Domestic Violence

A first conviction of domestic violence for an act of physical violence or attempted physical violence is a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable by up to six months in jail and/or a $1,000 fine.

A second conviction of domestic violence for an act of physical violence or attempted physical violence is a felony of the fourth degree, punishable by a $5,000 fine and a definite period of incarceration of six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen or eighteen months.



A third conviction of domestic violence for an act of physical violence or attempted physical violence is a felony of the third degree, punishable nine, twelve, eighteen, twenty-four, thirty, or thirty-six months and/or a fine of $10,000.

Domestic Menancing

Mandatory Prison

If the domestic violence was committed against a pregnant woman the offense charged carries a mandatory sentence.

Yes, but Ohio law strongly discourages that practice.

Under Ohio’s preferred arrest law, in cases where law enforcement officers determine that both the man and the woman committed domestic violence, the officer should determine which party is the “primary physical aggressor.” RC 2935.03(B)(3)(b).

Law enforcement officers are not prohibited from arresting both persons who engage in domestic violence against each other, but in most cases the officer should only arrest the primary physical aggressor. In determining which person is the primary physical aggressor, the officer should consider the following factors:

1. Any history of domestic violence or any other violence acts by either person involved in the alleged incident that the officer reasonably can ascertain;
   
   
2. Whether one of the persons was acting in self defense;
   
   
3. Each person’s fear of physical harm, if any, resulting from the other person’s threatened use of force or actual use or history of use of force against any person, and the reasonableness of that fear; and
   
   
4. The comparative severity of any injuries suffered by the persons involved in the incident.

The police officer or sheriff’s deputy is expected to weigh and balance these four factors in determining which person involved in the domestic violence incident is the primary physical aggressor.

No one of the factors is determinative. It is possible that one of the factors might suggest that one person is the primary physical aggressor while one or more of the other factors suggests that the other person is the primary physical aggressor.

For example, the primary physical aggressor may have less severe injuries than the other person because the other person was acting in self-defense because of a reasonable fear that her abuser would inflict greater injuries upon her if she did not act in self-defense. In that case, the officer may determine that the person with the less severe injuries is the primary physical aggressor.

What are the differences between a domestic violence criminal protection order and a domestic violence civil protection order?

A domestic violence criminal protection order, called a “temporary protection order (TPO)” provides more limited relief and remains in effect for a much shorter period of time.

Specifically, a TPO may order the abuser not to commit any further acts of abuse and to stay away from the victim, his/her residence, his/her business, his/her place of employment or her school. The TPO may also contain other conditions specifically directed toward assuring the safety and protection of the victim.

But a TPO cannot contain any orders for child support, spousal support, awarding use of an automobile or personal property, awarding child custody or visitation, or directing the abuser to obtain counseling.

Equally important, the criminal protection order only remains in effect until the disposition of the criminal case, i.e., the abuser is acquitted of the underlying criminal charges or is convicted and sentenced for domestic violence. As a result, a TPO usually remains in effect for only a few months.

By contrast, a civil protection order (CPO) may be valid and enforceable for up to five years after the issuance of the CPO.

Moreover, a CPO may award temporary child support or spousal support, temporary child custody and visitation, including supervised visitation, award use and possession of an automobile or other personal property of the parties, or require the abuser to obtain counseling.

If a party obtains a TPO and later obtains a CPO, the CPO is controlling and supersedes the criminal TPO.

What form do I need to complete to get a civil protection order?

If you or a family member are being physically abused or threatened with harm by a family or household member (person living in your home, even if not related to you by marriage or blood) you can apply for a domestic violence protection order now.

What is the procedure for obtaining a criminal temporary domestic violence protection order?

The issuance of a criminal temporary protection order (TPO) is tied to a criminal prosecution for domestic violence.

Once a domestic violence prosecution or prosecution for any offense of violence against a family or household member is initiated by the filing of a complaint, the victim, a family or household member of the victim, or, in an emergency, an arresting officer on the victim’s behalf, may file a motion for a temporary protection order.

The clerk of the municipal court is required to provide motion forms to victims and police officers. Once the motion is completed and filed, the court must hold a hearing within 24 hours.

If the victim wants to obtain an ex parte (emergency) temporary protection order, the victim may ask the judge to immediately grant such an order.

If the court issues an emergency ex parte TPO, the full hearing on the motion for a TPO must be held on the next business day on which the court is open. The full hearing on the TPO will be held within 24 hours after the motion for a TPO was filed.

Normally, the victim must appear at the TPO hearing. However, if the victim has been hospitalized or otherwise incapacitated by her injuries, another person with knowledge of the facts of the domestic violence may appear instead of the victim and present information to the court concerning the domestic violence. See R.C. 2919.26.

A victim may request a civil protection order (CPO) by filing a petition with the domestic relations court or domestic relations division of the court of common pleas. The clerk of court must provide forms to victims which they can then complete and file with the court.

A hearing will normally be scheduled within seven to ten days after the filing of the petition. In addition, If the victim (petitioner) wants to obtain an ex parte (emergency) CPO that will be in effect until the time of the hearing, she may do so and the court will hold a brief and informal hearing at which he will take her testimony and then (in most cases) issue the emergency ex parte CPO.

The full hearing on the petition for a CPO must then be held within seven (7) to ten (10) days after the insurance of the emergency ex parte civil protection order. See R.C. 3113.31. The full hearing on the TPO motion or the CPO petition will afford an opportunity for both the victim and her alleged abuser to present testimony and evidence to the court proving the occurrence or non-occurrence of the alleged domestic violence.

If the victim does not appear at the hearing, the court will usually dismiss the victim’s motion for a TPO or petition for a CPO.

How long does a domestic violence criminal protection order remain in effect?

The criminal temporary protection order (TPO) remains in effect only until the disposition of the criminal case. Therefore, once the abuser is convicted and sentenced, the criminal case is over and the TPO automatically expires. See R.C. 2919.26(E).

Can a court issue a so-called “mutual protection order”—an order against both the alleged abuser and the person requesting the protection order—and if so, under what circumstances can a court issue such an order?

No, unless certain requirements are met. In order for the court to issue a domestic violence protection order against both parties in the same case, the alleged abuser must file a separate petition or cross-petition for a domestic violence protection order at least 48 hours before the full hearing, and the alleged abuser must present evidence at the full hearing sufficient to convince the judge that his domestic violence victim also committed domestic violence against him.

Unless the alleged abuser takes these steps, the court has no authority to issue a mutual protection order directed against both parties. See R.C. 2919.26(I) and 3113.31(E)(4).

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