Ohio lawmakers are considering a bill to create a public registry for repeat domestic violence offenders. House Bill 846, sponsored by Reps. Phil Plummer and Cecil Thomas, would require individuals convicted of domestic violence with at least one prior conviction to register in a publicly accessible database maintained by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
Concerns from Advocacy Groups
Nonprofit organizations focused on domestic violence prevention and sexual assault response are raising concerns about the legislation. The Ohio Domestic Violence Network (ODVN) and the Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence (OAESV) submitted written testimony expressing concerns about the legislation’s potential effects on survivors.
Maria York, policy director for ODVN, said the proposal could have unintended consequences, including the possibility of dual arrests in domestic violence cases where both parties are charged. York also warned that public identification of offenders could discourage some survivors from reporting abuse, particularly in rural communities.
Registry Details
The registry would include an offender’s name, date of birth, photograph, and details of their conviction or plea. Sensitive information such as Social Security numbers and home addresses would not be included. Offenders would be removed from the registry after a set period depending on their criminal history.
According to a report from the Ohio Domestic Violence Network, there were 157 domestic violence fatalities in the state between July 2024 and June 2025, the highest number reported in the past decade of tracking.
Original reporting: WOWO News/Talk (Fort Wayne) — read the source article.
