Attorney General Mike DeWine

An annual report that looks at Ohio's capital punishment system says 128 inmates sentenced to death over the past three decades have avoided their sentence through court action, commutations or dying of natural causes.

The report by Attorney General Mike DeWine says the state sentenced a total of 316 inmates to death from 1981, when Ohio's current death penalty law was enacted, through 2012.

Eighteen inmates have been spared by Ohio governors, 24 died in prison and eight were found ineligible for execution because they are mentally disabled.

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.

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine is warning consumers about a scam that exploits his office's work as a collection agency for state departments.

DeWine says the scam is not new but his office has noticed an increase in such reports over the past few months.

DeWine says scammers posing as Attorney General's employees or state Bureau of Criminal Investigation agents try to trick consumers over the phone into providing personal information or payments for bogus debts. Scammers often demand that people pay the debt immediately using prepaid money cards or face arrest.

Ohio lawmakers and state Attorney General Mike DeWine are promoting legislation to stop the financial exploitation of older Ohioans.

The proposals to be discussed today come at a time when experts estimate as many as 2 million older Americans are abused in various ways each year, ranging from physical assault to the misuse of a person's money, property and assets.

The proposed Ohio bill would also ensure that the life savings and homes of senior citizens are protected.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich says he'll back further legislation this session bolstering the state's legal crackdown on human trafficking.

Kasich spoke at an awareness event Friday at the Statehouse. The Republican governor said the state is marshaling its resources against the crime, but more can be done.

Victims of human trafficking often are prostituted or pushed to work against their will in sweatshop-type jobs. Some are girls as young as 11.