Chapter 2951 | Probation

Section 2951.01 | Probation definitions.

• Effective: April 6, 2017
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 388 - 131st General Assembly

As used in this chapter:

(A) "Magistrate" has the same meaning as in section 2931.01 of the Revised Code.

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

(C) "Ignition interlock device" has the same meaning as in section 4510.01 of the Revised Code.

(D) "Multicounty department of probation" means a probation department established under section 2301.27 of the Revised Code to serve more than one county.

(E) "Probation agency" means a county department of probation, a multicounty department of probation, a municipal court department of probation established under section 1901.33 of the Revised Code, or the adult parole authority.

(F) "County-operated municipal court" and "legislative authority" have the same meanings as in section 1901.03 of the Revised Code.

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

(H) "Repeat offender" and "dangerous offender" have the same meanings as in section 2935.36 of the Revised Code.

(I) "Minor drug possession offense" has the same meaning as in section 2925.01 of the Revised Code.

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

(K) "Firearm," "deadly weapon," and "dangerous ordnance" have the same meanings as in section 2923.11 of the Revised Code.

Section 2951.011 | Application of chapter before and after 7-1-96.

• Effective: January 1, 2004
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 57 - 125th General Assembly

(A)(1) Chapter 2951. of the Revised Code, as it existed prior to July 1, 1996, applies to a person upon whom a court imposed a term of imprisonment prior to July 1, 1996, and a person upon whom a court, on or after July 1, 1996, and in accordance with law existing prior to July 1, 1996, imposed a term of imprisonment for an offense that was committed prior to July 1, 1996.

(2) Chapter 2951. of the Revised Code as it exists on and after July 1, 1996, applies to a person upon whom a court imposed a stated prison term for an offense committed on or after July 1, 1996.

(B)(1) Except as provided in division (A)(1) of this section, Chapter 2951. of the Revised Code, as it existed prior to January 1, 2004, applies to a person upon whom a court imposed a sentence for a misdemeanor offense prior to January 1, 2004, and a person upon whom a court, on or after January 1, 2004, and in accordance with law existing prior to January 1, 2004, imposed a sentence for a misdemeanor offense that was committed prior to January 1, 2004.

(2) Except as provided in division (A)(2) of this section, Chapter 2951. of the Revised Code as it exists on and after January 1, 2004, applies to a person upon whom a court imposes a sentence for a misdemeanor offense committed on or after January 1, 2004.

Section 2951.02 | Factors to consider when granting probation or suspending sentence.

• Effective: April 4, 2023
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 16, Senate Bill 288 - 134th General Assembly

(A)(1) During the period of a misdemeanor offender's community control sanction or during the period of a felony offender's nonresidential sanction, authorized probation officers who are engaged within the scope of their supervisory duties or responsibilities may search, with or without a warrant, the person of the offender, the place of residence of the offender, and a motor vehicle, another item of tangible or intangible personal property, or other real property in which the offender has a right, title, or interest or for which the offender has the express or implied permission of a person with a right, title, or interest to use, occupy, or possess if any of the following apply:

(a) The probation officers have reasonable grounds to believe that the offender is not abiding by the law or otherwise is not complying with the conditions of the misdemeanor offender's community control sanction or the conditions of the felony offender's nonresidential sanction.

(b) If the offender is a felony offender, the court requires the offender's consent to searches as part of the terms and conditions of community control, and the offender agreed to those terms and conditions.

(c) If the offender is a felony offender, the offender otherwise provides consent for the search.

(2) If a felony offender who is sentenced to a nonresidential sanction is under the general control and supervision of the adult parole authority, as described in division (A)(2)(a) of section 2929.15 of the Revised Code, adult parole authority field officers with supervisory responsibilities over the felony offender shall have the same search authority relative to the felony offender during the period of the sanction that is described under division (A)(1) of this section for probation officers.

(3) If a misdemeanor offender is placed under a community control sanction pursuant to section 2929.25 of the Revised Code or if a felony offender is sentenced to a nonresidential sanction pursuant to section 2929.17 of the Revised Code, the court that places the misdemeanor offender under the sanction or sentences the felony offender to the sanction shall provide the offender with a written notice that informs the offender that authorized probation officers or adult parole authority field officers with supervisory responsibilities over the offender who are engaged within the scope of their supervisory duties or responsibilities may conduct the types of searches described in divisions (A)(1) and (2) of this section during the period of community control sanction or the nonresidential sanction if any of the following apply:

(a) The officers have reasonable grounds to believe that the offender is not abiding by the law or otherwise is not complying with the conditions of the offender's community control sanction or nonresidential sanction.

(b) If the offender is a felony offender, the court requires the offender's consent to searches as part of the terms and conditions of community control, and the offender agreed to those terms and conditions.

(c) If the offender is a felony offender, the offender otherwise provides consent for the search.

(B) If an offender is convicted of or pleads guilty to a misdemeanor, the court may require the offender, as a condition of the offender's sentence of a community control sanction, to perform supervised community service work in accordance with this division. If an offender is convicted of or pleads guilty to a felony, the court, pursuant to sections 2929.15 and 2929.17 of the Revised Code, may impose a sanction that requires the offender to perform supervised community service work in accordance with this division. The supervised community service work shall be under the authority of health districts, park districts, counties, municipal corporations, townships, other political subdivisions of the state, or agencies of the state or any of its political subdivisions, or under the authority of charitable organizations that render services to the community or its citizens, in accordance with this division. The court may require an offender who is ordered to perform the work to pay to it a reasonable fee to cover the costs of the offender's participation in the work, including, but not limited to, the costs of procuring a policy or policies of liability insurance to cover the period during which the offender will perform the work.

