Crime-prevention director outlines 42-program portfolio and outcomes; council asks for quarterly briefings

Seth Brown, director of the city’s Office of Crime Prevention, briefed Columbus city council on Feb. 25 about the office’s portfolio, outcomes and requests for clearer metrics and reporting.

Brown told council the office funds a network of programs across five focus areas — recreation, education, drug and alcohol prevention, employment and community policing — and that the office contracted or supported 42 programs in the most recent year. He said programming has expanded since the office was established and that “we had a 900% increase in programming” and a “25 increase in funding” (as reported in the presentation).

Brown highlighted specific programs and claimed results during his update: the CSU EYC after‑school program (he said the program produced major gains in reading and math scores), a Boxwood Rec Center initiative he said contributed to a 45% crime reduction in the neighborhood within a year, a Matthews Promise Academy program that reported 98% of participants reading at or above grade level and 100% promotion to the next grade, and a targeted youth program led by “Coach Flowers” that Brown said worked with roughly 950 children and produced a 96% promotion rate for the highest‑risk group.

Brown also described workforce and reentry programs that report employment gains, including Columbus Technical College classes and a transitional program (TrueSpring) whose graduates he said showed 83% employment retention at 12 months and collective wages contributing to local tax receipts. He credited ankle‑bracelet monitoring in earlier years with producing cost savings compared with out‑of‑home juvenile placements.

During follow‑up, councilors asked how the office measures impact and requested regular performance metrics broken down by program type and by beneficiary population (elementary, middle, family, reentry). Brown said reporting is monthly and site visits are frequent, and he suggested the board consider two application tracks — one for small grassroots groups and one for larger institutional providers — to balance fairness and accountability.

Councilor Chambers asked how interested organizations apply; Brown described the new online portal and application packet requirements including a W‑9, 501(c)(3) status, a 990 if available, an active board, and a detailed budget. Councilors asked for quarterly briefings and a clearer funding breakdown by age group; Brown agreed to provide those details.

What to watch next: City staff said they will provide a detailed budget breakdown by program type and a quarterly reporting schedule; the council discussed planning a standing quarterly update from the Office of Crime Prevention.