Ohio governor calls for domestic violence reforms

COLUMBUS (AP) — In response to a newspaper’s investigation, Ohio’s governor is calling for a major review of the way the state deals with domestic violence.

Gov. Ted Strickland told The Columbus Dispatch on Thursday that Ohio should consider whatever it can do to stop what he described as “terrible, terrible behavior.”

A series of reports this week has detailed a four-month Dispatch investigation suggesting the state is too tolerant of domestic violence. It found no arrest was made last year in 45 percent of about 75,000 domestic violence reports investigated by Ohio law enforcement.

Strickland tells the newspaper that Ohio should explore possible reforms, including stiffer penalties for repeat offenders and panels that would analyze killings involving domestic violence.