A court may permit any offender convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor to satisfy the payment of a fine imposed for the offense pursuant to section 2929.18 or 2929.28 of the Revised Code by performing supervised community service work as described in this division if the offender requests an opportunity to satisfy the payment by this means and if the court determines that the offender is financially unable to pay the fine.

After imposing a term of community service, the court may modify the sentence to authorize a reasonable contribution to the appropriate general fund as provided in division (B) of section 2929.27 of the Revised Code.

The supervised community service work that may be imposed under this division shall be subject to the following limitations:

(1) The court shall fix the period of the work and, if necessary, shall distribute it over weekends or over other appropriate times that will allow the offender to continue at the offender's occupation or to care for the offender's family. The period of the work as fixed by the court shall not exceed in the aggregate the number of hours of community service imposed by the court pursuant to section 2929.17 or 2929.27 of the Revised Code.

(2) An agency, political subdivision, or charitable organization must agree to accept the offender for the work before the court requires the offender to perform the work for the entity. A court shall not require an offender to perform supervised community service work for an agency, political subdivision, or charitable organization at a location that is an unreasonable distance from the offender's residence or domicile, unless the offender is provided with transportation to the location where the work is to be performed.

(3) A court may enter into an agreement with a county department of job and family services for the management, placement, and supervision of offenders eligible for community service work in work activities, developmental activities, and alternative work activities under sections 5107.40 to 5107.69 of the Revised Code. If a court and a county department of job and family services have entered into an agreement of that nature, the clerk of that court is authorized to pay directly to the county department all or a portion of the fees collected by the court pursuant to this division in accordance with the terms of its agreement.

(4) Community service work that a court requires under this division shall be supervised by an official of the agency, political subdivision, or charitable organization for which the work is performed or by a person designated by the agency, political subdivision, or charitable organization. The official or designated person shall be qualified for the supervision by education, training, or experience, and periodically shall report, in writing, to the court and to the offender's probation officer concerning the conduct of the offender in performing the work.

(5) The total of any period of supervised community service work imposed on an offender under division (B) of this section plus the period of all other sanctions imposed pursuant to sections 2929.15, 2929.16, 2929.17, and 2929.18 of the Revised Code for a felony, or pursuant to sections 2929.25, 2929.26, 2929.27, and 2929.28 of the Revised Code for a misdemeanor, shall not exceed five years.

(C)(1) If an offender is convicted of a violation of section 4511.19 of the Revised Code or a substantially similar municipal ordinance, the court may require, as a condition of a community control sanction, that the offender operate only a motor vehicle equipped with an ignition interlock device that is certified pursuant to section 4510.43 of the Revised Code.

(2) If a court requires an offender, as a condition of a community control sanction pursuant to division (C)(1) of this section, to operate only a motor vehicle equipped with an ignition interlock device that is certified pursuant to section 4510.43 of the Revised Code, the offender immediately shall surrender the offender's driver's or commercial driver's license or permit to the court. Upon the receipt of the offender's license or permit, the court shall issue an order authorizing the offender to operate a motor vehicle equipped with a certified ignition interlock device and deliver the offender's license or permit to the registrar of motor vehicles. The court also shall give the offender a copy of its order for purposes of obtaining a restricted license.

(3) An offender shall present to the registrar or to a deputy registrar the copy of the order issued under division (C) of this section and a certificate affirming the installation of an ignition interlock device that is in a form established by the director of public safety and that is signed by the person who installed the device. Upon presentation of the order and certificate, the registrar or deputy registrar shall issue a restricted license to the offender, unless the offender's driver's license or commercial driver's license or permit is suspended under any other provision of law and limited driving privileges have not been granted with regard to that suspension. The restricted license shall be identical to the surrendered license, except that it shall have printed on its face a statement that the offender is prohibited from operating a motor vehicle that is not equipped with an ignition interlock device that is certified pursuant to section 4510.43 of the Revised Code. The registrar shall deliver the offender's surrendered license or permit to the court upon receipt of a court order requiring it to do so, or reissue the offender's license or permit under section 4510.52 of the Revised Code if the registrar destroyed the offender's license or permit under that section. The offender shall surrender the restricted license to the court upon receipt of the offender's surrendered license or permit.

(4) If an offender violates a requirement of the court imposed under division (C)(1) of this section, the court may impose a class seven suspension of the offender's driver's or commercial driver's license or permit or nonresident operating privilege from the range specified in division (A)(7) of section 4510.02 of the Revised Code. On a second or subsequent violation, the court may impose a class four suspension of the offender's driver's or commercial driver's license or permit or nonresident operating privilege from the range specified in division (A)(4) of section 4510.02 of the Revised Code.

Last updated February 7, 2023 at 9:51 AM

Section 2951.021 | Monthly supervision fee.

• Effective: April 7, 2009
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 130 - 127th General Assembly

(A)(1) If a court places a misdemeanor offender under a community control sanction under section 2929.26, 2929.27, or 2929.28 of the Revised Code or places a felony offender under a community control sanction under section 2929.16, 2929.17, or 2929.18 of the Revised Code and if the court places the offender under the control and supervision of a probation agency, the court may require the offender, as a condition of community control, to pay a monthly supervision fee of not more than fifty dollars for supervision services. If the court requires an offender to pay a monthly supervision fee and the offender will be under the control of a county department of probation, a multicounty department of probation, or a municipal court department of probation established under section 1901.33 of the Revised Code, the court shall specify whether the offender is to pay the fee to the probation agency that will have control over the offender or to the clerk of the court for which the supervision agency is established. If the court requires an offender to pay a monthly probation fee and the offender will be under the control of the adult parole authority, the court shall specify that the offender is to pay the fee to the clerk of the court of common pleas.

