COLUMBUS, Ohio ( WCMH ) – A new report completed by the National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform analyzes some of the anti-violence work being done in the city of Columbus.
Columbus’ Office of Violence Prevention brought in the NICJR to do the report. Shantay Jackson, Director of the National Offices of Violence Prevention Network, which is part of the NICJR, first visited Columbus six months ago to meet with community violence intervention programs.
“Looking at city agencies and looking at community based organizations that are doing the work associated with intervening and preventing violence,” Jackson said as she described the report.
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The report examines what is being done well in the Columbus anti-violence space and where improvements are needed. Jackson said organizations do well when it comes to bringing resources to people as opposed to relying on them to come in. She also said a strength for the city is there are people with lived experiences doing this kind of work. The report identified data driven decision making as an area where improvement is recommended.