Erin Ryan · December 11, 2015

Legislation: Ohio House Bill 362 – Strangulation (Increased Penalties)

Bill: House Bill 362 (full text) Title: Increased Penalty for Strangulation Sponsors: Representatives Stinziano and Kunze Bill Analysis: This bill will amend the Revised Code to increase the penalty against strangulation to a third-degree felony, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. The bill is targeting cases of domestic violence where experts say that strangulation is a sign an abuser could kill their victim. Increasing the penalty for strangulation aims to increase awareness of the seriousness of this crime and allow victims time to seek help and get safety from their abuser. Status: Introduced in the House on October 13, 2015.  It was referred to the House Judiciary Committee on October 26th. Received Committee Hearings on November 10, 2015, December 1, 2015, and April 12 and 17, 2016.  A substitute bill which included strangulation under domestic violence and further defined the act of “strangulation” was reported 13-0 on April 17, 2016.  It passed the House 90-0 on May 24, 2016.  See how your legislator voted here.