A new report from Jacksonville’s Office of Inspector General raised concerns about the oversight and spending of taxpayer money intended to reduce crime in 2022 and 2023.

Cure Violence was announced with a lot of fanfare back in 2019. At first, the data suggested it was making a difference. Then it ended in 2023 and the city pulled funding in March 2024. The Office of Inspector General says it launched its investigation to find out why the city terminated the contract.

The sinking murder numbers seem to be a trend nationwide.

Funding for Cure Violence, a program that was designed to go to people on the street and bring solutions to conflicts before it led to violence, has been defunded after more than four years of work, millions in investments and mixed reviews.

Since 2019, Cure Violence has been working to reduce crime in the most high-risk areas of Jacksonville. Tuesday, the program presented a proposal for an increase in funding by half a million dollars.

The crime prevention program in Jacksonville known as Cure Violence could be closing one of its sites in the Moncrief neighborhood, and that has the surrounding community worried.

Quma's family said they call the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office weekly as part of a tireless search for answers.

Cure Violence, an organization designed to prevent violence in Jacksonville, is expected to be at the high school at 3 p.m. to address recent gun violence in the area.

Residents living on the Westside near 103rd Street and Interstate 295 are frustrated following a string of recent shootings — one of which was deadly.

New data released during a Jacksonville City Council meeting Monday shows that crime is being reduced in some of the most violent areas of the city, and it comes after the implementation of Cure Violence.

Jocori Jones was killed early Halloween morning near Kooker Park.

A Jacksonville organization says more needs to be done following a string of violence over Halloween weekend.

Several people are in custody after police say one of them pointed a gun at a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office detective late Thursday night and that officer fired several shots.

An organization designed to prevent violence is expanding to Jacksonville's Westside this summer.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. The family of a Jacksonville man shot and killed last month gathered Saturday morning with anti-crime activists in the Hyde Park neighborhood where the murder happened. He was shot and killed July 9 inside an SUV near the intersection of Jammes Road and David Drive. So were just asking the neighbors and those in the neighborhood if you know something, say something, Latrice Roundtree said. Donald Foy, MAD DADS Jacksonville president, leads walks like this looking to help find clues to unsolved murders throughout the city. Earlier this week, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry announced he is expanding Cure Violence, a program that targets troubled neighborhoods trying to preempt violence.

On Wednesday he addressed Cure Violence, a program he started last year. Now, Curry wants to expand Cure Violence to other neighborhoods. Curry said it suggests that the program is showing promise and that is one reason why he added $1.7 million to his budget for Cure Violence. “We are applying a Cure Violence Band-Aid to a massive and open hemorrhaging wound,” said Ben Frazier. “I think we have to examine how the money is being spent in Cure Violence.

Paul Tutwiler, who manages the Northwest Jacksonville group, said COVID-19 has forced the group to make changes while trying to reduce violence. A map shows the areas covered by Cure Violence, but violence is happening all over the city. Tutwiler said they saw crime happening in February and it hasn’t slowedA map shows the areas covered by Cure Violence. Though he is not apart of Cure Violence, he is apart of the change to make the community better. News4Jax has also reached out to the director for Cure Violence regarding the effective rate during the coronavirus pandemic and when the program will expand to a third location.

The 32209 ZIP code of Northwest Jacksonville still led the city with 14 homicides, down slightly from the same time last year (16). The median age of Jacksonvilles homicides so far this year is 28, and more than half (50) of the homicides involved victims 30 years old and younger. In other parts of the city, ZIP code 32210 recorded eight homicides and four other ZIP codes recorded six (32208, 32211, 33354, 32277). If you know a homicide victims identity and would like that person included in the database, please email webteam@wjxt.com. The community needs to be aware that we are here ... that there are other ways to deal with conflicts other than violence and or gun violence, Hannans said.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Violent crime continues in Jacksonville amid the coronavirus pandemic. That’s why Jo-Lee Manning, executive director of the Justice Coalition, said she’s not surprised by the violent crime numbers. The Justice Coalition, a nonprofit organization, helps families impacted by crime by offering moral support and helping them navigate the court system. “So you’re just another person on the end of the phone.”The Justice Coalition is not the only anti-violence group dealing with this challenge. To learn more about the Justice Coalition, or to donate, click here.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Mayor Lenny Curry made a pitch Wednesday to state lawmakers to bring more money into Jacksonville in order to keep pedestrians safe, help fight violence and work to prevent veterans from committing suicide. Curry asked for an additional $2 million to fund three programs that he believes are important to Jacksonville: pedestrian crossing installation, Cure Violence and “The Fire Watch." We’re seeking funding for pedestrian safety, funding for Cure Violence, which helps intervene in stopping violent crime, and money to help us in preventing veteran suicide,” Curry said. The mayor also wants an additional $750,000 from the state to fund an expansion of the Cure Violence program that began in June. The city will also plug in an additional $2.4 million to add an additional Cure Violence site between Edgewood Avenue and Interstate 295.

