5 Things You Should Know About the Audit of Gov. Quinn's Anti-Violence Program

The NRI, which is overseen by the Illinois Violence Prevention Authority, was established to “focus on rebuilding Illinois’ most vulnerable neighborhoods” and protect youth “by offering more job and education opportunities,” according to the press release sent out by the governor’s office when he announced the program. $50 million was allocated for the program.

Private agencies selected for the program received state funds to help offer job training, mentoring, counseling and other services to engage young people in violent communities. The initiative was supposed to help create as many as 1,700 jobs and improve the small business environment in the communities selected.

Lofty goals for an ambitious, well-meaning initiative. But the auditor general’s report unfortunately found “pervasive deficiencies” in the Illinois Violence Prevention Authority’s “planning, implementation, and management” of the Neighborhood Recovery Initiative.

CLICK HERE FOR THE BREAKDOWN OF THE REPORT