There were more than 41,000 domestic violence related arrests in Ohio last year. Though that number is down from 2011, advocates say they need more help from lawmakers to lower that stat even further. But they say a bill on teen dating violence passed a few years ago is helping.
Among other things, it allows for protective orders to be issued against accused abusers who are under 18. Johanna Orozco Fraser of Cleveland was shot in the face in 2007 by her teenage boyfriend – after she had reported he was stalking her. "I believe that if my ex boyfriend, I had that protection on him, it would have made a huge difference," said Johanna Orozco-Fraser
Advocates against domestic violence are now working on measures to strengthen protective orders, and to protect victims who sometimes lose housing or jobs because their abusers repeatedly show up to harass them.
They’re also hoping for a bill to extend protective orders to pets, who they say are often used as pawns in domestic violence situations.