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The Legislative Service Commission staff updates the Revised Code on an ongoing basis, as it completes its act review of enacted legislation. Updates may be slower during some times of the year, depending on the volume of enacted legislation.

Chapter 2903 | Homicide and Assault

 
 
 
Section
Section 2903.01 | Aggravated murder.
 

(A) No person shall purposely, and with prior calculation and design, cause the death of another or the unlawful termination of another's pregnancy.

(B) No person shall purposely cause the death of another or the unlawful termination of another's pregnancy while committing or attempting to commit, or while fleeing immediately after committing or attempting to commit, kidnapping, rape, aggravated arson, arson, aggravated robbery, robbery, aggravated burglary, burglary, trespass in a habitation when a person is present or likely to be present, terrorism, or escape.

(C) No person shall purposely cause the death of another who is under thirteen years of age at the time of the commission of the offense.

(D) No person who is under detention as a result of having been found guilty of or having pleaded guilty to a felony or who breaks that detention shall purposely cause the death of another.

(E) No person shall purposely cause the death of a law enforcement officer whom the offender knows or has reasonable cause to know is a law enforcement officer when either of the following applies:

(1) The victim, at the time of the commission of the offense, is engaged in the victim's duties.

(2) It is the offender's specific purpose to kill a law enforcement officer.

(F) No person shall purposely cause the death of a first responder or military member whom the offender knows or has reasonable cause to know is a first responder or military member when it is the offender's specific purpose to kill a first responder or military member.

(G) Whoever violates this section is guilty of aggravated murder, and shall be punished as provided in section 2929.02 of the Revised Code.

(H) As used in this section:

(1) "Detention" has the same meaning as in section 2921.01 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Law enforcement officer" has the same meaning as in section 2911.01 of the Revised Code and also includes any federal law enforcement officer as defined in section 2921.51 of the Revised Code and anyone who has previously served as a law enforcement officer or federal law enforcement officer.

(3) "First responder" means an emergency medical service provider, a firefighter, or any other emergency response personnel, or anyone who has previously served as a first responder.

(4) "Military member" means a member of the armed forces of the United States, reserves, or Ohio national guard, a participant in ROTC, JROTC, or any similar military training program, or anyone who has previously served in the military.

Section 2903.02 | Murder.
 

(A) No person shall purposely cause the death of another or the unlawful termination of another's pregnancy.

(B) No person shall cause the death of another as a proximate result of the offender's committing or attempting to commit an offense of violence that is a felony of the first or second degree and that is not a violation of section 2903.03 or 2903.04 of the Revised Code.

(C) Division (B) of this section does not apply to an offense that becomes a felony of the first or second degree only if the offender previously has been convicted of that offense or another specified offense.

(D) Whoever violates this section is guilty of murder, and shall be punished as provided in section 2929.02 of the Revised Code.

Section 2903.03 | Voluntary manslaughter.
 

(A) No person, while under the influence of sudden passion or in a sudden fit of rage, either of which is brought on by serious provocation occasioned by the victim that is reasonably sufficient to incite the person into using deadly force, shall knowingly cause the death of another or the unlawful termination of another's pregnancy.

(B) No person, with a sexual motivation, shall violate division (A) of this section.

(C) Whoever violates this section is guilty of voluntary manslaughter, a felony of the first degree.

(D) As used in this section, "sexual motivation" has the same meaning as in section 2971.01 of the Revised Code.

Section 2903.04 | Involuntary manslaughter.
 

(A) No person shall cause the death of another or the unlawful termination of another's pregnancy as a proximate result of the offender's committing or attempting to commit a felony.

(B) No person shall cause the death of another or the unlawful termination of another's pregnancy as a proximate result of the offender's committing or attempting to commit a misdemeanor of any degree, a regulatory offense, or a minor misdemeanor other than a violation of any section contained in Title XLV of the Revised Code that is a minor misdemeanor and other than a violation of an ordinance of a municipal corporation that, regardless of the penalty set by ordinance for the violation, is substantially equivalent to any section contained in Title XLV of the Revised Code that is a minor misdemeanor.

(C) Whoever violates this section is guilty of involuntary manslaughter. Violation of division (A) of this section is a felony of the first degree. Violation of division (B) of this section is a felony of the third degree.

(D) If an offender is convicted of or pleads guilty to a violation of division (A) or (B) of this section and if the felony, misdemeanor, or regulatory offense that the offender committed or attempted to commit, that proximately resulted in the death of the other person or the unlawful termination of another's pregnancy, and that is the basis of the offender's violation of division (A) or (B) of this section was a violation of division (A) or (B) of section 4511.19 of the Revised Code or of a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance or included, as an element of that felony, misdemeanor, or regulatory offense, the offender's operation or participation in the operation of a snowmobile, locomotive, watercraft, or aircraft while the offender was under the influence of alcohol, a drug of abuse, or alcohol and a drug of abuse, both of the following apply:

(1) The court shall impose a class one suspension of the offender's driver's or commercial driver's license or permit or nonresident operating privilege as specified in division (A)(1) of section 4510.02 of the Revised Code.

(2) The court shall impose a mandatory prison term for the violation of division (A) or (B) of this section from the range of prison terms authorized for the level of the offense under section 2929.14 of the Revised Code.

Section 2903.041 | Reckless homicide.
 

(A) No person shall recklessly cause the death of another or the unlawful termination of another's pregnancy.

(B) Whoever violates this section is guilty of reckless homicide, a felony of the third degree.

Section 2903.05 | Negligent homicide.
 

(A) No person shall negligently cause the death of another or the unlawful termination of another's pregnancy by means of a deadly weapon or dangerous ordnance as defined in section 2923.11 of the Revised Code.

(B) Whoever violates this section is guilty of negligent homicide, a misdemeanor of the first degree.

Section 2903.06 | Aggravated vehicular homicide - vehicular homicide - vehicular manslaughter.
 

(A) No person, while operating or participating in the operation of a motor vehicle, motorcycle, snowmobile, locomotive, watercraft, or aircraft, shall cause the death of another or the unlawful termination of another's pregnancy in any of the following ways:

(1)(a) As the proximate result of committing a violation of division (A) of section 4511.19 of the Revised Code or of a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance;

(b) As the proximate result of committing a violation of division (A) of section 1547.11 of the Revised Code or of a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance;

(c) As the proximate result of committing a violation of division (A)(3) of section 4561.15 of the Revised Code or of a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance.

(2) In one of the following ways:

(a) Recklessly;

(b) As the proximate result of committing, while operating or participating in the operation of a motor vehicle or motorcycle in a construction zone, a reckless operation offense, provided that this division applies only if the person whose death is caused or whose pregnancy is unlawfully terminated is in the construction zone at the time of the offender's commission of the reckless operation offense in the construction zone and does not apply as described in division (F) of this section.

(3) In one of the following ways:

(a) Negligently;

(b) As the proximate result of committing, while operating or participating in the operation of a motor vehicle or motorcycle in a construction zone, a speeding offense, provided that this division applies only if the person whose death is caused or whose pregnancy is unlawfully terminated is in the construction zone at the time of the offender's commission of the speeding offense in the construction zone and does not apply as described in division (F) of this section.

(4) As the proximate result of committing a violation of any provision of any section contained in Title XLV of the Revised Code that is a minor misdemeanor or of a municipal ordinance that, regardless of the penalty set by ordinance for the violation, is substantially equivalent to any provision of any section contained in Title XLV of the Revised Code that is a minor misdemeanor.

(B)(1) Whoever violates division (A)(1) or (2) of this section is guilty of aggravated vehicular homicide and shall be punished as provided in divisions (B)(2) and (3) of this section.

(2)(a) Except as otherwise provided in division (B)(2)(b) or (c) of this section, aggravated vehicular homicide committed in violation of division (A)(1) of this section is a felony of the second degree and the court shall impose a mandatory prison term on the offender as described in division (E) of this section.

(b) Except as otherwise provided in division (B)(2)(c) of this section, aggravated vehicular homicide committed in violation of division (A)(1) of this section is a felony of the first degree, and the court shall impose a mandatory prison term on the offender as described in division (E) of this section, if any of the following apply:

(i) At the time of the offense, the offender was driving under a suspension or cancellation imposed under Chapter 4510. or any other provision of the Revised Code or was operating a motor vehicle or motorcycle, did not have a valid driver's license, commercial driver's license, temporary instruction permit, probationary license, or nonresident operating privilege, and was not eligible for renewal of the offender's driver's license or commercial driver's license without examination under section 4507.10 of the Revised Code.

(ii) The offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of this section.

(iii) The offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any traffic-related homicide, manslaughter, or assault offense.

(c) Aggravated vehicular homicide committed in violation of division (A)(1) of this section is a felony of the first degree, and the court shall sentence the offender to a mandatory prison term as provided in section 2929.142 of the Revised Code and described in division (E) of this section if any of the following apply:

(i) The offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to three or more prior violations of division (A) of section 4511.19 of the Revised Code or of a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance within the previous ten years.

(ii) The offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to three or more prior violations of division (A) of section 1547.11 of the Revised Code or of a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance within the previous ten years.

(iii) The offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to three or more prior violations of division (A)(3) of section 4561.15 of the Revised Code or of a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance within the previous ten years.

(iv) The offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to three or more prior violations of division (A)(1) of this section within the previous ten years.

(v) The offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to three or more prior violations of division (A)(1) of section 2903.08 of the Revised Code within the previous ten years.

(vi) The offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to three or more prior violations of section 2903.04 of the Revised Code within the previous ten years in circumstances in which division (D) of that section applied regarding the violations.

(vii) The offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to three or more violations of any combination of the offenses listed in division (B)(2)(c)(i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), or (vi) of this section within the previous ten years.

(viii) The offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a second or subsequent felony violation of division (A) of section 4511.19 of the Revised Code.

(d) In addition to any other sanctions imposed pursuant to division (B)(2)(a), (b), or (c) of this section for aggravated vehicular homicide committed in violation of division (A)(1) of this section, the court shall impose upon the offender a class one suspension of the offender's driver's license, commercial driver's license, temporary instruction permit, probationary license, or nonresident operating privilege as specified in division (A)(1) of section 4510.02 of the Revised Code.

Divisions (A)(1) to (3) of section 4510.54 of the Revised Code apply to a suspension imposed under division (B)(2)(d) of this section.

(3) Except as otherwise provided in this division, aggravated vehicular homicide committed in violation of division (A)(2) of this section is a felony of the third degree. Aggravated vehicular homicide committed in violation of division (A)(2) of this section is a felony of the second degree if, at the time of the offense, the offender was driving under a suspension or cancellation imposed under Chapter 4510. or any other provision of the Revised Code or was operating a motor vehicle or motorcycle, did not have a valid driver's license, commercial driver's license, temporary instruction permit, probationary license, or nonresident operating privilege, and was not eligible for renewal of the offender's driver's license or commercial driver's license without examination under section 4507.10 of the Revised Code or if the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of this section or any traffic-related homicide, manslaughter, or assault offense. The court shall impose a mandatory prison term on the offender when required by division (E) of this section.

In addition to any other sanctions imposed pursuant to this division for a violation of division (A)(2) of this section, the court shall impose upon the offender a class two suspension of the offender's driver's license, commercial driver's license, temporary instruction permit, probationary license, or nonresident operating privilege from the range specified in division (A)(2) of section 4510.02 of the Revised Code or, if the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a traffic-related murder, felonious assault, or attempted murder offense, a class one suspension of the offender's driver's license, commercial driver's license, temporary instruction permit, probationary license, or nonresident operating privilege as specified in division (A)(1) of that section.

(C) Whoever violates division (A)(3) of this section is guilty of vehicular homicide. Except as otherwise provided in this division, vehicular homicide is a misdemeanor of the first degree. Vehicular homicide committed in violation of division (A)(3) of this section is a felony of the fourth degree if, at the time of the offense, the offender was driving under a suspension or cancellation imposed under Chapter 4510. or any other provision of the Revised Code or was operating a motor vehicle or motorcycle, did not have a valid driver's license, commercial driver's license, temporary instruction permit, probationary license, or nonresident operating privilege, and was not eligible for renewal of the offender's driver's license or commercial driver's license without examination under section 4507.10 of the Revised Code or if the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of this section or any traffic-related homicide, manslaughter, or assault offense. The court shall impose a mandatory jail term or a mandatory prison term on the offender when required by division (E) of this section.

In addition to any other sanctions imposed pursuant to this division, the court shall impose upon the offender a class four suspension of the offender's driver's license, commercial driver's license, temporary instruction permit, probationary license, or nonresident operating privilege from the range specified in division (A)(4) of section 4510.02 of the Revised Code, or, if the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of this section or any traffic-related homicide, manslaughter, or assault offense, a class three suspension of the offender's driver's license, commercial driver's license, temporary instruction permit, probationary license, or nonresident operating privilege from the range specified in division (A)(3) of that section, or, if the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a traffic-related murder, felonious assault, or attempted murder offense, a class two suspension of the offender's driver's license, commercial driver's license, temporary instruction permit, probationary license, or nonresident operating privilege as specified in division (A)(2) of that section.

(D) Whoever violates division (A)(4) of this section is guilty of vehicular manslaughter. Except as otherwise provided in this division, vehicular manslaughter is a misdemeanor of the second degree. Vehicular manslaughter is a misdemeanor of the first degree if, at the time of the offense, the offender was driving under a suspension or cancellation imposed under Chapter 4510. or any other provision of the Revised Code or was operating a motor vehicle or motorcycle, did not have a valid driver's license, commercial driver's license, temporary instruction permit, probationary license, or nonresident operating privilege, and was not eligible for renewal of the offender's driver's license or commercial driver's license without examination under section 4507.10 of the Revised Code or if the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of this section or any traffic-related homicide, manslaughter, or assault offense.

In addition to any other sanctions imposed pursuant to this division, the court shall impose upon the offender a class six suspension of the offender's driver's license, commercial driver's license, temporary instruction permit, probationary license, or nonresident operating privilege from the range specified in division (A)(6) of section 4510.02 of the Revised Code or, if the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of this section, any traffic-related homicide, manslaughter, or assault offense, or a traffic-related murder, felonious assault, or attempted murder offense, a class four suspension of the offender's driver's license, commercial driver's license, temporary instruction permit, probationary license, or nonresident operating privilege from the range specified in division (A)(4) of that section.

(E)(1) The court shall impose a mandatory prison term on an offender who is convicted of or pleads guilty to a violation of division (A)(1) of this section. Except as otherwise provided in this division, the mandatory prison term shall be a definite term from the range of prison terms provided in division (A)(1)(b) of section 2929.14 of the Revised Code for a felony of the first degree or from division (A)(2)(b) of that section for a felony of the second degree, whichever is applicable, except that if the violation is committed on or after March 22, 2019, the court shall impose as the minimum prison term for the offense a mandatory prison term that is one of the minimum terms prescribed for a felony of the first degree in division (A)(1)(a) of section 2929.14 of the Revised Code or one of the terms prescribed for a felony of the second degree in division (A)(2)(a) of that section, whichever is applicable. If division (B)(2)(c)(i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi), (vii), or (viii) of this section applies to an offender who is convicted of or pleads guilty to the violation of division (A)(1) of this section, the court shall impose the mandatory prison term pursuant to division (B) of section 2929.142 of the Revised Code. The court shall impose a mandatory jail term of at least fifteen days on an offender who is convicted of or pleads guilty to a misdemeanor violation of division (A)(3)(b) of this section and may impose upon the offender a longer jail term as authorized pursuant to section 2929.24 of the Revised Code.

(2) The court shall impose a mandatory prison term on an offender who is convicted of or pleads guilty to a violation of division (A)(2) or (3)(a) of this section or a felony violation of division (A)(3)(b) of this section if either division (E)(2)(a) or (b) of this section applies. The mandatory prison term shall be a definite term from the range of prison terms provided in division (A)(3)(a) of section 2929.14 of the Revised Code for a felony of the third degree or from division (A)(4) of that section for a felony of the fourth degree, whichever is applicable. The court shall impose a mandatory prison term on an offender in a category described in this division if either of the following applies:

(a) The offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of this section or section 2903.08 of the Revised Code.

(b) At the time of the offense, the offender was driving under suspension or cancellation under Chapter 4510. or any other provision of the Revised Code or was operating a motor vehicle or motorcycle, did not have a valid driver's license, commercial driver's license, temporary instruction permit, probationary license, or nonresident operating privilege, and was not eligible for renewal of the offender's driver's license or commercial driver's license without examination under section 4507.10 of the Revised Code.

(F) Divisions (A)(2)(b) and (3)(b) of this section do not apply in a particular construction zone unless signs of the type described in section 2903.081 of the Revised Code are erected in that construction zone in accordance with the guidelines and design specifications established by the director of transportation under section 5501.27 of the Revised Code. The failure to erect signs of the type described in section 2903.081 of the Revised Code in a particular construction zone in accordance with those guidelines and design specifications does not limit or affect the application of division (A)(1), (A)(2)(a), (A)(3)(a), or (A)(4) of this section in that construction zone or the prosecution of any person who violates any of those divisions in that construction zone.

