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.”
Interestingly, the Act states that “Legal representation increases the possibility of successfully obtaining a protective order against an attacker, which prevents further mental and physical injury to a victim and his or her family, as demonstrated by a study that found that 83 percent of victims represented by an attorney were able to obtain a protective order, whereas only 32 percent of victims without an attorney were able to do so.”
Cases in Montgomery County Continue to Rise
While, legally an individual CAN certainly request to be granted a Domestic Violence Civil Protection Order without an attorney, Attorney Carl Anderson, cited numerous examples of “why” having a lawyer greatly enhances the probability of the Court granting the Protection Order request. Individuals without legal training likely do not understand the law and the implications of the Ohio Domestic Violence statute. Wise decisions need to be made about the scope of evidence as well as how it is presented to the Court.
In addition, properly preparing the victim for his/her testimony in Court should not be ignored. Click here, to read a 2019 article from this blog by Yeshiva University Professor Daniel Pollack and Toby Kleinman providing “tips” to lawyers about how to properly present a domestic violence case in Court. It is very informative and insightful!
I have been primarily handling domestic relations and family law cases for 40+ years throughout the Dayton and Miami Valley area. I have represented countless numbers of people in divorce, dissolution, custody and domestic violence matters. I was quite surprised when Magistrate Gaines of the Montgomery County Domestic Relations Court shared that MORE domestic violence cases have been filed in 2022 than divorce and dissolution filings combined. There have been 1522 domestic violence cases already filed this year in Montgomery County! That number is insanely high!
Artemis Center Assists Victims of Domestic Violence
We are very fortunate to have the Artemis Center in our area! Jane Keiffer and the Artemis Center do an AWESOME job assisting individuals who have been victimized by domestic violence. Domestic violence is a subject that I post about frequently on the Ohio Family Law blog. Here are some links to previous Ohio Family Law Blog posts about domestic violence, including a few about the Artemis Center.
– October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month – How Can You Help? Click here.
– Domestic Violence – Let’s Look at the Local Statistics! Click here.
– Coronavirus: Domestic Violence in the Shelter-in-Place Era? Click here.
– Increase in Domestic Violence Filings in Montgomery County in 2019. Click here.
– Artemis Center Provides Assistance to Victims of Domestic Violence (2014). Click here.
– Artemis Center: Dayton’s Domestic Violence Resource Agency (2008). Click here.
Domestic Violence Statistics From Dayton Daily News
There was also an excellent comprehensive article in the Dayton Daily News published on September 25, 2022, about domestic violence with many alarming statistics as well as listing area resources for those who have been victims of domestic violence. I would highly recommend reading it! Click here to read it.
Again, let’s remember, not just because it is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, to be observant of others and all help to reduce domestic violence! There are many ways each of us can help whether through volunteering or making financial contributions. Here is a link to the Artemis Center page on its website listing ways that you can help!
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Do you need help with Ohio divorce, dissolution or domestic violence case? We can assist you immediately. To learn more, please go to our website at www.hcmmlaw.com or call us at 937 293-2141. We can schedule an in-person conference or one by phone or Zoom.
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Attorney Robert “Chip” Mues has been focusing his legal practice throughout Southwest Ohio primarily in divorce and family law matters since 1978. Chip is passionate about family law and has proudly published the Ohio Family Law Blog since 2007. In addition, he is the managing partner of Holzfaster, Cecil, McKnight & Mues. To learn more about him or the law firm, visit the firm’s website at www.hcmmlaw.com. Appointments are available in person, over the phone or by Zoom. Call us at 937 293-2141.
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