By Sharon Coolidge
Enquirer staff writer

DOWNTOWN - Hamilton County prosecutor Mike Allen announced this afternoon that his office will help victims and witnesses in criminal cases who have been threatened.

Using $150,000 from Hamilton county commissioners and Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro, Allen created a witness protection program.

It is the first program of its kind in Ohio.

"In order for justice to prevail, witnesses must be protected from intimidation and be able to testify without fear of retribution," Petro said.

Last year, 29 people were charged in Hamilton County with intimidation for threatening witnesses in criminal cases.

The creation of the program comes at a time when Cincinnati's homicides are on the rise. To date this year, 43 people have been killed in the city, four more than at this time last year. In 2003, the city recorded a 26-year record high of 75 killings. Police and prosecutors have pointed to intimidation as one reason for the increase in fatal violence.

Ten months ago Allen reassigned Assistant Hamilton County Prosecutor Brian Hurley to develop and start the protection program.

Hurley looked to cities like Philadelphia and Baltimore, which already have county-based witness protection programs, and then tailored Hamilton County's to fit the budget and the area.

Allen expects to give money to temporarily relocate about 30 people a year. The program will focus of helping people who have been threatened by people who have been charged with intimidation, and are involved in homicide cases.

There's enough money to provide $105 a day per person for transportation, lodging and food, Allen said.

"The goal is to get them out of harm's way," Allen said. "We'll hide them during the criminal case."

He added that the county program will not be like the federal witness protection program. People will not be given a new identity, or a new social security number, or be hidden for life.

"We're not set up to do that," Allen said.

Those in the Hamilton County program will eventually return to their homes, but Allen said his office would do follow-up work with law enforcement agencies to make sure people remain safe.

"It's a modest start," Allen said. "In no way, shape or form are we saying this is a cure-all for crime in this city, but it's a step in the right direction."

The increasing number of homicides in Cincinnati demonstrates that this program is necessary, Allen said.

"Somebody in law enforcement has to step up and do something," Allen said. "Witnesses are reluctant to come forward, we need to help them."

E-mail scoolidge@enquirer.com