(G)(1) As used in this section:

(a) "Mandatory prison term" and "mandatory jail term" have the same meanings as in section 2929.01 of the Revised Code.

(b) "Traffic-related homicide, manslaughter, or assault offense" means a violation of section 2903.04 of the Revised Code in circumstances in which division (D) of that section applies, a violation of section 2903.06 or 2903.08 of the Revised Code, or a violation of section 2903.06, 2903.07, or 2903.08 of the Revised Code as they existed prior to March 23, 2000.

(c) "Construction zone" has the same meaning as in section 5501.27 of the Revised Code.

(d) "Reckless operation offense" means a violation of section 4511.20 of the Revised Code or a municipal ordinance substantially equivalent to section 4511.20 of the Revised Code.

(e) "Speeding offense" means a violation of section 4511.21 of the Revised Code or a municipal ordinance pertaining to speed.

(f) "Traffic-related murder, felonious assault, or attempted murder offense" means a violation of section 2903.01 or 2903.02 of the Revised Code in circumstances in which the offender used a motor vehicle as the means to commit the violation, a violation of division (A)(2) of section 2903.11 of the Revised Code in circumstances in which the deadly weapon used in the commission of the violation is a motor vehicle, or an attempt to commit aggravated murder or murder in violation of section 2923.02 of the Revised Code in circumstances in which the offender used a motor vehicle as the means to attempt to commit the aggravated murder or murder.

(g) "Motor vehicle" has the same meaning as in section 4501.01 of the Revised Code.

(2) For the purposes of this section, when a penalty or suspension is enhanced because of a prior or current violation of a specified law or a prior or current specified offense, the reference to the violation of the specified law or the specified offense includes any violation of any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, former law of this state, or current or former law of another state or the United States.

Last updated January 25, 2023 at 10:21 AM

Section 2903.08 | Aggravated vehicular assault; vehicular assault.
 

(A) No person, while operating or participating in the operation of a motor vehicle, motorcycle, snowmobile, locomotive, watercraft, or aircraft, shall cause serious physical harm to another person or another's unborn in any of the following ways:

(1)(a) As the proximate result of committing a violation of division (A) of section 4511.19 of the Revised Code or of a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance;

(b) As the proximate result of committing a violation of division (A) of section 1547.11 of the Revised Code or of a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance;

(c) As the proximate result of committing a violation of division (A)(3) of section 4561.15 of the Revised Code or of a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance.

(2) In one of the following ways:

(a) As the proximate result of committing, while operating or participating in the operation of a motor vehicle or motorcycle in a construction zone, a reckless operation offense, provided that this division applies only if the person to whom the serious physical harm is caused or to whose unborn the serious physical harm is caused is in the construction zone at the time of the offender's commission of the reckless operation offense in the construction zone and does not apply as described in division (E) of this section;

(b) Recklessly.

(3) As the proximate result of committing, while operating or participating in the operation of a motor vehicle or motorcycle in a construction zone, a speeding offense, provided that this division applies only if the person to whom the serious physical harm is caused or to whose unborn the serious physical harm is caused is in the construction zone at the time of the offender's commission of the speeding offense in the construction zone and does not apply as described in division (E) of this section.

(B)(1) Whoever violates division (A)(1) of this section is guilty of aggravated vehicular assault. Except as otherwise provided in this division, aggravated vehicular assault is a felony of the third degree. Aggravated vehicular assault is a felony of the second degree if any of the following apply:

(a) At the time of the offense, the offender was driving under a suspension imposed under Chapter 4510. or any other provision of the Revised Code.

(b) The offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of this section.

(c) The offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any traffic-related homicide, manslaughter, or assault offense.

(d) The offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to three or more prior violations of division (A) of section 4511.19 of the Revised Code or a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance within the previous ten years.

(e) The offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to three or more prior violations of division (A) of section 1547.11 of the Revised Code or of a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance within the previous ten years.

(f) The offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to three or more prior violations of division (A)(3) of section 4561.15 of the Revised Code or of a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance within the previous ten years.

(g) The offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to three or more prior violations of any combination of the offenses listed in division (B)(1)(d), (e), or (f) of this section.

(h) The offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a second or subsequent felony violation of division (A) of section 4511.19 of the Revised Code.

(2) In addition to any other sanctions imposed pursuant to division (B)(1) of this section, except as otherwise provided in this division, the court shall impose upon the offender a class three suspension of the offender's driver's license, commercial driver's license, temporary instruction permit, probationary license, or nonresident operating privilege from the range specified in division (A)(3) of section 4510.02 of the Revised Code. If the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of this section, any traffic-related homicide, manslaughter, or assault offense, or any traffic-related murder, felonious assault, or attempted murder offense, the court shall impose either a class two suspension of the offender's driver's license, commercial driver's license, temporary instruction permit, probationary license, or nonresident operating privilege from the range specified in division (A)(2) of that section or a class one suspension as specified in division (A)(1) of that section.

(C)(1) Whoever violates division (A)(2) or (3) of this section is guilty of vehicular assault and shall be punished as provided in divisions (C)(2) and (3) of this section.

(2) Except as otherwise provided in this division, vehicular assault committed in violation of division (A)(2) of this section is a felony of the fourth degree. Vehicular assault committed in violation of division (A)(2) of this section is a felony of the third degree if, at the time of the offense, the offender was driving under a suspension imposed under Chapter 4510. or any other provision of the Revised Code, if the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of this section or any traffic-related homicide, manslaughter, or assault offense, or if, in the same course of conduct that resulted in the violation of division (A)(2) of this section, the offender also violated section 4549.02, 4549.021, or 4549.03 of the Revised Code.

In addition to any other sanctions imposed, the court shall impose upon the offender a class four suspension of the offender's driver's license, commercial driver's license, temporary instruction permit, probationary license, or nonresident operating privilege from the range specified in division (A)(4) of section 4510.02 of the Revised Code or, if the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of this section, any traffic-related homicide, manslaughter, or assault offense, or any traffic-related murder, felonious assault, or attempted murder offense, a class three suspension of the offender's driver's license, commercial driver's license, temporary instruction permit, probationary license, or nonresident operating privilege from the range specified in division (A)(3) of that section.

(3) Except as otherwise provided in this division, vehicular assault committed in violation of division (A)(3) of this section is a misdemeanor of the first degree. Vehicular assault committed in violation of division (A)(3) of this section is a felony of the fourth degree if, at the time of the offense, the offender was driving under a suspension imposed under Chapter 4510. or any other provision of the Revised Code or if the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of this section or any traffic-related homicide, manslaughter, or assault offense.

In addition to any other sanctions imposed, the court shall impose upon the offender a class four suspension of the offender's driver's license, commercial driver's license, temporary instruction permit, probationary license, or nonresident operating privilege from the range specified in division (A)(4) of section 4510.02 of the Revised Code or, if the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of this section, any traffic-related homicide, manslaughter, or assault offense, or any traffic-related murder, felonious assault, or attempted murder offense, a class three suspension of the offender's driver's license, commercial driver's license, temporary instruction permit, probationary license, or nonresident operating privilege from the range specified in division (A)(3) of section 4510.02 of the Revised Code.

(D)(1) The court shall impose a mandatory prison term, as described in division (D)(4) of this section, on an offender who is convicted of or pleads guilty to a violation of division (A)(1) of this section.

(2) The court shall impose a mandatory prison term, as described in division (D)(4) of this section, on an offender who is convicted of or pleads guilty to a violation of division (A)(2) of this section or a felony violation of division (A)(3) of this section if either of the following applies:

(a) The offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of this section or section 2903.06 of the Revised Code.

(b) At the time of the offense, the offender was driving under suspension under Chapter 4510. or any other provision of the Revised Code.

(3) The court shall impose a mandatory jail term of at least seven days on an offender who is convicted of or pleads guilty to a misdemeanor violation of division (A)(3) of this section and may impose upon the offender a longer jail term as authorized pursuant to section 2929.24 of the Revised Code.

(4) A mandatory prison term required under division (D)(1) or (2) of this section shall be a definite term from the range of prison terms provided in division (A)(2)(b) of section 2929.14 of the Revised Code for a felony of the second degree, from division (A)(3)(a) of that section for a felony of the third degree, or from division (A)(4) of that section for a felony of the fourth degree, whichever is applicable, except that if the violation is a felony of the second degree committed on or after March 22, 2019, the court shall impose as the minimum prison term for the offense a mandatory prison term that is one of the minimum terms prescribed for a felony of the second degree in division (A)(2)(a) of section 2929.14 of the Revised Code.

(E) Divisions (A)(2)(a) and (3) of this section do not apply in a particular construction zone unless signs of the type described in section 2903.081 of the Revised Code are erected in that construction zone in accordance with the guidelines and design specifications established by the director of transportation under section 5501.27 of the Revised Code. The failure to erect signs of the type described in section 2903.081 of the Revised Code in a particular construction zone in accordance with those guidelines and design specifications does not limit or affect the application of division (A)(1) or (2)(b) of this section in that construction zone or the prosecution of any person who violates either of those divisions in that construction zone.

(F) As used in this section:

(1) "Mandatory prison term" and "mandatory jail term" have the same meanings as in section 2929.01 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Traffic-related homicide, manslaughter, or assault offense" and "traffic-related murder, felonious assault, or attempted murder offense" have the same meanings as in section 2903.06 of the Revised Code.

(3) "Construction zone" has the same meaning as in section 5501.27 of the Revised Code.

(4) "Reckless operation offense" and "speeding offense" have the same meanings as in section 2903.06 of the Revised Code.

(G) For the purposes of this section, when a penalty or suspension is enhanced because of a prior or current violation of a specified law or a prior or current specified offense, the reference to the violation of the specified law or the specified offense includes any violation of any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, former law of this state, or current or former law of another state or the United States.

Last updated March 27, 2023 at 2:45 PM

Section 2903.081 | Warning signs in construction zones.
 

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Construction zone" has the same meaning as in section 5501.27 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Reckless operation offense" and "speeding offense" have the same meanings as in section 2903.06 of the Revised Code.

(B) The director of transportation, board of county commissioners, or board of township trustees shall cause signs to be erected in construction zones notifying motorists of the prohibitions set forth in sections 2903.06 and 2903.08 of the Revised Code regarding the death of or injury to any person in the construction zone as a proximate result of a reckless operation offense or speeding offense in the construction zone. The prohibitions set forth in divisions (A)(2)(b) and (3)(b) of section 2903.06 and divisions (A)(2)(a) and (3) of section 2903.08 of the Revised Code apply to persons who commit a reckless operation offense or speeding offense in a particular construction zone only when signs of that nature are erected in that construction zone in accordance with the guidelines and design specifications established by the director under section 5501.27 of the Revised Code. The failure to erect signs of that nature in a particular construction zone in accordance with those guidelines and design specifications does not limit or affect the application of division (A)(1), (A)(2)(a), (A)(3)(a), or (A)(4) of section 2903.06 or division (A)(1) or (2)(b) of section 2903.08 of the Revised Code in that construction zone or the prosecution of any person who violates either of those divisions in that construction zone.

Section 2903.09 | Unlawful termination of another's pregnancy.
 

As used in sections 2903.01 to 2903.08, 2903.11 to 2903.14, 2903.21, and 2903.22 of the Revised Code:

(A) "Unlawful termination of another's pregnancy" means causing the death of an unborn member of the species homo sapiens, who is or was carried in the womb of another, as a result of injuries inflicted during the period that begins with fertilization and that continues unless and until live birth occurs.

(B) "Another's unborn" or "such other person's unborn" means a member of the species homo sapiens, who is or was carried in the womb of another, during a period that begins with fertilization and that continues unless and until live birth occurs.

(C) Notwithstanding divisions (A) and (B) of this section, in no case shall the definitions of the terms "unlawful termination of another's pregnancy," "another's unborn," and "such other person's unborn" that are set forth in division (A) of this section be applied or construed in any of the following manners:

(1) Except as otherwise provided in division (C)(1) of this section, in a manner so that the offense prohibits or is construed as prohibiting any pregnant woman or her physician from performing an abortion with the actual consent of the pregnant woman, with the consent of the pregnant woman implied by law in a medical emergency, or with the approval of one otherwise authorized by law to consent to medical treatment on behalf of the pregnant woman. An abortion that violates the conditions described in the immediately preceding sentence may be punished as a violation of section 2903.01, 2903.02, 2903.03, 2903.04, 2903.05, 2903.06, 2903.08, 2903.11, 2903.12, 2903.13, 2903.14, 2903.21, or 2903.22 of the Revised Code, as applicable. An abortion that does not violate the conditions described in the second immediately preceding sentence, but that does violate section 2919.12, division (B) of section 2919.13, or section 2919.15, 2919.151, 2919.17, or 2919.18 of the Revised Code, may be punished as a violation of section 2919.12, division (B) of section 2919.13, or section 2919.15, 2919.151, 2919.17, or 2919.18 of the Revised Code, as applicable.

(2) In a manner so that the offense is applied or is construed as applying to a woman based on an act or omission of the woman that occurs while she is or was pregnant and that results in any of the following:

(a) Her delivery of a stillborn baby;

(b) Her causing, in any other manner, the death in utero of an unborn that she is carrying;

(c) Her causing the death of her child who is born alive but who dies from one or more injuries that are sustained while the child is an unborn;

(d) Her causing her child who is born alive to sustain one or more injuries while the child is an unborn;

(e) Her causing, threatening to cause, or attempting to cause, in any other manner, an injury, illness, or other physiological impairment, regardless of its duration or gravity, or a mental illness or condition, regardless of its duration or gravity, to an unborn that she is carrying.

Section 2903.10 | Functionally impaired person, caretaker defined.
 

As used in sections 2903.13 and 2903.16 of the Revised Code:

(A) "Person with a functional impairment" means any person who has a physical or mental impairment that prevents the person from providing for the person's own care or protection or whose infirmities caused by aging prevent the person from providing for the person's own care or protection.

(B) "Caretaker" means a person who assumes the duty to provide for the care and protection of a person with a functional impairment on a voluntary basis, by contract, through receipt of payment for care and protection, as a result of a family relationship, or by order of a court of competent jurisdiction. "Caretaker" does not include a person who owns, operates, or administers, or who is an agent or employee of, a care facility, as defined in section 2903.33 of the Revised Code.

Last updated March 10, 2023 at 11:14 AM

Section 2903.11 | Felonious assault.
 

(A) No person shall knowingly do either of the following:

(1) Cause serious physical harm to another or to another's unborn;

(2) Cause or attempt to cause physical harm to another or to another's unborn by means of a deadly weapon or dangerous ordnance.

(B) No person, with knowledge that the person has tested positive as a carrier of a virus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, shall knowingly do any of the following:

(1) Engage in sexual conduct with another person without disclosing that knowledge to the other person prior to engaging in the sexual conduct;

(2) Engage in sexual conduct with a person whom the offender knows or has reasonable cause to believe lacks the mental capacity to appreciate the significance of the knowledge that the offender has tested positive as a carrier of a virus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome;

(3) Engage in sexual conduct with a person under eighteen years of age who is not the spouse of the offender.

(C) The prosecution of a person under this section does not preclude prosecution of that person under section 2907.02 of the Revised Code.

(D)(1)(a) Whoever violates this section is guilty of felonious assault. Except as otherwise provided in this division or division (D)(1)(b) of this section, felonious assault is a felony of the second degree. If the victim of a violation of division (A) of this section is a peace officer or an investigator of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation, felonious assault is a felony of the first degree.

(b) Regardless of whether the felonious assault is a felony of the first or second degree under division (D)(1)(a) of this section, if the offender also is convicted of or pleads guilty to a specification as described in section 2941.1423 of the Revised Code that was included in the indictment, count in the indictment, or information charging the offense, except as otherwise provided in this division or unless a longer prison term is required under any other provision of law, the court shall sentence the offender to a mandatory prison term as provided in division (B)(8) of section 2929.14 of the Revised Code. If the victim of the offense is a peace officer or an investigator of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation, and if the victim suffered serious physical harm as a result of the commission of the offense, felonious assault is a felony of the first degree, and the court, pursuant to division (F) of section 2929.13 of the Revised Code, shall impose as a mandatory prison term one of the definite prison terms prescribed for a felony of the first degree in division (A)(1)(b) of section 2929.14 of the Revised Code, except that if the violation is committed on or after the effective date of this amendment, the court shall impose as the minimum prison term for the offense a mandatory prison term that is one of the minimum terms prescribed for a felony of the first degree in division (A)(1)(a) of section 2929.14 of the Revised Code.