(2) No person shall be assessed, in any month, more than fifty dollars in supervision fees.

(3) The prosecuting attorney of the county or the chief legal officer of a municipal corporation in which is located the court that imposed sentence upon an offender may bring a civil action to recover unpaid monthly supervision fees that the offender was required to pay. Any amount recovered in the civil action shall be paid into the appropriate county or municipal probation services fund in accordance with division (B) of this section.

(4) The failure of an offender to comply with a condition of community control that requires the offender to pay a monthly supervision fee and that is imposed under division (A)(1) of this section shall not constitute the basis for the modification of the offender's community control sanctions pursuant to section 2929.15 or 2929.25 of the Revised Code but may be considered with any other factors that form the basis of a modification of a sanction for violating a community control sanction under those sections. If the court determines that a misdemeanor offender on community control failed to pay a monthly supervision fee imposed under division (A)(1) of this section and that no other factors warranting the modification of the offender's community control sanction are present, the court shall remand the offender to the custody of the probation agency and may impose any additional conditions of community control upon the offender, including a requirement that the offender perform community service, as the ends of justice require. Any requirement imposed pursuant to division (A)(4) of this section that the offender perform community service shall be in addition to and shall not limit or otherwise affect any order that the offender perform community service pursuant to division (B) of section 2951.02 of the Revised Code.

(B) Prior to the last day of the month in each month during the period of community control, an offender who is ordered to pay a monthly supervision fee under this section shall pay the fee to the probation agency that has control and supervision over the offender or to the clerk of the court for which the probation agency is established, as specified by the court, except that, if the probation agency is the adult parole authority, the offender shall pay the fee to the clerk of the court of common pleas. Each probation agency or clerk of a court that receives any monthly supervision fees shall keep a record of the monthly supervision fees that are paid to the agency or the clerk and shall give a written receipt to each person who pays a supervision fee to the agency or clerk.

(C) Subject to division (E) of this section, all monthly supervision fees collected under this section by a probation agency or the clerk of a court shall be disposed of in the following manner:

(1) For offenders who are under the control and supervision of a county department of probation or a municipal court department of probation in a county-operated municipal court, on or before the fifth business day of each month, the chief probation officer, the chief probation officer's designee, or the clerk of the court shall pay all monthly supervision fees collected in the previous month to the county treasurer of the county in which the county department of probation or municipal court department of probation is established for deposit into the county probation services fund established in the county treasury of that county pursuant to division (A)(1) of section 321.44 of the Revised Code.

(2) For offenders who are under the control and supervision of a multicounty department of probation, on or before the fifth business day of each month, the chief probation officer, the chief probation officer's designee, or the clerk of the court shall pay all monthly supervision fees collected in the previous month to the county treasurer of the county in which is located the court of common pleas that placed the offender under a community control sanction under the control of the department for deposit into the county probation services fund established in the county treasury of that county pursuant to division (A)(1) of section 321.44 of the Revised Code and for subsequent appropriation and transfer in accordance with division (A)(2) of that section to the appropriate multicounty probation services fund established pursuant to division (B) of that section.

(3) For offenders who are under the control and supervision of a municipal court department of probation in a municipal court that is not a county-operated municipal court, on or before the fifth business day of each month, the chief probation officer, the chief probation officer's designee, or the clerk of the court shall pay all monthly supervision fees collected in the previous month to the treasurer of the municipal corporation for deposit into the municipal probation services fund established pursuant to section 737.41 of the Revised Code.

(4) For offenders who are under the control and supervision of the adult parole authority, the clerk of the court of common pleas, on or before the fifth business day of January, April, July, and October, shall pay all monthly supervision fees collected by the clerk in the previous three months to the treasurer of the county in which is located the court of common pleas that placed the offender under a community control sanction under the control of the authority for deposit into the county probation services fund established in the county treasury of that county pursuant to division (A)(1) of section 321.44 of the Revised Code.

(D) Not later than the first day of December of each year, each probation agency or the court of common pleas of a county in which the court has entered into an agreement with the adult parole authority pursuant to section 2301.32 of the Revised Code shall prepare a report regarding its use of money from a county probation services account, a multicounty probation services account, or a municipal probation services account, whichever is applicable. The report shall specify the amount appropriated from the fund to the probation agency or court during the current calendar year, an estimate of the amount that the probation agency or court will expend by the end of the year, a summary of how the amount appropriated has been expended for probation services, and an estimate of the amount of supervision fees that the probation agency or court will collect and pay to the appropriate treasurer for deposit in the appropriate fund in the next calendar year. The report shall be filed with one of the following:

(1) If the probation agency is a county department of probation or a municipal court department of probation in a county-operated municipal court, with the board of county commissioners of that county;

(2) If the probation agency is a multicounty department of probation, with the board of county commissioners of the county whose treasurer, in accordance with section 2301.27 of the Revised Code, is designated as the treasurer to whom supervision fees collected under this section are to be appropriated and transferred under division (A)(2) of section 321.44 of the Revised Code;

(3) If the probation agency is a department of probation of a municipal court that is not a county-operated municipal court, with the legislative authority of the municipal corporation that operates the court;

(4) If the court of common pleas has entered into an agreement with the adult parole authority, with the director of rehabilitation and correction, the chief of the adult parole authority, and the board of county commissioners in each county for which the adult parole authority provides probation services.

(E) If the clerk of a court of common pleas or the clerk of a municipal court collects any monthly supervision fees under this section, the clerk may retain up to two per cent of the fees so collected to cover any administrative costs experienced in complying with the clerk's duties under this section.

