Chapter 2947 | Judgment; Sentence

Section 2947.01 | Judgment and sentence definitions.

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

The definition of "magistrate" set forth in section 2931.01 of the Revised Code applies to Chapter 2947. of the Revised Code.

Section 2947.02 | Motion in arrest of judgment.

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

A judgment may be arrested by the court upon motion of the defendant, or upon the court's own motion, for either of the following causes:

(A) The offense charged is not within the jurisdiction of the court;

(B) The facts stated in the indictment or information do not constitute an offense.

Section 2947.03 | Defects - time limits.

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

A judgment shall not be arrested for a defect inform. Motions in arrest of judgment shall be made within three days after the verdict is rendered.

Section 2947.04 | Effect of arresting judgment.

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

When a judgment is arrested, it places the defendant in a like position with respect to the prosecution as before the indictment or information was found. If, from the evidence at the trial, there is reason to believe that the defendant is guilty of an offense, the trial court shall order him to enter into a recognizance with sufficient surety for his appearance at the first day of the next term of such court, or the court having jurisdiction of the offense if within this state, otherwise the defendant shall be discharged.

Section 2947.051 | Victim impact statement.

• Effective: April 6, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 343 - 134th General Assembly

(A) In all criminal cases in which a person is convicted of or pleads guilty to a felony, if the offender, in committing the offense, caused, attempted to cause, threatened to cause, or created a risk of physical harm to the victim of the offense, the court, prior to sentencing the offender, shall order the preparation of a victim impact statement by the department of probation of the county in which the victim of the offense resides, by the court's own regular probation officer, or by a victim assistance program that is operated by the state, any county or municipal corporation, or any other governmental entity. The court, in accordance with sections 2929.13 and 2929.19 of the Revised Code, shall consider the victim impact statement in determining the sentence to be imposed upon the offender.

(B) Each victim impact statement prepared under this section shall identify the victim of the offense, itemize any economic loss suffered by the victim as a result of the offense, identify any physical injury suffered by the victim as a result of the offense and the seriousness and permanence of the injury, identify any change in the victim's personal welfare or familial relationships as a result of the offense and any psychological impact experienced by the victim or the victim's family as a result of the offense, and contain any other information related to the impact of the offense upon the victim that the court requires. Each victim impact statement prepared under this section shall include any statement made by the victim or the victim's representative pursuant to section 2930.13 of the Revised Code.

(C) A victim impact statement prepared under this section shall be kept confidential and is not a public record as defined in section 149.43 of the Revised Code. However, the court may furnish copies of the statement to both the defendant or the defendant's counsel and the prosecuting attorney. Immediately following the imposition of sentence upon the defendant, the defendant, the defendant's counsel, and the prosecuting attorney shall return to the court the copies of the victim impact statement that were made available to the defendant, the counsel, or the prosecuting attorney.

Last updated March 9, 2023 at 4:01 PM

Section 2947.06 | Testimony in mitigation - presentence investigation report - psychologist's or psychiatrist's reports.

• Effective: January 1, 2004
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 490 - 124th General Assembly

(A)(1) The trial court may hear testimony in mitigation of a sentence at the term of conviction or plea or at the next term. The prosecuting attorney may offer testimony on behalf of the state to give the court a true understanding of the case. The court shall determine whether sentence should immediately be imposed. The court on its own motion may direct the department of probation of the county in which the defendant resides, or its own regular probation officer, to make any inquiries and presentence investigation reports that the court requires concerning the defendant.

(2) The provisions of section 2951.03 of the Revised Code shall govern the preparation of, the provision, receipt, and retention of copies of, the use of, and the confidentiality, nonpublic record character, and sealing of a presentence investigation report prepared pursuant to division (A)(1) of this section.

(B) The court may appoint not more than two psychologists or psychiatrists to make any reports concerning the defendant that the court requires for the purpose of determining the disposition of the case. Each psychologist or psychiatrist shall receive a fee to be fixed by the court and taxed in the costs of the case. The psychologist's or psychiatrist's reports shall be made in writing, in open court, and in the presence of the defendant, except in misdemeanor cases in which sentence may be pronounced in the absence of the defendant. A copy of each report of a psychologist or psychiatrist may be furnished to the defendant, if present, who may examine the persons making the report, under oath, as to any matter or thing contained in the report.

