The 2025 Violent Crime Reduction Grant Program is administered by the Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services (OCJS), a division of the Ohio Department of Public Safety. OCJS is responsible for managing state and federal criminal justice funding and evaluating programs that enhance public safety. The grant program was initially created in 2021 under the direction of Governor Mike DeWine, with $8 million allocated in the state budget ($4 million per fiscal year) to support crime reduction efforts in local communities. The initiative aims to fund strategies that have been proven or are promising in reducing violent crime rates across the state.

The program is open to local law enforcement agencies, which must serve as the implementing entity, while the respective unit of local government (e.g., township, village, city, or county) will act as the official subrecipient. The grant will fund projects that focus on reducing and preventing violent crime through strategies such as Place Network Investigations, Focused Deterrence, Hot Spot Policing, and Crime Gun Intelligence Centers. Funding can also support initiatives under the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention’s Comprehensive Gang Model, including community mobilization, opportunity provision, social intervention, crime suppression, and organizational change. Eligible uses of funds include purchasing technology, providing overtime pay for law enforcement personnel, acquiring equipment, conducting training, and obtaining analytical tools to assess violent crime trends and intervention effectiveness.

The application process requires agencies to submit only one proposal per subrecipient. There is no cap on the amount of funding that can be requested, but applicants must justify their budget proposals, as excessive costs may not be considered. The average award amount for the previous fiscal year was $44,212.96, with awards ranging from $2,000 to $271,407.35. All grants awarded in this cycle will provide funding for a 12-month period, from January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2025. Award notifications will be made electronically, and all required pre-award conditions must be completed through the Online Grants Management System before final approval.

A voluntary Bidders Training webinar is scheduled for February 24, 2025, from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM. This session will help applicants understand the application and review process. Additionally, all awarded subrecipients must comply with the financial and programmatic reporting requirements. The grant operates on a reimbursement basis, meaning recipients must submit quarterly reports through the online grants system to receive funds. Applicants must also provide documentation such as an external audit or recent financial report, confirm the use of a general ledger, and comply with cost limitations on specific allowable expenses, including per diem rates and equipment purchases.

To be eligible, law enforcement agencies must comply with crime statistics reporting requirements under Ohio Revised Code Section 5502.62(C)(6). Additionally, proposals must address strategies to engage the local community, work with allied criminal justice partners, incorporate research-backed crime reduction methods, and ensure sustainability beyond the grant period. A data collection plan is also required to track the effectiveness of the proposed strategy.

The application deadline for the grant is March 19, 2025, at 5:00 PM EST. For technical assistance, applicants can contact the Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services at 614-466-7782 and request to speak with their assigned Grants Coordinator. More information on regional contacts, fiscal requirements, and the application process can be found on the OCJS website.