Columbus, Franklin County Launch Domestic Violence Awareness Campaign

Initiative aims to connect residents with resources and improve justice system response.

Feb. 4, 2026 at 9:31pm

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Columbus and Franklin County officials are launching a new task force and education campaign to address domestic violence in the community. The two-part initiative will focus on connecting residents with more resources on domestic violence while also examining ways to improve and streamline the criminal justice process for victims and perpetrators.

Why it matters

The campaign comes after a rise in domestic violence-related homicides in Columbus, as well as a community survey that found many residents didn't know where to find help for domestic violence and expressed unease with the court system's handling of these cases.

The details

The first part of the initiative is a year-long Domestic Violence 101 Education Campaign that will include in-person events, outreach to high school students on teen dating violence, and social media sharing of resources. The second part is a task force made up of various criminal justice stakeholders that will examine ways to improve the system's response to domestic violence cases.

  • The initiative was launched on February 4, 2026.
  • The education campaign will run for one year.

The players

Shayla Favor

Franklin County Prosecutor.

Rena Shak

Executive director of the Columbus Office of Violence Prevention.

Columbus Division of Police

A member of the domestic violence task force.

Franklin County Common Pleas Court

Judges from several divisions are part of the domestic violence task force.

LSS CHOICES for Domestic Violence

A member of the domestic violence task force.

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What they’re saying

“There are pain points in our justice system that make it harder to hold violent people accountable and easier for survivors to fall through the cracks.”

— Rena Shak, Executive director of the Columbus Office of Violence Prevention

“This is truly about our offices as well as every single stakeholder who's a part of the task force realizing that the criminal justice system is really difficult to navigate, whether you are a defendant or a victim.”

— Rena Shak, Executive director of the Columbus Office of Violence Prevention

What’s next

The domestic violence task force will be led by the City Attorney's office and the Prosecutor's Office and will examine ways to improve and streamline the justice system for domestic violence cases in Franklin County.

The takeaway

This campaign highlights the community's commitment to addressing the rise in domestic violence-related crimes and the challenges victims face in navigating the justice system. By focusing on education, resources, and systemic improvements, officials hope to better support survivors and hold perpetrators accountable.