COLUMBUS – Domestic violence claims dozens of lives in Ohio each year and advocacy groups say they’re committed to increasing support that can prevent future fatalities, such as a first-ever state budget item dedicated to domestic violence services.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and advocates are gathering at the Statehouse to reflect on progress made to help survivors while remembering lives lost.
In the year ending July 1st, at least 81 lives in Ohio were lost to domestic violence, according to the Ohio Domestic Violence Network. The group says the deceased victims included 41 women and 12 men. A child was present on the scene in one-fourth of the incidents.
“Guns are still a huge issue in terms of domestic-violence fatalities. In 73% of fatalities, the deceased were killed by guns,” said Shelly Bell, coordinator of the group’s Linking Systems Project, who compiled the data.
In at least 35 percent of cases the victim had left the abusive relationship or was in the process of leaving, supporting the belief that the most dangerous time for victims of domestic violence is when they decide to escape.
Bell notes that overall fatalities are down from the past couple of years, which could be related to increased survivor support and increased support for systems that keep batterers accountable through federal Victims of Crime Act funding.
The group plans to honor Rep. Laura Lanese (R-Grove City) for leading the effort to include $1 million in the most recent state budget for domestic-violence services, the first time such funding has been included in the state’s general fund, executive director Mary O’Doherty said.
The network will present Lanese with the Croucher Family Award for Outstanding Leadership.