Ohio victim advocates say complex sexual assault cases on the rise

By Nadia Ramlagan

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Ohio advocates said the crime of sexual assault exacts an untold emotional, physical and psychological toll on victims and communities.

Survivors and experts gathered at the Ohio State Capitol this week to highlight new data and advocate for reforms.

Caitlin Burke, senior director of prevention and impact for the Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence, said they are seeing a trend of sexual assault occurring alongside other violent crimes.

"We are seeing a significant shift in the complexity and severity of survivor needs," Burke reported. "Cases involving co-occurring sexual assault and strangulation are increasing, which is a concerning trend that could lead to increased deaths."

Several state-level reforms could help support sexual assault survivors, including the Ohio Safe Homes Act, which would protect rental histories following survivors and create housing barriers, and House Bill 723, which would prohibit nondisclosure agreements regarding sexual abuse.

Help for survivors is available 24/7 through Ohio’s Sexual Violence Hotline at 844-644-6435.

Teresa Stafford, CEO of the Hope and Healing Survivor Resource Center in Akron, said survivors currently face strict timelines for filing lawsuits but pointed out a person’s readiness to disclose assault and pursue legal actions does not follow a fixed timeline. She supports House Bill 659, which would provide a longer period of time for survivors to speak out.

"This proposal would extend the civil statute of limitations for survivors of sexual violence to five years," Stafford explained. "This matters because criminal cases can often take years to resolve."

Advocates said eliminating or extending the civil statute of limitations for all sex offenses will help ensure survivors have a fair and realistic opportunity to seek justice.