Ohio’s ‘Break the Silence Act’ would create consistent standards to help domestic violence survivors
If you are experiencing relationship abuse, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-SAFE (7233) or text START to 88788.
Domestic violence survivor Breaunna Nooks remembers how her abuser went with her to every doctor’s appointment.
“When the nurse quietly asked me, ‘Do you feel safe at home?’ he was sitting right there beside me, watching to see what I would say,” Nooks said during a recent press conference.
“That day, I realized something — silence was built into the system.”
She reached out to state Rep. Dontavius Jarrells, D-Columbus, with a question — what happens when a domestic violence survivor doesn’t feel safe in the hospital?
That question led Jarrells and state Rep. Josh Williams, R-Sylvania, to introduce the Break the Silence Act. The bill is waiting to be assigned a number and a committee.
“It builds a consistent statewide standard so every hospital and urgent care in Ohio knows how to respond when abuse walks through the door,” Jarrells said.
“It turns compassion into action through training, documentation and clear procedures that ensure no survivor is left unseen or unheard.”
Maria York, policy director at Ohio Domestic Violence Network, explained how the Break the Silence Act would be implemented when a domestic violence survivor shows up at a hospital or urgent care with injuries.
“The care team takes private time with a patient, interviewing them separately from other family or household members, asking safety-focused questions, and clearly documenting injuries,” she said.
“If violence is disclosed or suspected, the health care professional offers supportive materials and makes a warm referral to a local program that can help with safety planning and resources.”
York said this approach is consistent with guidance from national experts at Futures Without Violence.
“Strong partnerships with local domestic violence programs let care teams make warm handoffs, coordinate safety planning and support survivors beyond discharge,” she said.
Domestic violence survivors typically experience a myriad of responses from medical professionals depending on where they seek treatment, said Amber Howell, a clinical supervisor for Nationwide Children’s Hospital Center for Family Safety and Healing.
“The Break the Silence Act recognizes that disparity and takes meaningful steps towards building a consistent statewide standard of response,” she said.
“This legislation is grounded in the belief that safety should never depend on geography, training levels or institutional capacity.”
Ohio Women Against Domestic Network Founder Diana Williams remembers hiding her bruises and said the care she received as a domestic violence survivor depended on where she went.
“At a neighborhood clinic, I was met with kindness and compassion, possibly because they felt sorry for me or maybe they could relate,” she said.
“At a hospital, I was met with confusion, with disbelief and no guidance on what to do next. That kind of inconsistency can cost lives.”
Domestic violence fatalities saw an increase this past year.
There were 157 intimate partner relationship fatalities in 108 cases from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025, according to a new report from the Ohio Domestic Violence Network.
Of this year’s fatalities, 95 were victims and 62 were perpetrators. There were 82 male fatalities and 75 female fatalities.
The report showed that 84% of all fatalities were a result of gun violence. It said 144 people were shot in 108 cases and only 12 people survived. And 56% of the primary victims killed were people of color.
Intimate partner violence fatalities happened in 36 of Ohio’s 88 counties in 2025, according to the report.
Franklin County had the most with 33, followed by Cuyahoga County with 20.
Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein said his office averages between 5,000-6,000 domestic violence cases a year.
“The health care worker may be the victim’s first line of defense as a catalyst to change their lives for the better,” he said.
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