OP-ED: The Fight to Stop Domestic Violence
Whether we see it or not, tens of thousands of women and men across Ohio are victims of domestic violence.
Many victims of these horrendous offenses will never come forward out of fear for their lives, or the lives of those they love. The saddest part of all is that those who survive this trauma feel they do not have resources to turn to for help, or perhaps are terrified to find them.
Ohio must do what it can to protect the lives of domestic violence survivors. It is our responsibility to provide them with the proper resources and create safety programs to protect them.
The issue of domestic violence is especially important to me because victims, more often than not, are women. According to a report from the Ohio Attorney General’s office, of all reported cases of domestic violence in 2021, roughly 75 percent of those victims were women.
It is beyond disheartening to know that so many women in Ohio have experienced abuse from a person they love and feel close to. Women should feel safe in relationships, and unfortunately, thousands upon thousands of women in Ohio no longer feel that safety. Instead, they may feel insecure, constrained, or helpless. My goal, as a legislator and as a woman, is to provide help and resources to anyone who may be in an unsafe relationship.
Additionally, during my time as a city of Cincinnati Police Officer, I was tasked with following up with the victims of domestic violence after they took the courageous step in making a report of their abuse. I have seen time and time again the effects of these toxic relationships, the fear in the eyes of these individuals, and the hopelessness they face. So, when I got to the Statehouse, I was ready to take on the challenge to do whatever I could to make a difference.
Over the last three years, I have introduced several pieces of legislation pertaining to various aspects of domestic violence. These bills tackled a multitude of topics, from protecting the privacy of victims to establishing a county domestic violence fatality review board. While I am proud of my efforts thus far, the work does not end there.
I intend to keep the issue of keeping people safe at the forefront of what I do. Too many people have suffered at the hands of their perpetrator, and we must do what we can to provide safety and security to survivors.
Do not be afraid to reach out for help. Below are several resources for survivors:
Ohio Domestic Violence Network (ODVN)
The National Domestic Violence Hotline