Seven members of the Cincinnati City Council are pressing city officials for a deeper look at the recent surge in reported rape and strangulation offenses and for written policies that guarantee survivors access to advocates from the nonprofit Women Helping Women.
Council motion and timeline
Councilmember Mark Jeffreys introduced a motion that was referred to the Public Safety & Quality of Life Committee on Wednesday. The motion calls for a presentation within 30 days of its passage, outlining the city’s current data, reporting practices, and the mechanisms that link survivors to advocacy services.
“I think we all want to make sure that we’re providing resources for one of the most horrible situations for any woman to experience,” Jeffreys said.
Police data and reporting changes
The Cincinnati Police Department’s October 12 STARS report shows 241 reported rape offenses year‑to‑date through Oct. 10, up 56.5 % from the same period last year, which recorded 154 offenses. Reported strangulations rose from 222 to 334, a 50.5 % increase.
CPD explained that part of the increase reflects a correction of internal reporting discrepancies. Some older incidents are now being entered into the STARS system based on the date they were logged rather than the date the crime occurred. Additionally, a March 2025 change in Ohio law broadened the definition of sexual battery to include sexual contact, leading to more reports that require investigation.
“We continue to investigate every reported sexual assault, and we have not identified a corresponding spike in the number of rape investigations based on the current reporting period,” a CPD spokesperson said.
Connecting survivors with advocates
Jeffreys also wants the city to adopt written procedures that ensure Women Helping Women advocates are offered to all sexual assault survivors, not only those involved in domestic‑violence cases. He noted that the department already works with the organization and wants the policies to reflect that partnership.
Through the Domestic Violence Enhanced Response Team (DVERT), police secure domestic‑violence scenes and then dispatch Women Helping Women advocates to assist survivors and their children. “We don’t ask them to come find transportation or business hours,” said Kristin Shrimplin, president and CEO of Women Helping Women. “We are there on scene, focused on the children and the survivors.”
Growing demand for support services
Women Helping Women tracks its own confidential data from hotline calls, hospital referrals, court advocacy and other services across a five‑county area. The organization reports a sharp rise in the number of survivors seeking help.
Hospital responses in September increased more than 150 % compared with the same month last year. Of the survivors assisted through those hospital referrals, 83 % had experienced strangulation and 55 % had faced threats of homicide.
“I think the big picture here is we are once again seeing record numbers of survivors coming forward,” Shrimplin said. She credited the partnership with police, hospitals and courts for helping survivors reach support, while acknowledging that no single explanation accounts for the violence advocates encounter.
How to get help
Anyone in need of assistance can call or text Women Helping Women’s 24‑hour hotline at 513‑381‑5610. More information about the organization’s services is available at womenhelpingwomen.org.
Original reporting: WLWT Cincinnati — read the source article.
