New online tool helps Ohio victims of stalking, sexual violence obtain civil protection order

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – An Ohio nonprofit has created a tool to assist victims of stalking or sexual violence with getting a civil protection order from the courts. 

Ohio Legal Help developed the tool to walk victims through obtaining a civil protection order by differentiating the types of protection orders, illustrating how to go through the paperwork and gather evidence, as well as providing advice.

The free tool is available anytime and has an exit button on the bottom left corner of the screen that takes users to Google’s homepage, in case an individual feels unsafe and needs to quickly leave the website. The page also features a chatbot to help users quickly find the information they are looking for. 

In Ohio, between 2016 and 2022, stalking increased nearly 32%, a report from the state Department of Public Safety found. Intimate partners were the victims in 27% of incidents, and women were the victim in about 81% of instances. 

Nationally, an estimated 13.5 million people are stalked annually. Stalkers threaten their victims by showing up unexpectedly at their homes, jobs or even family members' homes. They also frequently harass victims with unwanted messages and contact family members, friends and co-workers, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Stalking often escalates to having deadly consequences – 54% of female homicide victims reported stalking to the police before they were killed, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

A civil protection order legally demands someone who has been abusive to not do certain things in the future, such as contacting the victim, making threats or approaching the victim at all. The civil protection order can last up to five years and possibly be renewed for an additional five years. A lawyer is not required to obtain a civil protection order and there is no cost. 

A civil protection order can be obtained when there is a pattern (two or more instances) of conduct by a stalker that makes a victim believe they will be physically harmed or causes them mental distress. That conduct could include making harassing phone calls, following a victim to their home or monitoring the victim’s social media or phone use. 

A sexually oriented offense protective order assists with protecting victims of rape, sexual battery, gross sexual imposition, child enticement and other sexually oriented offenses.

Anyone who is the victim of stalking or a sexually oriented offense can request an order; criminal charges are not required. Ohio Legal Help warns that a civil protection order is not a guarantee to safety, and advises victims to weigh the risks of obtaining an order.