JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – An investigation into a Jacksonville crime prevention program that ended last year found it lacked oversight -- just one of several deficiencies highlighted in a new report on “Cure Violence” from the Office of Inspector General (OIG).
The program was announced with a lot of fanfare back in 2019 and, at first, the data suggested it was making a difference.
Then it ended last year in 2023 and the city pulled funding in March 2024. The OIG said it launched an investigation to find out why the city terminated the contract.
As a part of the investigation, the OIG found that the city failed to review contractor invoices and perform site visits.
The COJ’s Division of Grants and Contract Compliance was assigned to oversee the program.
It also said the program did not secure property bought by the contractor with city funds.
The investigation outlined what it says were serious problems of transparency with “Bridges to the Cure,” (BTTC) which is the group behind Cure Violence.
Some of those problems, according to the OIG, were the use of contract funds, not meeting reporting requirements, retaining records and cooperating with the city.
The investigation also found between 2021 and 2022, the program paid more than $1.1 million to six different employees, which is more than $186,000 per person.
BTTC submitted an invoice to give a $10,000 bonus to its director, Paul Tutwiler and Mildred Jennings for $10,500.
They were both denied then later approved despite being advised to reduce the amount.
The grant administrator, Kendra Mervin, terminated the program contract calling it “the last straw” and the report says there were continued issues with monthly invoices.
News4JAX went to the former BTTC location where Tutwiler has an office and leasing space. A woman said he was in a meeting and we’re waiting for him to call back.
Bank records did not add up according to the report. They claimed Amazon expenses over $8,000 but it was actually over $16,000.
Tutwiler’s program NWCCDC claimed over $800,000 but only about $680,000 was found.
T-Mobile cellphone bills were over $16,000 but was actually over $28,000.
BTTC also applied for Payroll Protection Act loans but the program was fully funded by the city and wouldn’t need to apply for that kind of funding. It’s unclear why BTTC applied.
Cure Violence was designed to be a program that would extend to people on the streets and get them to resolve their differences before they could escalate to violence.
A part of that work included working with what were called “street counselors” to meet with youth, gangs and others to get them to squash their beefs.
The program ultimately extended to several different areas in Jacksonville, including Downtown, Springfield, Baldwin, Northwest Jacksonville, the Eastside, the Northside and the Westside.
During its four years of existence, it racked up more than $3.5 million in funding.
As a part of the investigation, the OIG says it offered representatives with BTTC the opportunity to talk with investigators about what was discovered.
The OIG says the reps declined to give a sworn statement.
Other cities have reported success with the program.
The new report from the OIG cites New York City, Baltimore and Chicago, which is where Cure Violence originated, as areas where this program has made a difference.
It was started in Chicago in 2000 by a group called Cure Violence Globally in West Garfield Park, which was one of the most violent neighborhoods in the city at the time. The group says shootings in the parts of the city where the program was active declined by 67% in the first year.
New York City says the program helped prevent 1,300 shootings between 2012 and 2023, with a 17% drop in its first year.
In Baltimore, a program called “Safe Streets Baltimore” started in 2007. Over 15 years, the city reported a drop in homicides and a 23% decrease in non-deadly shootings.
When Cure Violence first started in Jacksonville in 2019, it got unanimous support from the city council.
Among that support was an endorsement from former Sheriff Mike Williams. At the time, he said Cure Violence was a proven approach to preventing crime.
The OIG wouldn’t confirm nor deny if they’re doing any more investigations.
Representatives of BTTC were offered an opportunity to speak with investigators but declined to provide a sworn statement.
Click here to read the full OIG report.