FOX45 News has obtained hundreds of pages detailing the contracts between the City of Baltimore and the community groups running the Safe Streets Program, after threatening legal action. Safe Streets, a community-based violence intervention program that has been in operation in Baltimore for over a decade, is touted by Mayor Brandon Scott as the city's "flagship violence prevention" program but has been shrouded in secrecy regarding its operations.

For over a year, FOX45 News has been investigating the program, the community organizations utilizing grant funding to run it, and the efforts of its employees to prevent gun violence. The Safe Streets workers, also known as Site Directors, Site Supervisors, or Violence Interrupters, are contracted to meet weekly to discuss the program and its ongoing efforts, but this remains unclear due to the program's secrecy. The employees are not city employees, but are on the payroll of the community organizations running their location, and the employee names are redacted in the contracts provided by the city.

According to the contract, employees who are charged with felonies or serious misdemeanors are subject to suspension, and a conviction results in termination. However, due to the public not knowing the identities of the employees, it is difficult to hold the program accountable for following this policy.

Recently, Mayor Scott has changed the management structure of Safe Streets, with LifeBridge Center for Hope and Catholic Charities set to assume responsibility for all 10 locations, instead of the previous patchwork of community organizations, with the migration slated to be completed by the end of January 2023.

The contracts have raised more questions about the accountability of the Safe Streets program, and FOX45 News will continue to demand answers.