The Columbus Office of Crime Prevention has released its FY 2025-2026 Community Impact Report, highlighting results from dozens of programs funded by Columbus Council and focused on preventing crime before it occurs.
The report, titled Building Safer Communities: Before Crime Occurs, outlines the work of 44 prevention portfolios serving children, teenagers, families, survivors, justice-involved residents, returning citizens and households experiencing hardship.
According to the report, the programs are organized around five areas: engaging and equipping youth, strengthening families and schools, building opportunity and reentry, protecting and stabilizing residents, and activating neighborhoods.
Programs provided services ranging from tutoring, mentoring, sports, arts and leadership development to GED and workforce training, family support, domestic-violence services, housing assistance, food assistance and reentry programs.
Among the reported results were 2,788 books distributed, 24,166 community members reached through one program’s outreach efforts, 2,082 victims served, 182 industry certifications earned and 2,998 individuals receiving food assistance.
The report also highlighted youth-focused efforts.
Mathews Promise reported that all 67 after-school students advanced to the next grade, while 87% were reading at or above grade level and 97% missed fewer than 10 school days. The Youth Orchestra Academy grew from eight to 21 students, while Scoutreach expanded to more than 350 youth.
Other programs focused on family stability and school engagement. Family Matters reported a 90% graduation rate among participants, while Legitimation Station assisted 108 fathers with legal filings related to parenthood, visitation and custody.
Workforce and reentry programs also reported measurable outcomes. Columbus Technical College trained 135 residents at Muscogee County Prison, with participants earning 182 industry certifications. Goodwill BRIDGE reported 13 GED earners, while 15 additional students were one test away from completing their GED.
The report also highlighted services for victims and families in crisis. Hope Harbour reported serving 2,082 victims and reaching 24,166 community members through 97 events.
CarePortal reported serving 624 people, helping keep 20 children with their families and supporting 25 reunifications.
The Office of Crime Prevention emphasized that the programs are intended to complement, rather than replace, traditional law enforcement.
“Prevention does not replace enforcement,” the report states. “It makes enforcement less necessary by changing the conditions that allow violence, delinquency, victimization, and repeated system involvement to take root.”
The report also cautions that the figures should not be interpreted as proof that the individual programs directly prevented a specific number of crimes. The local results were submitted by participating organizations and use different measurements, including participants, families, service contacts, activity hours and events.
The Office said the next step is to preserve the existing prevention portfolio while improving shared measurement, cross-program referrals and long-term follow-up.
The full FY 2025-2026 report was prepared by the Columbus Office of Crime Prevention and submitted to Columbus Council in September 2026. Full report: https://resources.columbusga.gov/crime-prevention/flip-books/fy2026-council-impact/Columbus_Office_of_Crime_Prevention_FY2026_Council_Impact_Report_With_Photos_and_Logo.pdf
