The Victims of Crime Act (the Act) is found in Ohio Revised Code Section 2743 (O.R.C. § 2743). Let’s clarify some parts of the Act that can be confusing so victim service providers across the state can better serve crime victims.
There appears to be some confusion relating to denials of claims because of domestic violence (DV) or child endangerment (CE) convictions. The legal text, found in O.R.C. § 2743.60(E)(1)(d), states:
The claimant was convicted of a violation of section 2919.22 or 2919.25 of the Revised Code, or of any state law or municipal ordinance substantially similar to either section, within ten years prior to the criminally injurious conduct that gave rise to the claim or during the pendency of the claim.
In non-legal terms, the Attorney General’s Office must deny the claim of someone who applies for compensation from the Victims of Crime Compensation Program if that person was convicted of child endangerment or domestic violence. This includes both misdemeanor and felony child endangerment, or domestic violence, convictions.
There are two time periods when a DV or CE conviction prevents a victim of crime from receiving compensation: the DV or CE conviction must have occurred during the 10 years before the crime against the victim; or the victim’s DV or CE conviction occurred after the crime against the victim.
Simply put, a person’s conviction for domestic violence or child endangerment, whether a misdemeanor or a felony, within 10 years before or after that person becomes a victim of a crime results in a denial from the Victims of Crime Compensation Program.