Using official data and crime statistics to define a city's violent crime rate is crucial for several reasons:
Accuracy and Reliability: Official data is collected and compiled by law enforcement agencies and government bodies, making it more reliable than anecdotal evidence or personal perceptions. This data undergoes rigorous collection and analysis processes to ensure accuracy.
Objectivity: Official data is less prone to biases and distortions that can be present in anecdotal accounts or media reports. It provides a more objective picture of the crime situation in a city.
Comparability: Official crime statistics allow for comparisons between cities, regions, and over time. This is essential for identifying trends, evaluating the effectiveness of crime prevention strategies, and making informed policy decisions.
Public Awareness: Official data informs the public about the level of crime in their community. This awareness can lead to increased vigilance, support for crime prevention initiatives, and demands for accountability from officials.
Evidence-Based Decision Making: Policymakers, law enforcement, and community organizations rely on official crime data to make informed decisions about crime prevention strategies, resource allocation, and policy changes.
Is using official data a way to make an informed decision?
Absolutely. Official data provides a factual basis for understanding the nature and extent of violent crime in a city. By analyzing these statistics, you can:
Assess the safety of a neighborhood
Support or oppose policy changes
Make personal safety choices
However, it's important to note that official data is not perfect. It may not capture all crimes, and there may be variations in how different agencies collect and report data. Nonetheless, it remains the most reliable and objective source of information for understanding a city's violent crime rate.
Resources for Crime and Health Data
City of Springfield Police Department Request For Information
For current and updated information on Crime Data and Domestic Violence, citizens can request publicly available data. Example of Request
Your Full Name
Organization (if applicable)
Your Address
Your Phone Number
Your Email
State in the email you will be willing to provide your Date of Birth and Social if needed.
State how you want the report format: MS Excel Spreadsheet, PDF, Text Document, etc..
State how you want to receive the report: ‘Please send the report via email if possible or that you would be willing to come to the Police Department to receive the report.
Request should be made stating” You are not requesting any personally identifiable information (i.e. Social Security Number, Date of Birth, Drivers License Number, etc.)
Data requests can contain anything that is of public nature, or what is published in News Reports (Here is an example of data printed in the Springfield News-Sun, July 19, 2024) John S. Marion, 22, of 3756 Lawrenceville Drive, felonious assault - Arrested on July 18, 2024)
Specify a data range for the data you request, for example;
From January 1, 2022, to January 31, 2023
If you want Specific data explain what it is you are requesting, for example:
I’m requesting data within the specified time frame listing any person (age 18 or older) arrested on the below following crimes by Springfield Police Department:
Domestic Violence
Assault and Aggravated Assault
Felonious Assault
Felonious Assault/Weapon
Menacing and Aggravated Assault Menacing
Clark County Sheriff's Office Request For Information
Clark County, Ohio, Sheriff - Persons Currently In Custody
The Clark County Sheriff's Office has two ways to access data. First, the same rules apply for requesting data on offenders and crime from the Sheriff’s Office as just mentioned for The Springfield Police Department. The second is searching for persons in custody within the Clark County Jail. The website allows a citizen to search based on a person's last name or initial.
City of Springfield Municipal Prosecutor's Office (Case Search and Inquiry)
This is a Case Search Inquiry. The website will allow users to search by Criminal case, Traffic Case, Civil Case, Parking Case and Temporary Protection Order Case. The search will display the subject's entire Criminal Case history in Clark County, All the subjects court documents, dispositions, sentences and police reports.
Clark County Prosecutor's Office (Case Search and Inquiry)
The case information contained within this web site is generated from computerized records maintained by the Clark County Clerk of Courts and is deemed to be public information. The site will allow the user to search the subject's entire court case history.
Department of Justice Statistics for Clark County
The Department of Justice provides statistics on a wide variety of subjects. The component links below will help you find what you're looking for but you should also consider searching all Department of Justice websites to find exactly what you need. This is a good site to find aggregate statistics on various crimes Nationally and by state.
FBI Uniform Crime Reports (UCR)
Federal Bureau of Investigation | Crime Data Explorer
The FBI's Crime Data Explorer (CDE) aims to provide transparency, create easier access, and expand awareness of criminal, and noncriminal, law enforcement data sharing; improve accountability for law enforcement; and provide a foundation to help shape public policy with the result of a safer nation. Use the CDE to discover available data through visualizations, download data in .csv format, and other large data files
FBI National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS)
The UCR was discontinued in 2022 and was replaced by NIBRS. This site has State and City crime data. As the UCR Program transitions to a NIBRS-only data collection, changes have been implemented at the national level, though not all have been adopted by state and local agencies at this time. Applicable specifications are identified below.
Ohio Incident-Based Reporting System (OIBRS)
The Ohio Statistical Analysis Center collects crime data from every county and city in the State of Ohio. The website has a crime dashboard and the dashboard visualizes statewide monthly offense counts and rates across categories of crime, reported by Ohio law enforcement agencies.
Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (OBCI)
The Ohio Attorney General's Office has a wide range of data collection on crime and Domestic Violence. The AG’s office is mandated to collect certain data as per the Ohio Revised Code for Uniform Criminal Reporting.
Ohio Public Health Data Warehouse (OPHD)
The Data & Statistics website at OPHD has a list of interactive applications, published reports and other resources related to data and analyses at ODH
The National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS)
This website collects information about violent deaths including homicides, suicides, and deaths caused by law enforcement acting in the line of duty. NVDRS Violent Deaths Report: Reports for All Ages include those of unknown age. Manner of death reported here is assigned by the state abstractor based on all available standard NVDRS data sources. WISQARS National Violent Death Reporting System Pregnancy Status is for females of reproductive age, 15 to 49.
Find out how Clark County Spends their money
Local government information featured on the Ohio Checkbook shows local spending grouped by Counties. Users can filter and display data down to the single transaction level. Putting government transparency at your fingertips.
See how much Springfield City Employees get paid per year.
Using Ohio public records laws or other available resources, the Dayton Daily News has acquired payroll data for area counties, cities, townships and public colleges and universities.
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