The Birmingham Crime Commission on Monday released a 66-page report providing a list of policy recommendations aimed at reducing the city’s record-setting violent crime rate.

“When we put it all together, this is a road map,” said retired U.S. Army Reserve Lt. Gen. A.C. Roper, a former Birmingham police chief who served as a strategic adviser to the commission.

Roper, other members of the commission and Mayor Randall Woodfin announced the release of the report during a press conference Monday morning at City Hall.

“I am grateful to this team of professionals who are committed to the success of our city,” Woodfin said. “The final report is well-researched and provides thoughtful recommendations to deal with gun violence in our city immediately while establishing long-term transformational change.”

According to city officials, the commission’s work included an analysis of crime data, consultations with law enforcement and criminal justice officials, and engagement with national experts on crime prevention models. The commission also conducted focus groups with the community to gather insights into local challenges and identify effective interventions.

The report’s list of recommendations includes more than 70 items. Several of the recommendations will sound familiar to those who follow city government. For example, the document mentions creating a comprehensive gun violence reduction strategy as well as expanding community programs that reach out to residents at risk of committing violence. The City Council in December approved nearly $2 million in bids going to groups that will institute such programs.

Other recommendations listed in the report include:

• Instituting shooting reviews to analyze violent incidents and identify patterns, prevent retaliation and guide future interventions.
• Establishing an office of Safety and Gun Violence Prevention as well as selecting a city public safety czar or coordinator.
• Revamping the police department’s Cold Case Unit, which will employ retired detectives and leverage forensic technologies to solve cases.
• Establishing case review teams consisting of detectives, prosecutors and administrative staff “to streamline investigations and improve case outcomes.”
• Establishing a Community Violence Prevention Engagement Forum that “meets regularly with the goal of information sharing and collaboration among stakeholders.”

In terms of funding strategies, the report recommends that city leaders dedicate a percentage of the city’s public safety budget to community violence intervention efforts and “reallocate year-end funds to support critical public safety priorities.”

The report also mentions establishing a clear evaluation process for pilot programs to ensure that only successful projects receive ongoing city funding.

At Monday’s press conference, the mayor also said city leaders will seek grant money and work to bolster public-private initiatives to move successful programs from the pilot phase to sustainable projects.

Asked Monday about the future of the commission, the mayor said he believes the group’s work will continue.

“Once we take ownership of this report, digest it, read it and understand what these recommendations and best practices are, we will share them with every stakeholder group . … We will follow up on a consistent basis and from that follow-up, I imagine additional resources will be needed, and what better group to start with,” he said.

Woodfin announced the Birmingham Crime Commission in October, less than a month after a mass shooting in Five Points South killed four and injured 17. Birmingham ended 2024 with 151 homicides, making it the deadliest year in the city’s history.