Reprinted courtesy of NBC

Ohio Senate Passes Dating Violence Protection Bill
Associated Press
Published: March 9, 2010

COLUMBUS, Ohio
Ohio Senators have unanimously passed a House bill that would allow juvenile courts to issue protection orders for minors in dating relationships.

The Ohio House of Representatives is expected to concur Wednesday. The legislation would then go to Gov. Ted Strickland, who is expected to sign it.

(note: Believed to be Bill # HB 10 - Full text in link)

The bill was inspired in part by the plight of Cleveland teen Johanna Orozco, who was shot in the face by her 17-year-old ex-boyfriend in 2007 has had numerous operations. Orozco wanted to get a protection order, but Ohio juvenile courts cannot issue them against minors.

An advocacy group said in a national survey last year that only a handful of states have laws enabling minors the same protection order rights as adults.


Marc Lesnick