Ohio law states "No person shall knowingly cause or attempt to cause physical harm to a family or household member; No person shall recklessly cause serious physical harm to a family or household member; No person, by threat of force, shall knowingly cause a family or household member to believe that the offender will cause imminent physical harm to the family or household member."
Domestic Violence Safety Plan
- Know the location of the local police or sheriff’s department
- Have your purse, car keys, emergency phone numbers and some cash in a place that can be easily reached
- Put aside emergency money as you can and find a safe place to hide it
- Know where the nearest pay phone is located
- Teach your children how to contact 911 and plan a code word to signal to them that they should get help
- Know the phone number for your local domestic violence crisis line
- Practice with your children how to get out of the house safely, and designate a safe place for them to go if they have to leave the house without you
- Pack an extra set of clothes for you and your children, store them at a trusted friend’s house
- If you have a car, keep it fueled and leave the driver’s side unlocked in case you have to make a quick escape. Inform your children how to quickly get into the car
- If you have a protection order, give a copy to your friends and employer, and always keep a copy with you