Grooming children for sexual abuse is now a crime in Ohio.
Until April 2025, grooming children for sexual abuse was not a criminal offense in the state of Ohio.
Previously, maintaining blurry boundaries and inappropriate relationships with minors was not prosecutable until a crime like rape occurred. Concerned parents and members of Ohioans for Child Protection urged lawmakers to take action and recognize grooming as a part of child sexual abuse and “an urgent public safety issue.”
This call to action was answered as Governor Mike DeWine signed House Bill 322 into law with the support of the Ohio Prosecutor’s Association, effectively recognizing grooming as illegal.
The term “grooming” refers to deliberate methods used by perpetrators of child sexual abuse to gain trust and cultivate dependence. Through these means, power is established and secrecy is encouraged. Parents and other caregivers may not know that their child is being groomed, as offenders typically seem caring and charming. Grooming is a process that builds gradually and can have lasting impacts.
Under House Bill 322, it is now a crime for someone eighteen or older to engage in a “pattern of conduct with a minor under 16 years old that would make a reasonable person believe the adult is trying to entice, coerce or prepare the minor to engage in sexual activity.”
Violating this new law would constitute a minimum of a second degree misdemeanor, but this punishment can increase depending on the complexities of the crime. For example, the penalty rises to a fifth degree felony if an offender used alcohol or drugs to coerce a minor, or if a minor is under 13 years of age.
With the approval of this bill, Ohio joins states like Illinois and West Virginia in passing legislation against grooming. “New research tells us that nearly every instance of child sexual abuse had a predator that used grooming behaviors to gain the trust of the child,” said Rebecca Surendorff, co-founder of Ohioans for Child Protection.
“We have a collective responsibility to protect Ohio children, and House Bill 322 will allow us to do so,” said Representative Cindy Abrams. “We know when something is wrong, and we must speak up for the sake of our children and the safety of our communities. I’m grateful for all the constituents who helped move this important legislation forward.”
Authors: Alexis Kabat and Andy Goldwasser