(2) In addition to any other sanctions imposed pursuant to division (D)(1) of this section for felonious assault committed in violation of division (A)(1) or (2) of this section, if the offender also is convicted of or pleads guilty to a specification of the type described in section 2941.1425 of the Revised Code that was included in the indictment, count in the indictment, or information charging the offense, the court shall sentence the offender to a mandatory prison term under division (B)(9) of section 2929.14 of the Revised Code.

(3) If the victim of a felonious assault committed in violation of division (A) of this section is a child under ten years of age and if the offender also is convicted of or pleads guilty to a specification of the type described in section 2941.1426 of the Revised Code that was included in the indictment, count in the indictment, or information charging the offense, in addition to any other sanctions imposed pursuant to division (D)(1) of this section, the court shall sentence the offender to a mandatory prison term pursuant to division (B)(10) of section 2929.14 of the Revised Code.

(4) In addition to any other sanctions imposed pursuant to division (D)(1) of this section for felonious assault committed in violation of division (A)(2) of this section, if the deadly weapon used in the commission of the violation is a motor vehicle, the court shall impose upon the offender a class two suspension of the offender's driver's license, commercial driver's license, temporary instruction permit, probationary license, or nonresident operating privilege as specified in division (A)(2) of section 4510.02 of the Revised Code.

(E) As used in this section:

(1) "Deadly weapon" and "dangerous ordnance" have the same meanings as in section 2923.11 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Motor vehicle" has the same meaning as in section 4501.01 of the Revised Code.

(3) "Peace officer" has the same meaning as in section 2935.01 of the Revised Code.

(4) "Sexual conduct" has the same meaning as in section 2907.01 of the Revised Code, except that, as used in this section, it does not include the insertion of an instrument, apparatus, or other object that is not a part of the body into the vaginal or anal opening of another, unless the offender knew at the time of the insertion that the instrument, apparatus, or other object carried the offender's bodily fluid.

(5) "Investigator of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation" means an investigator of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation who is commissioned by the superintendent of the bureau as a special agent for the purpose of assisting law enforcement officers or providing emergency assistance to peace officers pursuant to authority granted under section 109.541 of the Revised Code.

(6) "Investigator" has the same meaning as in section 109.541 of the Revised Code.

(F) The provisions of division (D)(2) of this section and of division (F)(20) of section 2929.13, divisions (B)(9) and (C)(6) of section 2929.14, and section 2941.1425 of the Revised Code shall be known as "Judy's Law."

The Legislative Service Commission presents the text of this section as a composite of the section as amended by multiple acts of the General Assembly. This presentation recognizes the principle stated in R.C. 1.52(B) that amendments are to be harmonized if reasonably capable of simultaneous operation.

Section 2903.12 | Aggravated assault.
 

(A) No person, while under the influence of sudden passion or in a sudden fit of rage, either of which is brought on by serious provocation occasioned by the victim that is reasonably sufficient to incite the person into using deadly force, shall knowingly:

(1) Cause serious physical harm to another or to another's unborn;

(2) Cause or attempt to cause physical harm to another or to another's unborn by means of a deadly weapon or dangerous ordnance, as defined in section 2923.11 of the Revised Code.

(B) Whoever violates this section is guilty of aggravated assault. Except as otherwise provided in this division, aggravated assault is a felony of the fourth degree. If the victim of the offense is a peace officer or an investigator of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation, aggravated assault is a felony of the third degree. Regardless of whether the offense is a felony of the third or fourth degree under this division, if the offender also is convicted of or pleads guilty to a specification as described in section 2941.1423 of the Revised Code that was included in the indictment, count in the indictment, or information charging the offense, except as otherwise provided in this division, the court shall sentence the offender to a mandatory prison term as provided in division (B)(8) of section 2929.14 of the Revised Code. If the victim of the offense is a peace officer or an investigator of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation, and if the victim suffered serious physical harm as a result of the commission of the offense, aggravated assault is a felony of the third degree, and the court, pursuant to division (F) of section 2929.13 of the Revised Code, shall impose as a mandatory prison term one of the definite prison terms prescribed in division (A)(3)(b) of section 2929.14 of the Revised Code for a felony of the third degree.

(C) As used in this section:

(1) "Investigator of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation" has the same meaning as in section 2903.11 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Peace officer" has the same meaning as in section 2935.01 of the Revised Code.

Section 2903.13 | Assault.
 

(A) No person shall knowingly cause or attempt to cause physical harm to another or to another's unborn.

(B) No person shall recklessly cause serious physical harm to another or to another's unborn.

(C)(1) Whoever violates this section is guilty of assault, and the court shall sentence the offender as provided in this division and divisions (C)(1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), and (10) of this section. Except as otherwise provided in division (C)(2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), or (9) of this section, assault is a misdemeanor of the first degree.

(2) Except as otherwise provided in this division, if the offense is committed by a caretaker against a person with a functional impairment under the caretaker's care, assault is a felony of the fourth degree. If the offense is committed by a caretaker against a person with a functional impairment under the caretaker's care, if the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of this section or section 2903.11 or 2903.16 of the Revised Code, and if in relation to the previous conviction the offender was a caretaker and the victim was a person with a functional impairment under the offender's care, assault is a felony of the third degree.

(3) If the offense occurs in or on the grounds of a state correctional institution or an institution of the department of youth services, the victim of the offense is an employee of the department of rehabilitation and correction or the department of youth services, and the offense is committed by a person incarcerated in the state correctional institution or by a person institutionalized in the department of youth services institution pursuant to a commitment to the department of youth services, assault is a felony of the third degree.

(4) If the offense is committed in any of the following circumstances, assault is a felony of the fifth degree:

(a) The offense occurs in or on the grounds of a local correctional facility, the victim of the offense is an employee of the local correctional facility or a probation department or is on the premises of the facility for business purposes or as a visitor, and the offense is committed by a person who is under custody in the facility subsequent to the person's arrest for any crime or delinquent act, subsequent to the person's being charged with or convicted of any crime, or subsequent to the person's being alleged to be or adjudicated a delinquent child.

(b) The offense occurs off the grounds of a state correctional institution and off the grounds of an institution of the department of youth services, the victim of the offense is an employee of the department of rehabilitation and correction, the department of youth services, or a probation department, the offense occurs during the employee's official work hours and while the employee is engaged in official work responsibilities, and the offense is committed by a person incarcerated in a state correctional institution or institutionalized in the department of youth services who temporarily is outside of the institution for any purpose, by a parolee, by an offender under transitional control, under a community control sanction, or on an escorted visit, by a person under post-release control, or by an offender under any other type of supervision by a government agency.

(c) The offense occurs off the grounds of a local correctional facility, the victim of the offense is an employee of the local correctional facility or a probation department, the offense occurs during the employee's official work hours and while the employee is engaged in official work responsibilities, and the offense is committed by a person who is under custody in the facility subsequent to the person's arrest for any crime or delinquent act, subsequent to the person being charged with or convicted of any crime, or subsequent to the person being alleged to be or adjudicated a delinquent child and who temporarily is outside of the facility for any purpose or by a parolee, by an offender under transitional control, under a community control sanction, or on an escorted visit, by a person under post-release control, or by an offender under any other type of supervision by a government agency.

(d) The victim of the offense is a school teacher or administrator or a school bus operator, and the offense occurs in a school, on school premises, in a school building, on a school bus, or while the victim is outside of school premises or a school bus and is engaged in duties or official responsibilities associated with the victim's employment or position as a school teacher or administrator or a school bus operator, including, but not limited to, driving, accompanying, or chaperoning students at or on class or field trips, athletic events, or other school extracurricular activities or functions outside of school premises.

(5) If the assault is committed in any of the following circumstances, assault is a felony of the fourth degree:

(a) The victim of the offense is a peace officer or an investigator of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation, a firefighter, or a person performing emergency medical service, while in the performance of the officer's, investigator's, firefighter's, or person's official duties.

(b) The victim of the offense is an emergency service responder, the offender knows or reasonably should know that the victim is an emergency service responder, and it is the offender's specific purpose to commit the offense against an emergency service responder.

(c) The victim of the offense is a family or household member or co-worker of a person who is an emergency service responder, the offender knows or reasonably should know that the victim is a family or household member or co-worker of an emergency service responder, and it is the offender's specific purpose to commit the offense against a family or household member or co-worker of an emergency service responder.

(6) If the offense is a felony of the fourth degree under division (C)(5)(a) of this section, if the victim of the offense is a peace officer or an investigator of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation, and if the victim suffered serious physical harm as a result of the commission of the offense, the court, pursuant to division (F) of section 2929.13 of the Revised Code, shall impose as a mandatory prison term one of the prison terms prescribed for a felony of the fourth degree that is at least twelve months in duration.

(7) If the victim of the offense is an officer or employee of a public children services agency or a private child placing agency and the offense relates to the officer's or employee's performance or anticipated performance of official responsibilities or duties, assault is either a felony of the fifth degree or, if the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to an offense of violence, the victim of that prior offense was an officer or employee of a public children services agency or private child placing agency, and that prior offense related to the officer's or employee's performance or anticipated performance of official responsibilities or duties, a felony of the fourth degree.

(8) If the victim of the offense is a health care professional of a hospital, a health care worker of a hospital, or a security officer of a hospital whom the offender knows or has reasonable cause to know is a health care professional of a hospital, a health care worker of a hospital, or a security officer of a hospital, if the victim is engaged in the performance of the victim's duties, and if the hospital offers de-escalation or crisis intervention training for such professionals, workers, or officers, assault is one of the following:

(a) Except as otherwise provided in division (C)(8)(b) of this section, assault committed in the specified circumstances is a misdemeanor of the first degree. Notwithstanding the fine specified in division (A)(2)(a) of section 2929.28 of the Revised Code for a misdemeanor of the first degree, in sentencing the offender under this division and if the court decides to impose a fine, the court may impose upon the offender a fine of not more than five thousand dollars.

(b) If the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to one or more assault or homicide offenses committed against hospital personnel, assault committed in the specified circumstances is a felony of the fifth degree.

(9) If the victim of the offense is a judge, magistrate, prosecutor, or court official or employee whom the offender knows or has reasonable cause to know is a judge, magistrate, prosecutor, or court official or employee, and if the victim is engaged in the performance of the victim's duties, assault is one of the following:

(a) Except as otherwise provided in division (C)(9)(b) of this section, assault committed in the specified circumstances is a misdemeanor of the first degree. In sentencing the offender under this division, if the court decides to impose a fine, notwithstanding the fine specified in division (A)(2)(a) of section 2929.28 of the Revised Code for a misdemeanor of the first degree, the court may impose upon the offender a fine of not more than five thousand dollars.

(b) If the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to one or more assault or homicide offenses committed against justice system personnel, assault committed in the specified circumstances is a felony of the fifth degree.

(10) If an offender who is convicted of or pleads guilty to assault when it is a misdemeanor also is convicted of or pleads guilty to a specification as described in section 2941.1423 of the Revised Code that was included in the indictment, count in the indictment, or information charging the offense, the court shall sentence the offender to a mandatory jail term as provided in division (F) of section 2929.24 of the Revised Code.

If an offender who is convicted of or pleads guilty to assault when it is a felony also is convicted of or pleads guilty to a specification as described in section 2941.1423 of the Revised Code that was included in the indictment, count in the indictment, or information charging the offense, except as otherwise provided in division (C)(6) of this section, the court shall sentence the offender to a mandatory prison term as provided in division (B)(8) of section 2929.14 of the Revised Code.

(D) A prosecution for a violation of this section does not preclude a prosecution of a violation of any other section of the Revised Code. One or more acts, a series of acts, or a course of behavior that can be prosecuted under this section or any other section of the Revised Code may be prosecuted under this section, the other section of the Revised Code, or both sections. However, if an offender is convicted of or pleads guilty to a violation of this section and also is convicted of or pleads guilty to a violation of section 2903.22 of the Revised Code based on the same conduct involving the same victim that was the basis of the violation of this section, the two offenses are allied offenses of similar import under section 2941.25 of the Revised Code.

(E) As used in this section:

(1) "Peace officer" has the same meaning as in section 2935.01 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Firefighter" means any person who is a firefighter as defined in section 3937.41 of the Revised Code and, for purposes of division (E)(21) of this section, also includes a member of a fire department as defined in section 742.01 of the Revised Code.

(3) "Emergency medical service" has the same meaning as in section 4765.01 of the Revised Code.

(4) "Local correctional facility" means a county, multicounty, municipal, municipal-county, or multicounty-municipal jail or workhouse, a minimum security jail established under section 341.23 or 753.21 of the Revised Code, or another county, multicounty, municipal, municipal-county, or multicounty-municipal facility used for the custody of persons arrested for any crime or delinquent act, persons charged with or convicted of any crime, or persons alleged to be or adjudicated a delinquent child.

(5) "Employee of a local correctional facility" means a person who is an employee of the political subdivision or of one or more of the affiliated political subdivisions that operates the local correctional facility and who operates or assists in the operation of the facility.

(6) "School teacher or administrator" means either of the following:

(a) A person who is employed in the public schools of the state under a contract described in section 3311.77 or 3319.08 of the Revised Code in a position in which the person is required to have a certificate issued pursuant to sections 3319.22 to 3319.311 of the Revised Code.

(b) A person who is employed by a nonpublic school for which the director of education and workforce prescribes minimum standards under section 3301.07 of the Revised Code and who is certificated in accordance with section 3301.071 of the Revised Code.

(7) "Community control sanction" has the same meaning as in section 2929.01 of the Revised Code.

(8) "Escorted visit" means an escorted visit granted under section 2967.27 of the Revised Code.

(9) "Post-release control" and "transitional control" have the same meanings as in section 2967.01 of the Revised Code.

(10) "Investigator of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation" has the same meaning as in section 2903.11 of the Revised Code.

(11) "Health care professional" and "health care worker" have the same meanings as in section 2305.234 of the Revised Code.

(12) "Assault or homicide offense committed against hospital personnel" means a violation of this section or of section 2903.01, 2903.02, 2903.03, 2903.04, 2903.041, 2903.11, 2903.12, or 2903.14 of the Revised Code committed in circumstances in which all of the following apply:

(a) The victim of the offense was a health care professional of a hospital, a health care worker of a hospital, or a security officer of a hospital.

(b) The offender knew or had reasonable cause to know that the victim was a health care professional of a hospital, a health care worker of a hospital, or a security officer of a hospital.

(c) The victim was engaged in the performance of the victim's duties.

(d) The hospital offered de-escalation or crisis intervention training for such professionals, workers, or officers.

(13) "De-escalation or crisis intervention training" means de-escalation or crisis intervention training for health care professionals of a hospital, health care workers of a hospital, and security officers of a hospital to facilitate interaction with patients, members of a patient's family, and visitors, including those with mental impairments.

(14) "Assault or homicide offense committed against justice system personnel" means a violation of this section or of section 2903.01, 2903.02, 2903.03, 2903.04, 2903.041, 2903.11, 2903.12, or 2903.14 of the Revised Code committed in circumstances in which the victim of the offense was a judge, magistrate, prosecutor, or court official or employee whom the offender knew or had reasonable cause to know was a judge, magistrate, prosecutor, or court official or employee, and the victim was engaged in the performance of the victim's duties.

(15) "Court official or employee" means any official or employee of a court created under the constitution or statutes of this state or of a United States court located in this state.

(16) "Judge" means a judge of a court created under the constitution or statutes of this state or of a United States court located in this state.

(17) "Magistrate" means an individual who is appointed by a court of record of this state and who has the powers and may perform the functions specified in Civil Rule 53, Criminal Rule 19, or Juvenile Rule 40, or an individual who is appointed by a United States court located in this state who has similar powers and functions.

(18) "Prosecutor" has the same meaning as in section 2935.01 of the Revised Code.

(19)(a) "Hospital" means, subject to division (E)(19)(b) of this section, an institution classified as a hospital under section 3701.01 of the Revised Code in which are provided to patients diagnostic, medical, surgical, obstetrical, psychiatric, or rehabilitation care or a hospital operated by a health maintenance organization.

(b) "Hospital" does not include any of the following:

(i) A facility licensed under Chapter 3721. of the Revised Code, a health care facility operated by the department of mental health and addiction services or the department of developmental disabilities, a health maintenance organization that does not operate a hospital, or the office of any private, licensed health care professional, whether organized for individual or group practice;

(ii) An institution for the sick that is operated exclusively for patients who use spiritual means for healing and for whom the acceptance of medical care is inconsistent with their religious beliefs, accredited by a national accrediting organization, exempt from federal income taxation under section 501 of the "Internal Revenue Code of 1986," 100 Stat. 2085, 26 U.S.C. 1, as amended, and providing twenty-four-hour nursing care pursuant to the exemption in division (E) of section 4723.32 of the Revised Code from the licensing requirements of Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code.

(20) "Health maintenance organization" has the same meaning as in section 3727.01 of the Revised Code.

(21) "Emergency service responder" means any law enforcement officer, first responder, emergency medical technician-basic, emergency medical technician-intermediate, emergency medical technician-paramedic, firefighter, or volunteer firefighter.