Section 2951.022 | Supervision of concurrent supervision offender.

• Effective: September 28, 2012
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 337 - 129th General Assembly

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Concurrent supervision offender" means any offender who has been sentenced to community control for one or more misdemeanor violations or has been placed under a community control sanction pursuant to section 2929.16, 2929.17, 2929.18, or 2929.20 of the Revised Code and who is simultaneously subject to supervision by any of the following:

(a) Two or more municipal courts or county courts in this state;

(b) Two or more courts of common pleas in this state;

(c) One or more courts of common pleas in this state and one or more municipal courts or county courts in this state.

"Concurrent supervision offender" does not include a parolee or releasee.

(2) "Parolee" and "releasee" have the same meanings as in section 2967.01 of the Revised Code.

(B)(1) Except as otherwise provided in divisions (B)(2), (3), and (4) of this section, a concurrent supervision offender shall be supervised by the court of conviction that imposed the longest possible sentence of incarceration and shall not be supervised by any other court.

(2) In the case of a concurrent supervision offender subject to supervision by two or more municipal or county courts in the same county, the municipal or county court in the territorial jurisdiction in which the offender resides shall supervise the offender. In the case of a concurrent supervision offender subject to supervision by a municipal court or county court and a court of common pleas for two or more equal possible sentences, the municipal or county court shall supervise the offender. In the case of a concurrent supervision offender subject to supervision by two or more courts of common pleas in separate counties in this state, the court that lies within the same territorial jurisdiction in which the offender resides shall supervise the offender.

(3) Separate courts within the same county may enter into an agreement or adopt local rules of procedure specifying, generally, that concurrent supervision offenders will be supervised in a manner other than that provided for in divisions (B)(1) and (2) of this section. The judges of the various courts of this state having authority to supervise a concurrent supervision offender may by local rule authorize the chief probation officer of that court to manage concurrent supervision offenders under such terms and guidelines as are consistent with division (C) of this section.

(4)(a) The judges of the various courts of this state having jurisdiction over a concurrent supervision offender may agree by journal entry to transfer jurisdiction over a concurrent supervision offender from one court to another court in any manner the courts consider appropriate, if the offender is supervised by only a single supervising authority at all times. An agreement to transfer supervision of an offender under division (B)(4)(a) of this section shall not take effect until approved by every court having authority to supervise the offender and may provide for the transfer of supervision to the offender's jurisdiction of residence whether or not the offender was subject to supervision in that jurisdiction prior to transfer. In the case of a subsequent conviction in a court other than the supervising court, the supervising court may agree to accept a transfer of jurisdiction from the court of conviction prior to sentencing and proceed to sentence the offender according to law.

(b) If the judges of the various courts of this state having authority to supervise a concurrent supervision offender cannot reach agreement with respect to the supervision of the offender, the offender may be subject to concurrent supervision in the interest of justice upon the courts' consideration of the provisions set forth in division (C) of this section.

(C) In determining whether a court maintains authority to supervise an offender or transfers authority to supervise the offender pursuant to division (B)(3) or (4) of this section, the court shall consider all of the following:

(1) The safety of the community;

(2) The risk that the offender might reoffend;

(3) The nature of the offenses committed by the offender;

(4) The likelihood that the offender will remain in the jurisdiction;

(5) The ability of the offender to travel to and from the offender's residence and place of employment or school to the offices of the supervising authority;

(6) The resources for residential and nonresidential sanctions or rehabilitative treatment available to the various courts having supervising authority;

(7) Any other factors consistent with the purposes of sentencing.

(D) The court having sole authority over a concurrent supervision offender pursuant to this section shall have complete authority for enforcement of any financial obligations imposed by any other court, shall set a payment schedule consistent with the offender's ability to pay, and shall cause payments of the offender's financial obligations to be directed to the sentencing court in proportion to the total amounts ordered by all sentencing courts, or as otherwise agreed by the sentencing courts. Financial obligations include financial sanctions imposed pursuant to sections 2929.18 and 2929.28 of the Revised Code, court costs, and any other financial order or fee imposed by a sentencing court. A supervision fee may be charged only by the agency providing supervision of the case.

(E) Unless the local residential sanction is suspended, the offender shall complete any local residential sanction before jurisdiction is transferred in accordance with this section. The supervising court shall respect all conditions of supervision established by a sentencing court, but any conflicting or inconsistent order of the supervising court shall supersede any other order of a sentencing court. In the case of a concurrent supervision offender, the supervising court shall determine when supervision will be terminated but shall not terminate supervision until all financial obligations are paid or otherwise resolved. Any unpaid financial obligation is a judgment in favor of the state or a political subdivision in which the court that imposed the financial sanction is located, and the offender subject to the financial sanction is the judgment debtor pursuant to sections 2929.18 and 2929.28 of the Revised Code.

(F) The adult parole authority and one or more courts may enter into an agreement whereby a releasee or parolee who is simultaneously under the supervision of the adult parole authority and the court or courts is supervised exclusively by either the authority or a court.

Section 2951.03 | Presentence investigation report.

