmate?
• Corrections and Rehabilitation Budget
• What is Covered - CA Victim Compensation Board • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program • Increases in TANF Cash Benefit Levels Are Critical
to Help Families Meet Rising Costs
• MEMO TO ADOPT FEE SCHEDULE FOR
CORONER’S BUREAU
• CA Franchise Tax Board Personal Income Tax Booklet • California City & County Sales & Use Tax Rates • Police FY 2021-23 Proposed Policy Budget • Salary Reports - Alameda County Human Resource Services
• Alameda County Public Defenders Jobs
• Salary Reports - Alameda County Human Resource
Services
• Survey of Judicial Salaries, SALARY SCHEDULE
Initial OPD response to a homicide scene typically
includes 12 Patrol, 1 Lieutenant, 2 Sergeants, and 2
Detectives. They remain on the scene for 5–6 hours.
Initial OPD response to an injury shooting scene
typically includes 6 Patrol, 1 Sergeant, and 2 Detectives.
They remain on scene for 2–3 hours.
Fire & EMT Budget: $169,585,818
Total Responses: 60,000 average
Cost per response = $2,826
$2,500 is the national average cost for cleanup
of crime scenes involving blood, based on NICJR
analysis of actual costs from multiple cities.
Average cost of gunshot victims treated and released the same day: $1,428 (ER base cost) Average cost of gunshot victims requiring surgery and hospital stay: $87,097 (surgery cost) + $56,092 (hospital stay and care) Average cost of gunshot victims requiring surgery, hospital stay, and release to outpatient care: $144,617 (ER, surgery, rehabilitation) Alameda County Department of Corrections budget:
$205,470,000
Average daily population: 2,000
Average daily cost per inmate: $281
Average period of pretrial incarceration: 2 years
$281/day x 2 years = $205,470
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation annual cost to incarcerate an adult: $106,131
Injury shooting conviction sentence: 9 years, subtracting pretrial time served
$106,131 x (9 years - 2 years) = $742,917
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation annual cost to incarcerate an adult: $106,131
Murder conviction sentence: 25 years, subtracting pretrial time served
$106,131 x (25 years - 2 years) = $2,441,013
The California Victim Compensation Board covers a number of expenses, including but not limited to:
• Funeral and burial
• Medical, dental treatment, and mental health treatment or counseling
• Round trip mileage costs to medical, dental, or mental health appointments
• Mental health counseling for minors who witness a violent crime
• Home security installation or improvement
• Relocation
/
In Alameda County, the average award for victims of injury shootings and for families of homicide victims is $70,000 A severely injured shooting victim often cannot return to work immediately. Since the victim and perpetrator may
be major financial contributors to their households, many families may need to apply for social services support.
CA SNAP = $658 for family of 3
California TANF = $1,119 for family of 3
This study estimates 1 year of assistance.
$1,777/mo x 12 months x 2 families = $42,648
Alameda County body storage fee: $333
Alameda County autopsy fee: $4,000
Total cost = $4,333
State income tax: 1.6% for the first $20,803; 4% for the next $9,197 Total annual income tax at $30,000/year: $694
Sales and use tax (county and state): 9.25%
Total annual sales tax for person earning $30,000/year and spending 1/3 of income: $925 Total annual combined tax: $1,619
Lost tax revenue for a 9-year sentence for attempted murder ($1,619 x 9 years): $14,571 If the shooting victim does not work for one year, an additional $1,619 of revenue is lost.
Total Lost Tax Revenue = $16,190
State income tax: 1.6% for the first $20,000; 4% for the next $9,197 Total annual income tax at $30,000/year: $694
Sales and use tax: 9.25%
Total annual sales tax for person earning $30,000/year and spending 1/3 of income: $925 Total annual combined tax: $1,619
Lost tax revenue for a 25-year sentence for murder ($1,619 x 25 years): $40,475 Average murder sentence is 25 years; combined revenue loss for victim and perpetrator is at least $80,950 ($1,619 x 25 years x 2 people) The cost of the police investigation is calculated by
multiplying the average salary and benefits for officers assigned to the Homicide Division in Oakland by the
average amount of time spent investigating homicides and injury shootings.
Homicide: $104/hr x 37.5 (combined total for both primary and secondary detectives) = $3,900
Injury shooting: $104/hr x 9 (combined total for both
primary and secondary detectives) = $936
The cost of prosecution and defense is calculated by
multiplying the average amount of time spent by attorneys and support staff by hourly salaries.
DA: $103/hour x 1087 hours for a homicide = $111,961
plus support staff costs of $5,973 = $117,934
Public Defender: $97/hour x 1087 hours for a homicide = $105,439 plus support staff costs of $5,973 = $111,412
DA: $103 /hour x 155 hours for a injury shooting = $15,965 plus support staff costs of $814 = $16,779
Public Defender: $97/hour x 155 hours for a injury shooting = $15,035 plus support staff costs of $814 = $15,849
The cost to the court system is calculated by multiplying the average amount of time spent by judges and court staff by hourly salaries.
Judge: $111/hour x 44 hours for a homicide = $4,884
Court staff (combined hourly rate): $136/hour x 44 hours for a homicide = $5,984 Judge: $111/hour x 6 hours for a non-fatal shooting = $666
Court staff (combined hourly rate): $136/hour x 6 hours for a non-fatal shooting = $816
5