(22) "Family or household member" means any of the following:

(a) Any of the following who is residing or has resided with a person who is employed as an emergency service responder:

(i) A spouse, a person living as a spouse, or a former spouse of a person who is employed as an emergency service responder;

(ii) A parent, a foster parent, or a child of a person who is employed as an emergency service responder, or another person related by consanguinity or affinity to a person who is employed as an emergency service responder;

(iii) A parent or a child of a spouse, person living as a spouse, or former spouse of a person who is employed as an emergency service responder, or another person related by consanguinity or affinity to a spouse, person living as a spouse, or former spouse of a person who is employed as an emergency service responder.

(b) The natural parent of any child of whom a person who is employed as an emergency service responder is the other natural parent or is the putative other natural parent.

(23) "First responder," "emergency medical technician-basic," "emergency medical technician-intermediate," and "emergency medical technician-paramedic" have the same meanings as in section 4765.01 of the Revised Code.

(24) "Volunteer firefighter" has the same meaning as in section 146.01 of the Revised Code.

(25) "Person living as a spouse" means a person who is living or has lived with a person who is employed as an emergency service responder in a common law marital relationship, who otherwise is cohabiting with a person who is employed as an emergency service responder, or who otherwise has cohabited with a person who is employed as an emergency service responder within five years prior to the date of the alleged commission of the act in question.

(26) "Co-worker" means a person who is employed by the organization or entity that is served by a person who is employed as an emergency service responder.

Last updated September 15, 2023 at 1:48 PM

Section 2903.14 | Negligent assault.
 

(A) No person shall negligently, by means of a deadly weapon or dangerous ordnance as defined in section 2923.11 of the Revised Code, cause physical harm to another or to another's unborn.

(B) Whoever violates this section is guilty of negligent assault, a misdemeanor of the third degree.

Section 2903.15 | Permitting child abuse.
 

(A) No parent, guardian, custodian, or person having custody of a child under eighteen years of age or of a child with a mental or physical disability under twenty-one years of age shall cause serious physical harm to the child, or the death of the child, as a proximate result of permitting the child to be abused, to be tortured, to be administered corporal punishment or other physical disciplinary measure, or to be physically restrained in a cruel manner or for a prolonged period.

(B) It is an affirmative defense to a charge under this section that the defendant did not have readily available a means to prevent the harm to the child or the death of the child and that the defendant took timely and reasonable steps to summon aid.

(C) Whoever violates this section is guilty of permitting child abuse. If the violation of this section causes serious physical harm to the child, permitting child abuse is a felony of the third degree. If the violation of this section causes the death of the child, permitting child abuse is a felony of the first degree.

Last updated March 10, 2023 at 11:15 AM

Section 2903.16 | Failing to provide for a functionally impaired person.
 

(A) No caretaker shall knowingly fail to provide a person with a functional impairment under the caretaker's care with any treatment, care, goods, or service that is necessary to maintain the health or safety of the person with a functional impairment when this failure results in physical harm or serious physical harm to the person with a functional impairment.

(B) No caretaker shall recklessly fail to provide a person with a functional impairment under the caretaker's care with any treatment, care, goods, or service that is necessary to maintain the health or safety of the person with a functional impairment when this failure results in serious physical harm to the person with a functional impairment.

(C)(1) Whoever violates division (A) of this section is guilty of knowingly failing to provide for a person with a functional impairment, a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the person with a functional impairment under the offender's care suffers serious physical harm as a result of the violation of this section, a violation of division (A) of this section is a felony of the fourth degree.

(2) Whoever violates division (B) of this section is guilty of recklessly failing to provide for a person with a functional impairment, a misdemeanor of the second degree. If the person with a functional impairment under the offender's care suffers serious physical harm as a result of the violation of this section, a violation of division (B) of this section is a felony of the fourth degree.

Last updated March 10, 2023 at 11:16 AM

Section 2903.18 | Strangulation.
 

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Strangulation or suffocation" means any act that impedes the normal breathing or circulation of the blood by applying pressure to the throat or neck, or by covering the nose and mouth.

(2) "Dating relationship" has the same meaning as in section 3113.31 of the Revised Code.

(3) "Family or household member" has the same meaning as in section 2919.25 of the Revised Code.

(4) "Person with whom the offender is or was in a dating relationship" means a person who at the time of the conduct in question is in a dating relationship with the defendant or who, within the twelve months preceding the conduct in question, has had a dating relationship with the defendant.

(B) No person shall knowingly do any of the following:

(1) Cause serious physical harm to another by means of strangulation or suffocation;

(2) Create a substantial risk of serious physical harm to another by means of strangulation or suffocation;

(3) Cause or create a substantial risk of physical harm to another by means of strangulation or suffocation.

(C) Whoever violates this section is guilty of strangulation.

(1) A violation of division (B)(1) of this section is a felony of the second degree.

(2) A violation of division (B)(2) of this section is a felony of the third degree.

(3) A violation of division (B)(3) of this section is a felony of the fifth degree. If the victim of the violation of division (B)(3) of this section is a family or household member, or is a person with whom the offender is or was in a dating relationship, a violation of division (B)(3) of this section is a felony of the fourth degree. If the victim of the offense is a family or household member, or is a person with whom the offender is or was in a dating relationship, and the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a felony offense of violence, or if the offender knew that the victim of the violation was pregnant at the time of the violation, a violation of division (B)(3) of this section is a felony of the third degree.

(D) It is an affirmative defense to a charge under division (B) of this section that the act was done as part of a medical or other procedure undertaken to aid or benefit the victim.

Last updated March 9, 2023 at 5:13 PM

Section 2903.21 | Aggravated menacing.
 

(A) No person shall knowingly cause another to believe that the offender will cause serious physical harm to the person or property of the other person, the other person's unborn, or a member of the other person's immediate family. In addition to any other basis for the other person's belief that the offender will cause serious physical harm to the person or property of the other person, the other person's unborn, or a member of the other person's immediate family, the other person's belief may be based on words or conduct of the offender that are directed at or identify a corporation, association, or other organization that employs the other person or to which the other person belongs.

(B) Whoever violates this section is guilty of aggravated menacing. Except as otherwise provided in this division, aggravated menacing is a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the victim of the offense is an officer or employee of a public children services agency or a private child placing agency and the offense relates to the officer's or employee's performance or anticipated performance of official responsibilities or duties, aggravated menacing is a felony of the fifth degree or, if the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to an offense of violence, the victim of that prior offense was an officer or employee of a public children services agency or private child placing agency, and that prior offense related to the officer's or employee's performance or anticipated performance of official responsibilities or duties, a felony of the fourth degree.

(C) As used in this section, "organization" includes an entity that is a governmental employer.

Section 2903.211 | Menacing by stalking.
 

(A)(1) No person by engaging in a pattern of conduct shall knowingly cause another person to believe that the offender will cause physical harm to the other person or a family or household member of the other person or cause mental distress to the other person or a family or household member of the other person. In addition to any other basis for the other person's belief that the offender will cause physical harm to the other person or the other person's family or household member or mental distress to the other person or the other person's family or household member, the other person's belief or mental distress may be based on words or conduct of the offender that are directed at or identify a corporation, association, or other organization that employs the other person or to which the other person belongs.

(2) No person, through the use of any form of written communication or any electronic method of remotely transferring information, including, but not limited to, any computer, computer network, computer program, computer system, or telecommunication device shall post a message or use any intentionally written or verbal graphic gesture with purpose to do either of the following:

(a) Violate division (A)(1) of this section;

(b) Urge or incite another to commit a violation of division (A)(1) of this section.

(3) No person, with a sexual motivation, shall violate division (A)(1) or (2) of this section.

(B) Whoever violates this section is guilty of menacing by stalking.

(1) Except as otherwise provided in divisions (B)(2) and (3) of this section, menacing by stalking is a misdemeanor of the first degree.

(2) Menacing by stalking is a felony of the fourth degree if any of the following applies:

(a) The offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of this section or a violation of section 2911.211 of the Revised Code.

(b) In committing the offense under division (A)(1), (2), or (3) of this section, the offender made a threat of physical harm to or against the victim, or as a result of an offense committed under division (A)(2) or (3) of this section, a third person induced by the offender's posted message made a threat of physical harm to or against the victim.

(c) In committing the offense under division (A)(1), (2), or (3) of this section, the offender trespassed on the land or premises where the victim lives, is employed, or attends school, or as a result of an offense committed under division (A)(2) or (3) of this section, a third person induced by the offender's posted message trespassed on the land or premises where the victim lives, is employed, or attends school.

(d) The victim of the offense is a minor.

(e) The offender has a history of violence toward the victim or any other person or a history of other violent acts toward the victim or any other person.

(f) While committing the offense under division (A)(1) of this section or a violation of division (A)(3) of this section based on conduct in violation of division (A)(1) of this section, the offender had a deadly weapon on or about the offender's person or under the offender's control. Division (B)(2)(f) of this section does not apply in determining the penalty for a violation of division (A)(2) of this section or a violation of division (A)(3) of this section based on conduct in violation of division (A)(2) of this section.

(g) At the time of the commission of the offense, the offender was the subject of a protection order issued under section 2903.213 or 2903.214 of the Revised Code, regardless of whether the person to be protected under the order is the victim of the offense or another person.

(h) In committing the offense under division (A)(1), (2), or (3) of this section, the offender caused serious physical harm to the premises at which the victim resides, to the real property on which that premises is located, or to any personal property located on that premises, or, as a result of an offense committed under division (A)(2) of this section or an offense committed under division (A)(3) of this section based on a violation of division (A)(2) of this section, a third person induced by the offender's posted message caused serious physical harm to that premises, that real property, or any personal property on that premises.

(i) Prior to committing the offense, the offender had been determined to represent a substantial risk of physical harm to others as manifested by evidence of then-recent homicidal or other violent behavior, evidence of then-recent threats that placed another in reasonable fear of violent behavior and serious physical harm, or other evidence of then-present dangerousness.

(3) If the victim of the offense is an officer or employee of a public children services agency or a private child placing agency and the offense relates to the officer's or employee's performance or anticipated performance of official responsibilities or duties, menacing by stalking is either a felony of the fifth degree or, if the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to an offense of violence, the victim of that prior offense was an officer or employee of a public children services agency or private child placing agency, and that prior offense related to the officer's or employee's performance or anticipated performance of official responsibilities or duties, a felony of the fourth degree.

(C) Section 2919.271 of the Revised Code applies in relation to a defendant charged with a violation of this section.

(D) As used in this section:

(1) "Pattern of conduct" means two or more actions or incidents closely related in time, whether or not there has been a prior conviction based on any of those actions or incidents, or two or more actions or incidents closely related in time, whether or not there has been a prior conviction based on any of those actions or incidents, directed at one or more persons employed by or belonging to the same corporation, association, or other organization. Actions or incidents that prevent, obstruct, or delay the performance by a public official, firefighter, rescuer, emergency medical services person, or emergency facility person of any authorized act within the public official's, firefighter's, rescuer's, emergency medical services person's, or emergency facility person's official capacity, or the posting of messages, use of intentionally written or verbal graphic gestures, or receipt of information or data through the use of any form of written communication or an electronic method of remotely transferring information, including, but not limited to, a computer, computer network, computer program, computer system, or telecommunications device, may constitute a "pattern of conduct."

(2) "Mental distress" means any of the following:

(a) Any mental illness or condition that involves some temporary substantial incapacity;

(b) Any mental illness or condition that would normally require psychiatric treatment, psychological treatment, or other mental health services, whether or not any person requested or received psychiatric treatment, psychological treatment, or other mental health services.

(3) "Emergency medical services person" is the singular of "emergency medical services personnel" as defined in section 2133.21 of the Revised Code.

(4) "Emergency facility person" is the singular of "emergency facility personnel" as defined in section 2909.04 of the Revised Code.

(5) "Public official" has the same meaning as in section 2921.01 of the Revised Code.

(6) "Computer," "computer network," "computer program," "computer system," and "telecommunications device" have the same meanings as in section 2913.01 of the Revised Code.

(7) "Post a message" means transferring, sending, posting, publishing, disseminating, or otherwise communicating, or attempting to transfer, send, post, publish, disseminate, or otherwise communicate, any message or information, whether truthful or untruthful, about an individual, and whether done under one's own name, under the name of another, or while impersonating another.

(8) "Third person" means, in relation to conduct as described in division (A)(2) of this section, an individual who is neither the offender nor the victim of the conduct.

(9) "Sexual motivation" has the same meaning as in section 2971.01 of the Revised Code.

(10) "Organization" includes an entity that is a governmental employer.

(11) "Family or household member" means any of the following:

(a) Any of the following who is residing or has resided with the person against whom the act prohibited in division (A) (1) of this section is committed:

(i) A spouse, a person living as a spouse, or a former spouse of the person;

(ii) A parent, a foster parent, or a child of the person, or another person related by consanguinity or affinity to the person;

(iii) A parent or a child of a spouse, person living as a spouse, or former spouse of the person, or another person related by consanguinity or affinity to a spouse, person living as a spouse, or former spouse of the person.

(b) The natural parent of any child of whom the person against whom the act prohibited in division (A)(1) of this section is committed is the other natural parent or is the putative other natural parent.

(12) "Person living as a spouse" means a person who is living or has lived with the person against whom the act prohibited in division (A)(1) of this section is committed in a common law marital relationship, who otherwise is cohabiting with that person, or who otherwise has cohabited with the person within five years prior to the date of the alleged commission of the act in question.

(E) The state does not need to prove in a prosecution under this section that a person requested or received psychiatric treatment, psychological treatment, or other mental health services in order to show that the person was caused mental distress as described in division (D)(2)(b) of this section.

(F)(1) This section does not apply to a person solely because the person provided access or connection to or from an electronic method of remotely transferring information not under that person's control, including having provided capabilities that are incidental to providing access or connection to or from the electronic method of remotely transferring the information, and that do not include the creation of the content of the material that is the subject of the access or connection. In addition, any person providing access or connection to or from an electronic method of remotely transferring information not under that person's control shall not be liable for any action voluntarily taken in good faith to block the receipt or transmission through its service of any information that it believes is, or will be sent, in violation of this section.

(2) Division (F)(1) of this section does not create an affirmative duty for any person providing access or connection to or from an electronic method of remotely transferring information not under that person's control to block the receipt or transmission through its service of any information that it believes is, or will be sent, in violation of this section except as otherwise provided by law.

(3) Division (F)(1) of this section does not apply to a person who conspires with a person actively involved in the creation or knowing distribution of material in violation of this section or who knowingly advertises the availability of material of that nature.

Section 2903.212 | Bail for violations of certain protection orders.
 

(A) Except when the complaint involves a person who is a family or household member as defined in section 2919.25 of the Revised Code, if a person is charged with a violation of section 2903.21, 2903.211, 2903.22, or 2911.211 of the Revised Code, a violation of a municipal ordinance that is substantially similar to one of those sections, or a sexually oriented offense and if the person, at the time of the alleged violation, was subject to the terms of any order issued pursuant to section 2903.213, 2933.08, or 2945.04 of the Revised Code or previously had been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of section 2903.21, 2903.211, 2903.22, or 2911.211 of the Revised Code that involves the same complainant, a violation of a municipal ordinance that is substantially similar to one of those sections and that involves the same complainant, or a sexually oriented offense that involves the same complainant, the court shall consider all of the following, in addition to any other circumstances considered by the court and notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary contained in section 2937.011 of the Revised Code, before setting the amount and conditions of the bail for the person:

(1) Whether the person has a history of violence toward the complainant or a history of other violent acts;

(2) The mental health of the person;

(3) Whether the person has a history of violating the orders of any court or governmental entity;

(4) Whether the person is potentially a threat to any other person;

(5) Whether setting bail at a high level will interfere with any treatment or counseling that the person is undergoing.

(B) Any court that has jurisdiction over violations of section 2903.21, 2903.211, 2903.22, or 2911.211 of the Revised Code, violations of a municipal ordinance that is substantially similar to one of those sections, or sexually oriented offenses may set a schedule for bail to be used in cases involving those violations. The schedule shall require that a judge consider all of the factors listed in division (A) of this section and may require judges to set bail at a certain level or impose other reasonable conditions related to a release on bail or on recognizance if the history of the alleged offender or the circumstances of the alleged offense meet certain criteria in the schedule.

(C) As used in this section, "sexually oriented offense" has the same meaning as in section 2950.01 of the Revised Code.

Last updated July 18, 2023 at 12:31 PM

Section 2903.213 | Motion for and hearing on protection order.
 

