A Fresno gun violence prevention program that pays people to not shoot others, has lost a major federal grant.
According to a report from McClatchy, Advance Peace lost a $2 million grant from the Department of Justice without any warning.
The big picture: The Department of Justice awarded Advance Peace the $2 million grant for three years in 2023 through the federal Programs Community Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative.
- USAspending.gov reports that nearly $740,000 of the grant has been paid out to Advance Peace so far.
What he’s saying: Interim Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission CEO Brian Angus revealed that the federal government pulled the grant from Advance Peace.
- “On Tuesday afternoon, Fresno EOC Advance Peace Fresno received word that its $2 million, three-year grant from the Department of Justice ended immediately with no forewarning,” Angus told McClatchy.
Go deeper: Advance Peace provides a stipend to would-be shooters to not shoot anyone – an effort to crack down on gang violence.
- The 18-month fellowship program targets likely shooters to help lead them to live a healthy lifestyle.
- Along with the stipends, Advance Peace also offers other services, including intervention services to Fresno youth to interrupt the cycle of retaliatory violence.
Flashback: While paying would-be shooters is a controversial plan on its face, Advance Peace drew intense criticism after employee Leonard Smith was arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit two murders in 2022.
