Berkeley Takes Public’s Pulse On Future Of Policing

BERKELEY, CA — The city of Berkeley is asking for public input as it endeavors to reimagine policing in the East Bay city.

The survey is part of the city’s larger effort to create a public safety paradigm in Berkeley that redirects some funding to violence prevention and diversion programs such as those targeting domestic violence, youth outreach, mental health, crisis response, substance abuse, housing and homeless services, and restorative justice.

This work is being guided by a task force established in July 2020.

The task force is supported by consultants from the National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform.

The Reimagining Public Safety initiative passed as an omnibus package by the City Council in the summer of 2020.

“We want to know what health and safety issues you're most concerned about and what programs and services you see as key to community safety,” city officials said in a statement.

The survey can be completed in English or Spanish.

The deadline to complete the survey is June 15.