(A) Except when the complaint or indictment involves a person who is a family or household member as defined in section 2919.25 of the Revised Code, upon the filing of a complaint or indictment that alleges a violation of section 2903.11, 2903.12, 2903.13, 2903.21, 2903.211, 2903.22, or 2911.211 of the Revised Code, a violation of a municipal ordinance substantially similar to section 2903.13, 2903.21, 2903.211, 2903.22, or 2911.211 of the Revised Code, or the commission of a sexually oriented offense, the complainant, the prosecutor, the alleged victim, or a family or household member of an alleged victim may file a motion that requests the issuance of a protection order as a pretrial condition of release of the alleged offender, in addition to any bail set by the court. The motion shall be filed with the clerk of the court that has jurisdiction of the case at any time after the filing of the complaint or indictment. If the complaint or indictment involves a person who is a family or household member, the complainant, the alleged victim, or the family or household member may file a motion for a temporary protection order pursuant to section 2919.26 of the Revised Code.

(B) A motion for a protection order under this section shall be prepared on a form that is provided by the clerk of the court, and the form shall be substantially as follows:

"Motion for Protection Order

______________________________

Name and address of court

State of Ohio

v. No. __________

_____________________________

Name of Defendant

(Name of person), moves the court to issue a protection order containing terms designed to ensure the safety and protection of the complainant or the alleged victim in the above-captioned case, in relation to the named defendant, pursuant to its authority to issue a protection order under section 2903.213 of the Revised Code.

A complaint or indictment, a copy of which has been attached to this motion, has been filed in this court charging the named defendant with a violation of section 2903.11, 2903.12, 2903.13, 2903.21, 2903.211, 2903.22, or 2911.211 of the Revised Code, a violation of a municipal ordinance substantially similar to section 2903.13, 2903.21, 2903.211, 2903.22, or 2911.211 of the Revised Code, or the commission of a sexually oriented offense.

I understand that I must appear before the court, at a time set by the court not later than the next day that the court is in session after the filing of this motion, for a hearing on the motion, and that any protection order granted pursuant to this motion is a pretrial condition of release and is effective only until the disposition of the criminal proceeding arising out of the attached complaint or indictment or until the issuance under section 2903.214 of the Revised Code of a protection order arising out of the same activities as those that were the basis of the attached complaint or indictment.

____________________________________

Signature of person

_____________________________________

Address of person"

(C)(1) As soon as possible after the filing of a motion that requests the issuance of a protection order under this section, but not later than the next day that the court is in session after the filing of the motion, the court shall conduct a hearing to determine whether to issue the order. The person who requested the order shall appear before the court and provide the court with the information that it requests concerning the basis of the motion. If the court finds that the safety and protection of the complainant or the alleged victim may be impaired by the continued presence of the alleged offender, the court may issue a protection order under this section, as a pretrial condition of release, that contains terms designed to ensure the safety and protection of the complainant or the alleged victim, including a requirement that the alleged offender refrain from entering the residence, school, business, or place of employment of the complainant or the alleged victim. The court may include within a protection order issued under this section a term requiring that the alleged offender not remove, damage, hide, harm, or dispose of any companion animal owned or possessed by the complainant or the alleged victim, and may include within the order a term authorizing the complainant or the alleged victim to remove a companion animal owned by the complainant or the alleged victim from the possession of the alleged offender.

(2)(a) If the court issues a protection order under this section that includes a requirement that the alleged offender refrain from entering the residence, school, business, or place of employment of the complainant or the alleged victim, the order shall clearly state that the order cannot be waived or nullified by an invitation to the alleged offender from the complainant, the alleged victim, or a family or household member to enter the residence, school, business, or place of employment or by the alleged offender's entry into one of those places otherwise upon the consent of the complainant, the alleged victim, or a family or household member.

(b) Division (C)(2)(a) of this section does not limit any discretion of a court to determine that an alleged offender charged with a violation of section 2919.27 of the Revised Code, with a violation of a municipal ordinance substantially equivalent to that section, or with contempt of court, which charge is based on an alleged violation of a protection order issued under this section, did not commit the violation or was not in contempt of court.

(D)(1) Except when the complaint or indictment involves a person who is a family or household member as defined in section 2919.25 of the Revised Code, upon the filing of a complaint or indictment that alleges a violation specified in division (A) of this section, the court, upon its own motion, may issue a protection order under this section as a pretrial condition of release of the alleged offender if it finds that the safety and protection of the complainant or the alleged victim may be impaired by the continued presence of the alleged offender.

(2) If the court issues a protection order under this section as an ex parte order, it shall conduct, as soon as possible after the issuance of the order but not later than the next day that the court is in session after its issuance, a hearing to determine whether the order should remain in effect, be modified, or be revoked. The hearing shall be conducted under the standards set forth in division (C) of this section.

(3) If a municipal court or a county court issues a protection order under this section and if, subsequent to the issuance of the order, the alleged offender who is the subject of the order is bound over to the court of common pleas for prosecution of a felony arising out of the same activities as those that were the basis of the complaint upon which the order is based, notwithstanding the fact that the order was issued by a municipal court or county court, the order shall remain in effect, as though it were an order of the court of common pleas, while the charges against the alleged offender are pending in the court of common pleas, for the period of time described in division (E)(2) of this section, and the court of common pleas has exclusive jurisdiction to modify the order issued by the municipal court or county court. This division applies when the alleged offender is bound over to the court of common pleas as a result of the person waiving a preliminary hearing on the felony charge, as a result of the municipal court or county court having determined at a preliminary hearing that there is probable cause to believe that the felony has been committed and that the alleged offender committed it, as a result of the alleged offender having been indicted for the felony, or in any other manner.

(E) A protection order that is issued as a pretrial condition of release under this section:

(1) Is in addition to, but shall not be construed as a part of, any bail set by the court;

(2) Is effective only until the disposition, by the court that issued the order or, in the circumstances described in division (D)(3) of this section, by the court of common pleas to which the alleged offender is bound over for prosecution, of the criminal proceeding arising out of the complaint or indictment upon which the order is based or until the issuance under section 2903.214 of the Revised Code of a protection order arising out of the same activities as those that were the basis of the complaint or indictment filed under this section;

(3) Shall not be construed as a finding that the alleged offender committed the alleged offense and shall not be introduced as evidence of the commission of the offense at the trial of the alleged offender on the complaint or indictment upon which the order is based.

(F) A person who meets the criteria for bail under section 2937.011 of the Revised code and who, if required to do so pursuant to that section, executes or posts bond or deposits cash or securities as bail, shall not be held in custody pending a hearing before the court on a motion requesting a protection order under this section.

(G)(1) A copy of a protection order that is issued under this section shall be issued by the court to the complainant, to the alleged victim, to the person who requested the order, to the defendant, and to all law enforcement agencies that have jurisdiction to enforce the order. The court shall direct that a copy of the order be delivered to the defendant on the same day that the order is entered. If a municipal court or a county court issues a protection order under this section and if, subsequent to the issuance of the order, the defendant who is the subject of the order is bound over to the court of common pleas for prosecution as described in division (D)(3) of this section, the municipal court or county court shall direct that a copy of the order be delivered to the court of common pleas to which the defendant is bound over.

(2) All law enforcement agencies shall establish and maintain an index for the protection orders delivered to the agencies pursuant to division (G)(1) of this section. With respect to each order delivered, each agency shall note on the index the date and time of the agency's receipt of the order.

(3) Regardless of whether the petitioner has registered the protection order in the county in which the officer's agency has jurisdiction, any officer of a law enforcement agency shall enforce a protection order issued pursuant to this section in accordance with the provisions of the order.

(H) Upon a violation of a protection order issued pursuant to this section, the court may issue another protection order under this section, as a pretrial condition of release, that modifies the terms of the order that was violated.

(I)(1) Subject to division (I)(2) of this section and regardless of whether a protection order is issued or a consent agreement is approved by a court of another county or by a court of another state, no court or unit of state or local government shall charge the movant any fee, cost, deposit, or money in connection with the filing of a motion pursuant to this section, in connection with the filing, issuance, registration, modification, enforcement, dismissal, withdrawal, or service of a protection order, consent agreement, or witness subpoena or for obtaining certified copies of a protection order or consent agreement.

(2) Regardless of whether a protection order is issued or a consent agreement is approved pursuant to this section, if the defendant is convicted the court may assess costs against the defendant in connection with the filing, issuance, registration, modification, enforcement, dismissal, withdrawal, or service of a protection order, consent agreement, or witness subpoena or for obtaining a certified copy of a protection order or consent agreement.

(J) At the time of termination of a protection order issued under this section, the court shall inform all law enforcement agencies that have jurisdiction to enforce the order that the order is no longer effective.

(K) As used in this section:

(1) "Sexually oriented offense" has the same meaning as in section 2950.01 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Companion animal" has the same meaning as in section 959.131 of the Revised Code.

The Legislative Service Commission presents the text of this section as a composite of the section as amended by multiple acts of the General Assembly. This presentation recognizes the principle stated in R.C. 1.52(B) that amendments are to be harmonized if reasonably capable of simultaneous operation.

Last updated July 19, 2023 at 2:21 PM

Section 2903.214 | Petition for protection order in menacing by stalking cases.
 

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Court" means the court of common pleas of the county in which the person to be protected by the protection order resides.

(2) "Victim advocate" means a person who provides support and assistance for a person who files a petition under this section.

(3) "Family or household member" means any of the following:

(a) Any of the following who is residing with or has resided with the petitioner:

(i) A spouse, a person living as a spouse, or a former spouse of the petitioner;

(ii) A parent, a foster parent, or a child of the petitioner, or another person related by consanguinity or affinity to the petitioner;

(iii) A parent or a child of a spouse, person living as a spouse, or former spouse of the petitioner, or another person related by consanguinity or affinity to a spouse, person living as a spouse, or former spouse of the petitioner.

(b) The natural parent of any child of whom the petitioner is the other natural parent or is the putative other natural parent.

(4) "Person living as a spouse" means a person who is living or has lived with the petitioner in a common law marital relationship, who otherwise is cohabiting with the petitioner, or who otherwise has cohabited with the petitioner within five years prior to the date of the alleged occurrence of the act in question.

(5) "Protection order issued by a court of another state" has the same meaning as in section 2919.27 of the Revised Code.

(6) "Sexually oriented offense" has the same meaning as in section 2950.01 of the Revised Code.

(7) "Electronic monitoring" has the same meaning as in section 2929.01 of the Revised Code.

(8) "Companion animal" has the same meaning as in section 959.131 of the Revised Code.

(B) The court has jurisdiction over all proceedings under this section.

(C) A person may seek relief under this section for the person, or any parent or adult household member may seek relief under this section on behalf of any other family or household member, by filing a petition with the court. The petition shall contain or state all of the following:

(1) An allegation that the respondent is eighteen years of age or older and engaged in a violation of section 2903.211 of the Revised Code against the person to be protected by the protection order or committed a sexually oriented offense against the person to be protected by the protection order, including a description of the nature and extent of the violation;

(2) If the petitioner seeks relief in the form of electronic monitoring of the respondent, an allegation that at any time preceding the filing of the petition the respondent engaged in conduct that would cause a reasonable person to believe that the health, welfare, or safety of the person to be protected was at risk, a description of the nature and extent of that conduct, and an allegation that the respondent presents a continuing danger to the person to be protected;

(3) A request for relief under this section.

(D)(1) If a person who files a petition pursuant to this section requests an ex parte order, the court shall hold an ex parte hearing as soon as possible after the petition is filed, but not later than the next day that the court is in session after the petition is filed. The court, for good cause shown at the ex parte hearing, may enter any temporary orders, with or without bond, that the court finds necessary for the safety and protection of the person to be protected by the order. Immediate and present danger to the person to be protected by the protection order constitutes good cause for purposes of this section. Immediate and present danger includes, but is not limited to, situations in which the respondent has threatened the person to be protected by the protection order with bodily harm or in which the respondent previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of section 2903.211 of the Revised Code or a sexually oriented offense against the person to be protected by the protection order.

(2)(a) If the court, after an ex parte hearing, issues a protection order described in division (E) of this section, the court shall schedule a full hearing for a date that is within ten court days after the ex parte hearing. The court shall give the respondent notice of, and an opportunity to be heard at, the full hearing. The court shall hold the full hearing on the date scheduled under this division unless the court grants a continuance of the hearing in accordance with this division. Under any of the following circumstances or for any of the following reasons, the court may grant a continuance of the full hearing to a reasonable time determined by the court:

(i) Prior to the date scheduled for the full hearing under this division, the respondent has not been served with the petition filed pursuant to this section and notice of the full hearing.

(ii) The parties consent to the continuance.

(iii) The continuance is needed to allow a party to obtain counsel.

(iv) The continuance is needed for other good cause.

(b) An ex parte order issued under this section does not expire because of a failure to serve notice of the full hearing upon the respondent before the date set for the full hearing under division (D)(2)(a) of this section or because the court grants a continuance under that division.

(3) If a person who files a petition pursuant to this section does not request an ex parte order, or if a person requests an ex parte order but the court does not issue an ex parte order after an ex parte hearing, the court shall proceed as in a normal civil action and grant a full hearing on the matter.

(E)(1)(a) After an ex parte or full hearing, the court may issue any protection order, with or without bond, that contains terms designed to ensure the safety and protection of the person to be protected by the protection order, including, but not limited to, a requirement that the respondent refrain from entering the residence, school, business, or place of employment of the petitioner or family or household member. If the court includes a requirement that the respondent refrain from entering the residence, school, business, or place of employment of the petitioner or family or household member in the order, it also shall include in the order provisions of the type described in division (E)(5) of this section. The court may include within a protection order issued under this section a term requiring that the respondent not remove, damage, hide, harm, or dispose of any companion animal owned or possessed by the person to be protected by the order, and may include within the order a term authorizing the person to be protected by the order to remove a companion animal owned by the person to be protected by the order from the possession of the respondent.

(b) After a full hearing, if the court considering a petition that includes an allegation of the type described in division (C)(2) of this section, or the court upon its own motion, finds upon clear and convincing evidence that the petitioner reasonably believed that the respondent's conduct at any time preceding the filing of the petition endangered the health, welfare, or safety of the person to be protected and that the respondent presents a continuing danger to the person to be protected, the court may order that the respondent be electronically monitored for a period of time and under the terms and conditions that the court determines are appropriate. Electronic monitoring shall be in addition to any other relief granted to the petitioner.

(2)(a) Any protection order issued pursuant to this section shall be valid until a date certain but not later than five years from the date of its issuance.

(b) Any protection order issued pursuant to this section may be renewed in the same manner as the original order was issued.

(3) A court may not issue a protection order that requires a petitioner to do or to refrain from doing an act that the court may require a respondent to do or to refrain from doing under division (E)(1) of this section unless all of the following apply:

(a) The respondent files a separate petition for a protection order in accordance with this section.

(b) The petitioner is served with notice of the respondent's petition at least forty-eight hours before the court holds a hearing with respect to the respondent's petition, or the petitioner waives the right to receive this notice.

(c) If the petitioner has requested an ex parte order pursuant to division (D) of this section, the court does not delay any hearing required by that division beyond the time specified in that division in order to consolidate the hearing with a hearing on the petition filed by the respondent.

(d) After a full hearing at which the respondent presents evidence in support of the request for a protection order and the petitioner is afforded an opportunity to defend against that evidence, the court determines that the petitioner has committed a violation of section 2903.211 of the Revised Code against the person to be protected by the protection order issued pursuant to division (E)(3) of this section, has committed a sexually oriented offense against the person to be protected by the protection order issued pursuant to division (E)(3) of this section, or has violated a protection order issued pursuant to section 2903.213 of the Revised Code relative to the person to be protected by the protection order issued pursuant to division (E)(3) of this section.

(4) No protection order issued pursuant to this section shall in any manner affect title to any real property.

(5)(a) If the court issues a protection order under this section that includes a requirement that the alleged offender refrain from entering the residence, school, business, or place of employment of the petitioner or a family or household member, the order shall clearly state that the order cannot be waived or nullified by an invitation to the alleged offender from the complainant to enter the residence, school, business, or place of employment or by the alleged offender's entry into one of those places otherwise upon the consent of the petitioner or family or household member.

(b) Division (E)(5)(a) of this section does not limit any discretion of a court to determine that an alleged offender charged with a violation of section 2919.27 of the Revised Code, with a violation of a municipal ordinance substantially equivalent to that section, or with contempt of court, which charge is based on an alleged violation of a protection order issued under this section, did not commit the violation or was not in contempt of court.

(F)(1) The court shall cause the delivery of a copy of any protection order that is issued under this section to the petitioner, to the respondent, and to all law enforcement agencies that have jurisdiction to enforce the order. The court shall direct that a copy of the order be delivered to the respondent on the same day that the order is entered.

(2) Upon the issuance of a protection order under this section, the court shall provide the parties to the order with the following notice orally or by form:

"NOTICE

As a result of this order, it may be unlawful for you to possess or purchase a firearm, including a rifle, pistol, or revolver, or ammunition pursuant to federal law under 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(8) for the duration of this order. If you have any questions whether this law makes it illegal for you to possess or purchase a firearm or ammunition, you should consult an attorney."