• Effective: September 14, 2016
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 123 - 131st General Assembly

(A)(1) Unless the defendant and the prosecutor who is handling the case against the defendant agree to waive the presentence investigation report, no person who has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a felony shall be placed under a community control sanction until a written presentence investigation report has been considered by the court. The court may order a presentence investigation report notwithstanding an agreement to waive the report. If a court orders the preparation of a presentence investigation report pursuant to this section, section 2947.06 of the Revised Code, or Criminal Rule 32.2, the officer making the report shall inquire into the circumstances of the offense and the criminal record, social history, and present condition of the defendant, all information available regarding any prior adjudications of the defendant as a delinquent child and regarding the dispositions made relative to those adjudications, and any other matters specified in Criminal Rule 32.2. Whenever the officer considers it advisable, the officer's investigation may include a physical and mental examination of the defendant. A physical examination of the defendant may include a drug test consisting of a chemical analysis of a blood or urine specimen of the defendant to determine whether the defendant ingested or was injected with a drug of abuse. If, pursuant to section 2930.13 of the Revised Code, the victim of the offense of which the defendant has been convicted wishes to make a statement regarding the impact of the offense for the officer's use in preparing the presentence investigation report, the officer shall comply with the requirements of that section.

(2) If a defendant is committed to any institution, the presentence investigation report shall be sent to the institution with the entry of commitment. If a defendant is committed to any institution and a presentence investigation report is not prepared regarding that defendant pursuant to this section, section 2947.06 of the Revised Code, or Criminal Rule 32.2, the director of the department of rehabilitation and correction or the director's designee may order that an offender background investigation and report be conducted and prepared regarding the defendant pursuant to section 5120.16 of the Revised Code. An offender background investigation report prepared pursuant to this section shall be considered confidential information and is not a public record under section 149.43 of the Revised Code.

(3) The department of rehabilitation and correction may use any presentence investigation report and any offender background investigation report prepared pursuant to this section for penological and rehabilitative purposes. The department may disclose any presentence investigation report and any offender background investigation report to courts, law enforcement agencies, community-based correctional facilities, halfway houses, and medical, mental health, and substance abuse treatment providers. The department shall make the disclosure in a manner calculated to maintain the report's confidentiality. Any presentence investigation report or offender background investigation report that the department discloses to a community-based correctional facility, a halfway house, or a medical, mental health, or substance abuse treatment provider shall not include a victim impact section or information identifying a witness.

(B)(1) If a presentence investigation report is prepared pursuant to this section, section 2947.06 of the Revised Code, or Criminal Rule 32.2, the court, at a reasonable time before imposing sentence, shall permit the defendant or the defendant's counsel to read the report, except that the court shall not permit the defendant or the defendant's counsel to read any of the following:

(a) Any recommendation as to sentence;

(b) Any diagnostic opinions that, if disclosed, the court believes might seriously disrupt a program of rehabilitation for the defendant;

(c) Any sources of information obtained upon a promise of confidentiality;

(d) Any other information that, if disclosed, the court believes might result in physical harm or some other type of harm to the defendant or to any other person.

(2) Prior to sentencing, the court shall permit the defendant and the defendant's counsel to comment on the presentence investigation report and, in its discretion, may permit the defendant and the defendant's counsel to introduce testimony or other information that relates to any alleged factual inaccuracy contained in the report.

(3) If the court believes that any information in the presentence investigation report should not be disclosed pursuant to division (B)(1) of this section, the court, in lieu of making the report or any part of the report available, shall state orally or in writing a summary of the factual information contained in the report that will be relied upon in determining the defendant's sentence. The court shall permit the defendant and the defendant's counsel to comment upon the oral or written summary of the report.

(4) Any material that is disclosed to the defendant or the defendant's counsel pursuant to this section shall be disclosed to the prosecutor who is handling the prosecution of the case against the defendant.

(5) If the comments of the defendant or the defendant's counsel, the testimony they introduce, or any of the other information they introduce alleges any factual inaccuracy in the presentence investigation report or the summary of the report, the court shall do either of the following with respect to each alleged factual inaccuracy:

(a) Make a finding as to the allegation;

(b) Make a determination that no finding is necessary with respect to the allegation, because the factual matter will not be taken into account in the sentencing of the defendant.

(C) A court's decision as to the content of a summary under division (B)(3) of this section or as to the withholding of information under division (B)(1)(a), (b), (c), or (d) of this section shall be considered to be within the discretion of the court. No appeal can be taken from either of those decisions, and neither of those decisions shall be the basis for a reversal of the sentence imposed.

(D)(1) The contents of a presentence investigation report prepared pursuant to this section, section 2947.06 of the Revised Code, or Criminal Rule 32.2 and the contents of any written or oral summary of a presentence investigation report or of a part of a presentence investigation report described in division (B)(3) of this section are confidential information and are not a public record. The court, an appellate court, authorized probation officers, investigators, and court personnel, the defendant, the defendant's counsel, the prosecutor who is handling the prosecution of the case against the defendant, and authorized personnel of an institution to which the defendant is committed may inspect, receive copies of, retain copies of, and use a presentence investigation report or a written or oral summary of a presentence investigation only for the purposes of or only as authorized by Criminal Rule 32.2 or this section, division (F)(1) of section 2953.08, section 2947.06, or another section of the Revised Code.

(2) Immediately following the imposition of sentence upon the defendant, the defendant or the defendant's counsel and the prosecutor shall return to the court all copies of a presentence investigation report and of any written summary of a presentence investigation report or part of a presentence investigation report that the court made available to the defendant or the defendant's counsel and to the prosecutor pursuant to this section. The defendant or the defendant's counsel and the prosecutor shall not make any copies of the presentence investigation report or of any written summary of a presentence investigation report or part of a presentence investigation report that the court made available to them pursuant to this section.

(3) Except when a presentence investigation report or a written or oral summary of a presentence investigation report is being used for the purposes of or as authorized by Criminal Rule 32.2 or this section, division (F)(1) of section 2953.08, section 2947.06, or another section of the Revised Code, the court or other authorized holder of the report or summary shall retain the report or summary under seal.

