Governor DeWine Announces Availability of Funding to Support Local Violent Crime Reduction Initiatives
(COLUMBUS, Ohio)— Ohio Governor Mike DeWine today announced that $4 million in grant funding is now available to help local law enforcement agencies implement new violent crime reduction strategies in their communities.
Governor DeWine prioritized continued funding for the Ohio Violent Crime Reduction Grant Program in the state’s 2024-2025 operating budget that was passed by the Ohio General Assembly in June. Since the launch of the program in 2021, nearly $80 million has been awarded to 170 local law enforcement agencies for targeted programs and technology that aid in preventing and solving incidents of violent crime.
“We know that there is no one-size-fits-all strategy to combat violent crime, and that’s why this is a flexible grant program designed to fund initiatives tailored to individual communities,” said Governor DeWine. “Over the first 12 rounds of this program, every agency that applied for funding to support a qualifying crime reduction project has received an award, and we encourage agencies that haven’t previously asked for funding to seriously consider applying.”
The Ohio Violent Crime Reduction Grant application is available via the Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services (OCJS) website. A webinar for interested applicants is scheduled for December 6. The application deadline is January 4 at 5:00 p.m.
Funding awarded through the grant program can be used toward creating, implementing, and/or expanding proven or promising violent crime reduction initiatives to address adult and/or juvenile violent crime such as place network investigations, focused deterrence, hot-spot policing, and crime gun intelligence centers. Grants can also be used toward technology, equipment, training, technical assistance, analytical tools/support, and overtime costs related to implementing crime reduction strategies.
OCJS strongly encourages all potential applicants to review the webinar hosted last year that outlines strategies specific to violent crime reduction, Reducing Violent Crime: Strategies and Funding Opportunities for Law Enforcement. Additional evidence-based programs and practices can be found at ocjs.ohio.gov. Agencies that wish to apply for this funding must be prepared with a proposed strategy that fits their community’s needs in advance of the application.
Ohio’s two-year state operating budget also includes an additional $4 million for the Violent Crime Reduction Grant Program in the next fiscal year. Previous rounds of funding have been funded through both Ohio’s operating budget and with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds that Governor DeWine and the Ohio General Assembly dedicated to first responders to counter various pressing issues exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, including violent crime.
Other assistance for first responders developed by the DeWine-Husted Administration includes the creation of the Ohio Narcotics Intelligence Center, Ohio School Safety Center, Ohio Office of Law Enforcement Recruitment, Ohio Office of First Responder Wellness, Ohio Prisoner Extradition Reimbursement Program, Ohio Body-Worn Camera Program, Ohio Crime Lab Efficiency Program, Ohio Ballistics Testing Initiative, Ohio First Responder Recruitment, Retention, and Resilience Program, Ohio Court Backlog Reduction Program, Community Violence Prevention Grant Program, and the new eWarrant database.
Additional Media Contact:
Ohio Department of Public Safety
Bret Crow, Director of Communications
📞 614-769-4779
✉ bacrow@dps.ohio.gov
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