This article originally appeared in Journal News on July 31, 2026.
Violent crime rips apart communities — even more so when the crime goes unsolved.
Imagine, for a moment, that one of your friends or family members is the victim of a violent crime. Think of how you’d long for justice to be served. Now imagine days and weeks go by without resolution. Weeks turn to months, months become years, and still no one is brought to justice. Closure remains painfully elusive.
Far too many Ohioans don’t have to rehearse this hypothetical scenario. They live this reality every day.
In 2024, only 34% of violent crimes reported to police in Ohio were solved. That means roughly 7 out of 10 violent crime victims in Ohio — along with their families — don’t receive justice or closure.
When clearance rates are low, meaning fewer crimes are being solved, communities are less safe. A primary function of government is ensuring public safety, and passing this legislation will make communities safer by helping police identify individuals who commit violent crimes.
Improving clearance rates also helps prevent future crime. When people know there’s a high probability of arrest, they are less likely to engage in criminal activity.
Low clearance rates put future victims at risk because those who commit crimes remain unidentified and unaccountable for their actions. Ohioans deserve higher clearance rates, which build confidence in law enforcement, foster community trust, and create safer neighborhoods.
Too often, law enforcement officers in Ohio are hampered by limited resources and understaffed departments. Solving violent crime through additional law enforcement resources is a way to honor victims and protect families and communities. To accomplish that, Ohio legislators must pass Senate Bill 425 and House Bill 830, which will enshrine Gov. Mike DeWine’s Violent Crime Reduction grant program into law.
This legislation will also enhance the program by prioritizing clearance rates, helping ensure that it is an efficient, effective and responsible solution for solving more crimes in Ohio. More specifically, SB 425 and HB 830 will require that at least 20% of the funds awarded through this program be used for crucial clearance rate improvement projects. That includes increasing investigative staffing and covering overtime pay dedicated to clearing violent crimes, as well as increased forensic processing capacity, including ballistics and DNA directly tied to those cases.
Funds could also support upgraded case-management systems, real-time crime center capabilities and analytical tools to better understand and respond to violence in their communities — along with other proven, evidence-based violent crime reduction strategies.
This legislation includes rigorous evaluation of funded programs, enabling researchers to identify the most effective approaches and ensuring accountability for results.
Pursuing justice for grieving victims is a moral obligation, and families deserve the full commitment of our justice system. It’s time for Ohio lawmakers to increase clearance rates by supporting this legislation so that law enforcement officers across the state get the resources they need to solve violent crimes, and victims and their families can receive justice and find closure.
