Attorney General Jason Miyares has marked the third anniversary of Ceasefire Virginia by highlighting a new preliminary report from the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Center for Public Policy. The report indicates that the program is exceeding its benchmarks, including a 31.9% reduction in the murder rate by the end of 2024, which surpasses the original target of a 10% decrease.
The VCU Center for Public Policy found that cities participating in Ceasefire are responsible for 64% of the overall reduction in Virginia’s murder rate and have seen a 40% drop in violent crime. The program’s results follow on from Virginia’s high ranking in combating the fentanyl crisis, with overdose deaths dropping by nearly 40% compared to last year.
According to the report, Ceasefire Virginia has delivered “a net positive return” and recommends that it continue with a focus on community safety, law enforcement training and funding, and efforts to recruit and retain professionals.
Public confidence in local law enforcement within Ceasefire localities is reported to be improving as new tools and technologies are adopted.
Attorney General Miyares stated: “Every investment in public safety is an investment made in our families, our schools, and our communities. Virginians have painfully learned the cost of a criminals first and victims last mindset. As attorney general, I promised Virginians we would not go back to four years of violence, and I am pleased to report that our success is demonstrable, proven, and doing what we promised we would do — keep Virginia families safe.”
Ceasefire Virginia also announced plans to assign a new special assistant prosecutor for northern Virginia. Currently, seven cross-designated Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys (SAUSAs) funded by Ceasefire have secured indictments in 256 federal cases and 26 state cases, with at least 60 investigations ongoing.
A final version of the VCU Center for Public Policy’s report is expected in December 2025. It will provide further analysis on topics such as media campaigns related to Ceasefire Virginia, effectiveness of Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs), broader trends in violent crime reduction across participating localities, and feedback from law enforcement focus groups.
