Ohio Public Safety & Firearm Statistics
Background Checks
656,936
2022 total
Per 1,000 Residents
79.1
NICS checks per capita
Handgun Checks
314,770
48% of total
Year-over-Year
-22.9%
Decrease from 2021
FBI NICS Firearm Background Checks
Source: FBI / BuzzFeedNews (2022)Handgun
314,770
Long Gun
187,815
Permit Checks
91,808
In 2022, Ohio recorded 656,936 FBI NICS firearm background checks, equivalent to 79.1 per 1K residents. Handgun checks accounted for 48% of all checks, while long gun checks made up 29%. Background checks decreased 22.9% compared to 2021.
NICS checks are conducted for firearm purchases, permits, and other transactions. A single check does not necessarily equal one firearm sale.
Background Checks by Year
| Year | Total Checks | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 717,475 | — |
| 2019 | 638,495 | -11.0% |
| 2020 | 976,751 | +53.0% |
| 2021 | 851,887 | -12.8% |
| 2022 | 656,936 | -22.9% |
Background Checks per 1,000 Residents by State
Total Background Checks by State
Ohio State Prison Population
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics (2023)Prison Population
46,530
2023
Per 100K Residents
560
imprisonment rate
Admissions
18,558
2023
Releases
17,340
2023
Male Prisoners
42,679
92% of total
Female Prisoners
3,851
8% of total
Private Prisons
13.9%
of total prison pop
Ohio Population vs. Prison Demographics
State Demographics
Prison Demographics
Overview
Black residents make up 16.3% of Ohio's population but 44.1% of the prison population (2.7x overrepresented). White residents are 72.4% of the population but 48.4% of prisoners. These disparities reflect well-documented patterns in the U.S. criminal justice system.
Imprisonment Rate per 100K by State (2023)
Ohio had a total prison population of 46,530 in 2023, an imprisonment rate of 560 per 100,000 residents. There were 18,558 new admissions and 17,340 releases. 13.9% of prisoners were held in private facilities.
Ohio County Incarceration
Source: Vera Institute of Justice (2024)Aggregated from 7 counties in Ohio.
Total Jail Population
2,996
2024
Avg Jail Rate
224
per 100K (county avg)
Total Jail Admissions
44,658
2024
Incarceration Trends
| Year | Jail Pop. | Avg Jail Rate | Jail Admissions | Pretrial % | Counties |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2,996 | 224 | 44,658 | N/A | 7 |
| 2023 | 19,573 | 268 | 370,563 | 57% | 88 |
| 2022 | 20,491 | 273 | 366,902 | 64% | 88 |
| 2021 | 20,315 | 276 | 360,290 | 62% | 88 |
| 2020 | 20,026 | 245 | 419,478 | 60% | 88 |
| 2019 | 24,594 | 308 | 469,696 | 60% | 88 |
| 2018 | 24,066 | 293 | 467,476 | 63% | 88 |
| 2017 | 23,294 | 278 | 472,416 | 59% | 88 |
| 2016 | 22,632 | 270 | 458,885 | 59% | 88 |
| 2015 | 21,734 | 261 | 477,535 | 63% | 88 |
Jail & Prison Population Over Time
In 2024, Ohio's 7 reporting counties had a combined jail population of 2,996 with an average county jail rate of 224 per 100,000 residents. A total of 44,658 jail admissions were recorded across the state.
Ohio Firearm Deaths
Source: CDC WONDER (2018–2024)Aggregated from 88 counties in Ohio. Period: 2018–2024.
Total Firearm Deaths
11,658
2018–2024
Homicide Deaths
4,586
39% of total
Suicide Deaths
7,020
60% of total
Rate per 100K
14.2
crude mortality rate
Accidental Deaths
14
2018–2024
Firearm Deaths by Cause (2018–2024)
Firearm Death Rate per 100K by State (2018–2024)
Between 2018 and 2024, Ohio's 88 counties reported a combined 11,658 firearm-related deaths, a rate of 14.2 per 100,000 residents. Of those, 4,586 (39%) were homicides and 7,020 (60%) were suicides. There were 14 accidental firearm deaths. County-level death counts of 9 or fewer are suppressed by the CDC for privacy; actual statewide totals may be higher.