Chapter 2953 | Appeals; Other Postconviction Remedies

Section 2953.01 | Appeals and post-conviction remedies 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 2953. of the Revised Code.

Section 2953.02 | Review of judgments on appeal.

• Effective: September 21, 1995
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 4 - 121st General Assembly

In a capital case in which a sentence of death is imposed for an offense committed before January 1, 1995, and in any other criminal case, including a conviction for the violation of an ordinance of a municipal corporation, the judgment or final order of a court of record inferior to the court of appeals may be reviewed in the court of appeals. A final order of an administrative officer or agency may be reviewed in the court of common pleas. A judgment or final order of the court of appeals involving a question arising under the Constitution of the United States or of this state may be appealed to the supreme court as a matter of right. This right of appeal from judgments and final orders of the court of appeals shall extend to cases in which a sentence of death is imposed for an offense committed before January 1, 1995, and in which the death penalty has been affirmed, felony cases in which the supreme court has directed the court of appeals to certify its record, and in all other criminal cases of public or general interest wherein the supreme court has granted a motion to certify the record of the court of appeals. In a capital case in which a sentence of death is imposed for an offense committed on or after January 1, 1995, the judgment or final order may be appealed from the trial court directly to the supreme court as a matter of right. The supreme court in criminal cases shall not be required to determine as to the weight of the evidence, except that, in cases in which a sentence of death is imposed for an offense committed on or after January 1, 1995, and in which the question of the weight of the evidence to support the judgment has been raised on appeal, the supreme court shall determine as to the weight of the evidence to support the judgment and shall determine as to the weight of the evidence to support the sentence of death as provided in section 2929.05 of the Revised Code.

Section 2953.03 | Motion for new trial - notice of appeal filed.

• Effective: June 30, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 191 - 135th General Assembly

(A) If a motion for a new trial is filed pursuant to Criminal Rule 33 by a defendant who is convicted of a misdemeanor under the Revised Code or an ordinance of a municipal corporation, and if that defendant was on bail at the time of the conviction of that offense, the trial judge or magistrate shall suspend execution of the sentence or judgment imposed pending the determination on the motion for a new trial and shall determine the amount and nature of any bail that is required of the defendant in accordance with section 2937.011 of the Revised Code.

(B) If a notice of appeal is filed pursuant to the Rules of Appellate Procedure or Chapter 1905. of the Revised Code by a defendant who is convicted in a municipal, county, or mayor's court or a court of common pleas of a misdemeanor under the Revised Code or an ordinance of a municipal corporation, if that defendant was on bail at the time of the conviction of that offense, and if execution of the sentence or judgment imposed is suspended, the trial court or magistrate or the court in which the appeal is being prosecuted shall determine the amount and nature of any bail that is required of the defendant as follows:

(1) In the case of an appeal to a court of appeals by a defendant who is convicted in a municipal or county court or a court of common pleas, in accordance with section 2937.011 of the Revised Code and Appellate Rule 8;

(2) In the case of an appeal to a municipal or county court by a defendant who is convicted in a mayor's court, in accordance with section 2937.011 of the Revised Code.

Last updated July 18, 2023 at 12:36 PM

Section 2953.07 | Powers of appellate court.

• Effective: September 21, 1995
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 2, Senate Bill 4 - 121st General Assembly

(A) Upon the hearing of an appeal other than an appeal from a mayor's court, the appellate court may affirm the judgment or reverse it, in whole or in part, or modify it, and order the accused to be discharged or grant a new trial. The appellate court may remand the accused for the sole purpose of correcting a sentence imposed contrary to law, provided that, on an appeal of a sentence imposed upon a person who is convicted of or pleads guilty to a felony that is brought under section 2953.08 of the Revised Code, division (G) of that section applies to the court. If the judgment is reversed, the appellant shall recover from the appellee all court costs incurred to secure the reversal, including the cost of transcripts. In capital cases, when the judgment is affirmed and the day fixed for the execution is passed, the appellate court shall appoint a day for it, and the clerk of the appellate court shall issue a warrant under the seal of the appellate court, to the sheriff of the proper county, or the warden of the appropriate state correctional institution, commanding the sheriff or warden to carry the sentence into execution on the day so appointed. The sheriff or warden shall execute and return the warrant as in other cases, and the clerk shall record the warrant and return.

(B) As used in this section, "appellate court" means, for a case in which a sentence of death is imposed for an offense committed before January 1, 1995, both the court of appeals and the supreme court, and for a case in which a sentence of death is imposed for an offense committed on or after January 1, 1995, the supreme court.

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 2953.08 | Appeal as a matter of right - grounds.

• Effective: March 22, 2019
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 201 - 132nd General Assembly

(A) In addition to any other right to appeal and except as provided in division (D) of this section, a defendant who is convicted of or pleads guilty to a felony may appeal as a matter of right the sentence imposed upon the defendant on one of the following grounds:

(1) The sentence consisted of or included the maximum definite prison term allowed for the offense by division (A) of section 2929.14 or section 2929.142 of the Revised Code or, with respect to a non-life felony indefinite prison term, the longest minimum prison term allowed for the offense by division (A)(1)(a) or (2)(a) of section 2929.14 of the Revised Code, the maximum definite prison term or longest minimum prison term was not required for the offense pursuant to Chapter 2925. or any other provision of the Revised Code, and the court imposed the sentence under one of the following circumstances:

(a) The sentence was imposed for only one offense.

(b) The sentence was imposed for two or more offenses arising out of a single incident, and the court imposed the maximum definite prison term or longest minimum prison term for the offense of the highest degree.

(2) The sentence consisted of or included a prison term and the offense for which it was imposed is a felony of the fourth or fifth degree or is a felony drug offense that is a violation of a provision of Chapter 2925. of the Revised Code and that is specified as being subject to division (B) of section 2929.13 of the Revised Code for purposes of sentencing. If the court specifies that it found one or more of the factors in division (B)(1)(b) of section 2929.13 of the Revised Code to apply relative to the defendant, the defendant is not entitled under this division to appeal as a matter of right the sentence imposed upon the offender.

(3) The person was convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violent sex offense or a designated homicide, assault, or kidnapping offense, was adjudicated a sexually violent predator in relation to that offense, and was sentenced pursuant to division (A)(3) of section 2971.03 of the Revised Code, if the minimum term of the indefinite term imposed pursuant to division (A)(3) of section 2971.03 of the Revised Code is the longest term available for the offense from among the range of definite terms listed in section 2929.14 of the Revised Code or, with respect to a non-life felony indefinite prison term, the longest minimum prison term allowed for the offense by division (A)(1)(a) or (2)(a) of section 2929.14 of the Revised Code. As used in this division, "designated homicide, assault, or kidnapping offense" and "violent sex offense" have the same meanings as in section 2971.01 of the Revised Code. As used in this division, "adjudicated a sexually violent predator" has the same meaning as in section 2929.01 of the Revised Code, and a person is "adjudicated a sexually violent predator" in the same manner and the same circumstances as are described in that section.

(4) The sentence is contrary to law.

(5) The sentence consisted of an additional prison term of ten years imposed pursuant to division (B)(2)(a) of section 2929.14 of the Revised Code.

(B) In addition to any other right to appeal and except as provided in division (D) of this section, a prosecuting attorney, a city director of law, village solicitor, or similar chief legal officer of a municipal corporation, or the attorney general, if one of those persons prosecuted the case, may appeal as a matter of right a sentence imposed upon a defendant who is convicted of or pleads guilty to a felony or, in the circumstances described in division (B)(3) of this section the modification of a sentence imposed upon such a defendant, on any of the following grounds:

(1) The sentence did not include a prison term despite a presumption favoring a prison term for the offense for which it was imposed, as set forth in section 2929.13 or Chapter 2925. of the Revised Code.

(2) The sentence is contrary to law.

(3) The sentence is a modification under section 2929.20 of the Revised Code of a sentence that was imposed for a felony of the first or second degree.

(C)(1) In addition to the right to appeal a sentence granted under division (A) or (B) of this section, a defendant who is convicted of or pleads guilty to a felony may seek leave to appeal a sentence imposed upon the defendant on the basis that the sentencing judge has imposed consecutive sentences under division (C)(3) of section 2929.14 of the Revised Code and that the consecutive sentences exceed the maximum definite prison term allowed by division (A) of that section for the most serious offense of which the defendant was convicted or, with respect to a non-life felony indefinite prison term, exceed the longest minimum prison term allowed by division (A)(1)(a) or (2)(a) of that section for the most serious such offense. Upon the filing of a motion under this division, the court of appeals may grant leave to appeal the sentence if the court determines that the allegation included as the basis of the motion is true.

(2) A defendant may seek leave to appeal an additional sentence imposed upon the defendant pursuant to division (B)(2)(a) or (b) of section 2929.14 of the Revised Code if the additional sentence is for a definite prison term that is longer than five years.

(D)(1) A sentence imposed upon a defendant is not subject to review under this section if the sentence is authorized by law, has been recommended jointly by the defendant and the prosecution in the case, and is imposed by a sentencing judge.

(2) Except as provided in division (C)(2) of this section, a sentence imposed upon a defendant is not subject to review under this section if the sentence is imposed pursuant to division (B)(2)(b) of section 2929.14 of the Revised Code. Except as otherwise provided in this division, a defendant retains all rights to appeal as provided under this chapter or any other provision of the Revised Code. A defendant has the right to appeal under this chapter or any other provision of the Revised Code the court's application of division (B)(2)(c) of section 2929.14 of the Revised Code.

(3) A sentence imposed for aggravated murder or murder pursuant to sections 2929.02 to 2929.06 of the Revised Code is not subject to review under this section.

(E) A defendant, prosecuting attorney, city director of law, village solicitor, or chief municipal legal officer shall file an appeal of a sentence under this section to a court of appeals within the time limits specified in Rule 4(B) of the Rules of Appellate Procedure, provided that if the appeal is pursuant to division (B)(3) of this section, the time limits specified in that rule shall not commence running until the court grants the motion that makes the sentence modification in question. A sentence appeal under this section shall be consolidated with any other appeal in the case. If no other appeal is filed, the court of appeals may review only the portions of the trial record that pertain to sentencing.

(F) On the appeal of a sentence under this section, the record to be reviewed shall include all of the following, as applicable:

(1) Any presentence, psychiatric, or other investigative report that was submitted to the court in writing before the sentence was imposed. An appellate court that reviews a presentence investigation report prepared pursuant to section 2947.06 or 2951.03 of the Revised Code or Criminal Rule 32.2 in connection with the appeal of a sentence under this section shall comply with division (D)(3) of section 2951.03 of the Revised Code when the appellate court is not using the presentence investigation report, and the appellate court's use of a presentence investigation report of that nature in connection with the appeal of a sentence under this section does not affect the otherwise confidential character of the contents of that report as described in division (D)(1) of section 2951.03 of the Revised Code and does not cause that report to become a public record, as defined in section 149.43 of the Revised Code, following the appellate court's use of the report.

(2) The trial record in the case in which the sentence was imposed;

(3) Any oral or written statements made to or by the court at the sentencing hearing at which the sentence was imposed;

(4) Any written findings that the court was required to make in connection with the modification of the sentence pursuant to a judicial release under division (I) of section 2929.20 of the Revised Code.

(G)(1) If the sentencing court was required to make the findings required by division (B) or (D) of section 2929.13 or division (I) of section 2929.20 of the Revised Code, or to state the findings of the trier of fact required by division (B)(2)(e) of section 2929.14 of the Revised Code, relative to the imposition or modification of the sentence, and if the sentencing court failed to state the required findings on the record, the court hearing an appeal under division (A), (B), or (C) of this section shall remand the case to the sentencing court and instruct the sentencing court to state, on the record, the required findings.

(2) The court hearing an appeal under division (A), (B), or (C) of this section shall review the record, including the findings underlying the sentence or modification given by the sentencing court.

The appellate court may increase, reduce, or otherwise modify a sentence that is appealed under this section or may vacate the sentence and remand the matter to the sentencing court for resentencing. The appellate court's standard for review is not whether the sentencing court abused its discretion. The appellate court may take any action authorized by this division if it clearly and convincingly finds either of the following:

(a) That the record does not support the sentencing court's findings under division (B) or (D) of section 2929.13, division (B)(2)(e) or (C)(4) of section 2929.14, or division (I) of section 2929.20 of the Revised Code, whichever, if any, is relevant;

(b) That the sentence is otherwise contrary to law.

(H) A judgment or final order of a court of appeals under this section may be appealed, by leave of court, to the supreme court.

(I) As used in this section, "non-life felony indefinite prison term" has the same meaning as in section 2929.01 of the Revised Code.

