Study Praises Operation Ceasefire Virginia

Ceasefire Virginia, a program designed to reduce violent crime, exceeds expectations in its approach to public safety, according to an October 2025 report.

A Virginia Commonwealth University Center for Public Policy (CPP) preliminary report concludes that Ceasefire Virginia, an initiative to reduce violent crime and foster secure communities throughout Virginia, surpassed all four of its benchmark goals. The Attorney General’s office partnered with 13 localities throughout the commonwealth to develop a strategic approach to public safety, which has proven successful with Ceasefire localities responsible for 64 percent of the reduction in the murder rate and 40 percent of the overall violent crime rate from 2023 to 2024.

Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares announced the three-year anniversary of Ceasefire Virginia with the publication of a new preliminary report, which also highlights  a 31.9 percent drop in the murder rate from 2023 to 2024, exceeding the initial 10 percent expected drop. Furthermore, a 39.53 percent drop in overdose deaths continues to back Virginia’s ongoing efforts against the fentanyl crisis.

“Promises made and promises kept,” Miyares said. “Not only does this report reinforce the fact [that] Ceasefire Virginia continues to work, we are seeing in real time how Ceasefire Virginia is restoring public confidence in our law enforcement professionals who put their lives on the line every day to keep our families safe from violent repeat offenders.”

Nuts and Bolts of Heightened Enforcement Campaigns

State lawmakers often authorize intensive action against a particular offense, which in this case was firearm-related homicide. Other common STEP campaigns (strategic traffic enforcement program) focus on DUI and traffic violations.

Program specifics vary. Usually, however, a state grant pays for additional expenses like officer overtime. Then, supervisors redirect officers to a certain part of town and instruct them to write as many citations as possible for specific offenses.

DUI roadblocks and speed traps are often part of these STEP campaigns. Speed traps are largely unregulated. DUI checkpoints, on the other hand, are subject to major restrictions. These restrictions include:

• Supervisor Setup: Only a supervisor-level officer, which is usually an officer directly accountable to the voters or civilian authority, may authorize a DUI roadblock. Lower supervisors and field officers cannot set them up on the fly.
• Safety First: Unlike a speed trap, a DUI roadblock must be well-lit and preceded by signs and traffic cones. These signs must specify the nature of the roadblock. Additionally, a roadblock must be restricted to a short amount of time.
• Neutral Formula: A random DUI roadblock is not “random.” Officers may only detain motorists according to a set, neutral formula, such as every fourth or fifth vehicle. They may change the formula to another neutral formula if traffic backs up, making detention times unreasonably long.

Usually, a “reasonable” detention time at a DUI roadblock is about thirty seconds. The clock starts ticking when motorists must stop and get in line.

On a side note, although DUI roadblocks allow officers to circumvent the Fourth Amendment’s prohibition of warrantless stops, roadblocks don’t affect Fifth Amendment rights. Drivers must obey basic commands. But they don’t have to answer questions or even roll down their windows.

Stepped-Up Enforcement Campaigns and Court Cases

Any violation of a roadblock rule, no matter how slight, invalidates the roadblock and every stop or arrest associated with it.

General STEP campaign stops also present opportunities for a Leesburg criminal defense lawyer. Because officers are under such intense pressure to make arrests, they often cite drivers even if the evidence is weak. Weak evidence stops may be enough to establish probable cause. But they’re usually not good enough to prove guilt beyond any reasonable doubt, which is the standard of proof at trial.

Work With a Tough-Minded Loudoun County Lawyer

There’s a big difference between an arrest and a conviction in criminal law. For a confidential consultation with an experienced criminal defense attorney in Leesburg, contact Simms Showers, LLP, Attorneys at Law. Convenient payment plans are available.

Source:

wilder.vcu.edu/news-and-events/news-posts/vcu-wilder-schools-center-for-public-policy-finds-ceasefire-virginia-successful-significant-reduction-in-murders-and-violent-crime.html