Section 2947.07 | Pronouncing judgment.

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

If a convicted defendant does not show sufficient cause as to why judgment should not be pronounced, the court shall pronounce the judgment.

Section 2947.08 | Time of execution where death sentence imposed.

• Effective: August 10, 1965
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 24 - 106th General Assembly

In cases where the death sentence is imposed, at least one hundred twenty days shall intervene between the day of sentence and the day appointed for the execution thereof.

Section 2947.09 | Failure to pay costs; notice of balance due.

• Effective: September 19, 2014
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 143 - 130th General Assembly

(A) If a person is charged with an offense in a court of common pleas, including a juvenile court, and either fails to appear in court at the required time and place to answer the charge or pleads guilty to or is found guilty of the offense or is adjudicated a delinquent child or juvenile traffic offender based on the offense and fails within the time allowed by the court to pay any fine or costs imposed by the court, the court may enter information relative to the person's failure to pay any outstanding amount of the fine or costs on a form prescribed or approved by the registrar of motor vehicles pursuant to division (B) of this section and send the form to the registrar. Upon receipt of the form, the registrar shall take any measures necessary to ensure that neither the registrar nor any deputy registrar accepts any application for the registration or transfer of registration of any motor vehicle owned or leased by the person. However, for a motor vehicle leased by the person, the registrar shall not implement this requirement until the registrar adopts procedures for that implementation under section 4503.39 of the Revised Code.

The period of denial relating to the issuance or transfer of a certificate of registration for a motor vehicle imposed under this section remains in effect until the person pays any fine or costs imposed by the court relative to the offense. When the fine or costs have been paid in full, the court shall inform the registrar of the payment by entering information relative to the payment on a notice of payment form prescribed or approved by the registrar pursuant to division (B) of this section and sending the form to the registrar.

(B) The registrar shall prescribe and make available to courts of common pleas forms to be used for a notice to the registrar of failure to pay fines or costs and a notice to the registrar of payment of fines or costs under division (A) of this section. The registrar may approve the use of other forms for these purposes.

The registrar may require that any of the forms prescribed or approved pursuant to this section be transmitted to the registrar electronically. If the registrar requires electronic transmission, the registrar shall not be required to give effect to any form that is not transmitted electronically.

Section 2947.14 | Hearing on ability to pay fine.

• Effective: September 6, 2002
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 170 - 124th General Assembly

(A) If a fine is imposed as a sentence or a part of a sentence, the court or magistrate that imposed the fine may order that the offender be committed to the jail or workhouse until the fine is paid or secured to be paid, or the offender is otherwise legally discharged, if the court or magistrate determines at a hearing that the offender is able, at that time, to pay the fine but refuses to do so. The hearing required by this section shall be conducted at the time of sentencing.

(B) At the hearing, the offender has the right to be represented by counsel and to testify and present evidence as to the offender's ability to pay the fine. If a court or magistrate determines after considering the evidence presented by an offender, that the offender is able to pay a fine, the determination shall be supported by findings of fact set forth in a judgment entry that indicate the offender's income, assets, and debts, as presented by the offender, and the offender's ability to pay.

(C) If the court or magistrate has found the offender able to pay a fine at a hearing conducted in compliance with divisions (A) and (B) of this section, and the offender fails to pay the fine, a warrant may be issued for the arrest of the offender. Any offender held in custody pursuant to such an arrest shall be entitled to a hearing on the first regularly scheduled court day following the date of arrest in order to inform the court or magistrate of any change of circumstances that has occurred since the time of sentencing and that affects the offender's ability to pay the fine. The right to the hearing on any change of circumstances may be waived by the offender.

At the hearing to determine any change of circumstances, the offender has the right to testify and present evidence as to any portion of the offender's income, assets, or debts that has changed in such a manner as to affect the offender's ability to pay the fine. If a court or magistrate determines, after considering any evidence presented by the offender, that the offender remains able to pay the fine, that determination shall be supported by a judgment entry that includes findings of fact upon which such a determination is based.

