Public Safety Committee
November 18, 2025
AGENDA REPORT
TO: Jestin D. Johnson FROM: Floyd Mitchell
City Administrator Chief, OPD
Dr. Holly Joshi
Chief, DVP
SUBJECT: Report on City’s Domestic Violence
Activities
DATE: November 4, 2025
City Administrator Approval Date:
RECOMMENDATION
Staff Recommends That The City Council Receive An Informational Report Of The City's Programs Responding To Domestic Violence.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This report is a joint response from the Oakland Police Department and Department of Violence Prevention to a request from Councilmember Charlene Wang regarding domestic violence in the city of Oakland. The responses below in the report are from each respective department.
BACKGROUND / LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
Department of Violence Prevention:
The City of Oakland’s Department of Violence Prevention (DVP) is charged with reducing gun violence, domestic violence, and commercial sexual exploitation in Oakland. To do this, the DVP invests in immediate crisis response services and near-term interventions that stabilize victims and prevent additional violence, as well as longer-term, intensive support services for individuals caught in cycles of violence. In service of these goals, the DVP performs three primary functions:
1. Supervise and deploy a team of direct service staff who perform intensive life coaching and violence interruption work with individuals at highest risk of imminent group and gender-based violence.
2. Fund and coordinate community organizations to deliver a range of community violence intervention services to individuals at the center of violence.
Jestin Johnson (Nov 13, 2025 11:14:13 PST)
11/13/2025
Jestin D. Johnson, City Administrator
Subject: Report on City’s Domestic Violence Activities
Date: November 4, 2025 Page 2
Public Safety Committee
November 18, 2025
3. Build capacity among the ecosystem of community violence intervention workers in Oakland to enhance our collective capacity to prevent violence and deliver effective and coordinated services.
Measure NN
On November 5, 2024, Oakland voters passed Measure NN, the Oakland Community Violence Reduction and Emergency Response Act, which approved the collection of parking and parcel taxes for nine years to fund activities within the DVP, Oakland Police Department, and Oakland Fire Department that achieve the following goals:
1) Reduce homicides, robberies, carjackings, break-ins, domestic violence, and other gun- related violence.
2) Reduce response time for 911 emergency calls for service and improve the quality of response.
3) Reduce the incidence of human trafficking, including the sexual exploitation of minors.
Measure NN allocates 40% of tax revenues to the DVP following an initial allocation of 3% to administrative expenses and $3,000,000 to the Oakland Fire Department. Measure NN also requires that 75% of funds received by the DVP be allocated to grants with community-based organizations for violence prevention and intervention services. The DVP awarded $13,008,112 to 21 community-based organizations to deliver community violence intervention services from October 1, 2025, to September 30, 2026, in accordance with these requirements (Resolution
90734 C.M.S. and Resolution 90903 C.M.S.).
Oakland Police Department:
The Oakland Police Department’s response to domestic violence involves outreach programs, follow-up investigations, and timely response times. Domestic violence cases are addressed with a particular emphasis on victim safety, offender accountability, and collaboration with victim advocacy organizations.
The mission of the Oakland Police Department’s Special Victims Section (SVS) is to investigate and intervene in domestic violence cases with a trauma-informed approach, while offering victim services and holding offenders accountable. The Domestic Violence Unit (DVU) focuses on intimate partner violence, child abuse, physical elder abuse, and stalking, providing intervention services and long-term case management.
The City of Oakland has prioritized domestic violence awareness through various programs, including outreach from the Family Violence Center located at the Family Justice Center. Patrol Officers are also well versed in providing DV victim rights and protections.
The Bureau of Operations (BFO) provides continuous patrol coverage and intervention on DV- related calls. The department’s Special Victims Section (SVS), including the Family Violence Law Center (FVLC), coordinates efforts to respond to both immediate DV incidents and long- term investigations.
