A new study by the Minnesota Justice Research Center (MNJRC) highlights the success of St. Paul’s gun violence intervention program, Project PEACE.
Run by the city’s Office of Neighborhood Safety (ONS), the initiative focuses on addressing the root causes of gun violence across local neighborhoods. The group contracted with MNJRC in 2024 to evaluate Project PEACE to define and explore its effectiveness and impact.
The report, titled What Does it Look Like to Keep Us Safe, Alive, and Free?, compiled feedback from 67 interviews, more than 400 community surveys, and four years of Saint Paul Police Department data.
Researchers found that Project PEACE fills a critical gap in the local safety ecosystem, with nearly two-thirds of surveyed residents reporting that simply knowing about the program makes them feel safer.
Survey data also indicates that life coaches are the heart of the program. Researchers found that clients described these mentors as showing up with urgency, consistency, and non-judgmental care that helped keep them off dangerous paths.
While the program shows strong promise, long-term growth will rely on securing stable funding, clarifying its operational model, and strengthening key community and municipal partnerships.
To review the complete evaluation, access the full report directly at the official MNJRC Project PEACE Report Portal.