The fatal shooting of the man, who police said may have been about 18 years old, happened at an apartment complex on Bridier Street, which is in a Cure Violence zone. Cure Violence, a program designed to go into crime-ridden communities, said it is saddened by the shooting. Cure Violence members said their work is just beginning as they try to maintain peace. Cure Violence will also talk with the young man’s family to begin the healing process. In an effort to further keep peace, Cure Violence will be working with UF Health to talk with victims to reduce potential violence.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – It has been a violent year in Jacksonville with more than 350 shootings. But the people involved with the program Cure Violence say it could be even worse if potential conflicts were not mediated through their program. Dr. Marie Crandall, a trauma surgeon with UF Health who is involved with Cure Violence joined us on The Morning Show to discuss the program.

It’s a priority for us our office -- a priority of my administration.”The city is spending millions to combat the violence problem, including new programs like Cure Violence, ShotSpotter and other high-tech crime-fighting tools. Mayor Lenny Curry and Sheriff Mike Williams are putting a lot of faith in Cure Violence, which launched in June. The city’s coordinator of Cure Violence, Damian Cook, said they have seen progress in the targeted neighborhoods even though the number of violent crimes has gone up citywide. Jefferson said violent crime is occurring all over Jacksonville, not just in areas targeted by Cure Violence. Of the 11 homicides so far in November, six of them were east of the St. Johns River -- far from the city’s normal zones for violence.

Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved. State Attorney on Cure Violence and the new intelligence centerIf you need help with WJXT’s or WCWJ's FCC public inspection file, call (904) 393-9801.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Preventing shootings and murders is the goal of Cure Violence as it says Jacksonville's Eastside and Northside neighborhoods are becoming more peaceful. Cure Violence Program Implementation Director Damien Cook said both areas saw nearly a month without any shootings or killings. For last 90 days, Cure Violence -- led by the Noah's Ark Project, outreach workers and violence interrupters -- has been working on the Eastside in Zone 1 -- a community that has seen heartbreaking violence. Cure Violence records show the teams have put in more than 1,580 hours of community service on the Northside. Organizers with Cure Violence want the community to know that Cure Violence is not sharing information with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.

Preventing shootings and murders is the goal of Cure Violence as it says Jacksonville's Eastside and Northside neighborhoods are becoming more peaceful. Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Preventing shootings and murders is the goal of Cure Violence as it says Jacksonville's Eastside and Northside neighborhoods are becoming more peaceful. Cure Violence Program Implementation Director Damien Cook said both areas saw nearly a month without any shootings or killings. For last 90 days, Cure Violence -- led by the Noah's Ark Project, outreach workers and violence interrupters -- has been working on the Eastside in Zone 1 -- a community that has seen heartbreaking violence. Cure Violence records show the teams have put in more than 1,580 hours of community service on the Northside. Organizers with Cure Violence want the community to know that Cure Violence is not sharing information with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.

Last year, the city formed a temporary anti-crime task force aimed at coming up with solutions to the bloodshed. City Council member Aaron Bowman, who established the task force, believes it has an important role to play in the city's future. Establishing a new task force would require full council approval. "This task force isn't responding to crime," Bowman told News4Jax. 1 recommendation from the task force was to carry on its work.

Over the previous decade, the highest number of homicides in the first half of a year was 68 in 2017, according to News4Jax records. In June -- a month which saw the start of the Cure Violence program in Jacksonville -- the city had 17 killings in 30 days. More than 30% of those homicides were in Northwest Jacksonville and the Eastside, two of the city hotspots identified by the Cure Violence team. The Cure Violence team has asked the community for patience as it works to change the culture of violence, starting in these problem areas. 10-year homicide comparisonTRACKING 2019 HOMICIDES: January | February | March/AprilFollowing the trend that brought Cure Violence workers to its streets, ZIP code 32209 has been the site of nearly 20% (16) of this years 82 homicides.

State Attorney Melissa Nelson on Cure Violence and the Crime Gun Intelligence Center. City Council President Scott Wilson, and Lori Boyer of the Downtown Investment Authority.

On Thursday, Sheriff Mike Williams talked about the current crime wave. "We're still committed to doing all of the things that we've been doing, the focus deterrence initiatives," he said. But as far as other special programs and initiatives that would go along with the Cure Violence program, according to the sheriff, there is nothing new on the book. WATCH: Sheriff Mike Williams talks about Cure Violence programThe Cure Violence program is aimed at stopping the violence before it starts and targets Northwest Jacksonville and the Eastside. Organizers with Cure Violence have told News4Jax that they realize they are in the midst of an uphill battle to stop crime, and even after the recent uptick in shootings, they are urging the community to remain patient.

Sheriff Mike Williams discuss the Cure Violence program and how JSO will bring the crime rate down. Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.