(D) No person shall be ordered to be committed to a jail or workhouse or otherwise be held in custody in satisfaction of a fine imposed as the whole or a part of a sentence except as provided in this section. Any person imprisoned pursuant to this section shall receive credit upon the fine at the rate of fifty dollars per day or fraction of a day. If the unpaid fine is less than fifty dollars, the person shall be imprisoned one day.

(E) No commitment pursuant to this section shall exceed six months.

Section 2947.15 | Labor for nonpayment of fine.

• Effective: November 8, 1990
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 51, House Bill 588 - 118th General Assembly

Persons committed to jail by a judge or magistrate for nonpayment of fine, or convicts sentenced to hard labor in the county jail, shall perform labor under the direction of the board of county commissioners within or outside the jail, within the county, and the board shall adopt orders and rules in relation to the performance of labor and the sheriff or other officer having the custody of the persons or convicts shall be governed by the orders and rules. The sheriff of the county shall collect the proceeds of the labor of the persons or convicts, pay it into the county treasury, take the county treasurer's duplicate receipts for the amount paid, and forthwith deposit one of them with the county auditor. The sheriff, with the approval of the board, may provide for the vocational training and rehabilitation of prisoners confined in the county jail.

This section does not apply to prisoners participating in a county jail industry program established under section 5147.30 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.

Section 2947.151 | Reduction of inmate's sentence.

• Effective: October 1, 1959
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 138 - 103rd General Assembly

The sheriff in charge of a county jail may, upon a consideration of the quality and amount of work done in the kitchen, in the jail offices, on the jail premises, or elsewhere, allow reductions of inmates' sentences as follows:

(A) On sentences of ninety days or less, up to three days for each thirty days of sentence;

(B) On sentences longer than ninety days but not longer than six months, up to four days for each thirty days of sentence;

(C) On sentences longer than six months, up to five days for each thirty days of sentence.

The reduction of the inmate's sentence shall become effective only upon the written concurrence of the presiding or sentencing judge or magistrate of the court where the sentence was imposed.

This section shall in no way restrict any other powers vested in the presiding or sentencing judge or magistrate of the court where the sentence was imposed.

Section 2947.16 | Recognizance of misdemeanant to keep the peace and be of good behavior.

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

A person convicted of a misdemeanor may be required by the judge or magistrate to enter into a recognizance, with sufficient surety, in such sum as the judge or magistrate finds proper, to keep the peace and be of good behavior for such time, not exceeding two years, as the court directs. The court may order such person to stand committed until such order is complied with or he is discharged by law, but the court may discharge such person at any time on his own recognizance, or cancel such recognizance.

Section 2947.17 | Breach of condition of any recognizance.

• Effective: October 16, 1980
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 736 - 113th General Assembly

In case of a breach of the condition of any recognizance given under section 2947.16 of the Revised Code, the same proceedings shall be had as are prescribed in relation to forfeiture of other recognizances.

Section 2947.18 | Misdemeanants sentenced to workhouse.

• Effective: September 3, 1970
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 460 - 108th General Assembly

Where the board of county commissioners of a county, or legislative authority of a municipal corporation having no workhouse, has made provisions for receiving prisoners into the workhouse of a city in any other county or district in the state, a court or magistrate, where imprisonment in jail may lawfully be imposed in such case, may sentence persons convicted of a misdemeanor, including a violation of a municipal ordinance, to such workhouse.

Section 2947.19 | County offenders maintained in city workhouse.

• Effective: January 1, 2004
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 490 - 124th General Assembly

(A) In a county that has no workhouse but in which is located a city that has a workhouse maintained by the city, the board of county commissioners may agree with the proper authorities of that city upon terms under which persons convicted of misdemeanors shall be maintained in the city workhouse at the expense of the county. In the case of persons committed to the city workhouse for the violation of a law of this state, whether the commitment is from the court of common pleas, magistrate's court, or other court, the cost of maintaining those persons committed shall be paid out of the general fund of the county, on the allowance of the board of county commissioners, provided that all persons committed to the city workhouse for the violation of ordinances of the city shall be maintained in that workhouse at the sole cost of the city.

