2022 Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN)-South

Crime Rate & Crime Drivers:  Part 1 violent crimes remain a substantial problem in the Southern District of Ohio, especially in urban centers. Between 2019 and 2021, Part 1 violent crimes increased significantly and persisted, and cities reported substantial increases in weapon law violations, including increases in the number of shots fired into habituations, which more than doubled from approximately 760 in 2018 to 1,900 in 2020.

Evidence-Based Intervention(s): Specifically using evidence-based practices to help prioritize violent crime reduction efforts with the coordinated efforts among federal, state and local agencies that can help reduce violent crime is one of the main objectives of the Southern District. Using data and research to enhance violent crime prevention, and targeted and prioritized enforcement efforts based on data collection, analysis, problem identification, evaluation and reporting. The PSN Task Force will develop a problem-solving approach that is systematic and integrates the steps used in public health and law enforcement.

Geographic Focus:  The three PSN Working Groups areas will be the geographic focus of this PSN initiative. Further crime analysis conducted by the police departments will target and prioritize the specific locations with significant violent crime problems and against offenders who are driving the violence.  

Key Partners:  The Southern District is organized and administered by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio (USAO). The PSN Task Force is made up of representatives of three PSN Working Groups from the Southern District. The Violent Crime Working Groups are in three counties – Franklin, Hamilton, and Clark. These three counties contain two major cities – Columbus and Cincinnati. Violent Crime Working Groups bring together federal, state, and local resources to discuss violent crime trends, leverage a variety of intelligence sources, and identify offenders.