(E) In inquiring into the information available regarding any prior adjudications of the defendant as a delinquent child and regarding the dispositions made relative to those adjudications, the officer making the report shall consider all information that is relevant, including, but not limited to, the materials described in division (B) of section 2151.14, division (C)(3) of section 2152.18, division (D)(3) of section 2152.19, and division (E) of section 2152.71 of the Revised Code.

(F) As used in this section:

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

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

(3) "Public record" has the same meaning as in section 149.43 of the Revised Code.

Section 2951.041 | Intervention in lieu of conviction.

• Effective: April 6, 2023
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 288 (GA 134), House Bill 343 (GA 134)

(A)(1) If an offender is charged with a criminal offense, including but not limited to a violation of section 2913.02, 2913.03, 2913.11, 2913.21, 2913.31, or 2919.21 of the Revised Code, and the court has reason to believe that drug or alcohol usage by the offender was a factor leading to the criminal offense with which the offender is charged or that, at the time of committing that offense, the offender had a mental illness, was a person with an intellectual disability, or was a victim of a violation of section 2905.32 or 2907.21 of the Revised Code and that the mental illness, status as a person with an intellectual disability, or fact that the offender was a victim of a violation of section 2905.32 or 2907.21 of the Revised Code was a factor leading to the offender's criminal behavior, the court may accept, prior to the entry of a guilty plea, the offender's request for intervention in lieu of conviction. The request shall include a statement from the offender as to whether the offender is alleging that drug or alcohol usage by the offender was a factor leading to the criminal offense with which the offender is charged or is alleging that, at the time of committing that offense, the offender had a mental illness, was a person with an intellectual disability, or was a victim of a violation of section 2905.32 or 2907.21 of the Revised Code and that the mental illness, status as a person with an intellectual disability, or fact that the offender was a victim of a violation of section 2905.32 or 2907.21 of the Revised Code was a factor leading to the criminal offense with which the offender is charged. The request also shall include a waiver of the defendant's right to a speedy trial, the preliminary hearing, the time period within which the grand jury may consider an indictment against the offender, and arraignment, unless the hearing, indictment, or arraignment has already occurred. Unless an offender alleges that drug or alcohol usage by the offender was a factor leading to the criminal offense with which the offender is charged, the court may reject an offender's request without a hearing. If the court elects to consider an offender's request or the offender alleges that drug or alcohol usage by the offender was a factor leading to the criminal offense with which the offender is charged, the court shall conduct a hearing to determine whether the offender is eligible under this section for intervention in lieu of conviction and shall stay all criminal proceedings pending the outcome of the hearing. If the court schedules a hearing, the court shall order an assessment of the offender for the purpose of determining the offender's program eligibility for intervention in lieu of conviction and recommending an appropriate intervention plan.

If the offender alleges that drug or alcohol usage by the offender was a factor leading to the criminal offense with which the offender is charged, the court may order that the offender be assessed by a community addiction services provider or a properly credentialed professional for the purpose of determining the offender's program eligibility for intervention in lieu of conviction and recommending an appropriate intervention plan. The community addiction services provider or the properly credentialed professional shall provide a written assessment of the offender to the court.

(2) The victim notification provisions of division (E) of section 2930.06 of the Revised Code apply in relation to any hearing held under division (A)(1) of this section.

(B) An offender is eligible for intervention in lieu of conviction if the court finds all of the following:

(1) The offender previously has not been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any felony offense of violence.

(2) The offense is not a felony of the first, second, or third degree, is not an offense of violence, is not a felony sex offense, is not a violation of division (A)(1) or (2) of section 2903.06 of the Revised Code, is not a violation of division (A)(1) of section 2903.08 of the Revised Code, is not a violation of division (A) of section 4511.19 of the Revised Code or a municipal ordinance that is substantially similar to that division, and is not an offense for which a sentencing court is required to impose a mandatory prison term.

(3) The offender is not charged with a violation of section 2925.02, 2925.04, or 2925.06 of the Revised Code, is not charged with a violation of section 2925.03 of the Revised Code that is a felony of the first, second, third, or fourth degree, and is not charged with a violation of section 2925.11 of the Revised Code that is a felony of the first or second degree.

(4) If an offender alleges that drug or alcohol usage by the offender was a factor leading to the criminal offense with which the offender is charged, the court has ordered that the offender be assessed by a community addiction services provider or a properly credentialed professional for the purpose of determining the offender's program eligibility for intervention in lieu of conviction and recommending an appropriate intervention plan, the offender has been assessed by a community addiction services provider of that nature or a properly credentialed professional in accordance with the court's order, and the community addiction services provider or properly credentialed professional has filed the written assessment of the offender with the court.

(5) If an offender alleges that, at the time of committing the criminal offense with which the offender is charged, the offender had a mental illness, was a person with an intellectual disability, or was a victim of a violation of section 2905.32 or 2907.21 of the Revised Code and that the mental illness, status as a person with an intellectual disability, or fact that the offender was a victim of a violation of section 2905.32 or 2907.21 of the Revised Code was a factor leading to that offense, the offender has been assessed by a psychiatrist, psychologist, independent social worker, licensed professional clinical counselor, or independent marriage and family therapist for the purpose of determining the offender's program eligibility for intervention in lieu of conviction and recommending an appropriate intervention plan.

(6) The offender's drug usage, alcohol usage, mental illness, or intellectual disability, or the fact that the offender was a victim of a violation of section 2905.32 or 2907.21 of the Revised Code, whichever is applicable, was a factor leading to the criminal offense with which the offender is charged, intervention in lieu of conviction would not demean the seriousness of the offense, and intervention would substantially reduce the likelihood of any future criminal activity.