Jestin D. Johnson, City Administrator
Subject: Report on City’s Domestic Violence Activities
Date: November 4, 2025 Page 3
Public Safety Committee
November 18, 2025
Response times to domestic violence calls are prioritized based on the severity of the incident, with high-risk situations (such as weapon involvement or injury) receiving immediate attention.
The Department's goal is to reduce response times, improve victim outcomes, and ensure comprehensive investigations, while also collaborating with community-based organizations to provide support services.
ANALYSIS AND POLICY ALTERNATIVES
This policy action advances the Citywide priority of holistic community safety and responsive, trustworthy government. Domestic violence disproportionately impacts woman of color in Oakland, particularly Black women. Services funded by the DVP for survivors of domestic violence are intended to reduce trauma and future violence for this population, thus moving Oakland closer to racial equity. OPD's goal is to reduce response times, improve victim outcomes, and ensure comprehensive investigations, while also collaborating with community- based organizations to provide support services
Department of Violence Prevention:
Tables 1 and 2 identify services funded by the DVP through Measure NN from October 1, 2025, to September 30, 2026, for survivors of domestic violence. Table 1 identifies core services, which result in the identification and engagement of individuals impacted by domestic violence, and Table 2 identifies support services, which are primarily available to individuals engaged through core services based on need. Both tables identify funding amounts and anticipated number of people served during the one-year grant period by each service and agency.
Table 1. Core services funded by the DVP from October 1, 2025, to September 30, 2026, for survivors of domestic violence.
Service
category
Description of services Agency Funding
amount
Anticipated #
of people
served
Crisis
navigation
In-person response to
survivors within 60 minutes of
notification to support with
safety planning and immediate
needs.
Family
Violence Law
Center (FVLC)
$250,000 60
Hotlines 24-hour hotline for survivors to
access safety planning and
service referrals: (800) 947-
8301
FVLC $100,000 1,200
Life
coaching for
youth
Intensive life coaching
services for youth survivors of
domestic violence and/or
commercial sexual
exploitation.
East Bay
Asian Youth
Center
(EBAYC)
$340,000 20
FVLC* $850,000 70
Jestin D. Johnson, City Administrator
Subject: Report on City’s Domestic Violence Activities
Date: November 4, 2025 Page 4
Public Safety Committee
November 18, 2025
*The funding amount and anticipated number of people served reflect services delivered at seven high schools in the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD). FVLC delivers the same services at two additional high schools through funding from OUSD.
Table 2. Support services funded by the DVP from October 1, 2025, to September 30, 2026, for survivors of domestic violence.
Service
category
Description of services Agency Funding
amount
Anticipated #
of people
served
Emergency
Housing
Hotel stays (up to 12 weeks)
for survivors ages 18 and over
(can accommodate children).
Sister to Sister $250,000 40
Flexible funding up to $5,000
for relocation or maintenance
of current housing, referrals to
shelter, or short-term hotel
stays.
FVLC $200,000 40
Healing Individual therapy services. Building
Opportunities
for Self-
Sufficiency
$185,000 80
Support groups for survivors
who speak Spanish or Mam.
Mujeres
Unidas Y
Activas
$245,000 240*
Support groups for survivors
who speak English.
Oakland
LGBTQ
Center
$200,000 240*
Love Never
Fails
$60,000 200*
Legal
services
• Brief advice and counsel.
• Support with obtaining new
court orders, including
restraining orders, other
family law orders, and civil
harassment orders.
• Short-term legal case
management/advocacy
and court
accompaniment.
• Full representation for a
limited number of clients.
• Subgrantees can provide
support with family
law/child custody and
immigration cases.
FVLC (lead
grantee), Bay
Area Legal
Aid, and
Justice At Last
$530,000 600
Transitional
housing
Transitional housing (6 to 12
months).
Love Never
Fails
$150,000 12
Jestin D. Johnson, City Administrator
Subject: Report on City’s Domestic Violence Activities
Date: November 4, 2025 Page 5
Public Safety Committee
November 18, 2025
*These estimates may represent duplicated individuals since the DVP does not track individual participation in group services.