Section 2953.09 | Execution of the sentence or judgment suspended.

• Effective: June 30, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 191 - 135th General Assembly

(A)(1) Upon filing an appeal in the supreme court, the execution of the sentence or judgment imposed in cases of felony is suspended.

(2)(a) If a notice of appeal is filed pursuant to the Rules of Appellate Procedure by a defendant who is convicted in a municipal or county court or a court of common pleas of a felony or misdemeanor under the Revised Code or an ordinance of a municipal corporation, the filing of the notice of appeal does not suspend execution of the sentence or judgment imposed. However, consistent with divisions (A)(2)(b), (B), and (C) of this section, section 2937.011 of the Revised Code, and Appellate Rule 8, the municipal or county court, court of common pleas, or court of appeals may suspend execution of the sentence or judgment imposed during the pendency of the appeal and shall determine whether that defendant is entitled to bail and the amount and nature of any bail that is required. The bail shall at least be conditioned that the defendant will prosecute the appeal without delay and abide by the judgment and sentence of the court.

(b)(i) A court of common pleas or court of appeals may suspend the execution of a sentence of death imposed for an offense committed before January 1, 1995, only if no date for execution has been set by the supreme court, good cause is shown for the suspension, the defendant files a motion requesting the suspension, and notice has been given to the prosecuting attorney of the appropriate county.

(ii) A court of common pleas may suspend the execution of a sentence of death imposed for an offense committed on or after January 1, 1995, only if no date for execution has been set by the supreme court, good cause is shown, the defendant files a motion requesting the suspension, and notice has been given to the prosecuting attorney of the appropriate county.

(iii) A court of common pleas or court of appeals may suspend the execution of the sentence or judgment imposed for a felony in a capital case in which a sentence of death is not imposed only if no date for execution of the sentence has been set by the supreme court, good cause is shown for the suspension, the defendant files a motion requesting the suspension, and only after notice has been given to the prosecuting attorney of the appropriate county.

(B) Notwithstanding any provision of section 2937.011 of the Revised Code to the contrary, a trial judge of a court of common pleas shall not release on bail pursuant to division (A)(2)(a) of this section a defendant who is convicted of a bailable offense if the defendant is sentenced to imprisonment for life or if that offense is a violation of section 2903.01, 2903.02, 2903.03, 2903.04, 2903.11, 2905.01, 2905.02, 2905.11, 2907.02, 2909.02, 2911.01, 2911.02, or 2911.11 of the Revised Code or is felonious sexual penetration in violation of former section 2907.12 of the Revised Code.

(C) If a trial judge of a court of common pleas is prohibited by division (B) of this section from releasing on bail pursuant to division (A)(2)(a) of this section a defendant who is convicted of a bailable offense and not sentenced to imprisonment for life, the appropriate court of appeals or two judges of it, upon motion of the defendant and for good cause shown, may release the defendant on bail in accordance with division (A)(2) of this section.

Last updated July 18, 2023 at 12:37 PM

Section 2953.10 | Power and authority to suspend execution of sentence.

• Effective: September 21, 1995
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 4 - 121st General Assembly

When an appeal is taken from a court of appeals to the supreme court, the supreme court has the same power and authority to suspend the execution of sentence during the pendency of the appeal and admit the defendant to bail as does the court of appeals unless another section of the Revised Code or the Rules of Practice of the Supreme Court specify a distinct bail or suspension of sentence authority.

When an appeal in a case in which a sentence of death is imposed for an offense committed on or after January 1, 1995, is taken directly from the trial court to the supreme court, the supreme court has the same power and authority to suspend the execution of the sentence during the pendency of the appeal and admit the defendant to bail as does the court of appeals for cases in which a sentence of death is imposed for an offense committed before January 1, 1995, unless another section of the Revised Code or the Rules of Practice of the Supreme Court specify a distinct bail or suspension of sentence authority.

Section 2953.11 | Custody of defendant under suspended sentence pending appeal.

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

In cases of conviction of felony, except for aggravated murder or murder, if the defendant has been committed to a state correctional institution and sentence is suspended, the clerk of the court in which the entry is made suspending the sentence under the seal of the court shall forthwith certify the suspension to the warden of the state correctional institution, who shall deliver the defendant to the sheriff of the county in which the defendant was convicted. The sheriff thereupon shall convey the defendant to the jail of the county in which the defendant was convicted and keep the defendant in custody unless admitted to bail pending the decision on the appeal or the termination of the suspension of sentence. If the judgment is affirmed or if the suspension of sentence is terminated, the sheriff shall convey the defendant to the state correctional institution to serve the balance of the defendant's term of sentence. The supreme court in the order allowing the filing of an appeal may provide that the defendant shall remain in the custody of the warden of the state correctional institution pending the decision of the court in such case.

Section 2953.13 | Reversal of conviction.

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

When a defendant has been committed to a state correctional institution and the judgment by virtue of which the commitment was made is reversed on appeal, and the defendant is entitled to discharge or a new trial, or when the case is remanded to the trial court for any reason, the clerk of the court reversing the judgment or remanding the case, under the seal of the court, shall forthwith certify the reversal or remand to the warden of the state correctional institution.

The warden, on receipt of the certificate, if a discharge of the defendant is ordered, shall forthwith discharge the defendant from the state correctional institution.

If a new trial is ordered or the case is remanded, the warden shall forthwith cause the defendant to be conveyed to the jail of the county in which the defendant was convicted, and committed to the custody of the sheriff of that county.

Section 2953.14 | State may institute appeal.

• Effective: March 17, 1987
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 412 - 116th General Assembly

Whenever a court superior to the trial court renders judgment adverse to the state in a criminal action or proceeding, the state, through either the prosecuting attorney or the attorney general, may institute an appeal to reverse such judgment in the next higher court. If the conviction was for a violation of a municipal ordinance, such appeal may be brought by the village solicitor, city director of law, or other chief legal officer of the municipal corporation. Like proceedings shall be had in the higher court at the hearing of the appeal as in the review of other criminal actions or proceedings. The clerk of the court rendering the judgment sought to be reversed, on application of the prosecuting attorney, attorney general, solicitor, director of law, or other chief legal officer shall make a transcript of the docket and journal entries in the action or proceeding, and transmit it with all papers and files in the action or proceeding to the higher court.

Section 2953.21 | Post conviction relief petition.

• Effective: April 12, 2021
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 136 - 133rd General Assembly

(A)(1)(a) A person in any of the following categories may file a petition in the court that imposed sentence, stating the grounds for relief relied upon, and asking the court to vacate or set aside the judgment or sentence or to grant other appropriate relief:

(i) Any person who has been convicted of a criminal offense or adjudicated a delinquent child and who claims that there was such a denial or infringement of the person's rights as to render the judgment void or voidable under the Ohio Constitution or the Constitution of the United States;

(ii) Any person who has been convicted of a criminal offense and sentenced to death and who claims that there was a denial or infringement of the person's rights under either of those Constitutions that creates a reasonable probability of an altered verdict;

(iii) Any person who has been convicted of a criminal offense that is a felony and who is an offender for whom DNA testing that was performed under sections 2953.71 to 2953.81 of the Revised Code or under former section 2953.82 of the Revised Code and analyzed in the context of and upon consideration of all available admissible evidence related to the person's case as described in division (D) of section 2953.74 of the Revised Code provided results that establish, by clear and convincing evidence, actual innocence of that felony offense or, if the person was sentenced to death, establish, by clear and convincing evidence, actual innocence of the aggravating circumstance or circumstances the person was found guilty of committing and that is or are the basis of that sentence of death;

(iv) Any person who has been convicted of aggravated murder and sentenced to death for the offense and who claims that the person had a serious mental illness at the time of the commission of the offense and that as a result the court should render void the sentence of death, with the filing of the petition constituting the waiver described in division (A)(3)(b) of this section.

(b) A petitioner under division (A)(1)(a) of this section may file a supporting affidavit and other documentary evidence in support of the claim for relief.

(c) As used in division (A)(1)(a) of this section:

(i) "Actual innocence" means that, had the results of the DNA testing conducted under sections 2953.71 to 2953.81 of the Revised Code or under former section 2953.82 of the Revised Code been presented at trial, and had those results been analyzed in the context of and upon consideration of all available admissible evidence related to the person's case as described in division (D) of section 2953.74 of the Revised Code, no reasonable factfinder would have found the petitioner guilty of the offense of which the petitioner was convicted, or, if the person was sentenced to death, no reasonable factfinder would have found the petitioner guilty of the aggravating circumstance or circumstances the petitioner was found guilty of committing and that is or are the basis of that sentence of death.

(ii) "Serious mental illness" has the same meaning as in section 2929.025 of the Revised Code.

(d) As used in divisions (A)(1)(a) and (c) of this section, "former section 2953.82 of the Revised Code" means section 2953.82 of the Revised Code as it existed prior to July 6, 2010.

(e) At any time in conjunction with the filing of a petition for postconviction relief under division (A) of this section by a person who has been sentenced to death, or with the litigation of a petition so filed, the court, for good cause shown, may authorize the petitioner in seeking the postconviction relief and the prosecuting attorney of the county served by the court in defending the proceeding, to take depositions and to issue subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum in accordance with divisions (A)(1)(e), (A)(1)(f), and (C) of this section, and to any other form of discovery as in a civil action that the court in its discretion permits. The court may limit the extent of discovery under this division. In addition to discovery that is relevant to the claim and was available under Criminal Rule 16 through conclusion of the original criminal trial, the court, for good cause shown, may authorize the petitioner or prosecuting attorney to take depositions and issue subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum in either of the following circumstances:

(i) For any witness who testified at trial or who was disclosed by the state prior to trial, except as otherwise provided in this division, the petitioner or prosecuting attorney shows clear and convincing evidence that the witness is material and that a deposition of the witness or the issuing of a subpoena or subpoena duces tecum is of assistance in order to substantiate or refute the petitioner's claim that there is a reasonable probability of an altered verdict. This division does not apply if the witness was unavailable for trial or would not voluntarily be interviewed by the defendant or prosecuting attorney.

(ii) For any witness with respect to whom division (A)(1)(e)(i) of this section does not apply, the petitioner or prosecuting attorney shows good cause that the witness is material and that a deposition of the witness or the issuing of a subpoena or subpoena duces tecum is of assistance in order to substantiate or refute the petitioner's claim that there is a reasonable probability of an altered verdict.

(f) If a person who has been sentenced to death and who files a petition for postconviction relief under division (A) of this section requests postconviction discovery as described in division (A)(1)(e) of this section or if the prosecuting attorney of the county served by the court requests postconviction discovery as described in that division, within ten days after the docketing of the request, or within any other time that the court sets for good cause shown, the prosecuting attorney shall respond by answer or motion to the petitioner's request or the petitioner shall respond by answer or motion to the prosecuting attorney's request, whichever is applicable.

(g) If a person who has been sentenced to death and who files a petition for postconviction relief under division (A) of this section requests postconviction discovery as described in division (A)(1)(e) of this section or if the prosecuting attorney of the county served by the court requests postconviction discovery as described in that division, upon motion by the petitioner, the prosecuting attorney, or the person from whom discovery is sought, and for good cause shown, the court in which the action is pending may make any order that justice requires to protect a party or person from oppression or undue burden or expense, including but not limited to the orders described in divisions (A)(1)(h)(i) to (viii) of this section. The court also may make any such order if, in its discretion, it determines that the discovery sought would be irrelevant to the claims made in the petition; and if the court makes any such order on that basis, it shall explain in the order the reasons why the discovery would be irrelevant.

(h) If a petitioner, prosecuting attorney, or person from whom discovery is sought makes a motion for an order under division (A)(1)(g) of this section and the order is denied in whole or in part, the court, on terms and conditions as are just, may order that any party or person provide or permit discovery as described in division (A)(1)(e) of this section. The provisions of Civil Rule 37(A)(4) apply to the award of expenses incurred in relation to the motion, except that in no case shall a court require a petitioner who is indigent to pay expenses under those provisions.

Before any person moves for an order under division (A)(1)(g) of this section, that person shall make a reasonable effort to resolve the matter through discussion with the petitioner or prosecuting attorney seeking discovery. A motion for an order under division (A)(1)(g) of this section shall be accompanied by a statement reciting the effort made to resolve the matter in accordance with this paragraph.

