ODVN supports legislation and policy initiatives that foster change in our economic, social, and political systems and are consistent with our mission to advance the principles that all people have the right to an oppression and violence-free life. ODVN does not support legislation or policy initiatives that jeopardize or complicate the path to safety for domestic violence victims or further marginalize survivors of any group.

Want to understand how laws are made in Ohio and get practical tips for nonprofit and survivor advocacy? Click here to learn more.

If you have questions about ODVN’s policy work, please contact Lisa DeGeeter or Maria York.

Research Economist Joseph C. Von Nessen spoke to reporters at a press conference in February.

Economic Impact of Domestic Violence Costs Ohio over $1 Billion Annually

Study: Loss of Life, Impact on Victims, and Loss of Worker Productivity for Employers are biggest costs

Ohio experiences a significant economic loss every year because of intimate partner violence, according to a study commissioned by the Ohio Domestic Violence Network (ODVN). The cost — estimated at nearly $1.2 billion — affects all Ohioans, from the direct losses experienced by victims, to lost worker productivity, a cost born by employers.

The largest economic factors were physical health care for victims ($264.8 million annually, or 22.9% of the total cost); loss of life ($239.9 million, or 20.8%); and loss of worker productivity ($227.7 million, or 19.7%), according to a report released at a news conference February 24, 2025.

Those costs ripple out throughout the state with increased expenses for law enforcement and the judicial system; for incarcerating abusers; and for the long-term impact that domestic violence has on the children who witness the violence and are sometimes physically hurt themselves.

The research was conducted by Joseph C. Von Nessen, Ph.D., an economist at the University of South Carolina, who has done similar work in North Carolina, South Carolina and Wisconsin. The report includes data for each of Ohio’s 88 counties.