Cincinnati Crime Crisis: A 10-Step Plan to Fix the City

Cincinnati is facing a violent crime crisis, but City Council is stuck in ceremony mode. Here’s a plan the city could adopt today—if our leaders actually cared more about outcomes than optics.

Cincinnati Crime Is Bigger Than “Perception”

The data is in: violent crime in Cincinnati is rising—and fast.

Over the past 28 days, violent crime has increased 17%, with homicides tripling from 4 to 12 in just one month, as of June 24, 2025 (WVXU).

Neighborhoods like Over-the-Rhine, Avondale, and Winton Hills are seeing the brunt of the violence. OTR has already reported 39 shooting victims this year, and drive-bys are becoming commonplace in parks and residential areas (Local12).

And what has City Council done in response?

Raising flags. Hosting photo ops. Prioritizing symbolism over substance.

It’s not enough to call this disappointing. It’s dangerous.

No—This Isn’t Just Complaining About Cincinnati Crime

One of the laziest rebuttals people give when confronted with uncomfortable truths is: “Well, what would you do about it?”

Okay. Here’s exactly what we’d do. Ten specific actions that Cincinnati leadership could take right now to start addressing the crisis and rebuilding public trust.

1. Acknowledge the Crime Crisis—Publicly

Stop gaslighting the public. The crime surge is real, and pretending it’s just a “perception issue” to protect the city’s image is dishonest and irresponsible. Public safety starts with public truth. Admit the problem. Then act.

2. Publish a “Most Violent 100 Blocks” Map

The city already has the data. Use it.

Publish a real-time, interactive map showing where shootings and violent crime are most concentrated. This allows targeted deployment of officers, city resources, nonprofits, and community efforts. Transparency leads to trust—and action.

3. Launch a Violent Offender Task Force

Roughly 1,600 individuals are responsible for nearly 90% of Cincinnati’s violent crime. That’s not a community-wide problem—that’s a targeted enforcement opportunity.

Form a joint task force between CPD, Hamilton County prosecutors, parole officers, and social services to identify, monitor, and disrupt the activities of these chronic offenders. This is about focus, not force.

4. Drop the Defund Rhetoric and Failed Bail Reform Defenses

Every time City Council members rush to defend “reforms” that lead to violent offenders being released without consequences, it sends a signal: Cincinnati is soft on crime.

Public safety should not be a partisan issue. We need real reform—not revolving doors. If your policies are failing the victims, they’re failing the city.

5. Hold Judges Accountable

If a judge repeatedly lets violent suspects out on low or no bond—and they go on to reoffend—that should be public knowledge. There should be pressure. There should be consequences.

A system that doesn’t prioritize victims is broken. Cincinnati residents deserve a justice system that protects them—not just the people hurting them.

6. Turn Rent Payments Into Mortgages

Each year, the city spends millions on housing vouchers, rent subsidies, and “temporary solutions.” What if we turned that money into equity?

Start a pilot program that helps working families buy the homes they’re already living in. Offer down payment help, owner-occupant incentives, and financial literacy training. Let people build wealth—not just survive.

7. Tie Nonprofit Funding to Measurable Results

Nonprofits shouldn’t get automatic renewals of public funding unless they’re producing results.

Require every city-funded group to show impact:

Did crime go down in the area served?
Did graduation or employment rates go up?
Did the program result in fewer repeat offenders?

No data, no dollars. Results or removal.

8. Reinforce School Resource Officers (SROs)

School Resource Officers aren’t there to punish—they’re there to protect and mentor. The calls to remove them ignore how essential they are for early intervention, conflict mediation, and building trust with at-risk youth.

If we’re serious about stopping the pipeline from school to prison, SROs need to be part of the solution—not removed from it.

9. Hold Parents Accountable for the Cincinnati Crime

If a minor is caught with a gun or arrested repeatedly, there should be a mandatory review with the parent or guardian—especially if they’re receiving public assistance.

This isn’t about punishment—it’s about accountability. The city provides support. In return, we expect responsible parenting. If that doesn’t exist, the support model should change.

10. Cut the Ribbon on Jobs—Not Flags

City Council should be celebrating job creation, trade training, and apprenticeships—not hosting ceremonies to raise flags that do nothing for safety, literacy, or poverty.

Open trade schools. Invest in youth entrepreneurship. Fund after-school work programs. Start celebrating economic freedom instead of political symbolism.

Pause the Pet Projects—Focus on Survival

Let’s make this clear:

Cincinnati doesn’t need another arts grant, another performative resolution, or press conference until we get this crime crisis under control.

Put a hold on all nonessential spending and put that energy into making sure people can walk to school or sit on their porch without hearing gunshots.

This Is Leadership—Take It or Leave It

Cincinnati Crime isn’t a fantasy. This isn’t radical. This is what cities across the country are already doing—and it’s what Cincinnati should be doing if anyone in office actually cared more about outcomes than reelection optics.

If Council won’t act, then the people will when they vote.

The plan is here.

The crisis is real.

And time is running out.