BROOK PARK, Ohio — Sarah Carter will tell you herself that her kids are the key to her heart.
“My children saved me, my children are literally my world,” said Carter. “The thought of losing one of them would bring me to tears.”
Sadly, that thought has become a tragic reality for Carter just over two weeks ago.
Read MoreCLEVELAND -- In the wake of the racial justice protests that followed the police killing of George Floyd, there have been mounting calls for programs dedicated to de-escalating encounters between the police and civilians.
Across the country, we are seeing a range of possible enhancements to traditional policing and the training of police. Here in Northeast Ohio, we’re taking a new approach in addressing domestic-violence response by police. This initiative illustrates how enhancements in police training can go a long way in increasing support and safety for victims of domestic violence.
Read MoreCLEVELAND — Across Ohio, officials are seeing a stark increase in domestic violence over the span of two years.
The Ohio Domestic Violence Network reported 131 people died from domestic violence from July 2020 to June of 2021. That’s a 20% increase from the previous year and a 62% increase since 2018-19. All of this is something those at Journey Center for Safety and Healing aren't shocked about, saying at one point during the pandemic, they saw fewer calls.
Read MoreCOLUMBUS, Ohio — On Wednesday, members of the Ohio House of Representatives passed House Bill 3, also known as "Aisha's Law," which would grant additional protections to the state's domestic violence survivors.
The bill is named after Aisha Fraser, a longtime teacher from Shaker Heights who was fatally stabbed in November 2018 by her ex-husband, former Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court judge and State Sen. Lance Mason.
“There are evidence-based indicators that a case is more likely to escalate to a homicide or to a nearly fatal attack. Some of those indicators are if the abuser owns a gun, if there’s ever been strangulation in the relationship, at all, if there’s been a recent job loss, if an abuser has ever threatened suicide,” said Melissa Graves, CEO of Journey Center For Safety and Healing in Cleveland.
Read MoreStrangulation is one of the most lethal forms of domestic violence, according to the Training Institute on Strangulation Prevention. It can result in unconsciousness within seconds and death within minutes. The National Domestic Violence Hotline reported strangulation is also a significant predictor of future lethal violence.
“There are evidence-based indicators that a case is more likely to escalate to a homicide or to a nearly fatal attack. Some of those indicators are if the abuser owns a gun, if there’s ever been strangulation in the relationship, at all, if there’s been a recent job loss, if an abuser has ever threatened suicide,” said Melissa Graves, CEO of Journey Center For Safety and Healing in Cleveland.
Read MoreCLEVELAND (WJW) – When domestic violence escalated during the pandemic, community leaders in Northeast Ohio were not surprised.
It’s been a year and half and they say the number of violent cases keeps growing.
“There are evidence-based indicators that a case is more likely to escalate to a homicide or to a nearly fatal attack. Some of those indicators are if the abuser owns a gun, if there’s ever been strangulation in the relationship, at all, if there’s been a recent job loss, if an abuser has ever threatened suicide,” said Melissa Graves, CEO of Journey Center For Safety and Healing in Cleveland.
Read MoreCLEVELAND, Ohio — Domestic violence killings spiked over the past year in Ohio, with more child victims than any time in the last six years, according to a new survey released Tuesday by the Ohio Domestic Violence Network.
The Columbus-based advocacy group said 131 people died from domestic violence from July 2020 to June 2021. That total represents a 20% increase over the same timeframe from 2019-20, and a 62% increase over that timeframe in 2018-19.
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