Project Restore Bed-Stuy (PRB), a gang-violence intervention pilot program, concluded in January 2024. This report summarizes the key learning and evaluation findings of PRB, from January 2023–June 2024.
In collaboration with Columbia World Projects, the Center for Justice released a report showcasing the impact of Project Restore Bed-Stuy (PRB), a groundbreaking initiative aimed at reducing gun violence by providing holistic support to high-risk youth.
PRB engaged thirty young men from rival street crews, offering opportunities for skill-building, employment, mentorship, trauma healing, and community safety initiatives. A collaborative effort involving the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, the King’s County District Attorney’s Office, Columbia University’s Center for Justice, the BridgeStreet Development Corporation, and Inside Circle, PRB represents a powerful new model for violence prevention and community resilience.
Read the report here
Key achievements:
- 100% program completion rate, with no incidents of gun violence involvement or incarceration among participants.
- High engagement levels (over 75%) and significant progress in education, employment, and community service, with 35% of eligible participants now enrolled in college programs.
- Improved Community Safety: PRB was associated with an estimated 28% decrease in shooting incidents and a 23% decrease in felony assaults.
- Prevention of retaliatory shootings following five incidents in which PRB participants, or their peers were seriously injured or killed.
- A Public Safety Working Group formed by rival street crews to maintain peace within their communities.
- Benefit-Cost Ratio of 6.7 to 1, reflecting substantial savings from preventing incarceration and retaliatory violence, along with increased participant earnings.
Gang-violence intervention models are typically led by law enforcement and rely on suppression and deterrence tactics. While these methods often produce immediate reductions in gun violence by destabilizing gang and street crew leadership,younger street-crew members invariably fill these positions renewing retaliatory cycles of gang violence. In contrast, Project Restore Bed-Stuy (PRB) takes a proactive, public health-based approach that prioritizes intensive support and investment in high-risk youth. By addressing root causes of violence and providing pathways for personal development, PRB helps break the cycle of violence and fosters stronger community ties, offering a sustainable, long-term solution.
“Building a safer city starts with centering the needs of our communities," said Deanna Logan, Director of the Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice. “Project Restore Bed Stuy demonstrates how we empower individuals disproportionately impacted by cycles of gun violence to transform their lives through the creation of an interdisciplinary, cross-sector collaboration. Project Restore Bed Stuy combines law enforcement, academic institutions, formerly legal system involved individuals, and community organizations working together to remove barriers, heal trauma, and give minds the opportunity to dream. This work fosters the peace that makes our neighborhoods safer."
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez underscored the importance of PRB, stating, “The success of Project Restore Bed-Stuy shows that the most effective way to reduce gun violence is by offering at-risk youth a path to a better future. This program has prevented retaliatory shootings and literally saved lives. I hope public awareness of this effective strategy will lead to expanded funding, allowing us to replicate its success across Brooklyn and beyond.”
“Project Restore Bed-Stuy changed my trajectory. The staff helped me see the potential in myself that I hadn’t recognized before, showing me I had valuable skills tailored for professional success rather than streets.” –Project Restore Bed-Stuy Participant
To fully capitalize on PRB’s potential, now is the time to act. Additional funding is needed to broaden and sustain this impactful model, enabling wider implementation across New York City to other communities facing similar challenges. By fostering resilience, addressing trauma, and empowering young people, PRB not only helps prevent future violence but also cultivates leaders who contribute to lasting community change.
For more information on PRB’s success and how community-based programs can reduce violence sustainably, contact Project Restore Press Manager: Al Young, 734-845-2771, [email protected]