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Mahoning Cty. Prosecutor’s Office offers new self-defense program
On Sept. 28, Mahoning County Prosecutor Gina DeGenova unveiled her office's new self-defense initiative called S.T.O.P., which stands for Self-Defense Trauma Informed Outreach Program. Pictured here from the left Mercy Health Chief of Police Ryan Bonacci demonstrates some self-defense techniques on Youngstown State University Campus Recreation Director Ryan McNicholas during a class held at the school. (Photo courtesy of the Mahoning County Prosecutor's Office).
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SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: December 7, 2023
Each year, thousands of people in Ohio fall victim to various forms of assault. But what if some of those individuals were prepared to fend off their attackers or better yet, avoid the incidents altogether?
The idea prompted Mahoning County Prosecutor Gina DeGenova to create her office’s new self-defense initiative called S.T.O.P., which stands for Self-Defense Trauma Informed Outreach Program.
Unveiled on Sept. 28, 2023, the program offers courses around the county that teach self-defense techniques and raise awareness about how to recognize potentially dangerous situations.
The classes, which seek to create a safe trauma-informed environment, also educate people on Ohio’s self-defense laws and the services that are available should any of the participants in the course be assaulted.
“Our goal is to provide straightforward information to participants that can help them avoid conflicts and violent incidents,” said DeGenova. “The S.T.O.P. program is designed to empower participants in a supportive and encouraging environment while providing instruction on the many resources available if they or someone they love is harmed by a violent incident in and outside the home.”
The program, which is free to the public, was developed in collaboration with a number of area service providers including Mercy Health, Youngstown State University (YSU) Campus Recreation, COMPASS Family and Community Services and the Youngstown Area Jewish Federation.
The course is taught by Mercy Health Chief of Police and certified self-defense instructor Ryan Bonacci.
“My goal is to empower participants by giving them tools that enable them to think, act and defend themselves should they find themselves in a dangerous situation,” said Bonacci.
“For example, one of the best ways to avoid being victimized is to be aware of your surroundings,” said Bonacci. “Criminals like the element of surprise and they look for people who are not paying attention to what’s going on around them.
“It’s become very common to be more focused on your phone than what and who is around you,” he said. “I tell participants they not only need to be aware of what and who is around them but they need to have a mental plan in place as to how they will react should someone approach them in a threatening manner.
“If someone grabs you from behind for instance, you need to be able to disengage from the person’s grip and get away quickly and safely.”
Along with Mercy Health, Mahoning County Sheriff Jerry Greene’s office and other local law enforcement departments are offering their expertise and services, including providing training to participants.
Jennifer Gray, social services and development officer at COMPASS Family and Community Services in Youngstown, said one of the key components of the program is informing those in the classes about the services available to individuals who may already have been assaulted.
“At the beginning of the course, organizers let everyone know about the services that COMPASS and other local organizations provide to victims,” said Gray.
She said COMPASS offers an array of support to individuals affected by a variety of crimes including survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence. The nonprofit oversees a domestic violence shelter for Mahoning County and also provides counseling and advocacy as well as linking people to other services.
“Participants are invited to step out of the room and talk to someone if they or someone they know has been a victim of a violent crime or is experiencing some type of domestic abuse,” said Gray.
Isabella Caruso-Harris, project development and grants coordinator at the Mahoning County Prosecutor’s Office, said participants also receive information about local laws and are encouraged to reach out to law enforcement if they have questions or wish to report an incident.
“Participants are free to opt out of any portion of the course,” said Caruso-Harris. “Our goal is to avoid triggering any memories of a past incident. So we encourage individuals that if they need to step out of the physical training, that is completely acceptable.”
To ensure people around Mahoning County can participate in the program, it’s being offered in different locations.
The first course took place at Youngstown State University on Sept. 28.
“We coordinated the class with campus recreation,” said DeGenova. “We started at YSU because studies show that one in every five college students will experience some form of assault during their undergraduate careers.”
Classes were also held at the Community Literacy Workforce and Cultural Center in Campbell and at the Jewish Community Center of Youngstown on Oct. 3 and Nov. 1, respectively.
“We began with three events this year and we plan to hold five or six each year moving forward,” said DeGenova. “While our job is to prosecute those who violate the law, we are also committed to providing resources that help keep our families safe.”
For more information on the free program or to inquire about scheduling an event, visit the Mahoning County Prosecutor’s Office website at https://prosecutor.mahoningcountyoh.gov/.