I read with great interest The Enquirer’s investigation that revealed 1 in 3 people who used a gun to kill a current or former intimate partner statewide last year were legally prohibited under state or federal law from owning a firearm. This was important work that educated our community on the proliferation of illegal gun ownership.
As prosecutor, all too often I see the real-life impact on families and our communities.
When I became Hamilton County Prosecutor 21 months ago, a clear part of my vision for the office was to help victims of crime through the criminal justice process.
It’s why I fought for county funding in our budget for an additional full-time Victim Advocate. It’s why I sent five Victim Advocates to Ohio’s 2026 Victim Advocate Conference.
It’s why I got Metro to give us 250 day passes for victim transportation to Grand Jury. It’s why I created a special Victim Waiting Room near our Grand Jury. And it’s why we have Basil, our therapy dog, who comforts victims, other witnesses, and staff daily.
My focus on victims has been somewhat prescient, because felony domestic violence indictments have more than doubled since 2024.
Given this acceleration in violence, we partnered with the Cincinnati YWCA to find more ways to help victims of crime. And today, in the middle of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, I am pleased to announce that this partnership has just been awarded a $500,000 grant from the federal Department of Justice to strengthen and expand services to victims of crime.
A key component will be the creation of a new Victims of Crime Service Navigator, employed by the YWCA and co-located within my office. The Navigator will connect victims with services as well as liaise with the criminal justice community.
The grant also allows us to get laptops and specialized training for our victim advocates and enables us to fund temporary transportation, shelter, and child care costs for our victims who need to come to court.
When someone becomes a victim of crime, their life can change in an instant. My duty is not only to prosecute the person responsible for the crime, but also to make sure the victim is not left to navigate the aftermath on their own. I cannot think of a better partner than the YWCA for this important work.
Connie Pillich is the Hamilton County Prosecutor.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Hamilton County expands victim services with $500,000 grant | Opinion
