The board for the city of Jacksonville’s crime-fighting initiative, Journey Forward, is now fully staffed. Last week, the city council unanimously confirmed the appointment of renowned veteran prosecutor, Bernie de la Rionda.

The Jacksonville Journey Forward held its first meeting on Thursday afternoon. A previous board, established in 2008 under former Mayor John Peyton, successfully reduced crime rates in the city for several years.

Months after its announcement, Jacksonville’s new crime-fighting initiative, Journey Forward, is starting to take shape.

Years after the Jacksonville Journey ended, a relaunch appropriately titled “Journey Forward” is now in the works. Mayor Donna Deegan briefly talked about it in her budget presentation at City Hall Monday. Journey Forward aims to get to the root cause of crime, and pick up where the Jacksonville Journey left off.