(7) The alleged victim of the offense was not sixty-five years of age or older, permanently and totally disabled, under thirteen years of age, or a peace officer engaged in the officer's official duties at the time of the alleged offense.

(8) If the offender is charged with a violation of section 2925.24 of the Revised Code, the alleged violation did not result in physical harm to any person.

(9) The offender is willing to comply with all terms and conditions imposed by the court pursuant to division (D) of this section.

(10) The offender is not charged with an offense that would result in the offender being disqualified under Chapter 4506. of the Revised Code from operating a commercial motor vehicle or would subject the offender to any other sanction under that chapter.

(C) At the conclusion of a hearing held pursuant to division (A) of this section, the court shall determine whether the offender will be granted intervention in lieu of conviction. In making this determination, the court shall presume that intervention in lieu of conviction is appropriate. If the court finds under this division and division (B) of this section that the offender is eligible for intervention in lieu of conviction, the court shall grant the offender's request unless the court finds specific reasons to believe that the candidate's participation in intervention in lieu of conviction would be inappropriate.

If the court denies an eligible offender's request for intervention in lieu of conviction, the court shall state the reasons for the denial, with particularity, in a written entry.

If the court grants the offender's request, the court shall accept the offender's plea of guilty and waiver of the defendant's right to a speedy trial, the preliminary hearing, the time period within which the grand jury may consider an indictment against the offender, and arraignment, unless the hearing, indictment, or arraignment has already occurred. In addition, the court then may stay all criminal proceedings and order the offender to comply with all terms and conditions imposed by the court pursuant to division (D) of this section. If the court finds that the offender is not eligible or does not grant the offender's request, the criminal proceedings against the offender shall proceed as if the offender's request for intervention in lieu of conviction had not been made.

(D) If the court grants an offender's request for intervention in lieu of conviction, all of the following apply:

(1) The court shall place the offender under the general control and supervision of one of the following, as if the offender was subject to a community control sanction imposed under section 2929.15, 2929.18, or 2929.25 of the Revised Code.

(a) The county probation department, the adult parole authority, or another appropriate local probation or court services agency, if one exists;

(b) If the court grants the request for intervention in lieu of conviction during the period commencing on the effective date of this amendment and ending two years after that effective date, a community-based correctional facility.

(2) The court shall establish an intervention plan for the offender.

(3) The terms and conditions of the intervention plan required under division (D)(2) of this section shall require the offender, for at least one year, but not more than five years, from the date on which the court grants the order of intervention in lieu of conviction, to abstain from the use of illegal drugs and alcohol, to participate in treatment and recovery support services, and to submit to regular random testing for drug and alcohol use and may include any other treatment terms and conditions, or terms and conditions similar to community control sanctions, which may include community service or restitution, that are ordered by the court.

(E) If the court grants an offender's request for intervention in lieu of conviction and the court finds that the offender has successfully completed the intervention plan for the offender, including the requirement that the offender abstain from using illegal drugs and alcohol for a period of at least one year, but not more than five years, from the date on which the court granted the order of intervention in lieu of conviction, the requirement that the offender participate in treatment and recovery support services, and all other terms and conditions ordered by the court, the court shall dismiss the proceedings against the offender. Successful completion of the intervention plan and period of abstinence under this section shall be without adjudication of guilt and is not a criminal conviction for purposes of any disqualification or disability imposed by law and upon conviction of a crime, and the court may order the sealing or expungement of records related to the offense in question, as a dismissal of the charges, in the manner provided in sections 2953.31, 2953.33, 2953.37, and 2953.521 of the Revised Code and divisions (H), (K), and (L) of section 2953.34 of the Revised Code.

(F) If the court grants an offender's request for intervention in lieu of conviction and the offender fails to comply with any term or condition imposed as part of the intervention plan for the offender, the supervising authority for the offender promptly shall advise the court of this failure, and the court shall hold a hearing to determine whether the offender failed to comply with any term or condition imposed as part of the plan. If the court determines that the offender has failed to comply with any of those terms and conditions, it may continue the offender on intervention in lieu of conviction, continue the offender on intervention in lieu of conviction with additional terms, conditions, and sanctions, or enter a finding of guilty and impose an appropriate sanction under Chapter 2929. of the Revised Code. If the court sentences the offender to a prison term, the court, after consulting with the department of rehabilitation and correction regarding the availability of services, may order continued court-supervised activity and treatment of the offender during the prison term and, upon consideration of reports received from the department concerning the offender's progress in the program of activity and treatment, may consider judicial release under section 2929.20 of the Revised Code.

(G) As used in this section:

(1) "Community addiction services provider" has the same meaning as in section 5119.01 of the Revised Code.

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

(3) "Intervention in lieu of conviction" means any court-supervised activity that complies with this section.

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

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

(6) "Mental illness" and "psychiatrist" have the same meanings as in section 5122.01 of the Revised Code.

(7) "Psychologist" has the same meaning as in section 4732.01 of the Revised Code.

(8) "Felony sex offense" means a violation of a section contained in Chapter 2907. of the Revised Code that is a felony.

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 March 10, 2023 at 10:57 AM

Section 2951.05 | Offender on probation control and supervision.

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

(A)(1) A county department of probation, a multicounty department of probation, or the adult parole authority that has general control and supervision of offenders who are required to submit to random drug testing under division (A)(1)(a) of section 2929.25 of the Revised Code or who are subject to a nonresidential sanction that includes random drug testing under section 2929.17 or 2929.27 of the Revised Code, may cause each offender to submit to random drug testing performed by a laboratory or entity that has entered into a contract with any of the governmental entities or officers authorized to enter into a contract with that laboratory or entity under section 341.26, 753.33, or 5120.63 of the Revised Code.

