How to Find Information on the Penalty for Domestic Violence in Ohio

In Ohio, domestic violence is classified as physical abuse or the threat of physical abuse between family members, or child abuse. If you or someone you know has been victimized by an abuser in Ohio, follow these steps to seek help.

Things You'll Need

• Computer with Internet access
• Telephone

Instructions

Understand the Penalty for Domestic Violence in Ohio

1. Visit the Web site for the Women'sLaw.org (see Resources below).

2. Select ''OH'' from the states on the drop-down menu. You will find this under the ''Select State'' option.

3. Pull up the legal information on domestic violence in Ohio by clicking on ''How to Get a Protection Order." Scroll down the page to learn about the penalties and your rights under the law.

4. Learn the differences between civil laws and criminal laws regarding abuse. In Ohio, civil law will enforce legal contraints and penalties to stop the abuse, whereas criminal law will punish the perpetrator.

5. Contact the national hotline provided by the National Coalition Against Domestic Abuse at (800) 799-SAFE. Trained counselors can tell you what action to take for your particular situation.

Tips & Warnings

• Learn what qualifies as domestic abuse in Ohio. Although some relationships are not recognized, getting help is still possible, as violent acts against anyone are illegal.

• Speak with an unbiased party, such as a counselor or a hotline operator (see Resources below), regarding your abusive relationship. Sometimes a perpetrator will try to turn family and friends against a victim to convince them to not press charges.

• Take care of yourself. If you are a victim of domestic abuse, the affects on your psyche can show up in numerous ways. Some victims have even experienced posttraumatic stress syndrome and many have considered or attempted suicide.

• Know your rights. If you have put someone behind bars for abusive behavior, contact the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections and their Office of Victims' Services at [phone] and request they notify you when the prisoner is released.