- Home
- Departments
- Police
- Preventing & Avoiding Crime
- Domestic Violence
Domestic Violence
In Ohio law, domestic violence can be charged whenever there is physical harm, or the attempt to cause physical harm, to a family or household member. A family member is anyone you are related to as a blood relative or their spouse, and anyone who is a blood relative or spouse of anyone living in your household, or who has ever lived in your household. A household member is anyone who is living with you or has ever resided with you.
Arrest Policy
In general, police officers are directed to make arrest for claims of domestic violence unless special circumstances exist. This is to protect the victims of domestic abuse.
Appropriate Discipline of a Child
To clarify a matter of misconception, it should be stated that appropriate discipline of a child is not domestic violence. However, excessive or unusual punishment may be considered abuse and would be handled as a very serious matter.
Domestic Violence Victims
Victims of domestic violence come from all walks of life, all cultures, all income groups, all ages, and all religions. They can be male or female, and child or adult. They share feelings of helplessness, isolation, guilt, fear, and shame.
Are You Abused?
Does the person you love do any of the following:
Arrest Policy
In general, police officers are directed to make arrest for claims of domestic violence unless special circumstances exist. This is to protect the victims of domestic abuse.
Appropriate Discipline of a Child
To clarify a matter of misconception, it should be stated that appropriate discipline of a child is not domestic violence. However, excessive or unusual punishment may be considered abuse and would be handled as a very serious matter.
Domestic Violence Victims
Victims of domestic violence come from all walks of life, all cultures, all income groups, all ages, and all religions. They can be male or female, and child or adult. They share feelings of helplessness, isolation, guilt, fear, and shame.
Are You Abused?
Does the person you love do any of the following:
- Track all of your time
- Constantly accuse you of being unfaithful
- Discourage your relationships with family and friends
- Prevent you from working or attending school
- Criticize you for little things
- Anger easily when drinking or using drugs
- Control all finances and force you to account in detail for what you spend
- Humiliate you in front of others
- Destroy personal property or sentimental items
- Hit, punch, slap, kick, or bite you or the children
- Use or threaten to use a weapon against you
- Threaten to hurt you or the children
- Force you to have sex against your will