(2) If no laboratory or entity described in division (A)(1) of this section has entered into a contract as specified in that division, the county department of probation, the multicounty department of probation, or the adult parole authority, as appropriate, that has general control and supervision of offenders shall cause the offender to submit to random drug testing performed by a reputable public laboratory to determine whether the individual who is the subject of the drug test ingested or was injected with a drug of abuse.

(3) A laboratory or entity that has entered into a contract as specified in division (A)(1) of this section shall perform the random drug testing in accordance with the applicable standards that are included in the terms of that contract. A public laboratory shall perform the random drug tests in accordance with the standards set forth in the policies and procedures established by the department of rehabilitation and correction pursuant to section 5120.63 of the Revised Code. An offender who is subject to a nonresidential sanction that includes random drug testing under section 2929.17 or 2929.27 of the Revised Code shall pay the fee for the drug test if the test results indicate that the offender ingested or was injected with a drug of abuse and if the county department of probation, the multicounty department of probation, or the adult parole authority that has general control and supervision of the offender requires payment of a fee. A laboratory or entity that performs the random drug testing on an offender shall transmit the results of the drug test to the appropriate county probation department, multicounty probation department, or adult parole authority that has general control and supervision of the offender.

(B) As used in this section:

(1) "Multicounty department of probation" means a probation department established under section 2301.27 of the Revised Code to serve more than one county.

(2) "Random drug testing" has the same meaning as in section 5120.63 of the Revised Code.

Section 2951.06 | Release from custody upon entry of order of probation.

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

Upon entry in the records of the judge or magistrate of the sentence of a community control sanction provided for in section 2929.15 or 2929.25 of the Revised Code, the defendant shall be released from custody as soon as the requirements and conditions required by the judge supervising the community control sanction have been met. The defendant shall continue under the control and supervision of the appropriate probation agency, to the extent required by law, the conditions of the community control sanction, and the rules and regulations governing the probation agency.

Section 2951.07 | Probationary period.

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

A community control sanction continues for the period that the judge or magistrate determines and, subject to the five-year limit specified in section 2929.15 or 2929.25 of the Revised Code, may be extended. If the offender under community control absconds or otherwise leaves the jurisdiction of the court without permission from the probation officer, the probation agency, or the court to do so, or if the offender is confined in any institution for the commission of any offense, the period of community control ceases to run until the time that the offender is brought before the court for its further action.

Section 2951.08 | Conditions for arrest of person on probation or under community control sanction.

• Effective: September 30, 2011
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 86 - 129th General Assembly

(A) During a period of community control, any field officer or probation officer may arrest the person under a community control sanction without a warrant and bring the person before the judge or magistrate before whom the cause was pending. During a period of community control, any peace officer may arrest the person under a community control sanction without a warrant upon the written order of the chief probation officer of the probation agency if the person under a community control sanction is under the supervision of that probation agency or on the order of an officer of the adult parole authority created pursuant to section 5149.02 of the Revised Code if the person under a community control sanction is under the supervision of the authority. During a period of community control, any peace officer may arrest the person under a community control sanction on the warrant of the judge or magistrate before whom the cause was pending.

During a period of community control, any peace officer may arrest the person under a community control sanction without a warrant if the peace officer has reasonable ground to believe that the person has violated or is violating any of the following that is a condition of the person's community control sanction:

(1) A condition that prohibits ownership, possession, or use of a firearm, deadly weapon, ammunition, or dangerous ordnance;

(2) A condition that prohibits the person from being within a specified structure or geographic area;

(3) A condition that confines the person to a residence, facility, or other structure;

(4) A condition that prohibits the person from contacting or communicating with any specified individual;

(5) A condition that prohibits the person from associating with a specified individual;

(6) A condition as provided in division (A)(1)(a) of section 2929.25 of the Revised Code or in division (A)(1) of section 2929.15 or (A)(8) of section 2929.27 of the Revised Code that requires that the person not ingest or be injected with a drug of abuse and submit to random drug testing and requires that the results of the drug test indicate that the person did not ingest or was not injected with a drug of abuse.

(B) Within three business days after making an arrest under this section, the arresting field officer, probation officer, or peace officer or the department or agency of the arresting officer shall notify the chief probation officer or the chief probation officer's designee that the person has been arrested. Within thirty days of being notified that a field officer, probation officer, or peace officer has made an arrest under this section, the chief probation officer or designee, or another probation officer designated by the chief probation officer, promptly shall bring the person who was arrested before the judge or magistrate before whom the cause was pending.

(C) Nothing in this section limits the powers of arrest granted to certain law enforcement officers and citizens under sections 2935.03 and 2935.04 of the Revised Code.

(D) A probation officer shall receive the actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of the officer's duties.

(E) As used in this section, "random drug testing" has the same meaning as in section 5120.63 of the Revised Code.

Section 2951.10 | Final order.

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

An order suspending the imposition of a sentence for a misdemeanor under section 2929.25 of the Revised Code and placing the defendant under a community control sanction is a final order from which appeal may be prosecuted.

Section 2951.13 | Attendance at revocation of community control sanction hearing.

• Effective: July 1, 1996
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 2 - 121st General Assembly

A convict confined in a state correctional institution for a felony committed while the convict was under a community control sanction imposed for a former conviction may be removed from the institution for the purpose of attending a hearing on revocation of the community control sanction. When a copy of the journal entry ordering the revocation hearing is presented to the warden or superintendent of the institution where the convict is confined, the warden or superintendent shall deliver the convict to the sheriff of the county where the hearing is to be held, and the sheriff shall convey the convict to and from the hearing. The approval of the governor on the journal entry is not required.