The orders that may be made under division (A)(1)(g) of this section include, but are not limited to, any of the following:

(i) That the discovery not be had;

(ii) That the discovery may be had only on specified terms and conditions, including a designation of the time or place;

(iii) That the discovery may be had only by a method of discovery other than that selected by the party seeking discovery;

(iv) That certain matters not be inquired into or that the scope of the discovery be limited to certain matters;

(v) That discovery be conducted with no one present except persons designated by the court;

(vi) That a deposition after being sealed be opened only by order of the court;

(vii) That a trade secret or other confidential research, development, or commercial information not be disclosed or be disclosed only in a designated way;

(viii) That the parties simultaneously file specified documents or information enclosed in sealed envelopes to be opened as directed by the court.

(i) Any postconviction discovery authorized under division (A)(1)(e) of this section shall be completed not later than eighteen months after the start of the discovery proceedings unless, for good cause shown, the court extends that period for completing the discovery.

(j) Nothing in division (A)(1)(e) of this section authorizes, or shall be construed as authorizing, the relitigation, or discovery in support of relitigation, of any matter barred by the doctrine of res judicata.

(k) Division (A)(1) of this section does not apply to any person who has been convicted of a criminal offense and sentenced to death and who has unsuccessfully raised the same claims in a petition for postconviction relief.

(2)(a) Except as otherwise provided in section 2953.23 of the Revised Code, a petition under division (A)(1)(a)(i), (ii), or (iii) of this section shall be filed no later than three hundred sixty-five days after the date on which the trial transcript is filed in the court of appeals in the direct appeal of the judgment of conviction or adjudication or, if the direct appeal involves a sentence of death, the date on which the trial transcript is filed in the supreme court. If no appeal is taken, except as otherwise provided in section 2953.23 of the Revised Code, the petition shall be filed no later than three hundred sixty-five days after the expiration of the time for filing the appeal.

(b) Except as otherwise provided in section 2953.23 of the Revised Code, a petition under division (A)(1)(a)(iv) of this section shall be filed not later than three hundred sixty-five days after the effective date of this amendment

(3)(a) In a petition filed under division (A)(1)(a)(i), (ii), or (iii) of this section, a person who has been sentenced to death may ask the court to render void or voidable the judgment with respect to the conviction of aggravated murder or the specification of an aggravating circumstance or the sentence of death.

(b) A person sentenced to death who files a petition under division (A)(1)(a)(iv) of this section may ask the court to render void the sentence of death and to order the resentencing of the person under division (A) of section 2929.06 of the Revised Code. If a person sentenced to death files such a petition and asks the court to render void the sentence of death and to order the resentencing of the person under division (A) of section 2929.06 of the Revised Code, the act of filing the petition constitutes a waiver of any right to be sentenced under the law that existed at the time the offense was committed and constitutes consent to be sentenced to life imprisonment without parole under division (A) of section 2929.06 of the Revised Code.

(4) A petitioner shall state in the original or amended petition filed under division (A) of this section all grounds for relief claimed by the petitioner. Except as provided in section 2953.23 of the Revised Code, any ground for relief that is not so stated in the petition is waived.

(5) If the petitioner in a petition filed under division (A)(1)(a)(i), (ii), or (iii) of this section was convicted of or pleaded guilty to a felony, the petition may include a claim that the petitioner was denied the equal protection of the laws in violation of the Ohio Constitution or the United States Constitution because the sentence imposed upon the petitioner for the felony was part of a consistent pattern of disparity in sentencing by the judge who imposed the sentence, with regard to the petitioner's race, gender, ethnic background, or religion. If the supreme court adopts a rule requiring a court of common pleas to maintain information with regard to an offender's race, gender, ethnic background, or religion, the supporting evidence for the petition shall include, but shall not be limited to, a copy of that type of information relative to the petitioner's sentence and copies of that type of information relative to sentences that the same judge imposed upon other persons.

(6) Notwithstanding any law or court rule to the contrary, there is no limit on the number of pages in, or on the length of, a petition filed under division (A)(1)(a)(i), (ii), (iii), or (iv) of this section by a person who has been sentenced to death. If any court rule specifies a limit on the number of pages in, or on the length of, a petition filed under division (A)(1)(a)(i), (ii), (iii), or (iv) of this section or on a prosecuting attorney's response to such a petition by answer or motion and a person who has been sentenced to death files a petition that exceeds the limit specified for the petition, the prosecuting attorney may respond by an answer or motion that exceeds the limit specified for the response.

(B) The clerk of the court in which the petition for postconviction relief and, if applicable, a request for postconviction discovery described in division (A)(1)(e) of this section is filed shall docket the petition and the request and bring them promptly to the attention of the court. The clerk of the court in which the petition for postconviction relief and, if applicable, a request for postconviction discovery described in division (A)(1)(e) of this section is filed immediately shall forward a copy of the petition and a copy of the request if filed by the petitioner to the prosecuting attorney of the county served by the court. If the request for postconviction discovery is filed by the prosecuting attorney, the clerk of the court immediately shall forward a copy of the request to the petitioner or the petitioner's counsel.

(C) If a person who has been sentenced to death and who files a petition for postconviction relief under division (A)(1)(a)(i), (ii), (iii), or (iv) of this section requests a deposition or the prosecuting attorney in the case requests a deposition, and if the court grants the request under division (A)(1)(e) of this section, the court shall notify the petitioner or the petitioner's counsel and the prosecuting attorney. The deposition shall be conducted pursuant to divisions (B), (D), and (E) of Criminal Rule 15. Notwithstanding division (C) of Criminal Rule 15, the petitioner is not entitled to attend the deposition. The prosecuting attorney shall be permitted to attend and participate in any deposition.

(D) The court shall consider a petition that is timely filed within the period specified in division (A)(2) of this section even if a direct appeal of the judgment is pending. Before granting a hearing on a petition filed under division (A)(1)(a)(i), (ii), (iii), or (iv) of this section, the court shall determine whether there are substantive grounds for relief. In making such a determination, the court shall consider, in addition to the petition, the supporting affidavits, and the documentary evidence, all the files and records pertaining to the proceedings against the petitioner, including, but not limited to, the indictment, the court's journal entries, the journalized records of the clerk of the court, and the court reporter's transcript. The court reporter's transcript, if ordered and certified by the court, shall be taxed as court costs. If the court dismisses the petition, it shall make and file findings of fact and conclusions of law with respect to such dismissal. If the petition was filed by a person who has been sentenced to death, the findings of fact and conclusions of law shall state specifically the reasons for the dismissal of the petition and of each claim it contains.

(E) Within ten days after the docketing of the petition, or within any further time that the court may fix for good cause shown, the prosecuting attorney shall respond by answer or motion. Division (A)(6) of this section applies with respect to the prosecuting attorney's response. Within twenty days from the date the issues are raised, either party may move for summary judgment. The right to summary judgment shall appear on the face of the record.

(F) Unless the petition and the files and records of the case show the petitioner is not entitled to relief, the court shall proceed to a prompt hearing on the issues even if a direct appeal of the case is pending. If the court notifies the parties that it has found grounds for granting relief, either party may request an appellate court in which a direct appeal of the judgment is pending to remand the pending case to the court.

With respect to a petition filed under division (A)(1)(a)(iv) of this section, the procedures and rules regarding introduction of evidence and burden of proof at the pretrial hearing that are set forth in divisions (C), (D), and (F) of section 2929.025 of the Revised Code apply in considering the petition. With respect to such a petition, the grounds for granting relief are that the person has been diagnosed with one or more of the conditions set forth in division (A)(1)(a) of section 2929.025 of the Revised Code and that, at the time of the aggravated murder that was the basis of the sentence of death, the condition or conditions significantly impaired the person's capacity in a manner described in division (A)(1)(b) of that section.

(G) A petitioner who files a petition under division (A)(1)(a)(i), (ii), (iii), or (iv) of this section may amend the petition as follows:

(1) If the petition was filed by a person who has been sentenced to death, at any time that is not later than one hundred eighty days after the petition is filed, the petitioner may amend the petition with or without leave or prejudice to the proceedings.

(2) If division (G)(1) of this section does not apply, at any time before the answer or motion is filed, the petitioner may amend the petition with or without leave or prejudice to the proceedings.

(3) The petitioner may amend the petition with leave of court at any time after the expiration of the applicable period specified in division (G)(1) or (2) of this section.

(H) If the court does not find grounds for granting relief, it shall make and file findings of fact and conclusions of law and shall enter judgment denying relief on the petition. If the petition was filed by a person who has been sentenced to death, the findings of fact and conclusions of law shall state specifically the reasons for the denial of relief on the petition and of each claim it contains. If no direct appeal of the case is pending and the court finds grounds for relief or if a pending direct appeal of the case has been remanded to the court pursuant to a request made pursuant to division (F) of this section and the court finds grounds for granting relief, it shall make and file findings of fact and conclusions of law and shall enter a judgment that vacates and sets aside the judgment in question, and, in the case of a petitioner who is a prisoner in custody, except as otherwise described in this division, shall discharge or resentence the petitioner or grant a new trial as the court determines appropriate. If the court finds grounds for relief in the case of a petitioner who filed a petition under division (A)(1)(a)(iv) of this section, the court shall render void the sentence of death and order the resentencing of the offender under division (A) of section 2929.06 of the Revised Code. If the petitioner has been sentenced to death, the findings of fact and conclusions of law shall state specifically the reasons for the finding of grounds for granting the relief, with respect to each claim contained in the petition. The court also may make supplementary orders to the relief granted, concerning such matters as rearraignment, retrial, custody, and bail. If the trial court's order granting the petition is reversed on appeal and if the direct appeal of the case has been remanded from an appellate court pursuant to a request under division (F) of this section, the appellate court reversing the order granting the petition shall notify the appellate court in which the direct appeal of the case was pending at the time of the remand of the reversal and remand of the trial court's order. Upon the reversal and remand of the trial court's order granting the petition, regardless of whether notice is sent or received, the direct appeal of the case that was remanded is reinstated.

(I) Upon the filing of a petition pursuant to division (A)(1)(a)(i), (ii), (iii), or (iv) of this section by a person sentenced to death, only the supreme court may stay execution of the sentence of death.

(J)(1) If a person sentenced to death intends to file a petition under this section, the court shall appoint counsel to represent the person upon a finding that the person is indigent and that the person either accepts the appointment of counsel or is unable to make a competent decision whether to accept or reject the appointment of counsel. The court may decline to appoint counsel for the person only upon a finding, after a hearing if necessary, that the person rejects the appointment of counsel and understands the legal consequences of that decision or upon a finding that the person is not indigent.

(2) The court shall not appoint as counsel under division (J)(1) of this section an attorney who represented the petitioner at trial in the case to which the petition relates unless the person and the attorney expressly request the appointment. The court shall appoint as counsel under division (J)(1) of this section only an attorney who is certified under Rule 20 of the Rules of Superintendence for the Courts of Ohio to represent indigent defendants charged with or convicted of an offense for which the death penalty can be or has been imposed. The ineffectiveness or incompetence of counsel during proceedings under this section does not constitute grounds for relief in a proceeding under this section, in an appeal of any action under this section, or in an application to reopen a direct appeal.

(3) Division (J) of this section does not preclude attorneys who represent the state of Ohio from invoking the provisions of 28 U.S.C. 154 with respect to capital cases that were pending in federal habeas corpus proceedings prior to July 1, 1996, insofar as the petitioners in those cases were represented in proceedings under this section by one or more counsel appointed by the court under this section or section 120.06, 120.16, 120.26, or 120.33 of the Revised Code and those appointed counsel meet the requirements of division (J)(2) of this section.

(K) Subject to the appeal of a sentence for a felony that is authorized by section 2953.08 of the Revised Code, the remedy set forth in this section is the exclusive remedy by which a person may bring a collateral challenge to the validity of a conviction or sentence in a criminal case or to the validity of an adjudication of a child as a delinquent child for the commission of an act that would be a criminal offense if committed by an adult or the validity of a related order of disposition.

Section 2953.22 | Post conviction relief hearing.

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

If a hearing is granted pursuant to section 2953.21 of the Revised Code, the petitioner shall be permitted to attend the hearing. Testimony of the prisoner or other witnesses may be offered by deposition.

If the petitioner is in a state correctional institution, he may be returned for the hearing upon the warrant of the court of common pleas of the county where the hearing is to be held. The approval of the governor on the warrant shall not be required. The warrant shall be directed to the sheriff of the county in which the hearing is to be held. When a copy of the warrant is presented to the warden or other head of a state correctional institution, he shall deliver the convict to the sheriff, who shall convey him to the county. For removing and returning the convict, the sheriff shall receive the fees allowed for conveying convicts to the correctional institution.

Section 2953.23 | Post conviction relief petition - time for filing.

