Ohio Lawmakers Want to Stiffen Penalties on Attacks Involving Choking

Andy Chow – WKSU – Experts say these attacks are often predictors of deadly domestic violence.
Experts say domestic violence attacks that include strangulation need to be taken more seriously as a warning sign of situations that could eventually turn deadly. Statehouse correspondent Andy Chow reports legislators want to ramp up prison time for such an offense.
Reps. Stephanie Kunze, a Republican from Hilliard, and Michael Stinziano, a Democrat from Columbus, introduced a bill that would increase the penalties for strangulation.
Stinziano says that, under the bill, strangling someone could mean up to eight years in prison. “It’s getting that abuser away from the victim and providing that as a felony versus a misdemeanor provides that time.”
Domestic abuse experts say a victim of choking is seven times more likely to be murdered.
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