COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Columbus Office of Violence Prevention was created about a year and a half ago to lower the gun violence in the city.
On Monday, the office shared data about the cost of a single homicide and non-fatal shooting in the city.
In Columbus, it is estimated the cost of one homicide with one suspect and one victim is about $2.1 million. The cost of a non-fatal shooting for one victim and one suspect is about $738,000.
So far this year there have been 106 homicides in Columbus, which would total over $225 million spent.
“This does not at all devalue the loss that is outside of financial cost that homicide or non-fatal shootings cause. The trauma it inflicts on individuals,” said Rena Shak, director of the Columbus Office of Violence Prevention.
Shak said the numbers shocked her.
“I’ve been employed in the criminal justice system in Columbus my whole professional career. I was surprised by that number,” she said.
Cities across the country are spending millions on investigating crime.
“You are talking about hospital costs, incarceration costs, rehabilitation, prosecution, public defense, scene clean up, going to the coroner’s office after a homicide,” said Shak.
Shak said the city wanted to know the cost of a homicide for two main reasons. The first was to educate and the second was to use data-driven and educational methods to assess violence reduction programming.
10TV asked Shak what success looks like in her office.
“We are already seeing success. Having reductions in homicides in Columbus over the course of 2024 shows the partnership here in the city is working,” she said.
The office wants to see people get involved with organizations that are working to stop gun violence.
“We hope this serves as a call to action. People are motivated by numbers and although numbers don’t tell the full story of devastation that comes from a homicide or non-fatal shooting it can serve as incentive for some to act on,” said Shak.