Crime & Violence Prevention

The best way to combat crime is to prevent it from happening. The Attorney General’s Office offers many programs that assist state and local agencies in crime prevention activities.

D.A.R.E.

D.A.R.E. is a police officer-led series of classroom lessons that teaches children from kindergarten through 12th grade how to resist peer pressure and live productive drug and violence-free lives. The Program Development Section of the Attorney General's Office processes D.A.R.E. funding applications from participating agencies and in conjunction with the Public Affairs representatives in the regional offices, distributes D.A.R.E. materials for use in schools.

• DARE

Concealed Carry

Ohio is one of many states that provides licenses to law-abiding citizens who choose to carry concealed handguns. Although the right to bear arms is protected by both the United States and Ohio constitutions, both state and federal courts have held that this right is not absolute. Carrying a concealed handgun is a privilege in Ohio, and with this privilege comes a responsibility to be aware, not only of the common sense rules of safe firearm handling, but the laws that affect how, when and where you can carry your firearm, and how to properly use the handgun to defend yourself or another person.
In accordance with the law as passed by the General Assembly, the Attorney General has developed a publication for concealed handgun licensees and applicants that summarizes in plain language the law. In addition, the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation conducts criminal background checks on applicants for the county sheriffs who issue the licenses.

• Concealed Carry

WebCheck®

An innovative program developed by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation (BCI&I) is significantly lessening the chances that child molesters and felons can harm schoolchildren and other vulnerable citizens of Ohio.

WebCheck® is an Internet-based program for civilian background checks. This program reduces the return rate of civilian background checks to as little as several hours.

Since 1993, the Ohio General Assembly has passed several state laws requiring background checks for certain occupations including individuals who work with children, those who work with the elderly, and insurance agents. Results of checks requested through the mail can take as many as 30 days to return if the submitted fingerprints are unreadable or if complete information is not provided to BCI&I. Using WebCheck®, agencies can electronically transfer complete, accurate information including fingerprint images and textual data, and results are generally available within two business days or less. Currently, more than 900 schools and other organizations are successfully using the program. Participating agencies include school districts, education associations, hospitals, and public institutions.