• Effective: April 12, 2021
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 136 - 133rd General Assembly

(A) Whether a hearing is or is not held on a petition filed pursuant to section 2953.21 of the Revised Code, a court may not entertain a petition filed after the expiration of the period prescribed in division (A) of that section or a second petition or successive petitions for similar relief on behalf of a petitioner unless division (A)(1) or (2) of this section applies:

(1) Both of the following apply:

(a) Either the petitioner shows that the petitioner was unavoidably prevented from discovery of the facts upon which the petitioner must rely to present the claim for relief, or, subsequent to the period prescribed in division (A)(2) of section 2953.21 of the Revised Code or to the filing of an earlier petition, the United States Supreme Court recognized a new federal or state right that applies retroactively to persons in the petitioner's situation, and the petition asserts a claim based on that right.

(b) The petitioner shows by clear and convincing evidence that, but for constitutional error at trial, no reasonable factfinder would have found the petitioner guilty of the offense of which the petitioner was convicted or, if the claim challenges a sentence of death that, but for constitutional error at the sentencing hearing, no reasonable factfinder would have found the petitioner eligible for the death sentence.

(2) The petitioner was convicted of a felony, the petitioner is an offender for whom DNA testing was performed under sections 2953.71 to 2953.81 of the Revised Code or under former section 2953.82 of the Revised Code and analyzed in the context of and upon consideration of all available admissible evidence related to the inmate's case as described in division (D) of section 2953.74 of the Revised Code, and the results of the DNA testing establish, by clear and convincing evidence, actual innocence of that felony offense or, if the person was sentenced to death, establish, by clear and convincing evidence, actual innocence of the aggravating circumstance or circumstances the person was found guilty of committing and that is or are the basis of that sentence of death.

As used in this division, "actual innocence" has the same meaning as in division (A)(1)(c) of section 2953.21 of the Revised Code, and "former section 2953.82 of the Revised Code" has the same meaning as in division (A)(1)(d) of section 2953.21 of the Revised Code.

(B) An order awarding or denying relief sought in a petition filed pursuant to section 2953.21 of the Revised Code is a final judgment and may be appealed pursuant to Chapter 2953. of the Revised Code.

If a petition filed pursuant to section 2953.21 of the Revised Code by a person who has been sentenced to death is denied and the person appeals the judgment, notwithstanding any law or court rule to the contrary, there is no limit on the number of pages in, or on the length of, a notice of appeal or briefs related to an appeal filed by the person. If any court rule specifies a limit on the number of pages in, or on the length of, a notice of appeal or briefs described in this division or on a prosecuting attorney's response or briefs with respect to such an appeal and a person who has been sentenced to death files a notice of appeal or briefs that exceed the limit specified for the petition, the prosecuting attorney may file a response or briefs that exceed the limit specified for the answer or briefs.

Section 2953.25 | Certificate of qualification for employment for persons subject to collateral sanctions.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Collateral sanction" means a penalty, disability, or disadvantage that is related to employment or occupational licensing, however denominated, as a result of the individual's conviction of or plea of guilty to an offense and that applies by operation of law in this state whether or not the penalty, disability, or disadvantage is included in the sentence or judgment imposed.

"Collateral sanction" does not include imprisonment, probation, parole, supervised release, forfeiture, restitution, fine, assessment, or costs of prosecution.

(2) "Decision-maker" includes, but is not limited to, the state acting through a department, agency, board, commission, or instrumentality established by the law of this state for the exercise of any function of government, a political subdivision, an educational institution, or a government contractor or subcontractor made subject to this section by contract, law, or ordinance.

(3) "Department-funded program" means a residential or nonresidential program that is not a term in a state correctional institution, that is funded in whole or part by the department of rehabilitation and correction, and that is imposed as a sanction for an offense, as part of a sanction that is imposed for an offense, or as a term or condition of any sanction that is imposed for an offense.

(4) "Designee" means the person designated by the deputy director of the division of parole and community services to perform the duties designated in division (B) of this section.

(5) "Division of parole and community services" means the division of parole and community services of the department of rehabilitation and correction.

(6) "Offense" means any felony or misdemeanor under the laws of this state.

(7) "Political subdivision" has the same meaning as in section 2969.21 of the Revised Code.

(8) "Discretionary civil impact," "licensing agency," and "mandatory civil impact" have the same meanings as in section 2961.21 of the Revised Code.

(B)(1) An individual who is subject to one or more collateral sanctions as a result of being convicted of or pleading guilty to an offense and who either has served a term in a state correctional institution for any offense or has spent time in a department-funded program for any offense may file a petition with the designee of the deputy director of the division of parole and community services for a certificate of qualification for employment.

(2) An individual who is subject to one or more collateral sanctions as a result of being convicted of or pleading guilty to an offense and who is not in a category described in division (B)(1) of this section may file for a certificate of qualification for employment by doing either of the following:

(a) In the case of an individual who resides in this state, filing a petition with the court of common pleas of the county in which the person resides or with the designee of the deputy director of the division of parole and community services;

(b) In the case of an individual who resides outside of this state, filing a petition with the court of common pleas of any county in which any conviction or plea of guilty from which the individual seeks relief was entered or with the designee of the deputy director of the division of parole and community services.

(3) A petition under division (B)(1) or (2) of this section shall be made on a copy of the form prescribed by the division of parole and community services under division (J) of this section, shall contain all of the information described in division (F) of this section, and, except as provided in division (B)(6) of this section, shall be accompanied by an application fee of fifty dollars and may be accompanied by a local court fee of not more than fifty dollars.

(4)(a) Except as provided in division (B)(4)(b) of this section, an individual may file a petition under division (B)(1) or (2) of this section at any time after the expiration of whichever of the following is applicable:

(i) If the offense that resulted in the collateral sanction from which the individual seeks relief is a felony, at any time after the expiration of one year from the date of release of the individual from any period of incarceration in a state or local correctional facility that was imposed for that offense and all periods of supervision imposed after release from the period of incarceration or, if the individual was not incarcerated for that offense, at any time after the expiration of one year from the date of the individual's final release from all other sanctions imposed for that offense.

(ii) If the offense that resulted in the collateral sanction from which the individual seeks relief is a misdemeanor, at any time after the expiration of six months from the date of release of the individual from any period of incarceration in a local correctional facility that was imposed for that offense and all periods of supervision imposed after release from the period of incarceration or, if the individual was not incarcerated for that offense, at any time after the expiration of six months from the date of the final release of the individual from all sanctions imposed for that offense including any period of supervision.

(b) The department of rehabilitation and correction may establish criteria by rule adopted under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code that, if satisfied by an individual, would allow the individual to file a petition before the expiration of six months or one year from the date of final release, whichever is applicable under division (B)(4)(a) of this section.

(5)(a) A designee that receives a petition for a certificate of qualification for employment from an individual under division (B)(1) or (2) of this section shall review the petition to determine whether it is complete. If the petition is complete, the designee shall forward the petition, the application fee, and any other information the designee possesses that relates to the petition, to the court of common pleas of the county in which the individual resides if the individual submitting the petition resides in this state or, if the individual resides outside of this state, to the court of common pleas of the county in which the conviction or plea of guilty from which the individual seeks relief was entered.

(b) A court of common pleas that receives a petition for a certificate of qualification for employment from an individual under division (B)(2) of this section, or that is forwarded a petition for such a certificate under division (B)(5)(a) of this section, shall attempt to determine all other courts in this state in which the individual was convicted of or pleaded guilty to an offense other than the offense from which the individual is seeking relief. The court that receives or is forwarded the petition shall notify all other courts in this state that it determines under this division were courts in which the individual was convicted of or pleaded guilty to an offense other than the offense from which the individual is seeking relief that the individual has filed the petition and that the court may send comments regarding the possible issuance of the certificate.

A court of common pleas that receives a petition for a certificate of qualification for employment under division (B)(2) of this section shall notify the county's prosecuting attorney that the individual has filed the petition.

A court of common pleas that receives a petition for a certificate of qualification for employment under division (B)(2) of this section, or that is forwarded a petition for qualification under division (B)(5)(a) of this section may direct the clerk of court to process and record all notices required in or under this section. Except as provided in division (B)(6) of this section, the court shall pay thirty dollars of the application fee into the state treasury and twenty dollars of the application fee into the county general revenue fund.

(6) Upon receiving a petition for a certificate of qualification for employment filed by an individual under division (B)(1) or (2) of this section, a court of common pleas or the designee of the deputy director of the division of parole and community services who receives the petition may waive all or part of the application fee of fifty dollars described in division (B)(3) of this section, for an applicant who presents a poverty affidavit showing that the applicant is indigent. If an applicant pays an application fee, the first twenty dollars or two-fifths of the fee, whichever is greater, that is collected shall be paid into the county general revenue fund. If an applicant pays an application fee, the amount collected in excess of the amount to be paid into the county general revenue fund shall be paid into the state treasury.

(C)(1) Upon receiving a petition for a certificate of qualification for employment filed by an individual under division (B)(2) of this section or being forwarded a petition for such a certificate under division (B)(5)(a) of this section, the court shall review the individual's petition, the individual's criminal history, except for information contained in any record that has been sealed under section 2953.32 of the Revised Code, all filings submitted by the prosecutor or by the victim in accordance with rules adopted by the division of parole and community services, the applicant's military service record, if applicable, and whether the applicant has an emotional, mental, or physical condition that is traceable to the applicant's military service in the armed forces of the United States and that was a contributing factor in the commission of the offense or offenses, and all other relevant evidence. The court may order any report, investigation, or disclosure by the individual that the court believes is necessary for the court to reach a decision on whether to approve the individual's petition for a certificate of qualification for employment, except that the court shall not require an individual to disclose information about any record sealed under section 2953.32 of the Revised Code.

(2) Upon receiving a petition for a certificate of qualification for employment filed by an individual under division (B)(2) of this section or being forwarded a petition for such a certificate under division (B)(5)(a) of this section, except as otherwise provided in this division, the court shall decide whether to issue the certificate within sixty days after the court receives or is forwarded the completed petition and all information requested for the court to make that decision. Upon request of the individual who filed the petition, the court may extend the sixty-day period specified in this division.

(3) Except as provided in division (C)(5) of this section and subject to division (C)(7) of this section, a court that receives an individual's petition for a certificate of qualification for employment under division (B)(2) of this section or that is forwarded a petition for such a certificate under division (B)(5)(a) of this section may issue a certificate of qualification for employment, at the court's discretion, if the court finds that the individual has established all of the following by a preponderance of the evidence:

(a) Granting the petition will materially assist the individual in obtaining employment or occupational licensing.

(b) The individual has a substantial need for the relief requested in order to live a law-abiding life.

(c) Granting the petition would not pose an unreasonable risk to the safety of the public or any individual.

(4) The submission of an incomplete petition by an individual shall not be grounds for the designee or court to deny the petition.

(5) Subject to division (C)(6) of this section, an individual is rebuttably presumed to be eligible for a certificate of qualification for employment if the court that receives the individual's petition under division (B)(2) of this section or that is forwarded a petition under division (B)(5)(a) of this section finds all of the following:

(a) The application was filed after the expiration of the applicable waiting period prescribed in division (B)(4) of this section;

(b) If the offense that resulted in the collateral sanction from which the individual seeks relief is a felony, at least three years have elapsed since the date of release of the individual from any period of incarceration in a state or local correctional facility that was imposed for that offense and all periods of supervision imposed after release from the period of incarceration or, if the individual was not incarcerated for that offense, at least three years have elapsed since the date of the individual's final release from all other sanctions imposed for that offense;

(c) If the offense that resulted in the collateral sanction from which the individual seeks relief is a misdemeanor, at least one year has elapsed since the date of release of the individual from any period of incarceration in a local correctional facility that was imposed for that offense and all periods of supervision imposed after release from the period of incarceration or, if the individual was not incarcerated for that offense, at least one year has elapsed since the date of the final release of the individual from all sanctions imposed for that offense including any period of supervision.

(6) An application that meets all of the requirements for the presumption under division (C)(5) of this section shall be denied only if the court that receives the petition finds that the evidence reviewed under division (C)(1) of this section rebuts the presumption of eligibility for issuance by establishing, by clear and convincing evidence, that the applicant has not been rehabilitated.

