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Do you know
about domestic violence in Ohio?
By Melissa Martin
October is recognized as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month
(DVAM). In October 1987, the first national Domestic Violence Awareness
Month was held. In conjunction, the same year the first national
toll-free hotline was begun. In 1989, Congress passed the first DVAM
commemorative legislation and it has been passed every year since.
“The Ohio Domestic Violence Network advances the principles that all
people have the right to an oppression and violence free life; fosters
changes in our economic, social and political systems; and brings
leadership, expertise and best practices to community programs.”
www.odvn.org/.
Ohio Statistics
Domestic violence claimed the lives of 90 adults and 11 children in
2015, according to the Ohio Domestic Violence Network. Shootings were
the most common cause of death and 94 percent of the cases were
perpetrated by males.
The Ohio Department of Public Safety reported the following statistics
in Ohio for 2014: 61 percent of domestic violence victims were white
and 39 percent were black; and females accounted for a greater
percentage of domestic violence victims than males across all age
ranges. www.publicsafety.ohio.gov/.
Ohio’s Definition of Domestic Violence
Domestic violence (also called family violence or interpersonal
violence) is a pattern of behavior used by one person in a relationship
to control the other. The violence can happen all the time or only once
in a while. Partners may be married or not, heterosexual, gay or
lesbian; living together, separated or dating. It crosses the
boundaries of age, socio-economic status, religion, race, ethnicity and
nationality, according to the Ohio Department of Health.
www.odh.ohio.gov.
Ohio law defines domestic violence as physical injury, sexual assault,
or threats to injure or assault those who are related by blood or
marriage, who share a child, or who have lived together as couple in
the last five years. Ohio’s domestic violence law extends to same-sex
couples and allows those couples to obtain protective orders in cases
of abuse.
Ohio Revised Code
Ohio Revised Code 2919.25 on Domestic violence: (A) No person shall
knowingly cause or attempt to cause physical harm to a family or
household member. (B) No person shall recklessly cause serious physical
harm to a family or household member. (C) No person, by threat of
force, shall knowingly cause a family or household member to believe
that the offender will cause imminent physical harm to the family or
household member. www.codes.ohio.gov/orc/2919.25.
Ohio Supreme Court
The Advisory Committee on Domestic Violence provides ongoing advice to
the Supreme Court of Ohio regarding statewide rules and uniform
standards concerning the establishment and operation of domestic
violence programs, development and delivery of services on matters
involving domestic violence, and any other issues deemed necessary to
support Ohio courts' response to domestic violence and related
offenses. www.sconet.state.oh.us/.
Ohio House Bills
Ohio Gov. John Kasich signed House Bill 1 into law (2018) which allows
victims of dating violence to obtain civil protective orders against
their attacker, a protection currently allowed in every state except
Ohio and Georgia. Prior to HB 1’s passage, Ohio law did not allow
victims of dating violence to obtain civil protection orders because
these relationships did not fit the definition of domestic violence. HB
1 now includes individuals in dating relationships under Ohio’s
definition of domestic violence for the purpose of obtaining a civil
protection order, gaining access to battered women’s shelters, and
mention in the Attorney General’s victim’s bill of rights.
www.ohiohouse.gov/.
Resources
The Ohio Domestic Violence Network advances the principles that all
people have the right to an oppression and violence free life; fosters
changes in our economic, social and political systems; and brings
leadership, expertise and best practices to community programs.
www.odvn.org.
Action Ohio’s mission is to promote quality programs, services, and
resources to survivors of domestic violence. Our goal is to ensure
equal rights and empowerment for all individuals as we work toward the
eradication of family violence in our society. www.actionohio.org.
The Office of Criminal Justice Services (OCJS) houses the Family
Violence Prevention Center (FVPC) that helps coordinate the activities
of the Ohio Family Violence Prevention Advisory Council, a group of
statewide domestic and family violence prevention experts.
National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or TTY
1-800-787-3224.
National Teen Dating Violence Hotline at 1-866-331-9474 or TTY
1-866-331-8453.
Melissa Martin, Ph.D, is an author, columnist, educator, and therapist.
She lives in Southern Ohio. www.melissamartinchildrensauthor.com.
Contact her at melissamcolumnist@gmail.com.
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