Columbus, Ohio – Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has announced several new measures aimed at protecting domestic violence survivors, providing additional support to shelters and improving the safety of police officers responding to dangerous situations.
The announcement, made during Domestic Violence Awareness Month, follows the release of new research showing that domestic violence accounts for more than half of violent crime arrests in Ohio.
The findings, published by the Ohio Department of Public Safety’s Office of Criminal Justice Services (OCJS), highlight the widespread nature of domestic violence and the challenges facing law enforcement agencies and organizations that help survivors.
“Anecdotally, we suspected that domestic violence was among the most frequent violent crimes in the state, and this data confirms it,” said Governor DeWine. “The data also reinforces the fact that Ohio must continue to be innovative in its work to protect both domestic violence survivors and the law enforcement officers who respond to calls for help.”
Nearly 50 years of data reveal troubling domestic violence trends
Researchers with OCJS examined approximately 2 million violent crime arrests recorded in Ohio between 1974 and 2023.
Their review of nearly five decades of computerized criminal history records found that slightly more than half of all violent crime arrests included a domestic violence charge.
The research also showed that 70 percent of individuals arrested for domestic violence were repeat violent offenders.
Even more concerning, the figures suggest that domestic violence has continued to account for a growing share of violent crime arrests in recent years.
Between 2014 and 2023, domestic violence charges were involved in 54 percent of violent crime arrests statewide.
When researchers examined only the final five years of the study, that figure increased to 56 percent.
The findings also revealed differences between counties. Half of Ohio’s 88 counties currently have domestic violence crime rates above the statewide average.
State officials say these results demonstrate the need for additional resources, improved police training and stronger cooperation between law enforcement agencies and organizations that assist survivors.
Ohio announces $1 million in additional funding for domestic violence shelters
One of the major initiatives announced by DeWine involves additional financial assistance for organizations providing emergency shelter and support to people affected by domestic violence.
The governor directed OCJS to allocate an additional $1 million for Ohio’s 55 recognized domestic violence shelters.
Each shelter will receive a one-time grant of $18,000 to help meet the immediate needs of survivors and their dependents.
The money can support emergency shelter services and other urgent assistance for individuals and families experiencing domestic violence.
Mary O’Doherty, executive director of the Ohio Domestic Violence Network (ODVN), welcomed the announcement.
“How wonderful that our member shelter programs will receive an additional $18,000 to support their work. It’s like Christmas in October,” said Mary O’Doherty, executive director of the Ohio Domestic Violence Network. “We are also thrilled our handbook will be used by the collaborative to develop a statewide standard for law enforcement’s response to domestic violence.”
The funding is part of a broader effort to improve the services available to survivors while strengthening the response of police officers who are often the first to arrive during emergencies.
New grants will help protect police officers and identify survivors facing serious danger
DeWine also announced a new grant program to help law enforcement agencies purchase ballistic shields.
These shields are designed to provide additional protection when officers respond to potentially dangerous situations, including domestic violence calls that can suddenly become violent.
The initiative will operate alongside Ohio’s existing Bulletproof Vest Grant Program, which DeWine established in 2018 while serving as attorney general.
That program operates through a partnership between the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation and the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.
Another new grant program will support police training in the use of lethality assessments.
These research-based assessments help officers evaluate whether a domestic violence survivor faces an increased risk of future violence.
When an assessment identifies someone as being at high risk, officers can immediately connect that person with a domestic violence program.
An advocate can then provide crisis intervention, help develop a safety plan and offer information about available services.
The governor also directed OCJS to create a grant program supporting more co-responder partnerships.
Under this approach, victim service advocates work alongside law enforcement agencies to provide immediate assistance to survivors following domestic violence incidents.
The grants will help pay for officer training and staffing costs associated with these partnerships.
The goal is to ensure that survivors receive support that recognizes the effects of trauma as early as possible, rather than waiting until after the initial police response.
Statewide police standards and free regional training sessions planned
Beyond the new funding opportunities, DeWine directed the Ohio Collaborative Community-Police Advisory Board to develop a statewide standard for how officers respond to and investigate domestic violence cases.
The standard will draw from the Ohio Domestic Violence Network’s new Law Enforcement Handbook for Working with Victims of Domestic Violence.
Released in April 2026 through a partnership between ODVN and OCJS, the handbook provides guidance on supporting survivors and responding appropriately during domestic violence investigations.
It also addresses changes in Ohio law and recommended practices involving strangulation, victims’ rights and other important issues.
To help officers become familiar with the guidance, OCJS will support ODVN in organizing seven free regional training sessions for law enforcement personnel.
These sessions will focus on the handbook and its recommendations for improving the handling of domestic violence incidents.
Additional information about the funding opportunities is available through the OCJS Grants News website.
Taken together, the initiatives are intended to strengthen Ohio’s response to domestic violence at several levels, from providing emergency shelter and immediate survivor support to improving officer protection, training and investigative practices.
With the new research showing that domestic violence charges remain involved in more than half of the state’s violent crime arrests, Ohio officials are placing renewed attention on preventing further harm and improving assistance for those affected.
