Lethal Domestic Violence Continues to Skyrocket!

Lethal Domestic Violence Continues to Skyrocket!

Lethal Domestic Violence in Ohio Reaches Record Highs

Lethal domestic violence in Ohio has reached crisis levels in 2025, according to newly released data from the Ohio Domestic Violence Network. I have been practicing family law and handling divorce cases in Montgomery County and in the Miami Valley for 40+ years and have represented countless people who have been a victim of domestic violence. I have posted in this blog frequently about the devastating effect it has on people who have experienced this type of crime.

Domestic violence is a crime and illegal, and it includes physical assault, sexual abuse, stalking, economic control, or psychological aggression against a household member or a family member by another family member. Technology may also come into play where people are using social media and digital platforms to control and harass their victims.

In the United States, domestic violence is one of the most serious and concerning health crises in 2025.… View Full Article → “Lethal Domestic Violence Continues to Skyrocket!”

Ohio Domestic Violence Awareness Month 2025: Updates, Statistics, and the Artemis Center’s 40th Year!

Ohio Domestic Violence Awareness Month 2025

Ohio Domestic Violence Awareness Month 2025: Recognizing a Continuing Crisis

October is Ohio Domestic Violence Awareness Month 2025. In October of 1981, it was first observed as a national “Day of Unity”. In 1987 Domestic Violence Awareness Month was established and in 1989 Congress officially designated the month of October to recognize Domestic Violence (DVAM). DVAM provides the opportunity to learn about how prevalent a problem this is in our society, and to learn about the impact domestic violence has on individuals and families. It also was established to show victims as well as survivors of domestic violence that they are not alone in their journey.

The Domestic Relations Court in Montgomery County is just one court in Montgomery County that is tasked with hearing cases where an individual has reached out requesting a protection order from either Domestic or Dating Violence. As of the beginning of October, they have already had 1,675 Petions filed for protection orders in 2025.… View Full Article → “Ohio Domestic Violence Awareness Month 2025: Updates, Statistics, and the Artemis Center’s 40th Year!”

Did You Know that October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month?

domestic violence artemis center danger lethality assessment

Artemis Center in Dayton Provides Assistance to Victims of Domestic Violence

Recently Jane Keiffer, the executive Director of the Artemis Center in Dayton, shared an informative data sheet created by a past staff member about a “danger and lethality assessment” of cases from 2019-2022. Needless to say, Jane Keiffer and the Artemis Center do a phenomenal job assisting individuals who have been victimized by domestic violence. We are certainly lucky to have the Artemis Center in our community! Here is a link to the Artemis Center website.

What is a Danger and Lethality Assessment?

A “danger and lethality assessment” helps to evaluate the level of danger a victim of intimate partner violence is experiencing on a level-scale of 0 to 7. An Artemis advocate conducting the assessment goes through a 30-factor analysis to determine the level of danger and lethality a victim shows. A level of 0 is where there is no risk of future abuse either physical or sexual, while a level of 7 is where there is a high risk a homicide will occur.… View Full Article → “Did You Know that October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month?”

Domestic Violence Cases Continue to Skyrocket!

domestic violence artemis center

Did You Know that October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month?

On September 21, 2022, I attended a Zoom seminar convened by Federal U.S. Chief Judge Algenon L. Marbey and U.S. District Judge Michael J. Newman, to provide an update on domestic violence cases in the Southern District of Ohio. They assembled an excellent panel for the seminar including Magistrate Jacquelin V. Gaines from the Montgomery County Domestic Relations Court; Jane Keiffer, the executive Director of the Artemis Center; Summer Hawks, the Executive Director of the Greater Dayton Volunteer Lawyer Project and Carl Anderson, a Senior Attorney with Legal Aid of Western Ohio.

They gave a re-cap about the Power Act, which was enacted on September 4, 2018, designed to promote pro bono legal services to empower survivors of domestic violence. In part, the Act states: “Research and studies have demonstrated that the provision of legal assistance to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking reduces the probability of such violence or behavior reoccurring in the future and can help survivors move forward.”… View Full Article → “Domestic Violence Cases Continue to Skyrocket!”

Blast From The Past: The Value and Benefits of Signing a Consent Agreement in an Ohio Domestic Violence Case

Blast from the past 13 years Ohio Family Law Blog

PUBLISHER’S NOTE: This blog about Consent Agreement is as meaningful today as it was when we originally posted it on November 11, 2022! We have a ton of interesting articles in our archives of the Ohio Family Law Blog. Use our Search tool and enjoy a few oldie but goodies!

What is a Consent Agreement in a Civil Protection Order (CPO)?

A Consent agreement in a civil protection order occurs when the parties agree upon the terms of the protection order. If the parties are able to agree upon the terms of the protection order , then there is no need for a finding of domestic violence nor is there a place in the Consent Agreement form to include a finding of facts. In a Consent Agreement , the accused is not admitting or denying that an act of violence ever occurred. The accused is simply agreeing to follow the terms of the civil protection order.… View Full Article → “Blast From The Past: The Value and Benefits of Signing a Consent Agreement in an Ohio Domestic Violence Case”

If You Are in an Emotionally Abusive Marriage, Should You Stay Together for the Sake of the Kids?

domestic violence divorce

A Victim Of Domestic Violence and Have Kids? My Published Thoughts From A Practicing Divorce Lawyer Of Over 40 Years

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. There are many forms of domestic violence and it can be inflicted in countless ways! Here is a link to an excellent post on our Blog from last year including 10 Tips to Have an Informed Conversation about Domestic Violence, published by The National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV). https://ohiofamilylawblog.com/2020/10/03/domestic-violence-awareness-month/

Most parents want to do everything possible to protect their kids and for them to grow up healthy. The title to this blog article is an age-old debate topic that comes up in many initial divorce conferences. Daniel Pollack, a professor at the Wurzweiler School of Social Work at Yeshiva University, tackled this subject in an informative article just published on October 14, 2021, in the New York Law Journal. The author sought feedback from 2 mental health professionals and 4 experienced divorce lawyers from across the Country, including myself.… View Full Article → “If You Are in an Emotionally Abusive Marriage, Should You Stay Together for the Sake of the Kids?”

What Do You Do When Your Ex Drops 80,000+ Pennies for Child Support on Your Lawn? Her Response is Priceless!

safe harbor shelter artemis center

Safe Harbor Shelter Sees Spike In Donations

Immature Demonstration By Ex Leads To Unintended Gift For Local Domestic Violence Shelter In Richmond, Virginia

Yes. This actually happened in Virginia on May 21, 2021. A man rents a trailer and dumps 80,000+ pennies on the sidewalk and front lawn of his Ex-wife in satisfaction of his last child support payment. The child, Avery Sanford, who just turned 18 hasn’t seen her father for years. It sounds like her Mother and Avery were smart. What kind of a jerk, let alone a Dad would do this? So, maybe he has his gripes about having to pay child support, but really? Such an immature demonstration to his daughter is totally unwarranted no matter his beef. How disrespectful to his daughter and his ex-wife!

So, what did Avery and her mother do? Well, after making a police report, they shoveled up and collected all the pennies and cashed them in.… View Full Article → “What Do You Do When Your Ex Drops 80,000+ Pennies for Child Support on Your Lawn? Her Response is Priceless!”

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