Chapter 2725 | Habeas Corpus

Section 2725.01 | Persons entitled to writ of habeas corpus.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

Whoever is unlawfully restrained of his liberty, or entitled to the custody of another, of which custody such person is unlawfully deprived, may prosecute a writ of habeas corpus, to inquire into the cause of such imprisonment, restraint, or deprivation.

Section 2725.02 | Courts authorized to grant writ.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

The writ of habeas corpus may be granted by the supreme court, court of appeals, court of common pleas, probate court, or by a judge of any such court.

Section 2725.03 | Jurisdiction for production or discharge of inmate of institution.

• Effective: October 6, 1994
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 571 - 120th General Assembly

If a person restrained of his liberty is an inmate of a state benevolent or correctional institution, the location of which is fixed by statute and at the time is in the custody of the officers of the institution, no court or judge other than the courts or judges of the county in which the institution is located has jurisdiction to issue or determine a writ of habeas corpus for his production or discharge. Any writ issued by a court or judge of another county to an officer or person in charge at the state institution to compel the production or discharge of an inmate thereof is void.

Section 2725.04 | Application for writ.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

Application for the writ of habeas corpus shall be by petition, signed and verified either by the party for whose relief it is intended, or by some person for him, and shall specify:

(A) That the person in whose behalf the application is made is imprisoned, or restrained of his liberty;

(B) The officer, or name of the person by whom the prisoner is so confined or restrained; or, if both are unknown or uncertain, such officer or person may be described by an assumed appellation and the person who is served with the writ is deemed the person intended;

(C) The place where the prisoner is so imprisoned or restrained, if known;

(D) A copy of the commitment or cause of detention of such person shall be exhibited, if it can be procured without impairing the efficiency of the remedy; or, if the imprisonment or detention is without legal authority, such fact must appear.

Section 2725.05 | Writ not allowed.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

If it appears that a person alleged to be restrained of his liberty is in the custody of an officer under process issued by a court or magistrate, or by virtue of the judgment or order of a court of record, and that the court or magistrate had jurisdiction to issue the process, render the judgment, or make the order, the writ of habeas corpus shall not be allowed. If the jurisdiction appears after the writ is allowed, the person shall not be discharged by reason of any informality or defect in the process, judgment, or order.

Section 2725.06 | Writ must be granted.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

When a petition for a writ of habeas corpus is presented, if it appears that the writ ought to issue, a court or judge authorized to grant the writ must grant it forthwith.

Section 2725.07 | Clerk shall issue writ.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

When a writ of habeas corpus is granted, the clerk of the court which granted the writ shall forthwith issue said writ under the seal of such court. In case of emergency, the judge who allowed the writ may issue it under his own hand, and depute any officer or other person to serve it.

Section 2725.08 | Designation of prisoner.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

The person to be produced upon a writ of habeas corpus shall be designated by his name, if known, and if his name is not known, or is uncertain, such person may be described in any other way so as to make known who is intended.

Section 2725.09 | Requisites of writ.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

In case of confinement, imprisonment, or detention of a person by an officer, a writ of habeas corpus shall be directed to him, and command him to have such person before the court or judge designated in the writ, at a time and place therein specified.

Section 2725.10 | Form of writ when prisoner not in custody of an officer.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

In case of confinement, imprisonment, or detention by a person not an officer, the writ of habeas corpus shall be in the following form:

The State of Ohio,___________________County, ss.:

To the sheriff of our several counties, greeting:

We command you that the body of ______________ of _______________, by _______________, of _______________, imprisoned and restrained of his liberty, as it is said, you take and have before ______________, a judge of our _________________court, or, in case of his absence or disability, before some other judge of the same court, at ______________, forthwith to do and receive what our said judge shall then and there consider __________ concerning him in his behalf; and summon the said _________________ then and there to appear before our said judge, to show the cause of the taking and detention of the said _________________________

(Seal) Witness ______________, at _____________, this __________day of ________________, in the year ___________

Section 2725.11 | Service of writ.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

The writ of habeas corpus may be served in any county by the sheriff of that or any other county or by a person deputed by the court or judge issuing the writ.

Section 2725.12 | Execution and return of writ.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

The officer or person to whom a writ of habeas corpus is directed shall convey the person imprisoned or detained, and named in the writ, before the judge granting the writ, or, in case of his absence or disability, before some other judge of the same court, on the day specified in the writ. Said officer or person shall make due return of the writ, together with the day and the cause of the caption and detention of such person, according to its command.

Section 2725.13 | Return of writ to another judge.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

When a writ of habeas corpus is issued by a court in session, if the court has adjourned when the writ is returned, it shall be returned before any judge of the same court. When the writ is returned before one judge, at a time when the court is in session, he may adjourn the case into the court, there to be heard and determined.

Section 2725.14 | Contents of the return.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

When the person to be produced under a writ of habeas corpus is imprisoned or restrained by an officer, the person who makes the return shall state therein, and in other cases the person in whose custody the prisoner is found shall state, in writing, to the court or judge before whom the writ is returnable, plainly and unequivocally:

(A) Whether or not he has the prisoner in his custody or power or under restraint.

(B) If the prisoner is in his custody or power or under restraint, he shall set forth, at large, the authority, and the true and whole cause, of such imprisonment and restraint, with a copy of the writ, warrant, or other process upon which the prisoner is detained.

(C) If such prisoner was in his custody or power or under restraint, and such custody or restraint was transferred to another, he shall state particularly to whom, at what time, for what cause, and by what authority such transfer was made.

Section 2725.15 | Return must be signed and sworn to.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

The return or statement referred to in section 2725.14 of the Revised Code shall be signed by the person who makes it, and shall be sworn to by him, unless he is a sworn public officer and makes the return in his official capacity.