(7) A certificate of qualification for employment shall not create relief from any of the following collateral sanctions:

(a) Requirements imposed by Chapter 2950. of the Revised Code and rules adopted under sections 2950.13 and 2950.132 of the Revised Code;

(b) A driver's license, commercial driver's license, or probationary license suspension, cancellation, or revocation pursuant to section 4510.037, 4510.07, 4511.19, or 4511.191 of the Revised Code if the relief sought is available pursuant to section 4510.021 or division (B) of section 4510.13 of the Revised Code;

(c) Restrictions on employment as a prosecutor or law enforcement officer;

(d) The denial, ineligibility, or automatic suspension of a license that is imposed upon an individual applying for or holding a license as a health care professional under Title XLVII of the Revised Code if the individual is convicted of, pleads guilty to, is subject to a judicial finding of eligibility for intervention in lieu of conviction in this state under section 2951.041 of the Revised Code, or is subject to treatment or intervention in lieu of conviction for a violation of section 2903.01, 2903.02, 2903.03, 2903.11, 2905.01, 2907.02, 2907.03, 2907.05, 2909.02, 2911.01, 2911.11, 2919.123, or 2919.124 of the Revised Code;

(e) The immediate suspension of a license, certificate, or evidence of registration that is imposed upon an individual holding a license as a health care professional under Title XLVII of the Revised Code pursuant to division (C) of section 3719.121 of the Revised Code;

(f) The denial or ineligibility for employment in a pain clinic under division (B)(4) of section 4729.552 of the Revised Code;

(g) The mandatory suspension of a license that is imposed on an individual applying for or holding a license as a health care professional under Title XLVII of the Revised Code pursuant to section 3123.43 of the Revised Code.

(8) If a court that receives an individual's petition for a certificate of qualification for employment under division (B)(2) of this section or that is forwarded a petition for such a certificate under division (B)(5)(a) of this section denies the petition, the court shall provide written notice to the individual of the court's denial. The court may place conditions on the individual regarding the individual's filing of any subsequent petition for a certificate of qualification for employment. The written notice must notify the individual of any conditions placed on the individual's filing of a subsequent petition for a certificate of qualification for employment.

If a court of common pleas that receives an individual's petition for a certificate of qualification for employment under division (B)(2) of this section or that is forwarded a petition for such a certificate under division (B)(5)(a) of this section denies the petition, the individual may appeal the decision to the court of appeals only if the individual alleges that the denial was an abuse of discretion on the part of the court of common pleas.

(D)(1) A certificate of qualification for employment issued to an individual lifts the automatic bar of a collateral sanction, and a decision-maker shall consider on a case-by-case basis whether to grant or deny the issuance or restoration of an occupational license or an employment opportunity, notwithstanding the individual's possession of the certificate, without, however, reconsidering or rejecting any finding made by a designee or court under division (C)(3) of this section.

(2) The certificate constitutes a rebuttable presumption that the person's criminal convictions are insufficient evidence that the person is unfit for the license, employment opportunity, or certification in question. Notwithstanding the presumption established under this division, the agency may deny the license or certification for the person if it determines that the person is unfit for issuance of the license.

(3) If an employer that has hired a person who has been issued a certificate of qualification for employment applies to a licensing agency for a license or certification and the person has a conviction or guilty plea that otherwise would bar the person's employment with the employer or licensure for the employer because of a mandatory civil impact, the agency shall give the person individualized consideration, notwithstanding the mandatory civil impact, the mandatory civil impact shall be considered for all purposes to be a discretionary civil impact, and the certificate constitutes a rebuttable presumption that the person's criminal convictions are insufficient evidence that the person is unfit for the employment, or that the employer is unfit for the license or certification, in question.

(E) A certificate of qualification for employment does not grant the individual to whom the certificate was issued relief from the mandatory civil impacts identified in division (A)(1) of section 2961.01 or division (B) of section 2961.02 of the Revised Code.

(F) A petition for a certificate of qualification for employment filed by an individual under division (B)(1) or (2) of this section shall include all of the following:

(1) The individual's name, date of birth, and social security number;

(2) All aliases of the individual and all social security numbers associated with those aliases;

(3) The individual's residence address, including the city, county, and state of residence and zip code;

(4) The length of time that the individual has resided in the individual's current state of residence, expressed in years and months of residence;

(5) A general statement as to why the individual has filed the petition and how the certificate of qualification for employment would assist the individual;

(6) A summary of the individual's criminal history, except for information contained in any record that has been sealed or expunged under section 2953.32 or 2953.39 of the Revised Code, with respect to each offense that is a disqualification from employment or licensing in an occupation or profession, including the years of each conviction or plea of guilty for each of those offenses;

(7) A summary of the individual's employment history, specifying the name of, and dates of employment with, each employer;

(8) Verifiable references and endorsements;

(9) The name of one or more immediate family members of the individual, or other persons with whom the individual has a close relationship, who support the individual's reentry plan;

(10) A summary of the reason the individual believes the certificate of qualification for employment should be granted;

(11) Any other information required by rule by the department of rehabilitation and correction.

(G)(1) In a judicial or administrative proceeding alleging negligence or other fault, a certificate of qualification for employment issued to an individual under this section may be introduced as evidence of a person's due care in hiring, retaining, licensing, leasing to, admitting to a school or program, or otherwise transacting business or engaging in activity with the individual to whom the certificate of qualification for employment was issued if the person knew of the certificate at the time of the alleged negligence or other fault.

(2) In any proceeding on a claim against an employer for negligent hiring, a certificate of qualification for employment issued to an individual under this section shall provide immunity for the employer as to the claim if the employer knew of the certificate at the time of the alleged negligence.

(3) If an employer hires an individual who has been issued a certificate of qualification for employment under this section, if the individual, after being hired, subsequently demonstrates dangerousness or is convicted of or pleads guilty to a felony, and if the employer retains the individual as an employee after the demonstration of dangerousness or the conviction or guilty plea, the employer may be held liable in a civil action that is based on or relates to the retention of the individual as an employee only if it is proved by a preponderance of the evidence that the person having hiring and firing responsibility for the employer had actual knowledge that the employee was dangerous or had been convicted of or pleaded guilty to the felony and was willful in retaining the individual as an employee after the demonstration of dangerousness or the conviction or guilty plea of which the person has actual knowledge.

(H) A certificate of qualification for employment issued under this section shall be revoked if the individual to whom the certificate of qualification for employment was issued is convicted of or pleads guilty to a felony offense committed subsequent to the issuance of the certificate of qualification for employment. The department of rehabilitation and correction shall periodically review the certificates listed in the database described in division (K) of this section to identify those that are subject to revocation under this division. Upon identifying a certificate of qualification for employment that is subject to revocation, the department shall note in the database that the certificate has been revoked, the reason for revocation, and the effective date of revocation, which shall be the date of the conviction or plea of guilty subsequent to the issuance of the certificate.

(I) A designee's forwarding, or failure to forward, a petition for a certificate of qualification for employment to a court or a court's issuance, or failure to issue, a petition for a certificate of qualification for employment to an individual under division (B) of this section does not give rise to a claim for damages against the department of rehabilitation and correction or court.

(J) The division of parole and community services shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code for the implementation and administration of this section and shall prescribe the form for the petition to be used under division (B)(1) or (2) of this section. The form for the petition shall include places for all of the information specified in division (F) of this section.

(K) The department of rehabilitation and correction shall maintain a database that identifies granted certificates and revoked certificates and tracks the number of certificates granted and revoked, the industries, occupations, and professions with respect to which the certificates have been most applicable, and the types of employers that have accepted the certificates. The department shall annually create a report that summarizes the information maintained in the database and shall make the report available to the public on its internet web site.

Last updated October 3, 2023 at 2:12 PM

Section 2953.26 | Petition for certificate of qualification for housing.

• Effective: September 20, 2024
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 50 - 135th General Assembly

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Collateral sanction for housing" means a penalty, disability, or disadvantage that is related to housing as a result of the individual's conviction of or plea of guilty to an offense and that applies by operation of law in this state whether or not the penalty, disability, or disadvantage is included in the sentence or judgment imposed.

"Collateral sanction for housing" does not include imprisonment, probation, parole, supervised release, forfeiture, restitution, fine, assessment, or costs of prosecution.

(2) "Decision-maker" means a housing provider in this state of residential premises as defined in section 1923.01 of the Revised Code, including a landlord as defined in section 1923.01 of the Revised Code and a metropolitan housing authority established in Chapter 3735. of the Revised Code.

(3) "Division of parole and community services" means the division of parole and community services of the department of rehabilitation and correction.

(4) "Offense" means any felony or misdemeanor under the laws of this state.

(5) "Tort action" means a civil action for injury, death, or loss to person or property.

(B)(1) An individual who is subject to one or more collateral sanctions for housing as a result of being convicted of or pleading guilty to an offense and who has not already received a certificate of qualification for housing under section 2961.25 of the Revised Code may file for a certificate of qualification for housing by doing either of the following:

(a) In the case of an individual who resides in this state, filing a petition with the court of common pleas of the county in which the person resides;

(b) In the case of an individual who resides outside of this state, filing a petition with the court of common pleas of any county in which any conviction or plea of guilty from which the individual seeks relief was entered.

(2) A petition under division (B)(1) of this section shall be made on a copy of the form prescribed by the division of parole and community services under division (I) of this section, shall contain all of the information described in division (E) of this section, and, except as provided in division (B)(5) of this section, shall be accompanied by an application fee of fifty dollars.

(3) An individual may file a petition under division (B)(1) of this section at any time after the expiration of whichever of the following is applicable:

(a) If the offense that resulted in the collateral sanction for housing from which the individual seeks relief is a felony, at any time after the expiration of one year from the date of release of the individual from any period of incarceration in a state or local correctional facility that was imposed for that offense or, if the individual was not incarcerated for that offense, at any time after the expiration of one year from the date of the individual's final release from all other sanctions imposed for that offense;

(b) If the offense that resulted in the collateral sanction for housing from which the individual seeks relief is a misdemeanor, at any time after the expiration of six months from the date of release of the individual from any period of incarceration in a local correctional facility that was imposed for that offense and all periods of supervision imposed after release from the period of incarceration or, if the individual was not incarcerated for that offense, at any time after the expiration of six months from the date of the final release of the individual from all sanctions imposed for that offense including any period of supervision.

(4) A court of common pleas that receives a petition for a certificate of qualification for housing from an individual shall attempt to determine all other courts in this state in which the individual was convicted of or pleaded guilty to an offense other than the offense from which the individual is seeking relief. The court shall notify all other courts in this state that it determines under this division were courts in which the individual was convicted of or pleaded guilty to an offense other than the offense from which the individual is seeking relief that the individual has filed the petition and that the court may send comments regarding the possible issuance of the certificate, and shall notify the county's prosecuting attorney that the individual has filed the petition.

A court of common pleas that receives a petition for a certificate of qualification for housing may direct the clerk of court to process and record all notices required in or under this section. Except as provided in division (B)(5) of this section, the court shall pay thirty dollars of the application fee into the state treasury and twenty dollars of the application fee into the county general revenue fund.

(5) Upon receiving a petition for a certificate of qualification for housing, a court of common pleas may waive all or part of the fifty-dollar-filing fee for an applicant who is indigent. If an application fee is partially waived, the first twenty dollars of the fee that is collected shall be paid into the county general revenue fund. Any partial fee collected in excess of twenty dollars shall be paid into the state treasury.

(C)(1) Upon receiving a petition for a certificate of qualification for housing, the court shall review the individual's petition, the individual's criminal history, except for information contained in any record that has been sealed under section 2953.32 of the Revised Code, all filings submitted by the prosecutor or by the victim in accordance with rules adopted by the division of parole and community services, the applicant's military service record, if applicable, and whether the applicant has an emotional, mental, or physical condition that is traceable to the applicant's military service in the armed forces of the United States and that was a contributing factor in the commission of the offense or offenses, and all other relevant evidence. The court may order any report, investigation, or disclosure by the individual that the court believes is necessary for the court to reach a decision on whether to approve the individual's petition for a certificate of qualification for housing, except that the court shall not require an individual to disclose information about any record sealed under section 2953.32 of the Revised Code.

(2) Upon receiving a petition for a certificate of qualification for housing, except as otherwise provided in this division, the court shall decide whether to issue the certificate within sixty days after the court receives the completed petition and all information requested for the court to make that decision. Upon request of the individual who filed the petition, the court may extend the sixty-day period specified in this division.

(3) Except as provided in division (C)(5) of this section and subject to division (D)(3) of this section, a court that receives an individual's petition for a certificate of qualification for housing may issue a certificate of qualification for housing, at the court's discretion, if the court finds that the individual has established all of the following by a preponderance of the evidence:

(a) Granting the petition will materially assist the individual in obtaining housing.

(b) The individual has a substantial need for the relief requested in order to live a law-abiding life.

(c) Granting the petition would not pose an unreasonable risk to the safety of the public or any individual.

(4) The submission of an incomplete petition by an individual shall not be grounds for the court to deny the petition.

(5) Subject to division (C)(6) of this section, an individual is rebuttably presumed to be eligible for a certificate of qualification for housing if the court that receives the individual's petition finds all of the following:

(a) The application was filed after the expiration of the applicable waiting period prescribed in division (B)(3) of this section.