(3) All law enforcement agencies shall establish and maintain an index for the protection orders delivered to the agencies pursuant to division (F)(1) of this section. With respect to each order delivered, each agency shall note on the index the date and time that it received the order.

(4) Regardless of whether the petitioner has registered the protection order in the county in which the officer's agency has jurisdiction pursuant to division (M) of this section, any officer of a law enforcement agency shall enforce a protection order issued pursuant to this section by any court in this state in accordance with the provisions of the order, including removing the respondent from the premises, if appropriate.

(G)(1) Any proceeding under this section shall be conducted in accordance with the Rules of Civil Procedure, except that a protection order may be obtained under this section with or without bond. An order issued under this section, other than an ex parte order, that grants a protection order, or that refuses to grant a protection order, is a final, appealable order. The remedies and procedures provided in this section are in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other available civil or criminal remedies.

(2) If as provided in division (G)(1) of this section an order issued under this section, other than an ex parte order, refuses to grant a protection order, the court, on its own motion, shall order that the ex parte order issued under this section and all of the records pertaining to that ex parte order be sealed after either of the following occurs:

(a) No party has exercised the right to appeal pursuant to Rule 4 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure.

(b) All appellate rights have been exhausted.

(H) The filing of proceedings under this section does not excuse a person from filing any report or giving any notice required by section 2151.421 of the Revised Code or by any other law.

(I) Any law enforcement agency that investigates an alleged violation of section 2903.211 of the Revised Code or an alleged commission of a sexually oriented offense shall provide information to the victim and the family or household members of the victim regarding the relief available under this section and section 2903.213 of the Revised Code.

(J)(1) Subject to division (J)(2) of this section and regardless of whether a protection order is issued or a consent agreement is approved by a court of another county or by a court of another state, no court or unit of state or local government shall charge the petitioner any fee, cost, deposit, or money in connection with the filing of a petition pursuant to this section, in connection with the filing, issuance, registration, modification, enforcement, dismissal, withdrawal, or service of a protection order, consent agreement, or witness subpoena or for obtaining a certified copy of a protection order or consent agreement.

(2) Regardless of whether a protection order is issued or a consent agreement is approved pursuant to this section, the court may assess costs against the respondent in connection with the filing, issuance, registration, modification, enforcement, dismissal, withdrawal, or service of a protection order, consent agreement, or witness subpoena or for obtaining a certified copy of a protection order or consent agreement.

(K)(1) A person who violates a protection order issued under this section is subject to the following sanctions:

(a) Criminal prosecution for a violation of section 2919.27 of the Revised Code, if the violation of the protection order constitutes a violation of that section;

(b) Punishment for contempt of court.

(2) The punishment of a person for contempt of court for violation of a protection order issued under this section does not bar criminal prosecution of the person for a violation of section 2919.27 of the Revised Code. However, a person punished for contempt of court is entitled to credit for the punishment imposed upon conviction of a violation of that section, and a person convicted of a violation of that section shall not subsequently be punished for contempt of court arising out of the same activity.

(L) In all stages of a proceeding under this section, a petitioner may be accompanied by a victim advocate.

(M)(1) A petitioner who obtains a protection order under this section or a protection order under section 2903.213 of the Revised Code may provide notice of the issuance or approval of the order to the judicial and law enforcement officials in any county other than the county in which the order is issued by registering that order in the other county pursuant to division (M)(2) of this section and filing a copy of the registered order with a law enforcement agency in the other county in accordance with that division. A person who obtains a protection order issued by a court of another state may provide notice of the issuance of the order to the judicial and law enforcement officials in any county of this state by registering the order in that county pursuant to section 2919.272 of the Revised Code and filing a copy of the registered order with a law enforcement agency in that county.

(2) A petitioner may register a protection order issued pursuant to this section or section 2903.213 of the Revised Code in a county other than the county in which the court that issued the order is located in the following manner:

(a) The petitioner shall obtain a certified copy of the order from the clerk of the court that issued the order and present that certified copy to the clerk of the court of common pleas or the clerk of a municipal court or county court in the county in which the order is to be registered.

(b) Upon accepting the certified copy of the order for registration, the clerk of the court of common pleas, municipal court, or county court shall place an endorsement of registration on the order and give the petitioner a copy of the order that bears that proof of registration.

(3) The clerk of each court of common pleas, municipal court, or county court shall maintain a registry of certified copies of protection orders that have been issued by courts in other counties pursuant to this section or section 2903.213 of the Revised Code and that have been registered with the clerk.

(N) If the court orders electronic monitoring of the respondent under this section, the court shall direct the sheriff's office or any other appropriate law enforcement agency to install the electronic monitoring device and to monitor the respondent. Unless the court determines that the respondent is indigent, the court shall order the respondent to pay the cost of the installation and monitoring of the electronic monitoring device.

Last updated March 2, 2023 at 12:56 PM

Section 2903.215 | Protection orders on behalf of organization.
 

(A) As used in this section, "organization" includes an entity that is a governmental employer.

(B) A corporation, association, or other organization that employs two or more alleged victims of a violation of section 2903.21, 2923.211, or 2903.22 of the Revised Code or to which two or more alleged victims of a violation of section 2903.21, 2923.211, or 2903.22 of the Revised Code belong may file a motion for a temporary protection order pursuant to section 2903.213 of the Revised Code on behalf of the corporation, association, or other organization if the violation is based on words or conduct of the offender that are directed at or identify the corporation, association, or other organization.

(C) A corporation, association, or other organization that employs two or more alleged victims of a violation of section 2923.211 of the Revised Code or to which two or more alleged victims of a violation of section 2923.211 of the Revised Code belong may file a petition for a protection order pursuant to section 2903.214 of the Revised Code on behalf of the corporation, association, or other organization if the violation is based on words or conduct of the offender that are directed at or identify the corporation, association, or other organization.

(D) An attorney who is licensed to practice law in this state, on behalf of the corporation, association, or other organization, may file an affidavit to provide sufficient evidentiary support for the issuance of a temporary protection order pursuant to section 2903.213 of the Revised Code or a protection order pursuant to section 2903.214 of the Revised Code.

(E) Any temporary protection order issued pursuant to section 2903.213 of the Revised Code or any protection order issued pursuant to section 2903.214 of the Revised Code shall specify with particularity the location or persons to be protected by the temporary protection order or the protection order.

Last updated February 5, 2024 at 1:36 PM

Section 2903.22 | Menacing.
 

(A)(1) No person shall knowingly cause another to believe that the offender will cause physical harm to the person or property of the other person, the other person's unborn, or a member of the other person's immediate family. In addition to any other basis for the other person's belief that the offender will cause physical harm to the person or property of the other person, the other person's unborn, or a member of the other person's immediate family, the other person's belief may be based on words or conduct of the offender that are directed at or identify a corporation, association, or other organization that employs the other person or to which the other person belongs.

(2) No person shall knowingly place or attempt to place another in reasonable fear of physical harm or death by displaying a deadly weapon, regardless of whether the deadly weapon displayed is operable or inoperable, if either of the following applies:

(a) The other person is an emergency service responder, the person knows or reasonably should know that the other person is an emergency service responder, and it is the person's specific purpose to engage in the specified conduct against an emergency service responder.

(b) The other person is a family or household member or co-worker of an emergency service responder, the person knows or reasonably should know that the other person is a family or household member or co-worker of an emergency service responder, and it is the person's specific purpose to engage in the specified conduct against a family or household member or co-worker of an emergency service responder.

(B) Whoever violates this section is guilty of menacing.

Except as otherwise provided in this division, menacing is a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. If the victim of the offense is an officer or employee of a public children services agency or a private child placing agency and the offense relates to the officer's or employee's performance or anticipated performance of official responsibilities or duties or if the victim of the offense is an emergency service responder in the performance of the responder's official duties, menacing is one of the following:

(1) Except as otherwise provided in division (B)(2) of this section, a misdemeanor of the first degree;

(2) If the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to an offense of violence, the victim of that prior offense was an officer or employee of a public children services agency or private child placing agency or an emergency service responder, and that prior offense related to the officer's or employee's performance or anticipated performance of official responsibilities or duties or to the responder's performance of the responder's official duties, a felony of the fourth degree.

(C) A prosecution for a violation of this section does not preclude a prosecution of a violation of any other section of the Revised Code. One or more acts, a series of acts, or a course of behavior that can be prosecuted under this section or any other section of the Revised Code may be prosecuted under this section, the other section of the Revised Code, or both sections. However, if an offender is convicted of or pleads guilty to a violation of this section and also is convicted of or pleads guilty to a violation of section 2903.13 of the Revised Code based on the same conduct involving the same victim that was the basis of the violation of this section, the two offenses are allied offenses of similar import under section 2941.25 of the Revised Code.

(D) As used in this section:

(1) "Emergency service responder," "family or household member," and "co-worker" have the same meanings as in section 2903.13 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Organization" includes an entity that is a governmental employer.

Last updated February 13, 2023 at 9:31 AM

Section 2903.31 | Hazing.
 

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Hazing" means doing any act or coercing another, including the victim, to do any act of initiation into any student or other organization or any act to continue or reinstate membership in or affiliation with any student or other organization that causes or creates a substantial risk of causing mental or physical harm to any person, including coercing another to consume alcohol or a drug of abuse, as defined in section 3719.011 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Organization" includes a national or international organization with which a fraternity or sorority is affiliated.

(B)(1) No person shall recklessly participate in the hazing of another.

(2) No administrator, employee, faculty member, teacher, consultant, alumnus, or volunteer of any organization, including any primary, secondary, or post-secondary school or any other educational institution, public or private, shall recklessly permit the hazing of any person associated with the organization.

(C)(1) No person shall recklessly participate in the hazing of another when the hazing includes coerced consumption of alcohol or drugs of abuse resulting in serious physical harm to the other person.

(2) No administrator, employee, faculty member, teacher, consultant, alumnus, or volunteer of any organization, including any primary, secondary, or post-secondary school or any other educational institution, public or private, shall recklessly permit the hazing of any person associated with the organization when the hazing includes coerced consumption of alcohol or drugs of abuse resulting in serious physical harm to that person.

(D) Whoever violates this section is guilty of hazing. A violation of division (B)(1) or (2) of this section is a misdemeanor of the second degree. A violation of division (C)(1) or (2) of this section is a felony of the third degree.

Last updated July 29, 2021 at 2:20 PM

Section 2903.311 | Reckless failure to immediately report knowledge of hazing.
 

(A) As used in this section, "hazing" and "organization" have the same meanings as in section 2903.31 of the Revised Code.

(B) No administrator, employee, faculty member, teacher, consultant, alumnus, or volunteer of any organization, including any primary, secondary, or post-secondary school or any other public or private educational institution, who is acting in an official and professional capacity shall recklessly fail to immediately report the knowledge of hazing to a law enforcement agency in the county in which the victim of hazing resides or in which the hazing is occurring or has occurred.

(C) A violation of this section is a misdemeanor of the fourth degree, except that the violation is a misdemeanor of the first degree if the hazing causes serious physical harm.

Last updated August 20, 2021 at 4:54 PM

Section 2903.32 | Female genital mutilation.
 

(A)(1) No person shall knowingly circumcise, excise, or infibulate any part of the labia majora or labia minora or clitoris of another person who is under the age of eighteen.

(2) No person shall knowingly transport a minor to a facility or location for the purpose of facilitating the commission of an offense prohibited by division (A)(1) of this section.

(B) Whoever violates this section is guilty of female genital mutilation, a felony of the second degree. In addition to any prison term authorized by section 2929.14 of the Revised Code and any fine authorized by section 2929.18 of the Revised Code, the court shall impose on the offender an additional fine of up to twenty-five thousand dollars.

(C) This section does not apply to a procedure performed for medical purposes if the act is performed by a physician or licensed health care professional and the act is within the scope of the actor's license.

(D) None of the following are defenses to a violation of this section:

(1) Cultural or ritual necessity;

(2) Consent of the minor;

(3) Consent of the parent or guardian of the minor.

(E) As used in this section:

(1) "Physician" means a person authorized under Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code to practice medicine and surgery or osteopathic medicine and surgery.

(2) "Licensed health care professional" means an individual, other than a physician, who is authorized under Title XLVII of the Revised Code to practice a health care profession.

Section 2903.33 | Patient abuse and neglect in care facilities definitions.
 

As used in sections 2903.33 to 2903.36 of the Revised Code:

(A) "Care facility" means any of the following:

(1) Any "home" as defined in section 3721.10 of the Revised Code;

(2) Any "residential facility" as defined in section 5123.19 of the Revised Code;

(3) Any institution or facility operated or provided by the department of mental health and addiction services or by the department of developmental disabilities pursuant to sections 5119.14 and 5123.03 of the Revised Code;

(4) Any "residential facility" as defined in section 5119.34 of the Revised Code;

(5) Any unit of any hospital, as defined in section 3701.01 of the Revised Code, that provides the same services as a nursing home, as defined in section 3721.01 of the Revised Code;

(6) Any institution, residence, or facility that provides, for a period of more than twenty-four hours, whether for a consideration or not, accommodations to one individual or two unrelated individuals who are dependent upon the services of others.

(B) "Abuse" means knowingly causing physical harm or recklessly causing serious physical harm to a person by physical contact with the person or by the inappropriate use of a physical or chemical restraint, medication, or isolation on the person.

(C)(1) "Gross neglect" means knowingly failing to provide a person with any treatment, care, goods, or service that is necessary to maintain the health or safety of the person when the failure results in physical harm or serious physical harm to the person.

(2) "Neglect" means recklessly failing to provide a person with any treatment, care, goods, or service that is necessary to maintain the health or safety of the person when the failure results in serious physical harm to the person.

(D) "Inappropriate use of a physical or chemical restraint, medication, or isolation" means the use of physical or chemical restraint, medication, or isolation as punishment, for staff convenience, excessively, as a substitute for treatment, or in quantities that preclude habilitation and treatment.

Section 2903.34 | Patient abuse or neglect.
 

(A) No person who owns, operates, or administers, or who is an agent or employee of, a care facility shall do any of the following:

(1) Commit abuse against a resident or patient of the facility;

(2) Commit gross neglect against a resident or patient of the facility;

(3) Commit neglect against a resident or patient of the facility.

(B)(1) A person who relies upon treatment by spiritual means through prayer alone, in accordance with the tenets of a recognized religious denomination, shall not be considered neglected under division (A)(3) of this section for that reason alone.

(2) It is an affirmative defense to a charge of gross neglect or neglect under this section that the actor's conduct was committed in good faith solely because the actor was ordered to commit the conduct by a person with supervisory authority over the actor.

(C) Whoever violates division (A)(1) of this section is guilty of patient abuse, a felony of the fourth degree. If the offender previously has been convicted of, or pleaded guilty to, any violation of this section, patient abuse is a felony of the third degree.

(D) Whoever violates division (A)(2) of this section is guilty of gross patient neglect, a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the offender previously has been convicted of, or pleaded guilty to, any violation of this section, gross patient neglect is a felony of the fifth degree.

(E) Whoever violates division (A)(3) of this section is guilty of patient neglect, a misdemeanor of the second degree. If the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any violation of this section, patient neglect is a felony of the fifth degree.

Section 2903.341 | Patient endangerment.
 

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Developmental disabilities caretaker" means any developmental disabilities employee or any person who assumes the duty to provide for the care and protection of a person with a developmental disability on a voluntary basis, by contract, through receipt of payment for care and protection, as a result of a family relationship, or by order of a court of competent jurisdiction. "Developmental disabilities caretaker" includes a person who is an employee of a care facility and a person who is an employee of an entity under contract with a provider. "Developmental disabilities caretaker" does not include a person who owns, operates, or administers a care facility or who is an agent of a care facility unless that person also personally provides care to a person with a developmental disability.

(2) "Developmental disabilities employee" has the same meaning as in section 5123.50 of the Revised Code.

(3) "Developmental disability" has the same meaning as in section 5123.01 of the Revised Code.

(B) No developmental disabilities caretaker shall create a substantial risk to the health or safety of a person with a developmental disability. A developmental disabilities caretaker does not create a substantial risk to the health or safety of a person with a developmental disability under this division when the developmental disabilities caretaker treats a physical or mental illness or disability of the person with a developmental disability by spiritual means through prayer alone, in accordance with the tenets of a recognized religious body.

(C) No person who owns, operates, or administers a care facility or who is an agent of a care facility shall condone, or knowingly permit, any conduct by a developmental disabilities caretaker who is employed by or under the control of the owner, operator, administrator, or agent that is in violation of division (B) of this section and that involves a person with a developmental disability who is under the care of the owner, operator, administrator, or agent. A person who relies upon treatment by spiritual means through prayer alone, in accordance with the tenets of a recognized religious denomination, shall not be considered endangered under this division for that reason alone.

(D)(1) It is an affirmative defense to a charge of a violation of division (B) or (C) of this section that the actor's conduct was committed in good faith solely because the actor was ordered to commit the conduct by a person to whom one of the following applies:

(a) The person has supervisory authority over the actor.