(B) Pursuant to section 2929.37 of the Revised Code, the board of county commissioners or the legislative authority of the city may require a person who was convicted of an offense and who is confined in the city workhouse as provided in division (A) of this section to reimburse the county or the city, as the case may be, for its expenses incurred by reason of the person's confinement. If a person is convicted of or pleads guilty to a felony and the court imposes a sanction that requires the offender to serve a term in a city workhouse, sections 341.23, 753.02, 753.04, and 753.16 of the Revised Code govern the determination of whether the court may impose a sanction under section 2929.18 of the Revised Code that requires the offender to reimburse the expenses of confinement.

(C) Notwithstanding any contrary provision in this section or section 2929.18, 2929.28, or 2929.37 of the Revised Code, the board of county commissioners or the legislative authority of the city may establish a policy that complies with section 2929.38 of the Revised Code and that requires any person who is not indigent and who is confined in the city workhouse to pay a reception fee or a fee for any medical treatment or service requested by and provided to that person.

(D) If a person who has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to an offense is confined in the workhouse as provided in division (A) of this section, at the time of reception and at other times the person in charge of the operation of the workhouse determines to be appropriate, the person in charge of the operation of the workhouse may cause the convicted offender to be examined and tested for tuberculosis, HIV infection, hepatitis, including but not limited to hepatitis A, B, and C, and other contagious diseases. The person in charge of the operation of the workhouse may cause a convicted offender in the workhouse who refuses to be tested or treated for tuberculosis, HIV infection, hepatitis, including but not limited to hepatitis A, B, and C, or another contagious disease to be tested and treated involuntarily.

Section 2947.20 | Health insurance claims of inmates confined in city workhouse.

• Effective: October 16, 1996
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 163 - 121st General Assembly

(A) For each person who is confined in a city workhouse as provided in section 2947.19 of the Revised Code, the county or the city, as the case may be, may make a determination as to whether the person is covered under a health insurance or health care policy, contract, or plan and, if the person has such coverage, what terms and conditions are imposed by it for the filing and payment of claims.

(B) If, pursuant to division (A) of this section, it is determined that the person is covered under a policy, contract, or plan and, while that coverage is in force, the workhouse renders or arranges for the rendering of health care services to the person in accordance with the terms and conditions of the policy, contract, or plan, then the person, county, city, or provider of the health care services, as appropriate under the terms and conditions of the policy, contract, or plan, shall promptly submit a claim for payment for the health care services to the appropriate third-party payer and shall designate, or make any other arrangement necessary to ensure, that payment of any amount due on the claim be made to the county, city, or provider, as the case may be.

(C) Any payment made to the county or the city pursuant to division (B) of this section shall be paid into the treasury of the governmental entity that incurred the expenses.

(D) This section also applies to any person who is under the custody of a law enforcement officer, as defined in section 2901.01 of the Revised Code, prior to the person's confinement in the workhouse.

Section 2947.21 | Warrant for detaining person in workhouse.

• Effective: January 1, 2004
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 490 - 124th General Assembly

When a person is sentenced to a workhouse by the court of common pleas, the clerk of the court of common pleas shall make and deliver to the sheriff a certified copy of the judgment. The copy shall describe the crime charged and the sentence of the court. The sheriff shall deliver the copy to the officer in charge of the workhouse, and the copy shall be that officer's warrant for detaining the person in custody. In case of such a conviction by any other court or magistrate, the court or magistrate shall make a certified transcript of the docket in the case, which, in like manner, shall be delivered to the marshal, constable, or sheriff to be delivered by the marshal, constable, or sheriff to the proper officer in charge of the workhouse and be that officer's warrant for detaining the person in custody.

When a person is sentenced to a jail or workhouse under section 2929.24 of the Revised Code, the court shall certify a transcript of the docket in the case, and the court shall deliver the certified transcript to the proper officer in charge of the workhouse or jail, and the certified transcript is the officer's warrant for detaining the person in custody during the prescribed period or periods.

Section 2947.22 | Temporary confinement in county jail of persons sentenced to workhouse.

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

A person sentenced to a workhouse may be confined in the jail of the county in which he was convicted, for such period as is necessary to procure the papers and make arrangements to transport him to the workhouse.

Section 2947.23 | Costs and jury fees - community service to pay judgment.