(b) If the offense that resulted in the collateral sanction for housing from which the individual seeks relief is a felony, at least three years have elapsed since the date of release of the individual from any period of incarceration in a state or local correctional facility that was imposed for that offense and all periods of supervision imposed after release from the period of incarceration or, if the individual was not incarcerated for that offense, at least three years have elapsed since the date of the individual's final release from all other sanctions imposed for that offense;

(c) If the offense that resulted in the collateral sanction for housing from which the individual seeks relief is a misdemeanor, at least one year has elapsed since the date of release of the individual from any period of incarceration in a local correctional facility that was imposed for that offense and all periods of supervision imposed after release from the period of incarceration or, if the individual was not incarcerated for that offense, at least one year has elapsed since the date of the final release of the individual from all sanctions imposed for that offense including any period of supervision.

(6) An application that meets all of the requirements for the presumption under division (C)(5) of this section shall be denied only if the court that receives the petition finds that the evidence reviewed under division (C)(1) of this section rebuts the presumption of eligibility for issuance by establishing, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the applicant has not been rehabilitated.

(7) If a court that receives an individual's petition for a certificate of qualification for housing denies the petition, the court shall provide written notice to the individual of the court's denial. The court may place conditions on the individual regarding the individual's filing of any subsequent petition for a certificate of qualification for housing. The written notice must notify the individual of any conditions placed on the individual's filing of a subsequent petition for a certificate of qualification for housing.

If a court of common pleas that receives an individual's petition for a certificate of qualification for housing denies the petition, the individual may appeal the decision to the court of appeals only if the individual alleges that the denial was an abuse of discretion on the part of the court of common pleas.

(D)(1) A certificate of qualification for housing issued to an individual under this section or section 2961.25 of the Revised Code lifts the automatic bar of a collateral sanction for housing and a decision-maker shall consider on a case-by-case basis whether to provide or deny housing, notwithstanding the individual's possession of the certificate, without, however, reconsidering or rejecting any finding made by a court under division (C)(3) of this section.

(2) The certificate constitutes a rebuttable presumption that the person's criminal convictions are insufficient evidence that the person is unfit for the housing in question. Notwithstanding the presumption established under this division, the decision-maker may deny the housing to the person if it determines that the person is unfit for the housing.

(3) A certificate of qualification for housing issued to an individual under this section or section 2961.25 of the Revised Code does not create relief from requirements imposed by Chapter 2950. of the Revised Code and rules adopted under sections 2950.13 and 2950.132 of the Revised Code.

(E) A petition for a certificate of qualification for housing filed by an individual under division (B)(1) of this section shall include all of the following:

(1) The individual's name, date of birth, and social security number;

(2) All aliases of the individual and all social security numbers associated with those aliases;

(3) The individual's current residential address, including the length of time that the individual has resided in the current residence, expressed in years and months, and the city, county, state, and zip code of the residence;

(4) A history of the individual's residential address or addresses for the past ten years, including the length of time that the individual has resided at the address, expressed in years and months of residence, and the city, county, state, and zip code of residence;

(5) A general statement as to why the individual has filed the petition and how the certificate of qualification for housing would assist the individual;

(6) A summary of the individual's criminal history, except for information contained in any record that has been sealed under section 2953.32 of the Revised Code, with respect to each offense that is a disqualification from housing, including the years of each conviction or plea of guilty for each of those offenses;

(7) A summary of the individual's employment history, specifying the name of, and dates of employment with, each employer;

(8) Verifiable references and endorsements;

(9) The name of one or more immediate family members of the individual, or other persons with whom the individual has a close relationship, who support the individual's reentry plan;

(10) A summary of the reason the individual believes the certificate of qualification for housing should be granted;

(11) Any other information required by rule by the department of rehabilitation and correction.

(F)(1) In a tort action, a certificate of qualification for housing issued to an individual under this section or section 2961.25 of the Revised Code may be introduced as evidence of a decision-maker's due care in leasing to the individual to whom the certificate of qualification for housing was issued if the decision-maker knew of the certificate at the time of the alleged negligence or other fault.

(2) In a tort action against a decision-maker for negligent leasing, a certificate of qualification for housing issued to an individual under this section or section 2961.25 of the Revised Code provides immunity for the decision-maker as to the claim if the decision-maker knew of the certificate at the time of the alleged negligence.

(3) If a decision-maker leases to an individual who has been issued a certificate of qualification for housing under this section or section 2961.25 of the Revised Code, if the individual, after being leased to, subsequently demonstrates dangerousness or is convicted of or pleads guilty to a felony or a misdemeanor offense of violence, and if the decision-maker retains the individual as a lessee after the demonstration of dangerousness or the conviction or guilty plea, the decision-maker may be held liable in a tort action that is based on or relates to the retention of the individual as a lessee only if it is proved by a preponderance of the evidence that both of the following apply:

(a) The decision-maker had actual knowledge that the lessee was dangerous or had been convicted of or pleaded guilty to the felony or the misdemeanor offense of violence.

(b) The decision-maker was willful in retaining the individual as a lessee after the demonstration of dangerousness or the conviction or guilty plea of which the decision-maker has actual knowledge.

(G) A certificate of qualification for housing issued under this section or section 2961.25 of the Revised Code shall be revoked if the individual to whom the certificate of qualification for housing was issued is convicted of or pleads guilty to a felony or a misdemeanor offense of violence committed subsequent to the issuance of the certificate of qualification for housing.

(H) A court's issuance, or failure to issue, under this section, or the department of rehabilitation and correction's or adult parole authority's issuance, or failure to issue, under section 2961.25 of the Revised Code, a certificate of qualification for housing to an individual does not give rise to a claim for damages against the department of rehabilitation and correction or court.

(I) The division of parole and community services shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code for the implementation and administration of this section and shall prescribe the form for the petition to be used under division (B)(1) of this section. The form for the petition shall include places for all of the information specified in division (E) of this section.

(J) Nothing in this section shall be construed to create or provide a private right of action.

Last updated July 9, 2024 at 4:50 PM

Section 2953.31 | Sealing or expungement of record of conviction or bail forfeiture - definitions.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

(A) As used in sections 2953.31 to 2953.521 of the Revised Code:

(1) "Prosecutor" means the county prosecuting attorney, city director of law, village solicitor, or similar chief legal officer, who has the authority to prosecute a criminal case in the court in which the case is filed.

(2) "Bail forfeiture" means the forfeiture of bail by a defendant who is arrested for the commission of a misdemeanor, other than a defendant in a traffic case as defined in Traffic Rule 2, if the forfeiture is pursuant to an agreement with the court and prosecutor in the case.

(3) "Official records" means all records that are possessed by any public office or agency that relate to a criminal case, including, but not limited to: the notation to the case in the criminal docket; all subpoenas issued in the case; all papers and documents filed by the defendant or the prosecutor in the case; all records of all testimony and evidence presented in all proceedings in the case; all court files, papers, documents, folders, entries, affidavits, or writs that pertain to the case; all computer, microfilm, microfiche, or microdot records, indices, or references to the case; all index references to the case; all fingerprints and photographs; all DNA specimens, DNA records, and DNA profiles; all records and investigative reports pertaining to the case that are possessed by any law enforcement officer or agency, except that any records or reports that are the specific investigatory work product of a law enforcement officer or agency are not and shall not be considered to be official records when they are in the possession of that officer or agency; all investigative records and reports other than those possessed by a law enforcement officer or agency pertaining to the case; and all records that are possessed by any public office or agency that relate to an application for, or the issuance or denial of, a certificate of qualification for employment under section 2953.25 of the Revised Code.

"Official records" does not include any of the following:

(a) Records or reports maintained pursuant to section 2151.421 of the Revised Code by a public children services agency or the department of job and family services;

(b) Any report of an investigation maintained by the inspector general pursuant to section 121.42 of the Revised Code, to the extent that the report contains information that pertains to an individual who was convicted of or pleaded guilty to an offense discovered in or related to the investigation and whose conviction or guilty plea was not overturned on appeal;

(c) Records, reports, or audits maintained by the auditor of state pursuant to Chapter 117. of the Revised Code.

(4) "Official proceeding" has the same meaning as in section 2921.01 of the Revised Code.

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

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

(7) "DNA database," "DNA record," and "law enforcement agency" have the same meanings as in section 109.573 of the Revised Code.

(8) "Fingerprints filed for record" means any fingerprints obtained by the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation pursuant to sections 109.57 and 109.571 of the Revised Code.

(9) "Investigatory work product" means any records or reports of a law enforcement officer or agency that are excepted from the definition of "official records" and that pertain to a conviction or bail forfeiture, the records of which have been ordered sealed or expunged pursuant to division (D)(2) of section 2953.32 or division (F)(1) of section 2953.39 of the Revised Code, or that pertain to a conviction or delinquent child adjudication, the records of which have been ordered expunged pursuant to division (E) of section 2151.358, division (C)(2) of section 2953.35, or division (F) of section 2953.36 of the Revised Code.

(10) "Law enforcement or justice system matter" means an arrest, complaint, indictment, trial, hearing, adjudication, conviction, or correctional supervision.

(11) "Record of conviction" means the record related to a conviction of or plea of guilty to an offense.

(12) "Victim of human trafficking" means a person who is or was a victim of a violation of section 2905.32 of the Revised Code, regardless of whether anyone has been convicted of a violation of that section or of any other section for victimizing the person.

(13) "No bill" means a report by the foreperson or deputy foreperson of a grand jury that an indictment is not found by the grand jury against a person who has been held to answer before the grand jury for the commission of an offense.

(14) "Court" means the court in which a case is pending at the time a finding of not guilty in the case or a dismissal of the complaint, indictment, or information in the case is entered on the minutes or journal of the court, or the court to which the foreperson or deputy foreperson of a grand jury reports, pursuant to section 2939.23 of the Revised Code, that the grand jury has returned a no bill.

(B)(1) As used in section 2953.32 of the Revised Code, "expunge" means the expungement process described in section 2953.32 of the Revised Code, including the authority described in division (D)(5) of that section.

(2) As used in sections 2953.33 to 2953.521 of the Revised Code, "expunge" means both of the following:

(a) The expungement process described in sections 2953.35, 2953.36, 2953.39, and 2953.521 of the Revised Code;

(b) To destroy, delete, and erase a record as appropriate for the record's physical or electronic form or characteristic so that the record is permanently irretrievable.

Last updated August 28, 2023 at 12:59 PM

Section 2953.32 | Sealing or expungement of record of conviction record or bail forfeiture; exceptions.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

(A)(1) Sections 2953.32 to 2953.34 of the Revised Code do not apply to any of the following:

(a) Convictions under Chapter 4506., 4507., 4510., 4511., or 4549. of the Revised Code, or a conviction for a violation of a municipal ordinance that is substantially similar to any section contained in any of those chapters;

(b) Convictions of a felony offense of violence that is not a sexually oriented offense;

(c) Convictions of a sexually oriented offense when the offender is subject to the requirements of Chapter 2950. of the Revised Code or Chapter 2950. of the Revised Code as it existed prior to January 1, 2008;

(d) Convictions of an offense in circumstances in which the victim of the offense was less than thirteen years of age, except for convictions under section 2919.21 of the Revised Code;

(e) Convictions of a felony of the first or second degree;

(f) Except as provided in division (A)(2) of this section, convictions for a violation of section 2919.25 or 2919.27 of the Revised Code or a conviction for a violation of a municipal ordinance that is substantially similar to either section;

(g) Convictions of a felony of the third degree if the offender has more than one other conviction of any felony or, if the person has exactly two convictions of a felony of the third degree, has more convictions in total than those two third degree felony convictions and two misdemeanor convictions.

(2) Sections 2953.32 to 2953.34 of the Revised Code apply to a conviction for a violation of section 2919.25 of the Revised Code that is a misdemeanor of the fourth degree for purposes of sealing, but not for purposes of expungement of the record of the case.