(b) The person has authority over the actor's conduct pursuant to a contract for the provision of services.

(2) It is an affirmative defense to a charge of a violation of division (C) of this section that the person who owns, operates, or administers a care facility or who is an agent of a care facility and who is charged with the violation is following the individual service plan for the involved person with a developmental disability or that the admission, discharge, and transfer rule set forth in the Administrative Code is being followed.

(3) It is an affirmative defense to a charge of a violation of division (C) of this section that the actor did not have readily available a means to prevent either the harm to the person with a developmental disability or the death of such a person and the actor took reasonable steps to summon aid.

(E)(1) Except as provided in division (E)(2) or (E)(3) of this section, whoever violates division (B) or (C) of this section is guilty of patient endangerment, a misdemeanor of the first degree.

(2) If the offender previously has been convicted of, or pleaded guilty to, a violation of this section, patient endangerment is a felony of the fourth degree.

(3) If the violation results in serious physical harm to the person with a developmental disability, patient endangerment is a felony of the third degree.

Last updated March 10, 2023 at 11:16 AM

Section 2903.35 | Filing false patient abuse or neglect complaints.
 

(A) No person shall knowingly make a false statement, or knowingly swear or affirm the truth of a false statement previously made, alleging a violation of section 2903.34 of the Revised Code, when the statement is made with purpose to incriminate another.

(B) Whoever violates this section is guilty of filing a false patient abuse or neglect complaint, a misdemeanor of the first degree.

Section 2903.36 | Whistleblower protection.
 

No care facility shall discharge or in any manner discriminate or retaliate against any person solely because such person, in good faith, filed a complaint, affidavit, or other document alleging a violation of section 2903.34 of the Revised Code.

Section 2903.37 | License revocation upon conviction.
 

Any individual, who owns, operates, or administers, or who is an agent or employee of, a care facility, who is convicted of a felony violation of section 2903.34 of the Revised Code, and who is required to be licensed under any law of this state, shall have his license revoked in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

Section 2903.41 | Definitions related to violent offender database.
 

As used in sections 2903.41 to 2903.44 of the Revised Code:

(A) "Violent offender" means any of the following:

(1) A person who on or after the effective date of this section is convicted of or pleads guilty to any of the following:

(a) A violation of section 2903.01, 2903.02, 2903.03, 2905.01 of the Revised Code or a violation of section 2905.02 of the Revised Code that is a felony of the second degree;

(b) Any attempt to commit, conspiracy to commit, or complicity in committing any offense listed in division (A)(1)(a) of this section.

(2) A person who on the effective date of this section has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to an offense listed in division (A)(1) of this section and is confined in a jail, workhouse, state correctional institution, or other institution, serving a prison term, term of imprisonment, or other term of confinement for the offense.

(B) "Community control sanction," "jail," and "prison" have the same meanings as in section 2929.01 of the Revised Code.

(C) "Out-of-state violent offender" means a person who is convicted of, pleads guilty to, has been convicted of, or has pleaded guilty to a violation of any existing or former municipal ordinance or law of another state or the United States, or any existing or former law applicable in a military court or in an Indian tribal court, that is or was substantially equivalent to any offense listed in division (A)(1) of this section.

(D) "Qualifying out-of-state violent offender" means an out-of-state violent offender who is aware of the existence of the violent offender database.

(E) "Post-release control sanction" and "supervised release" have the same meanings as in section 2950.01 of the Revised Code.

(F) "Change of address" means a change to a violent offender's or out-of-state violent offender's residence address, employment address, or school or institution of higher education address.

(G) "Violent offender database" means the database of violent offenders and out-of-state violent offenders that is established and maintained by the bureau of criminal identification and investigation under division (F)(2) of section 2903.43 of the Revised Code, that is operated by sheriffs under sections 2903.42 and 2903.43 of the Revised Code, and for which sheriffs obtain information from violent offenders and out-of-state violent offenders pursuant to sections 2903.42 and 2903.43 of the Revised Code.

(H) "Violent offender database duties" and "VOD duties" mean the duty to enroll, duty to re-enroll, and duty to provide notice of a change of address imposed on a violent offender or a qualifying out-of-state violent offender under section 2903.42, 2903.421, 2903.43, or 2903.44 of the Revised Code.

(I) "Ten-year enrollment period" means, for a violent offender who has violent offender database duties pursuant to section 2903.42 of the Revised Code or a qualifying out-of-state violent offender who has violent offender database duties pursuant to section 2903.421 of the Revised Code, ten years from the date on which the offender initially enrolls in the violent offender database.

(J) "Extended enrollment period" means, for a violent offender who has violent offender database duties pursuant to section 2903.42 of the Revised Code or a qualifying out-of-state violent offender who has violent offender database duties pursuant to section 2903.421 of the Revised Code, the offender's enrollment period as extended pursuant to division (D)(2) of section 2903.43 of the Revised Code.

(K) "Prosecutor" means one of the following:

(1) As used in section 2903.42 of the Revised Code, the office of the prosecuting attorney who handled a violent offender's underlying case or the office of that prosecutor's successor.

(2) As used in sections 2903.421, 2903.43, and 2903.44 of the Revised Code, the office of the prosecuting attorney of the county in which a violent offender resides or of the county in which an out-of-state violent offender resides or occupies a dwelling.

Section 2903.42 | Enrollment in violent offender database; presumption.
 

(A)(1) For each person who is classified a violent offender, it is presumed that the violent offender shall be required to enroll in the violent offender database with respect to the offense that so classifies the person and shall have all violent offender database duties with respect to that offense for ten years after the offender initially enrolls in the database. The presumption is a rebuttable presumption that the violent offender may rebut as provided in division (A)(4) of this section, after filing a motion in accordance with division (A)(2)(a) or (b) of this section, whichever is applicable. Each violent offender shall be informed of the presumption established under this division, of the offender's right to file a motion to rebut the presumption, of the procedure and criteria for rebutting the presumption, and of the effect of a rebuttal and the post-rebuttal hearing procedures and possible outcome, as follows:

(a) If the person is classified a violent offender under division (A)(1) of section 2903.41 of the Revised Code, the court that is sentencing the offender for the offense that so classifies the person shall inform the offender before sentencing of the presumption, the right, and the procedure, criteria, and possible outcome.

(b) If the person is classified a violent offender under division (A)(2) of section 2903.41 of the Revised Code, the official in charge of the jail, workhouse, state correctional institution, or other institution in which the offender is serving a prison term, term of imprisonment, or other term of confinement for the offense, or the official's designee, shall inform the offender in writing, a reasonable period of time before the offender is released from the confinement, of the presumption, the right, and the procedure, criteria, and possible outcome.

(2) A violent offender who wishes to rebut the presumption established under division (A)(1) of this section shall file a motion in accordance with whichever of the following is applicable, and shall serve a copy of the motion on the prosecutor:

(a) If the person is classified a violent offender under division (A)(1) of section 2903.41 of the Revised Code, the offender shall file the motion with the court that is sentencing the offender for the offense that classifies the person a violent offender. The motion shall assert that the offender was not the principal offender in the commission of that offense and request that the court not require the offender to enroll in the violent offender database and not have all VOD duties with respect to that offense. The motion shall be filed prior to or at the time of sentencing.

(b) If the person is classified a violent offender under division (A)(2) of section 2903.41 of the Revised Code, the offender shall file the motion with the court that sentenced the offender for the offense that classifies the person a violent offender. The motion shall assert that the offender was not the principal offender in the commission of that offense and request that the court not require the offender to enroll in the violent offender database and not have all VOD duties with respect to that offense. The motion shall be filed prior to the time of the person's release from confinement in the jail, workhouse, state correctional institution, or other institution under the prison term, term of imprisonment, or other term of confinement for the offense listed in division (A)(1) of section 2903.41 of the Revised Code.

(3) If a violent offender does not file a motion under division (A)(2)(a) or (b) of this section, the violent offender shall be required to enroll in the violent offender database with respect to the offense that classifies the person a violent offender and shall have all VOD duties with respect to that offense for ten years after the offender initially enrolls in the database. If the person is classified a violent offender under division (A)(1) of section 2903.41 of the Revised Code, the court shall provide the offender notice of the duties pursuant to division (C) of this section. If the person is classified a violent offender under division (A)(2) of section 2903.41 of the Revised Code, the offender shall be provided notice of the duties pursuant to divisions (B) and (C) of this section.

(4) If a violent offender files a motion under division (A)(2)(a) or (b) of this section, the offender has the burden of proving to the court that is sentencing, or that has sentenced, the offender, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the offender was not the principal offender in the commission of the offense that classifies the person a violent offender. If a violent offender files such a motion, one of the following applies:

(a) If the violent offender proves to the court, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the offender was not the principal offender in the commission of the offense that classifies the person a violent offender, the presumption is rebutted and the court shall continue the hearing for the purpose of determining whether the offender, notwithstanding the rebuttal of the presumption, should be required to enroll in the violent offender database and have all VOD duties with respect to that offense. In making that determination, the court shall consider all of the factors identified in divisions (A)(4)(a)(i) to (iv) of this section. If the court, after considering those factors at the hearing, determines that the offender, notwithstanding the rebuttal of the presumption, should be required to enroll in the violent offender database and have all VOD duties with respect to that offense, the court shall issue an order specifying that the offender is required to enroll in the violent offender database with respect to that offense and will have all VOD duties with respect to that offense for ten years after the offender initially enrolls in the database. Upon the court's issuance of such an order, the offender shall be required to enroll in the violent offender database and will have all VOD duties with respect to that offense for ten years after the offender initially enrolls in the database. The court shall provide the offender notice of the duties pursuant to division (C) of this section, and shall provide a copy of the order to the prosecutor and to the bureau of criminal identification and investigation. Absent such a determination at the hearing after consideration of those factors, the court shall issue an order specifying that the offender is not required to enroll in the violent offender database and has no VOD duties with respect to the offense that classifies the person a violent offender, and shall provide a copy of the order to the prosecutor and to the bureau of criminal identification and investigation. In making a determination at a hearing under this division, a court shall consider all of the following factors:

(i) Whether the offender has any convictions for any offense of violence, prior to the offense at issue that classifies the person a violent offender, and whether those prior convictions, if any, indicate that the offender has a propensity for violence;

(ii) The results of a risk assessment of the offender conducted through use of the single validated risk assessment tool established under section 5120.114 of the Revised Code;

(iii) The degree of culpability or involvement of the offender in the offense at issue that classifies the person a violent offender;

(iv) The public interest and safety.

(b) If the violent offender does not prove to the court, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the offender was not the principal offender in the commission of the offense that classifies the person a violent offender, the court shall issue an order specifying that the offender is required to enroll in the violent offender database and has all VOD duties with respect to that offense, and shall provide a copy of the order to the prosecutor and to the bureau of criminal identification and investigation. Upon the court's issuance of such an order, the offender shall be required to enroll in the violent offender database with respect to that offense and will have all VOD duties with respect to that offense for ten years after the offender initially enrolls in the database. The court shall provide the offender notice of the duties pursuant to division (C) of this section.

(B) Each person who is classified a violent offender under division (A)(2) of section 2903.41 of the Revised Code and who does not file a motion under division (A)(2)(a) or (b) of this section shall be provided notice of the offender's duty to enroll in the violent offender database with respect to the offense that classifies the person a violent offender and of all VOD duties with respect to that offense and that those duties last for ten years after the offender initially enrolls in the database. The official in charge of the jail, workhouse, state correctional institution, or other institution in which the offender is serving the prison term, term of imprisonment, or other term of confinement, or the official's designee, shall provide the notice to the offender before the offender is released pursuant to any type of supervised release or before the offender is otherwise released from the prison term, term of imprisonment, or other term of confinement.

(C) The judge, official, or official's designee providing the notice under division (A) (3), (A)(4), or (B) of this section shall require the violent offender to read and sign a form stating that the violent offender has received and understands the notice. If the violent offender is unable to read, the judge, official, or official's designee shall inform the violent offender of the violent offender's duties as set forth in the notice and shall certify on the form that the judge, official, or official's designee informed the violent offender of the violent offender's duties and that the violent offender indicated an understanding of those duties.

The attorney general shall prescribe the notice and the form provided under this division. The notice shall inform the offender that, to satisfy the duty to enroll, the violent offender must enroll personally with the sheriff of the county in which the offender resides or that sheriff's designee and include notice of the offender's duties to re-enroll annually and when the offender has a change of address.

The person providing the notice under this division shall provide a copy of the notice and signed form to the violent offender. The person providing the notice also shall determine the county in which the violent offender intends to reside and shall provide a copy of the signed form to the sheriff of that county in accordance with rules adopted by the attorney general pursuant to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code and to the bureau of criminal identification and investigation.

This division also applies with respect to a qualifying out-of-state violent offender, when specified under division (C) of section 2903.421 of the Revised Code.

Section 2903.421 | Qualifying out-of-state offenders.
 

(A) For each person who is a qualifying out-of-state violent offender, it is presumed that the qualifying out-of-state violent offender shall be required to enroll in the violent offender database with respect to the offense that so classifies the person and will have all violent offender database duties with respect to that offense for ten years after the offender initially enrolls in the database. The presumption is a rebuttable presumption that the qualifying out- of-state violent offender may rebut as provided in division (D) of this section, after filing a motion in accordance with division (B) of this section.

(B) A qualifying out-of-state violent offender who wishes to rebut the presumption established under division (A) of this section shall file a motion with the court of common pleas of the county in which the offender resides or occupies a dwelling and shall serve a copy of the motion on the prosecutor. The motion shall assert that the offender was not the principal offender in the commission of the offense that classifies the person as an out-of-state violent offender and request that the court not require the offender to enroll in the violent offender database and not have all VOD duties with respect to that offense. The motion shall be filed at any time before the offender's initial enrollment in the database.

(C) If a qualifying out-of-state violent offender does not file a motion under division (B) of this section, the offender shall be required to enroll in the violent offender database with respect to the offense that classifies the person an out- of-state violent offender and shall have all VOD duties with respect to that offense for ten years after the offender initially enrolls in the database.

(D) If a qualifying out-of-state violent offender files a motion under division (B) of this section, the offender has the burden of proving to the court, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the offender was not the principal offender in the commission of the offense that classifies the person as an out-of-state violent offender. If a qualifying out-of-state violent offender files such a motion, one of the following applies:

(1) If the qualifying out-of-state violent offender proves to the court, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the offender was not the principal offender in the commission of the offense that classifies the person an out-of-state violent offender, the presumption is rebutted and the court shall continue the hearing for the purpose of determining whether the offender, notwithstanding the rebuttal of the presumption, should be required to enroll in the violent offender database and have all VOD duties with respect to that offense. In making that determination, the court shall consider all of the factors identified in divisions (A)(4)(a)(i) to (iv) of section 2903.42 of the Revised Code. If the court, after considering those factors at the hearing, determines that the offender, notwithstanding the rebuttal of the presumption, should be required to enroll in the violent offender database and have all VOD duties with respect to that offense, the court shall issue an order specifying that the offender is required to enroll in the violent offender database with respect to that offense and will have all VOD duties with respect to that offense for ten years after the offender initially enrolls in the database. Upon the court's issuance of such an order, the offender shall be required to enroll in the violent offender database and will have all VOD duties with respect to that offense for ten years after the offender initially enrolls in the database. The court shall provide the offender notice of the duties in the manner prescribed in division (C) of section 2903.42 of the Revised Code, and shall provide a copy of the order to the prosecutor and to the bureau of criminal identification and investigation. This duty commences when the court issues the order under this division. Absent such a determination at the hearing after consideration of those factors, the court shall issue an order specifying that the offender is not required to enroll in the violent offender database and has no VOD duties with respect to the offense that classifies the person an out-of-state violent offender.

(2) If the qualifying out-of-state violent offender does not prove to the court, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the offender was not the principal offender in the commission of the offense that classifies the person an out-of-state violent offender, the court shall issue an order specifying that the offender is required to enroll in the violent offender database and has all VOD duties with respect to that offense, and shall provide a copy of the order to the prosecutor and the bureau of criminal identification and investigation. Upon the court's issuance of such an order, the offender shall be required to enroll in the violent offender database with respect to that offense and will have all VOD duties with respect to that offense for ten years after the offender initially enrolls in the database. The court shall provide the offender notice of the duties in the manner prescribed in division (C) of section 2903.42 of the Revised Code.

Section 2903.43 | Offenders who have VOD duties; enrollment.
 

(A) Each violent offender who has VOD duties imposed pursuant to section 2903.42 of the Revised Code shall enroll in the violent offender database personally with the sheriff of the county in which the violent offender resides or that sheriff's designee within the following time periods:

(1) If the person is classified a violent offender under division (A)(1) of section 2903.41 of the Revised Code and the judge sentencing the offender for the offense that so classifies the offender does not sentence the offender to a prison term, term of imprisonment, or other term of confinement in a jail, workhouse, state correctional institution, or other institution for that offense, the offender shall enroll in the violent offender database within ten days after the sentencing hearing.

