The Cleveland City Council is advancing legislation that would impose mandatory jail time for individuals who threaten healthcare workers, a move prompted by increasing workplace violence. The Cleveland Clinic initially proposed the legislation last fall, seeking city support to deter and penalize threats against healthcare staff.
Currently, threatening another person’s physical safety, known as ‘menacing,’ is classified as a fourth-degree misdemeanor in Cleveland. The proposed legislation would elevate this to a first-degree misdemeanor, including a mandatory three-day jail sentence if the victim is a healthcare worker.
After months of deliberation, the council’s safety committee voted five to one to move the bill forward. The full City Council is expected to vote on the measure on June 1. The legislation also requires hospitals to provide de-escalation and crisis intervention training to their staff, a practice already in place at Cleveland’s major hospital systems.
Support and Concerns
Hospital leaders have expressed support for the legislation, highlighting efforts to improve workplace safety through victim advocacy programs, enhanced reporting processes, and counseling services. Jason Pirtz, COO at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, emphasized the need for local support, citing a nationwide crisis in healthcare worker safety.
The legislation extends protections to healthcare workers outside hospital settings, such as paramedics and emergency medical technicians. The Cleveland Association of Rescue Employees supports the bill, noting an increase in violent incidents against EMS workers.
However, Council Member Stephanie Howse-Jones voted against the measure, citing concerns that it does not adequately consider the impact of trauma on patients’ behavior. She proposed a ‘trauma-informed care checklist’ to ensure that individuals are assessed for acute behavioral health crises before being charged, but this was not included in the final bill.
Data and Accountability
Data from Cleveland’s major hospitals reveal a disparity between reported incidents and prosecutions. University Hospitals reported 460 to 600 violent incidents annually between 2023 and 2025, yet only two cases were referred for prosecution. The Cleveland Clinic and MetroHealth reported similar trends, with many incidents not meeting the legal standards for charges.
Council members urged hospitals to support employees pursuing charges, suggesting paid time off for legal proceedings. Hospital systems have responded by offering various forms of support, such as scheduled shifts off and victim advocacy programs.
Original reporting: Signal Cleveland — read the source article.