(B)(1) Except as provided in section 2953.61 of the Revised Code or as otherwise provided in division (B)(1)(a)(iii) of this section, an eligible offender may apply to the sentencing court if convicted in this state, or to a court of common pleas if convicted in another state or in a federal court, for the sealing or expungement of the record of the case that pertains to the conviction, except for convictions listed in division (A)(1) of this section. Application may be made at whichever of the following times is applicable regarding the offense:

(a) An application for sealing under this section may be made at whichever of the following times is applicable regarding the offense:

(i) Except as otherwise provided in division (B)(1)(a)(iv) of this section, at the expiration of three years after the offender's final discharge if convicted of one or two felonies of the third degree, so long as none of the offenses is a violation of section 2921.43 of the Revised Code;

(ii) Except as otherwise provided in division (B)(1)(a)(iv) of this section, at the expiration of one year after the offender's final discharge if convicted of one or more felonies of the fourth or fifth degree or one or more misdemeanors, so long as none of the offenses is a violation of section 2921.43 of the Revised Code or a felony offense of violence;

(iii) At the expiration of seven years after the offender's final discharge if the record includes one or more convictions of soliciting improper compensation in violation of section 2921.43 of the Revised Code;

(iv) If the offender was subject to the requirements of Chapter 2950. of the Revised Code or Chapter 2950. of the Revised Code as it existed prior to January 1, 2008, at the expiration of five years after the requirements have ended under section 2950.07 of the Revised Code or section 2950.07 of the Revised Code as it existed prior to January 1, 2008, or are terminated under section 2950.15 or 2950.151 of the Revised Code;

(v) At the expiration of six months after the offender's final discharge if convicted of a minor misdemeanor.

(b) An application for expungement under this section may be made at whichever of the following times is applicable regarding the offense:

(i) Except as otherwise provided in division (B)(1)(b)(ii) of this section, if the offense is a misdemeanor, at the expiration of one year after the offender's final discharge;

(ii) If the offense is a minor misdemeanor, at the expiration of six months after the offender's final discharge;

(iii) If the offense is a felony, at the expiration of ten years after the time specified in division (B)(1)(a) of this section at which the person may file an application for sealing with respect to that felony offense.

(2) Any person who has been arrested for any misdemeanor offense and who has effected a bail forfeiture for the offense charged may apply to the court in which the misdemeanor criminal case was pending when bail was forfeited for the sealing or expungement of the record of the case that pertains to the charge. Except as provided in section 2953.61 of the Revised Code, the application may be filed at whichever of the following times is applicable regarding the offense:

(a) An application for sealing under this section may be made at any time after the date on which the bail forfeiture was entered upon the minutes of the court or the journal, whichever entry occurs first.

(b) An application for expungement under this section may be made at whichever of the following times is applicable regarding the offense:

(i) Except as provided in division (B)(2)(b)(ii) of this section, at any time after the expiration of one year from the date on which the bail forfeiture was entered upon the minutes of the court or the journal, whichever entry occurs first;

(ii) If the offense is a minor misdemeanor, at any time after the expiration of six months from the date on which the bail forfeiture was entered upon the minutes of the court or the journal, whichever entry occurs first.

(C) Upon the filing of an application under this section, the court shall set a date for a hearing and shall notify the prosecutor for the case of the hearing on the application not less than sixty days prior to the hearing. Pursuant to the Ohio Constitution, the prosecutor shall provide timely notice of the application and the date and time of the hearing to a victim and victim's representative, if applicable, if the victim or victim's representative requested notice of the proceedings in the underlying case. The court shall hold the hearing not less than forty-five days and not more than ninety days from the date of the filing of the application. The prosecutor may object to the granting of the application by filing a written objection with the court not later than thirty days prior to the date set for the hearing. The prosecutor shall specify in the objection the reasons for believing a denial of the application is justified. The victim, victim's representative, and victim's attorney, if applicable, may be present and heard orally, in writing, or both at any hearing under this section. The court shall direct its regular probation officer, a state probation officer, or the department of probation of the county in which the applicant resides to make inquiries and written reports as the court requires concerning the applicant. The probation officer or county department of probation that the court directs to make inquiries and written reports as the court requires concerning the applicant shall determine whether or not the applicant was fingerprinted at the time of arrest or under section 109.60 of the Revised Code. If the applicant was so fingerprinted, the probation officer or county department of probation shall include with the written report a record of the applicant's fingerprints. If the applicant was convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of division (A)(2) or (B) of section 2919.21 of the Revised Code, the probation officer or county department of probation that the court directed to make inquiries concerning the applicant shall contact the child support enforcement agency enforcing the applicant's obligations under the child support order to inquire about the offender's compliance with the child support order.

(D)(1) At the hearing held under division (C) of this section, the court shall do each of the following:

(a) Determine whether the applicant is pursuing sealing or expunging a conviction of an offense that is prohibited under division (A) of this section or whether the forfeiture of bail was agreed to by the applicant and the prosecutor in the case, and determine whether the application was made at the time specified in division (B)(1)(a) or (b) or division (B)(2)(a) or (b) of this section that is applicable with respect to the application and the subject offense;

(b) Determine whether criminal proceedings are pending against the applicant;

(c) Determine whether the applicant has been rehabilitated to the satisfaction of the court;

(d) If the prosecutor has filed an objection in accordance with division (C) of this section, consider the reasons against granting the application specified by the prosecutor in the objection;

(e) If the victim objected, pursuant to the Ohio Constitution, consider the reasons against granting the application specified by the victim in the objection;

(f) Weigh the interests of the applicant in having the records pertaining to the applicant's conviction or bail forfeiture sealed or expunged against the legitimate needs, if any, of the government to maintain those records;

(g) Consider the oral or written statement of any victim, victim's representative, and victim's attorney, if applicable;

(h) If the applicant was an eligible offender of the type described in division (A)(3) of section 2953.36 of the Revised Code as it existed prior to the effective date of this amendment, determine whether the offender has been rehabilitated to a satisfactory degree. In making the determination, the court may consider all of the following:

(i) The age of the offender;

(ii) The facts and circumstances of the offense;

(iii) The cessation or continuation of criminal behavior;

(iv) The education and employment of the offender;

(v) Any other circumstances that may relate to the offender's rehabilitation.

(2) If the court determines, after complying with division (D)(1) of this section, that the offender is not pursuing sealing or expunging a conviction of an offense that is prohibited under division (A) of this section or that the forfeiture of bail was agreed to by the applicant and the prosecutor in the case, that the application was made at the time specified in division (B)(1)(a) or (b) or division (B)(2)(a) or (b) of this section that is applicable with respect to the application and the subject offense, that no criminal proceeding is pending against the applicant, that the interests of the applicant in having the records pertaining to the applicant's conviction or bail forfeiture sealed or expunged are not outweighed by any legitimate governmental needs to maintain those records, and that the rehabilitation of the applicant has been attained to the satisfaction of the court, both of the following apply:

(a) The court, except as provided in division (D)(4) or (5) of this section or division (D), (F), or (G) of section 2953.34 of the Revised Code, shall order all official records of the case that pertain to the conviction or bail forfeiture sealed if the application was for sealing or expunged if the application was for expungement and, except as provided in division (C) of section 2953.34 of the Revised Code, all index references to the case that pertain to the conviction or bail forfeiture deleted and, in the case of bail forfeitures, shall dismiss the charges in the case.

(b) The proceedings in the case that pertain to the conviction or bail forfeiture shall be considered not to have occurred and the conviction or bail forfeiture of the person who is the subject of the proceedings shall be sealed if the application was for sealing or expunged if the application was for expungement, except that upon conviction of a subsequent offense, a sealed record of prior conviction or bail forfeiture may be considered by the court in determining the sentence or other appropriate disposition, including the relief provided for in sections 2953.31, 2953.32, and 2953.34 of the Revised Code.

(3) An applicant may request the sealing or expungement of the records of more than one case in a single application under this section. Upon the filing of an application under this section, the applicant, unless the applicant presents a poverty affidavit showing that the applicant is indigent, shall pay an application fee of fifty dollars and may pay a local court fee of not more than fifty dollars, regardless of the number of records the application requests to have sealed or expunged. If the applicant pays a fee, the court shall pay three-fifths of the fee collected into the state treasury, with half of that amount credited to the attorney general reimbursement fund created by section 109.11 of the Revised Code. If the applicant pays a fee, the court shall pay two-fifths of the fee collected into the county general revenue fund if the sealed or expunged conviction or bail forfeiture was pursuant to a state statute, or into the general revenue fund of the municipal corporation involved if the sealed or expunged conviction or bail forfeiture was pursuant to a municipal ordinance.

(4) If the court orders the official records pertaining to the case sealed or expunged, the court shall do one of the following:

(a) If the applicant was fingerprinted at the time of arrest or under section 109.60 of the Revised Code and the record of the applicant's fingerprints was provided to the court under division (C) of this section, forward a copy of the sealing or expungement order and the record of the applicant's fingerprints to the bureau of criminal identification and investigation.

(b) If the applicant was not fingerprinted at the time of arrest or under section 109.60 of the Revised Code, or the record of the applicant's fingerprints was not provided to the court under division (C) of this section, but fingerprinting was required for the offense, order the applicant to appear before a sheriff to have the applicant's fingerprints taken according to the fingerprint system of identification on the forms furnished by the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation. The sheriff shall forward the applicant's fingerprints to the court. The court shall forward the applicant's fingerprints and a copy of the sealing or expungement order to the bureau of criminal identification and investigation.

Failure of the court to order fingerprints at the time of sealing or expungement does not constitute a reversible error.

(5) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Revised Code to the contrary, when the bureau of criminal identification and investigation receives notice from a court that the record of a conviction or bail forfeiture has been expunged under this section, the bureau of criminal identification and investigation shall maintain a record of the expunged conviction record for the limited purpose of determining an individual's qualification or disqualification for employment in law enforcement. The bureau of criminal identification and investigation shall not be compelled by the court to destroy, delete, or erase those records so that the records are permanently irretrievable. These records may only be disclosed or provided to law enforcement for the limited purpose of determining an individual's qualification or disqualification for employment in law enforcement.

When any other entity other than the bureau of criminal identification and investigation receives notice from a court that the record of a conviction or bail forfeiture has been expunged under this section, the entity shall destroy, delete, and erase the record as appropriate for the record's physical or electronic form or characteristic so that the record is permanently irretrievable.

Last updated January 5, 2024 at 4:03 PM

Section 2953.33 | [Former R.C. 2953.52, amended and renumbered by S.B. 288, 134th General Assembly, effective 4/4/2023] Sealing of official records after not guilty finding, dismissal of proceedings, grand jury no bill, or pardon.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

(A)(1) Any person, who is found not guilty of an offense by a jury or a court or who is the defendant named in a dismissed complaint, indictment, or information, may apply to the court for an order to seal or, except as provided in division (C) of this section, expunge the person's official records in the case. Except as provided in section 2953.61 of the Revised Code, the application may be filed at any time after the finding of not guilty or the dismissal of the complaint, indictment, or information is entered upon the minutes of the court or the journal, whichever entry occurs first.

(2) Any person, against whom a no bill is entered by a grand jury, may apply to the court for an order to seal or, except as provided in division (C) of this section, expunge the person's official records in the case. Except as provided in section 2953.61 of the Revised Code, the application may be filed at any time after the expiration of two years after the date on which the foreperson or deputy foreperson of the grand jury reports to the court that the grand jury has reported a no bill.

(3) Any person who is granted by the governor under division (B) of section 2967.02 of the Revised Code an absolute and entire pardon, a partial pardon, or a pardon upon conditions precedent or subsequent may apply to the court for an order to seal the person's official records in the case in which the person was convicted of the offense for which any of those types of pardons are granted. The application may be filed at any time after an absolute and entire pardon or a partial pardon is granted or at any time after all of the conditions precedent or subsequent to the pardon are met.

(B)(1) Upon the filing of an application pursuant to division (A) of this section, the court shall set a date for a hearing and shall notify the prosecutor in the case of the hearing on the application. The court shall hold the hearing not less than forty-five days and not more than ninety days from the date of the filing of the application. The prosecutor may object to the granting of the application by filing a written objection with the court not later than thirty days prior to the date set for the hearing. The prosecutor shall specify in the objection the reasons the prosecutor believes justify a denial of the application.

(2) The court shall do each of the following, except as provided in division (B)(3) of this section:

(a)(i) Determine whether the person was found not guilty in the case, or the complaint, indictment, or information in the case was dismissed, or a no bill was returned in the case and a period of two years or a longer period as required by section 2953.61 of the Revised Code has expired from the date of the report to the court of that no bill by the foreperson or deputy foreperson of the grand jury;

(ii) If the complaint, indictment, or information in the case was dismissed, determine whether it was dismissed with prejudice or without prejudice and, if it was dismissed without prejudice, determine whether the relevant statute of limitations has expired;

(b) Determine whether criminal proceedings are pending against the person;

(c) If the prosecutor has filed an objection in accordance with division (B)(1) of this section, consider the reasons against granting the application specified by the prosecutor in the objection;

(d) If the person was granted a pardon upon conditions precedent or subsequent for the offense for which the person was convicted, determine whether all of those conditions have been met;

(e) Weigh the interests of the person in having the official records pertaining to the case sealed or expunged, as applicable, against the legitimate needs, if any, of the government to maintain those records.

