U.S. Attorney DeVillers announces $1.7M to combat violent crime in Hamilton County

CINCINNATI – U.S. Attorney David M. DeVillers today announced $1.7 million in Department of Justice grants to fight and prevent violent crime in Hamilton County. The grants, awarded by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs, are part of more than $458 million in funding to support state, local and tribal law enforcement efforts to combat violent crime in jurisdictions across the United States.

Hamilton County was awarded $1 million through the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s Community-Based Crime Reduction grant. The grant leverages community knowledge and expertise to focus enforcement efforts on crime “hot spots” – neighborhoods where crime is concentrated – to generate long-term impacts.

Hamilton County was also awarded $700,000 through BJA’s Strategies for Policing Innovation grant. The aim of this funding is for state and local law enforcement agencies to work with researchers to identify innovative and evidence-based strategies to tackle chronic crime.

“Today’s grants will bolster the work we already have underway in Cincinnati to hold armed and violent offenders accountable,” U.S. Attorney DeVillers said.

Other grant award recipients in the Southern District of Ohio include the Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services, who was awarded more than $1.1 million to enhance the quality, completeness and accessibility of criminal history record information through the National Criminal History Improvement Program. This funding ensures the nationwide implementation of criminal justice and noncriminal justice background check systems.

Licking County was awarded $339,000 from the Innovative Prosecution Solutions for Combatting Violent Crime program. The program is designed to provide local prosecutors with training and strategies for prosecuting violent offenders.

The Office of Justice Programs provides federal leadership, grants, training and technical assistance, and other resources. More information about OJP and its components can be found at https://www.ojp.gov.    

# # #