Oakland Police Department:
Domestic violence in Oakland is a pervasive issue, which is similar to other major urban areas, that requires a multi-faceted approach. OPD responds to DV incidents across the city with a range of strategies, from emergency intervention to long-term case follow-up. Investigators in the DVU work closely with district attorneys, community organizations, and advocates to ensure both criminal justice and victim advocacy needs are met.
OPD Domestic Violence Response and Procedures
1. Response Time and Prioritization
Domestic violence calls are prioritized based on the perceived risk to the victim, including the presence of weapons, injury, or previous history of violence. For high-risk DV cases, officers are expected to arrive at the scene within 5-7 minutes, compared to the average response time of 10-15 minutes for other emergency calls. This ensures immediate protection for victims and quick action to prevent further harm.
2. Immediate Intervention and Safety
Officers respond with the primary objective of ensuring the safety of all individuals involved, especially in high-risk situations. Victims are offered support by advocates from local organizations such as the Family Violence Center and other community partners.
Immediate referrals to services for emergency shelter, legal protection, and counseling are also provided.
3. Long-Term Follow-Up
The DVU handles ongoing investigations for severe or repeat DV offenders, especially those involving children or intimate partner violence. The unit is also involved in stalking cases and works to protect victims through restraining orders and other legal measures.
Follow-up investigations may involve collaboration with forensic experts, community organizations, and counselors to ensure long-term victim safety.
OPD Domestic Violence Enforcement Activity
The Domestic Violence Unit (DVU) in the Bureau of Investigations (BOI) is responsible for managing cases involving intimate partner violence, physical elder abuse, child abuse, and stalking. This unit also leads specialized operations focused on identifying repeat offenders and intervening in high-risk DV situations.
DV Investigations and Case Management
The DVU team conducts thorough investigations into DV cases, working closely with prosecutors and victim advocates to ensure perpetrators are held accountable. Year to date, the Jestin D. Johnson, City Administrator
Subject: Report on City’s Domestic Violence Activities
Date: November 4, 2025 Page 6
Public Safety Committee
November 18, 2025
DVU has reviewed 3,722 cases; 3,200 have been investigations which focused on repeat offenders and high-risk victims.
There are different types of restraining orders. A gun violence restraining order can stop someone from having, owning, or buying any firearms (guns), firearm parts, ammunition, or magazines once approved by a Judge. Oakland PD currently created the GVRO liaison position that works with both patrol officers and the Alameda County DA’s Office to help author and enforce GVRO’s.
Only certain people can ask for a gun violence restraining order if they think someone is dangerous and should be restricted from having or buying firearms and ammunition, including.
Oakland PD’s liaison and patrol officers may author a GVRO but it is not limited to law enforcement. Additional persons that are allowed to obtain a GVRO as follows:
• The person's immediate family member, including a spouse, parent, child, grandparent, or any other person who regularly lives with them now or lived with them in the last 6 months
• The person's employer
• The person's co-worker who has regular contact with the person and has worked with them for at least a year, and has the employer’s permission to ask for this restraining order
• An employee or teacher at a school that the person has gone to in the last six months, who has permission from a school administrator or staff supervisor
OPD Domestic Violence Training
All OPD officers receive training on domestic violence recognition, handling of sensitive cases, and a trauma-informed approach to victim interaction. This training is reinforced during patrol line-ups and through specialized sessions from external experts, including community advocates and legal professionals.