(2) If the person is classified a violent offender under division (A)(2) of section 2903.41 of the Revised Code or the person is classified a violent offender under division (A)(1) of that section and division (A)(1) of this section does not apply, the offender shall enroll in the violent offender database within ten days after the violent offender is released from a jail, workhouse, state correctional institution, or other institution, unless the violent offender is being transferred to the custody of another jail, workhouse, state correctional institution, or other institution. The violent offender is not required to enroll in the violent offender database with any sheriff or designee prior to release.

(B) Each qualifying out-of-state violent offender who has VOD duties imposed pursuant to section 2903.421 of the Revised Code shall enroll in the violent offender database personally with the sheriff of the county in which the out-of-state violent offender resides or occupies a dwelling or that sheriff's designee within ten days after either of the following:

(1) Residing in or occupying a dwelling in this state, after the offender becomes aware of the database and has the duty, for more than three consecutive days;

(2) Residing in or occupying a dwelling in this state, after the offender becomes aware of the database and has the duty, for an aggregate period in a calendar year of fourteen or more days in that calendar year.

(C)(1) A violent offender or qualifying out-of-state violent offender who has VOD duties imposed pursuant to section 2903.42 or 2903.421 of the Revised Code shall enroll in the violent offender database, personally with the sheriff of the county in which the offender resides or that sheriff's designee. The enrollee shall obtain from the sheriff or designee a copy of an enrollment form prescribed by the attorney general that conforms to division (C)(2) of this section, shall complete and sign the form, and shall return to the sheriff or designee the completed and signed form together with the identification records required under division (C)(3) of this section.

(2) The enrollment form to be used under division (C)(1) of this section shall include or contain all of the following for the violent offender or qualifying out-of-state violent offender who is enrolling:

(a) The violent offender's or out-of-state violent offender's full name and any alias used;

(b) The violent offender's or out-of-state violent offender's residence address;

(c) The violent offender's or out-of-state violent offender's social security number;

(d) Any driver's license number, commercial driver's license number, or state identification card number issued to the violent offender or out-of-state violent offender by this or another state;

(e) The offense that the violent offender or out-of-state violent offender was convicted of or pleaded guilty to;

(f) The name and address of any place where the violent offender or out-of-state violent offender is employed;

(g) The name and address of any school or institution of higher education that the violent offender or out-of-state violent offender is attending;

(h) The identification license plate number of each vehicle owned or operated by the violent offender or out-of-state violent offender or registered in the violent offender's or out-of-state violent offender's name, the vehicle identification number of each vehicle, and a description of each vehicle;

(i) A description of any scars, tattoos, or other distinguishing marks on the violent offender or out-of-state violent offender.

(3) The violent offender or qualifying out-of-state violent offender who is enrolling shall provide fingerprints and palm prints at the time of enrollment. The sheriff or sheriff's designee shall obtain a photograph of the violent offender or out-of-state violent offender at the time of enrollment.

(D)(1) Each violent offender or qualifying out-of-state violent offender who has VOD duties imposed pursuant to section 2903.42 or 2903.421 of the Revised Code shall re-enroll in the violent offender database annually, in person, with the sheriff of the county in which the violent offender resides or the out-of-state violent offender resides or occupies a dwelling or that sheriff's designee within ten days prior to the anniversary of the calendar date on which the offender initially enrolled. The duty to re-enroll under this division remains in effect for the entire ten-year enrollment period of the offender. The offender shall re-enroll by completing, signing, and returning to the sheriff or designee a copy of the enrollment form prescribed by the attorney general and described in divisions (C)(1) and (2) of this section, amending any information required under division (C) of this section that has changed since the enrollee's last enrollment, and providing any additional enrollment information required by the attorney general. The sheriff or designee with whom the violent offender or qualifying out-of-state violent offender re-enrolls shall obtain a new photograph of the offender annually when the offender re-enrolls. Additionally, if the violent offender's or qualifying out-of-state violent offender's most recent enrollment or re-enrollment was with a sheriff or designee of a sheriff of a different county, as part of the duty to re-enroll, the offender shall provide written notice of the offender's change of residence address to that sheriff or a designee of that sheriff.

(2) Except as otherwise provided in this division, if a violent offender or qualifying out-of-state violent offender has VOD duties imposed pursuant to section 2903.42 or 2903.421 of the Revised Code, the offender's VOD duties shall terminate on the expiration of the ten-year enrollment period of the offender. The ten-year enrollment period may be extended, but only if the prosecutor files a motion with the court of common pleas of the county in which the violent offender resides or in which the qualifying out-of-state offender resides or occupies a dwelling requesting that the court extend the offender's ten-year enrollment period as specified in this division and the court makes the appropriate finding specified in this division. For a violent offender, the court may extend the offender's ten-year enrollment period only if the court finds that the offender has violated a term or condition of a sanction imposed under the offender's sentence or has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to another felony or any misdemeanor offense of violence during that enrollment period. For a qualifying out-of-state offender, the court may extend the offender's ten-year enrollment period only if the court finds that the offender has violated a term or condition of a sanction imposed under the offender's sentence by the court of the other jurisdiction or has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to another felony or any misdemeanor offense of violence during that enrollment period. If a court finds as described in this division that the offender has violated a term or condition of a sanction imposed under the offender's sentence or that the offender has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to another felony or any misdemeanor offense of violence during the ten-year enrollment period, the court shall issue an order that extends the VOD duties of the violent offender or qualifying out-of-state violent offender indefinitely and the offender's VOD duties shall continue indefinitely, subject to termination under section 2903.44 of the Revised Code.

If the court issues an order under this division that extends an offender's VOD duties, the court shall promptly forward a copy of the order to the bureau of criminal identification and investigation and to the prosecutor. Upon receipt of the order from the court, the bureau shall update all records pertaining to the offender to reflect the extended enrollment period. The bureau also shall provide notice of the issuance of the order to every sheriff with whom the offender has most recently enrolled or re-enrolled.

(3) The official in charge of a jail, workhouse, state correctional institution, or other institution shall notify the attorney general in accordance with rules adopted by the attorney general pursuant to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code if a violent offender or qualifying out-of-state violent offender is confined in the jail, workhouse, state correctional institution, or other institution.

(E) Each violent offender or qualifying out-of-state violent offender who has VOD duties imposed pursuant to section 2903.42 or 2903.421 of the Revised Code shall notify the sheriff with whom the offender most recently enrolled or re-enrolled or that sheriff's designee in person within three business days of a change of address that occurs during the ten-year enrollment period or extended enrollment period of the offender.

(F)(1) After a violent offender or qualifying out-of-state violent offender who has VOD duties imposed pursuant to section 2903.42 or 2903.421 of the Revised Code enrolls or re-enrolls in the violent offender database with a sheriff or a sheriff's designee pursuant to this section, the sheriff or designee shall forward the offender's signed, written enrollment form, photograph, fingerprints, palm prints, and other materials to the bureau of criminal identification and investigation in accordance with forwarding procedures adopted by the attorney general under division (G) of this section. The bureau shall include the information and materials forwarded to it under this division in the violent offender database established and maintained under division (F)(2) of this section.

(2) The bureau of criminal identification and investigation shall establish and maintain a database of violent offenders and qualifying out-of-state violent offenders that includes the information and materials the bureau receives pursuant to division (D)(1) or (F)(1) of this section. The bureau shall make the database available to federal, state, and local law enforcement officers. The database of violent offenders and qualifying out-of-state violent offenders maintained by the bureau is not a public record under section 149.43 of the Revised Code.

(3)(a) Except as otherwise provided in divisions (F)(3)(b) and (c) of this section, any statements, information, photographs, fingerprints, or materials that are provided pursuant to this section by a violent offender or qualifying out-of-state violent offender who has VOD duties imposed under section 2903.42 or 2903.421 of the Revised Code and that are in the possession of a county sheriff are public records open to public inspection under section 149.43 of the Revised Code.

(b) The following information is not a public record and shall not be open to public inspection: the social security number and any driver's license number, commercial driver's license number, or state identification card number provided to the county sheriff by a violent offender or qualifying out-of-state violent offender.

(c) A violent offender or qualifying out-of-state violent offender who has VOD duties imposed under section 2903.42 or 2903.421 of the Revised Code may file a motion with the court of common pleas in the county in which the offender resides stating that the offender fears for the offender's safety if the statements, information, photographs, fingerprints, or materials provided by the offender pursuant to this section and that are in the possession of a county sheriff are open for public inspection, and requesting the court to issue an order to ban or restrict access to those statements, photographs, fingerprints, and materials and that information. A motion filed with a court under this division shall expressly state the reasons for which the violent offender or qualifying out-of-state violent offender fears for the offender's safety, shall identify each county in which the offender has enrolled or re-enrolled, and shall provide information and materials in support of the motion. The court, upon the filing of the motion under this division, may determine whether to grant or deny the motion without a hearing or may conduct a hearing to determine whether to grant or deny the motion. The court may grant the motion if it determines, upon review of the motion, the supporting information and materials provided with the motion, and, if the court conducts a hearing, any additional information provided at the hearing, that the offender's fears for the offender's safety are valid and that the interests of justice and the offender's safety require that the motion be granted.

If the court grants the motion, the statements, information, photographs, fingerprints, or materials provided by the offender pursuant to this section and that are in the possession of a county sheriff are not public records open to public inspection under section 149.43 of the Revised Code and the court shall issue an order to that effect. A court that grants a motion and issues an order under this division shall notify the sheriff in each county in which the offender has enrolled or re-enrolled of the issuance of the order, and each of those sheriffs shall comply with the order.

(G) The attorney general shall prescribe the forms that violent offenders and qualifying out-of-state violent offenders who have VOD duties imposed under section 2903.42 or 2903.421 of the Revised Code shall use to enroll, re-enroll, and provide notice of a change of address under divisions (A) to (D) of this section. The attorney general shall adopt procedures for sheriffs to use to forward information, photographs, fingerprints, palm prints, and other materials to the bureau of criminal identification and investigation pursuant to division (F)(1) of this section.

(H) The attorney general, in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, may adopt rules regarding enrollment dates different than those prescribed in divisions (A), (B), and (D) of this section for any violent offender or qualifying out-of-state violent offender who has VOD duties imposed under section 2903.42 or 2903.421 of the Revised Code and who also is an arson offender, as defined in section 2909.13 of the Revised Code, or a sex offender or child-victim offender, both as defined in section 2950.01 of the Revised Code.

(I)(1) No violent offender or qualifying out-of-state violent offender who has VOD duties imposed under section 2903.42 or 2903.421 of the Revised Code shall recklessly fail during the ten-year enrollment period or extended enrollment period of the offender to enroll, re-enroll, or notify the sheriff or sheriff's designee of a change of address as required by this section.

(2) Whoever violates division (I)(1) of this section is guilty of a felony of the fifth degree. If a violent offender or qualifying out-of-state violent offender who violates division (I)(1) of this section is subject to a community control sanction, is on parole, is subject to one or more post-release control sanctions, or is subject to any other type of supervised release at the time of the violation, the violation shall constitute a violation of the terms and conditions of the community control sanction, parole, post-release control sanction, or other type of supervised release.

Section 2903.44 | Out-of-state offenders with VOD duties; enrollment.
 

(A) Pursuant to this section, if a violent offender or qualifying out-of-state violent offender has VOD duties imposed under section 2903.42 or 2903.421 of the Revised Code and if a court has extended the offender's ten-year enrollment period pursuant to division (D)(2) of section 2903.43 of the Revised Code, the offender may file a motion to the court of common pleas of the county in which the offender resides requesting that the court terminate the offender's extended enrollment period and VOD duties during that period. A violent offender or qualifying out-of-state violent offender may file a motion under this division at any time during the offender's extended enrollment period, but may not file more than one motion under this division in any five-year period.

(B) A violent offender or qualifying out-of-state violent offender who makes a motion under division (A) of this section shall include with the motion all of the following:

(1) A certified copy of the judgment entry and any other documentation of the sentence or disposition given for the offense or offenses for which the offender was enrolled in the violent offender database;

(2) Documentation of the date of the offender's discharge from supervision or release, whichever is applicable;

(3) A statement asserting that the offender has not been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any other felony or any misdemeanor offense of violence during the offender's ten-year enrollment period or extended enrollment period;

(4) Evidence that the eligible offender has paid all financial sanctions imposed upon the offender pursuant to section 2929.18 or 2929.28 of the Revised Code.

(C) Upon the filing of a motion pursuant to division (A) of this section, the offender shall serve a copy of the motion on the prosecutor.

Upon the filing of the motion, the court shall set a tentative date for a hearing on the motion that, except as otherwise provided in this division, is not later than ninety days after the date on which the motion is filed. The court may set a tentative date for a hearing that is later than that specified time if good cause exists to hold the hearing at a later date. The court shall notify the offender and the prosecutor of the date, time, and place of the hearing. The court shall forward a copy of the motion and its supporting documentation to the court's probation department or another appropriate agency to investigate the merits of the motion. The probation department or agency shall submit a written report detailing its investigation to the court within sixty days after receiving the motion and supporting documentation.

Upon receipt of the written report from the probation department or other appropriate agency, the court shall forward a copy of the motion, the supporting documentation, and the written report to the prosecutor.

(D) After the prosecutor is served with a copy of the motion and notice of the hearing as described in division (C) of this section, at least seven days before the hearing date, the prosecutor may file an objection to the motion with the court and serve a copy of the objection to the motion to the offender or the offender's attorney.

(E) In determining whether to grant a motion made under division (A) of this section, the court shall consider the evidence that accompanies the motion described in division (B) of this section and shall consider the written report submitted pursuant to division (C) of this section.

(F)(1) The court, without a hearing, may issue an order denying the offender's motion to terminate the offender's extended enrollment period and VOD duties during that period if the court, after considering the evidence, materials, and information specified under division (E) of this section, finds that the extended enrollment period and duties should not be terminated.

(2) If the prosecutor does not file an objection to the offender's motion as provided in division (D) of this section, the court, without a hearing, may issue an order that grants the motion and terminates the eligible offender's extended enrollment period and VOD duties during that period if the court, after considering the evidence, materials, and information specified under division (E) of this section, finds that the extended enrollment period and VOD duties should be terminated. This division does not apply if the prosecutor files an objection to the offender's application as provided in division (D)(2) of this section.

(3) If the court does not issue an order under division (F)(1) or (2) of this section, the court shall hold a hearing to determine whether to grant or deny the motion. At the hearing, the Rules of Civil Procedure apply, except to the extent that those Rules would by their nature be clearly inapplicable. At the hearing, the offender has the burden of going forward with the evidence and, except as otherwise provided in this division, the burden of proof, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the extended enrollment period and VOD duties should be terminated. If the prosecutor files an objection to the motion as provided in division (D) of this section that includes an allegation that the offender has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any other felony or any misdemeanor offense of violence during the offender's ten-year enrollment period or extended enrollment period, the prosecutor has the burden of proving that allegation.

The court shall issue an order denying the offender's motion to terminate the offender's extended enrollment period and VOD duties if the prosecutor files such an objection to the motion that includes an allegation that the offender has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any other felony or any misdemeanor offense of violence during the offender's ten-year enrollment period or extended enrollment period and proves that allegation. If, after considering the evidence, materials, and information specified under division (E) of this section, the court finds that the prosecutor has not alleged in an objection and proved that the offender has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any other felony or any misdemeanor offense of violence during the offender's ten-year enrollment period or extended enrollment period, the court shall do one of the following:

(a) If the court finds that the offender has satisfied the burden of proof imposed on the offender as described in this division, the court shall issue an order that grants the motion and terminates the offender's extended enrollment period and VOD duties.

(b) If the court finds that the offender has not satisfied the burden of proof imposed on the offender, the court shall issue an order denying the motion.

(4) If the court issues an order under division (F)(1) or (3) of this section denying an offender's motion to terminate the offender's extended enrollment period and VOD duties, the offender may subsequently file another motion under this section requesting termination of the extended enrollment period and VOD duties but may not file more than one such motion in any five- year period.

(5) (a) Upon its issuance of an order under division (F) (1), (2), or (3) of this section, the court shall provide prompt notice of the order to the offender or the offender's attorney.

(b) If the court issues an order under division (F)(2) or (3) of this section that grants the offender's motion and terminates the offender's extended enrollment period and VOD duties, the court shall promptly forward a copy of the order to the bureau of criminal identification and investigation and to the prosecutor. Upon receipt of the order from the court, the bureau shall update all records pertaining to the offender to reflect the termination order. The bureau also shall provide notice of the issuance of the termination order to every sheriff with whom the offender has most recently enrolled or re- enrolled. Upon receipt of the order from the court, the prosecutor shall notify the victim of any offense for which the offender is enrolled in the violent offender database that the offender's extended enrollment period and VOD duties have been terminated.