Photo courtesy of The Shakerite.
A domestic violence protection bill, “Aisha’s Law,” named after murdered teacher Aisha Fraser has passed a vote in the House. The beloved Shaker Heights, Ohio teacher, was stabbed to death by her ex-husband, Judge Lance Mason.
The Ohio House of Representatives voted to pass “Aisha’s Law” in a 91 to 2 vote. House Bill 3 will be sent to the Ohio Senate for a final vote. The bill was sponsored by Democrat Janine Boyd of Cleveland Heights and is designed to save the lives of domestic violence victims.
Mason was a judge in Cuyahoga County back in 2018 when he stabbed his wife while dropping off her daughters to him. Mason stabbed Fraser 59 times in front of his two young children.
He had also strangled Fraser in 2014 but only spent nine months in jail. Aisha Fraser was a sixth-grade teacher.
The new law would change how the criminal justice system reacts to domestic violence cases starting with the police. Sentencing guidelines would also be adjusted.
“I’m proud to sponsor such a comprehensive legislation to lift the voices of those too long undervalued or ignored,” said Boyd. “Nothing prepared me for the way Aisha’s story and the stories of other survivors have changed me. I am extraordinarily grateful to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for overwhelmingly supporting this bill, bringing us closer to no longer being the only state without a strangulation law.”
Under “Aisha’s Law,” the police would be required to do an assessment and fill out a questionnaire to determine if the victim is at risk for homicide. The lethality assessment could prevent more victims from being murdered by their abusers.
Police would also be trained to look for signs of strangulation because many domestic violence deaths occur from strangulation. “Aisha’s Law” would also expand the definition of aggravated murder to cover domestic violence deaths.
The bill also passed the House in 2019, but it failed to move to a Senate vote.