Ohio AG announces help for sexual assault victims

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Ohio's attorney general says he'll provide grant money for new regional sexual assault coordinators to oversee direct and comprehensive services for victims of sexual assault.

Attorney General Mike DeWine said Wednesday a recently completed survey found that 52 of Ohio's 88 counties do not offer such services. The attorney general says it is crucial that adequate services are available to anyone who has been sexually assaulted.

The five year, $1.5 million project focuses in its first year on expanding services to Crawford, Meigs, Perry and Wyandot counties.

DeWine was joined by Ohio state Reps. Nan Baker and Kirk Schuring who announced legislation that would levy a $100 fee on sex offenders to pay for rape crisis programs such as hotlines, victim advocacy and support services.