OPD offers additional annual continuing professional training (CPT) on topics such as:
• Recognizing signs of emotional and physical abuse
• Interacting with victims of domestic violence, including children and vulnerable adults • Understanding legal frameworks around DV protection orders • Mandatory Arrest Policy
• Patrol Officers are provided yearly training to remind them the use of partnering with emergency crisis advocates
Jestin D. Johnson, City Administrator
Subject: Report on City’s Domestic Violence Activities
Date: November 4, 2025 Page 7
Public Safety Committee
November 18, 2025
Community Partnerships
The Domestic Violence Unit works extensively with community-based organizations and service providers, such as the Family Justice Center, local shelters, and counseling agencies, to provide wrap-around services for victims. These collaborations include:
• Co-response teams: Officers partner with victim advocates (often thru Highland Hospital and FVLC) to offer immediate on-scene assistance to victims of domestic violence. Patrol Officers are provided yearly training to remind them the use of partnering with emergency crisis advocates.
• Community outreach: OPD conducts regular community meetings and informational campaigns to raise awareness about domestic violence and available resources.
General Review of DV Statistics
Table 3 provides a snapshot of OPD’s domestic violence case management efforts. On average year-to-date, each investigator has conducted 620 investigations .
Jestin D. Johnson, City Administrator
Subject: Report on City’s Domestic Violence Activities
Date: November 4, 2025 Page 8
Public Safety Committee
November 18, 2025
1108
620
0 0
Table 3. OPD’s Domestic Violence Case Management Efforts YTD
Patrol Officers provide all victims of Domestic Violence resource and victim’s rights cards. Due to the large caseload, DVU ensures that all reports are forwarded to the Family Violence Law Center. The Family Violence Center contacts each victim with the purpose of providing resources and free legal assistance.
FISCAL IMPACT
Department of Violence Prevention:
From October 1, 2025, to September 30, 2026, the DVP will invest approximately $3,360,000 in Measure NN funds in services available to survivors of domestic violence.
Oakland Police Department:
Jestin D. Johnson, City Administrator
Subject: Report on City’s Domestic Violence Activities
Date: November 4, 2025 Page 9
Public Safety Committee
November 18, 2025
There are no fiscal opportunities associated with this report.
PAST PERFORMANCE, EVALUATION, AND FOLLOW-UP
Department of Violence Prevention:
Resolution 90734 C.M.S., which authorized the DVP’s grants with 21 community-based organizations for community violence intervention services from October 1, 2025, to September 30, 2026, contains information on evidence of impact for all service categories and prior performance for all funded agencies. It also includes information on how the DVP will assess the quantity, quality, and impact of funded services.
Oakland Police Department:
There are no past performance, evaluation, and follow-up information associated with this report.
COORDINATION
This report is a joint report between OPD and DVP with input from the city administrator’s office.
SUSTAINABLE OPPORTUNITIES
Economic:
This report is informational and does not include a direct recommendation. However, continued investment in victim services and proactive intervention may result in cost savings by reducing repeat offenses and enhancing community well-being.
Environmental: There are no environmental opportunities associated with this report.
Race & Equity: Domestic violence disproportionately impacts woman of color in Oakland, particularly Black women. Services funded by the DVP for survivors of domestic violence are intended to reduce trauma and future violence for this population, thus moving Oakland closer to racial equity. OPD’s goal is to reduce response times, improve victim outcomes, and ensure comprehensive investigations, while also collaborating with community-based organizations to provide support services.
Jestin D. Johnson, City Administrator
Subject: Report on City’s Domestic Violence Activities
Date: November 4, 2025 Page 10
Public Safety Committee
November 18, 2025
Holly Joshi (Nov 13, 2025 08:00:57 PST)
ACTION REQUESTED OF THE CITY COUNCIL
Staff Recommends That The City Council Receive An Informational Report Of The City's Programs Responding To Domestic Violence.
For questions regarding this report, please contact Marcos Campos, Lieutenant, at [email protected] or Jennifer Linchey, DVP Deputy Chief, at [email protected].
Dr. Holly Joshi
Chief, Department of Violence Prevention
Reviewed by:
Jenny Linchey, Deputy Chief
DVP, Grants, Programs, and Evaluation
Marcos Campos, Lieutenant
OPD, Special Victims Section
Prepared by:
Dr. Tracey Jones, Polices Services Manager
OPD, Research and Planning Unit