• Effective: September 19, 2014
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 143 - 130th General Assembly

(A)(1)(a) In all criminal cases, including violations of ordinances, the judge or magistrate shall include in the sentence the costs of prosecution, including any costs under section 2947.231 of the Revised Code, and render a judgment against the defendant for such costs. If the judge or magistrate imposes a community control sanction or other nonresidential sanction, the judge or magistrate, when imposing the sanction, shall notify the defendant of both of the following:

(i) If the defendant fails to pay that judgment or fails to timely make payments towards that judgment under a payment schedule approved by the court, the court may order the defendant to perform community service until the judgment is paid or until the court is satisfied that the defendant is in compliance with the approved payment schedule.

(ii) If the court orders the defendant to perform the community service, the defendant will receive credit upon the judgment at the specified hourly credit rate per hour of community service performed, and each hour of community service performed will reduce the judgment by that amount.

(b) The failure of a judge or magistrate to notify the defendant pursuant to division (A)(1)(a) of this section does not negate or limit the authority of the court to order the defendant to perform community service if the defendant fails to pay the judgment described in that division or to timely make payments toward that judgment under an approved payment plan.

(2) The following shall apply in all criminal cases:

(a) If a jury has been sworn at the trial of a case, the fees of the jurors shall be included in the costs, which shall be paid to the public treasury from which the jurors were paid.

(b) If a jury has not been sworn at the trial of a case because of a defendant's failure to appear without good cause or because the defendant entered a plea of guilty or no contest less than twenty-four hours before the scheduled commencement of the trial, the costs incurred in summoning jurors for that particular trial may be included in the costs of prosecution. If the costs incurred in summoning jurors are assessed against the defendant, those costs shall be paid to the public treasury from which the jurors were paid.

(B) If a judge or magistrate has reason to believe that a defendant has failed to pay the judgment described in division (A) of this section or has failed to timely make payments towards that judgment under a payment schedule approved by the judge or magistrate, the judge or magistrate shall hold a hearing to determine whether to order the offender to perform community service for that failure. The judge or magistrate shall notify both the defendant and the prosecuting attorney of the place, time, and date of the hearing and shall give each an opportunity to present evidence. If, after the hearing, the judge or magistrate determines that the defendant has failed to pay the judgment or to timely make payments under the payment schedule and that imposition of community service for the failure is appropriate, the judge or magistrate may order the offender to perform community service until the judgment is paid or until the judge or magistrate is satisfied that the offender is in compliance with the approved payment schedule. If the judge or magistrate orders the defendant to perform community service under this division, the defendant shall receive credit upon the judgment at the specified hourly credit rate per hour of community service performed, and each hour of community service performed shall reduce the judgment by that amount. Except for the credit and reduction provided in this division, ordering an offender to perform community service under this division does not lessen the amount of the judgment and does not preclude the state from taking any other action to execute the judgment.

(C) The court retains jurisdiction to waive, suspend, or modify the payment of the costs of prosecution, including any costs under section 2947.231 of the Revised Code, at the time of sentencing or at any time thereafter.

(D) As used in this section:

(1) "Case" means a prosecution of all of the charges that result from the same act, transaction, or series of acts or transactions and that are given the same case type designator and case number under Rule 43 of the Rules of Superintendence for the Courts of Ohio or any successor to that rule.

(2) "Specified hourly credit rate" means an hourly credit rate set by the judge or magistrate, which shall not be less than the wage rate that is specified in 26 U.S.C.A. 206(a)(1) under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, that then is in effect, and that an employer subject to that provision must pay per hour to each of the employer's employees who is subject to that provision.

Section 2947.231 | Pharmacy board investigative costs included in sentence.

• Effective: April 6, 2017
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 319 - 131st General Assembly

If a business entity described in division (A)(2) or (3) of section 4729.541 of the Revised Code pleads guilty or no contest to or is found guilty of any criminal offense, the judge or magistrate shall include in the sentence any costs incurred by the state board of pharmacy in an investigation leading to the plea or conviction. Investigative costs include staff salaries, administrative costs, travel expenses, attorney's fees, and any other reasonable expense incurred by the board. The board shall set forth the costs the entity is required to pay in an itemized statement provided to the judge or magistrate.