Section 2725.16 | Continuance of cause.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

The court or judge to whom a writ of habeas corpus is returned, or the court into which it is adjourned, for good cause shown, may continue the cause, and, in that event, shall make such order for the safekeeping of the person imprisoned or detained as the nature of the case requires.

Section 2725.17 | Discharge of prisoner.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

When the judge has examined the cause of caption and detention of a person brought before him as provided in section 2725.12 of the Revised Code, and is satisfied that such person is unlawfully imprisoned or detained, he shall forthwith discharge such person from confinement. On such examination, the judge may disregard matters of form or technicalities in any mittimus or order of commitment by a court or officer authorized by law to commit.

Section 2725.18 | Prisoner may be committed or let to bail.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

When the person brought before a judge under section 2725.12 of the Revised Code is confined or detained in a legal manner on a charge of having committed a crime or offense which is bailable, the judge may recommit him or let him to bail. If such person is let to bail, the judge shall require him to enter into a recognizance, with sufficient surety, in such sum as the judge finds reasonable, after considering the circumstances of the prisoner and the nature of the offense charged, and conditioned for his appearance at the court where the offense is properly cognizable. The judge forthwith shall certify his proceedings, together with any recognizance, to the proper court. If the person charged fails to give such recognizance, he shall be committed to prison by the judge.

Section 2725.19 | Mandatory commitment for capital offense.

• Effective: January 9, 1961
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 104th General Assembly

If a prisoner brougt before a judge under section 2725.12 of the Revised Code was committed by a judge, and is plainly and specifically charged in the warrant of commitment with a felony the punishment for which is capital, he shall not be removed, discharged, or let to bail.

Section 2725.20 | Return as evidence or plea.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

If a prisoner brought before a judge under section 2725.12 of the Revised Code is in custody under a warrant or commitment in pursuance of law, the return of the writ of habeas corpus is prima-facie evidence of the cause of detention. If such prisoner is restrained of his liberty by alleged private authority, the return is only a plea of the facts therein set forth, and the party claiming the custody shall be held to make proof of such facts. Upon the final disposition of a case, the court or judge shall make such order as to costs as it requires.

Section 2725.21 | Forfeiture by clerk for refusal to issue writ.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

A clerk of a court who refuses to issue a writ of habeas corpus, after an allowance of such writ and a demand therefor, shall forfeit to the party aggrieved the sum of five hundred dollars.

Section 2725.22 | Failure to obey writ.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

No person to whom a writ of habeas corpus is directed shall neglect or refuse to obey or make return of it according to the command thereof, or make a false return, or upon demand made by the prisoner, or by any person on his behalf, refuse to deliver to the person demanding, within six hours after demand therefor, a true copy of the warrant of commitment and detainer of the prisoner.

Whoever violates this section shall forfeit to the party aggrieved two hundred dollars for a first offense; for a second offense such person shall forfeit four hundred dollars, and, if an officer, shall be incapable of holding his office.

Section 2725.23 | Persons at large upon writ not to be again imprisoned.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

A person who is set at large upon a writ of habeas corpus shall not be imprisoned again for the same offense, unless by the legal order or process of the court in which he is bound by recognizance to appear, or other court having jurisdiction of the cause or offense.

No person shall knowingly, contrary to sections 2725.01 to 2725.28, inclusive, of the Revised Code, recommit, imprison, or cause to be recommitted or imprisoned, for the same offense, or pretended offense, a person so set at large, or knowingly aid or assist therein.

Whoever violates this section shall forfeit to the party aggrieved five hundred dollars, notwithstanding any colorable pretense or variation in the warrant or commitment.

Section 2725.24 | Prisoner shall not be removed from custody of one officer to another.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

A person committed to prison, or in the custody of an officer for a criminal matter, shall not be removed therefrom into the custody of another officer, unless by legal process, or unless the prisoner is delivered to an inferior officer to be taken to jail, or, by order of the proper court, is removed from one place to another within this state for trial, or in case of fire, infection, or other necessity.

A person who, after such commitment, makes, signs, or countersigns a warrant for such removal contrary to this section shall forfeit to the party aggrieved five hundred dollars.

Section 2725.26 | Record of writs.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

The proceedings upon a writ of habeas corpus must be recorded by the clerk of the court in which such proceedings were had, and may be reviewed on appeal as in other cases.

Section 2725.27 | Recovery of forfeitures - limitations.

• Effective: April 7, 2009
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 215 - 127th General Assembly

The forfeitures mentioned in sections 2725.21 to 2725.24 of the Revised Code may be recovered by the party aggrieved or the executors or administrators of the party aggrieved against the offender or the offender's executors or administrators by civil action in a court having cognizance thereof.

Actions for violations of sections 2725.21 to 2725.24 of the Revised Code shall be brought within two years after the offense is committed, except in cases of imprisonment of the party aggrieved, when action may be brought within two years after the delivery of the party aggrieved out of prison, or after death if the party aggrieved dies in prison.

Section 2725.28 | Fees and costs.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

The fees of officers and witnesses shall be taxed by the judge, on return of the proceedings on a writ of habeas corpus, and collected as a part of the original costs in the case. When the prisoner is discharged, the costs shall be taxed to the state, and paid out of the county treasury, upon the warrant of the county auditor. No officer or person shall demand payment in advance for any fees to which he is entitled by virtue of the proceedings, when the writ is demanded or issued for the discharge from custody of a person confined under color of proceedings in a criminal case. When a person in custody by virtue or under color of proceedings in a civil case is discharged, costs shall be taxed against the party at whose instance he was so in custody. If he is remanded to custody, costs shall be taxed against him.