(3) If the court determines after complying with division (B)(2)(a) of this section that the person was found not guilty in the case, that the complaint, indictment, or information in the case was dismissed with prejudice, that the complaint, indictment, or information in the case was dismissed without prejudice and that the relevant statute of limitations has expired, or the individual was granted by the governor an absolute and entire pardon, a partial pardon, or a pardon upon conditions precedent or subsequent that have been met, the court shall issue an order to the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation directing that the superintendent expunge or seal or cause to be sealed, as applicable, the official records in the case consisting of DNA specimens that are in the possession of the bureau and all DNA records and DNA profiles. The determinations and considerations described in divisions (B)(2)(b), (c), and (e) of this section do not apply with respect to a determination of the court described in this division.

(4) The determinations described in this division are separate from the determination described in division (B)(3) of this section. If the court determines, after complying with division (B)(2) of this section, that the person was found not guilty in the case, that the complaint, indictment, or information in the case was dismissed, the individual was granted by the governor an absolute and entire pardon, a partial pardon, or a pardon upon conditions precedent or subsequent that have been met, or that a no bill was returned in the case and that the appropriate period of time has expired from the date of the report to the court of the no bill by the foreperson or deputy foreperson of the grand jury; that no criminal proceedings are pending against the person; and the interests of the person in having the records pertaining to the case sealed or expunged, as applicable, are not outweighed by any legitimate governmental needs to maintain such records, or if division (E)(2)(b) of section 4301.69 of the Revised Code applies, in addition to the order required under division (B)(3) of this section, the court shall issue an order directing that all official records pertaining to the case be sealed or expunged, as applicable, and that, except as provided in section 2953.34 of the Revised Code, the proceedings in the case be deemed not to have occurred.

(5) Any DNA specimens, DNA records, and DNA profiles ordered to be sealed or expunged under this section shall not be sealed or expunged if the person with respect to whom the order applies is otherwise eligible to have DNA records or a DNA profile in the national DNA index system.

(C)(1) A person who is the defendant named in a dismissed complaint, indictment, or information or against whom a no bill is entered by a grand jury is not entitled to have records of the case expunged under this section if the case involves any of the following offenses:

(a) A violation of any section contained in Chapter 4506., 4507., 4510., 4511., or 4549. of the Revised Code, or a violation of a municipal ordinance that is substantially similar to any section contained in any of those chapters;

(b) A felony offense of violence that is not a sexually oriented offense;

(c) A sexually oriented offense when the offender is subject to the requirements of Chapter 2950. of the Revised Code or Chapter 2950. of the Revised Code as it existed prior to January 1, 2008;

(d) An offense involving a victim who is less than thirteen years of age, except for an offense under section 2919.21 of the Revised Code;

(e) A felony of the first or second degree;

(f) A violation of section 2919.25 or 2919.27 of the Revised Code or a violation of a municipal ordinance that is substantially similar to either section;

(g) A violation that is a felony of the third degree if the person has more than one prior conviction of any felony or, if the person has exactly one prior conviction of a felony of the third degree, the person has more prior convictions in total than a third degree felony conviction and two misdemeanor convictions.

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

Last updated January 12, 2024 at 12:46 PM

Section 2953.34 | Effect of sealing or expungement order under R.C. 2953.32 or 2953.33.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

(A) Inspection of the sealed records included in a sealing order may be made only by the following persons or for the following purposes:

(1) By a law enforcement officer or prosecutor, or the assistants of either, to determine whether the nature and character of the offense with which a person is to be charged would be affected by virtue of the person's previously having been convicted of a crime;

(2) By the parole or probation officer of the person who is the subject of the records, for the exclusive use of the officer in supervising the person while on parole or under a community control sanction or a post-release control sanction, and in making inquiries and written reports as requested by the court or adult parole authority;

(3) Upon application by the person who is the subject of the records or a legal representative of that person, by the persons named in the application;

(4) By a law enforcement officer who was involved in the case, for use in the officer's defense of a civil action arising out of the officer's involvement in that case;

(5) By a prosecuting attorney or the prosecuting attorney's assistants, to determine a defendant's eligibility to enter a pre-trial diversion program established pursuant to section 2935.36 of the Revised Code;

(6) By any law enforcement agency or any authorized employee of a law enforcement agency or by the department of rehabilitation and correction or department of youth services as part of a background investigation of a person who applies for employment with the agency or with the department;

(7) By any law enforcement agency or any authorized employee of a law enforcement agency, for the purposes set forth in, and in the manner provided in, division (I) of section 2953.34 of the Revised Code;

(8) By the bureau of criminal identification and investigation or any authorized employee of the bureau for the purpose of providing information to a board or person pursuant to division (F) or (G) of section 109.57 of the Revised Code;

(9) By the bureau of criminal identification and investigation or any authorized employee of the bureau for the purpose of performing a criminal history records check on a person to whom a certificate as prescribed in section 109.77 of the Revised Code is to be awarded;

(10) By the bureau of criminal identification and investigation or any authorized employee of the bureau for the purpose of conducting a criminal records check of an individual pursuant to division (B) of section 109.572 of the Revised Code that was requested pursuant to any of the sections identified in division (B)(1) of that section;

(11) By the bureau of criminal identification and investigation, an authorized employee of the bureau, a sheriff, or an authorized employee of a sheriff in connection with a criminal records check described in section 311.41 of the Revised Code;

(12) By the attorney general or an authorized employee of the attorney general or a court for purposes of determining a person's classification pursuant to Chapter 2950. of the Revised Code;

(13) By a court, the registrar of motor vehicles, a prosecuting attorney or the prosecuting attorney's assistants, or a law enforcement officer for the purpose of assessing points against a person under section 4510.036 of the Revised Code or for taking action with regard to points assessed.

When the nature and character of the offense with which a person is to be charged would be affected by the information, it may be used for the purpose of charging the person with an offense.

(B) In any criminal proceeding, proof of any otherwise admissible prior conviction may be introduced and proved, notwithstanding the fact that for any such prior conviction an order of sealing or expungement previously was issued pursuant to sections 2953.31 to 2953.34 of the Revised Code.

(C) The person or governmental agency, office, or department that maintains sealed records pertaining to convictions or bail forfeitures that have been sealed pursuant to section 2953.32 of the Revised Code may maintain a manual or computerized index to the sealed records. The index shall contain only the name of, and alphanumeric identifiers that relate to, the persons who are the subject of the sealed records, the word "sealed," and the name of the person, agency, office, or department that has custody of the sealed records, and shall not contain the name of the crime committed. The index shall be made available by the person who has custody of the sealed records only for the purposes set forth in divisions (A), (B), and (D) of this section.

(D) Notwithstanding any provision of this section or section 2953.32 of the Revised Code that requires otherwise, a board of education of a city, local, exempted village, or joint vocational school district that maintains records of an individual who has been permanently excluded under sections 3301.121 and 3313.662 of the Revised Code is permitted to maintain records regarding a conviction that was used as the basis for the individual's permanent exclusion, regardless of a court order to seal or expunge the record. An order issued under section 2953.32 of the Revised Code to seal or expunge the record of a conviction does not revoke the adjudication order of the director of education and workforce to permanently exclude the individual who is the subject of the sealing or expungement order. An order issued under section 2953.32 of the Revised Code to seal or expunge the record of a conviction of an individual may be presented to a district superintendent as evidence to support the contention that the superintendent should recommend that the permanent exclusion of the individual who is the subject of the sealing or expungement order be revoked. Except as otherwise authorized by this division and sections 3301.121 and 3313.662 of the Revised Code, any school employee in possession of or having access to the sealed or expunged conviction records of an individual that were the basis of a permanent exclusion of the individual is subject to division (J) of this section.

(E) Notwithstanding any provision of this section or section 2953.32 of the Revised Code that requires otherwise, if the auditor of state or a prosecutor maintains records, reports, or audits of an individual who has been forever disqualified from holding public office, employment, or a position of trust in this state under sections 2921.41 and 2921.43 of the Revised Code, or has otherwise been convicted of an offense based upon the records, reports, or audits of the auditor of state, the auditor of state or prosecutor is permitted to maintain those records to the extent they were used as the basis for the individual's disqualification or conviction, and shall not be compelled by court order to seal or expunge those records.

(F) For purposes of sections 2953.31 and 2953.34 of the Revised Code, DNA records collected in the DNA database and fingerprints filed for record by the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation shall not be sealed or expunged unless the superintendent receives a certified copy of a final court order establishing that the offender's conviction has been overturned. For purposes of this section, a court order is not "final" if time remains for an appeal or application for discretionary review with respect to the order.

(G)(1) The court shall send notice of any order to seal or expunge official records issued pursuant to section 2953.32 of the Revised Code to the bureau of criminal identification and investigation and to any public office or agency that the court knows or has reason to believe may have any record of the case, whether or not it is an official record, that is the subject of the order.

(2) The sealing of a record under section 2953.32 of the Revised Code does not affect the assessment of points under section 4510.036 of the Revised Code and does not erase points assessed against a person as a result of the sealed record.

(H)(1) The court shall send notice of any order to seal or expunge official records issued pursuant to division (B)(3) of section 2953.33 of the Revised Code to the bureau of criminal identification and investigation and shall send notice of any order issued pursuant to division (B)(4) of that section to any public office or agency that the court knows or has reason to believe may have any record of the case, whether or not it is an official record, that is the subject of the order.

(2) A person whose official records have been sealed or expunged pursuant to an order issued pursuant to section 2953.33 of the Revised Code may present a copy of that order and a written request to comply with it, to a public office or agency that has a record of the case that is the subject of the order.

(3) An order to seal or expunge official records issued pursuant to section 2953.33 of the Revised Code applies to every public office or agency that has a record of the case that is the subject of the order, regardless of whether it receives notice of the hearing on the application for the order to seal or expunge the official records or receives a copy of the order to seal the official records pursuant to division (H)(1) or (2) of this section.

(4) Upon receiving a copy of an order to seal or expunge official records pursuant to division (H)(1) or (2) of this section or upon otherwise becoming aware of an applicable order to seal or expunge official records issued pursuant to section 2953.33 of the Revised Code, a public office or agency shall comply with the order and, if applicable, with division (K) of this section, except that if the order is a sealing order, the office or agency may maintain a record of the case that is the subject of the order if the record is maintained for the purpose of compiling statistical data only and does not contain any reference to the person who is the subject of the case and the order.

(5) A public office or agency to which division (H)(4) of this section applies also may maintain an index of sealed official records that are the subject of a sealing order, in a form similar to that for sealed records of conviction as set forth in division (C) of this section, access to which may not be afforded to any person other than the person who has custody of the sealed official records. The sealed official records to which such an index pertains shall not be available to any person, except that the official records of a case that have been sealed may be made available to the following persons for the following purposes:

(a) To the person who is the subject of the records upon written application, and to any other person named in the application, for any purpose;

(b) To a law enforcement officer who was involved in the case, for use in the officer's defense of a civil action arising out of the officer's involvement in that case;

(c) To a prosecuting attorney or the prosecuting attorney's assistants to determine a defendant's eligibility to enter a pre-trial diversion program established pursuant to section 2935.36 of the Revised Code;

(d) To a prosecuting attorney or the prosecuting attorney's assistants to determine a defendant's eligibility to enter a pre-trial diversion program under division (E)(2)(b) of section 4301.69 of the Revised Code.

(I)(1) Upon the issuance of an order by a court pursuant to division (D)(2) of section 2953.32 of the Revised Code directing that all official records of a case pertaining to a conviction or bail forfeiture be sealed or expunged or an order by a court pursuant to division (E) of section 2151.358, division (C)(2) of section 2953.35, or division (E) of section 2953.36 of the Revised Code directing that all official records of a case pertaining to a conviction or delinquent child adjudication be expunged:

(a) Every law enforcement officer who possesses investigatory work product immediately shall deliver that work product to the law enforcement officer's employing law enforcement agency.

(b) Except as provided in divisions (I)(1)(c) and (d) of this section, every law enforcement agency that possesses investigatory work product shall close that work product to all persons who are not directly employed by the law enforcement agency and shall treat that work product, in relation to all persons other than those who are directly employed by the law enforcement agency, as if it did not exist and never had existed.

(c) A law enforcement agency that possesses investigatory work product may permit another law enforcement agency to use that work product in the investigation of another offense if the facts incident to the offense being investigated by the other law enforcement agency and the facts incident to an offense that is the subject of the case are reasonably similar. The agency that permits the use of investigatory work product may provide the other agency with the name of the person who is the subject of the case if it believes that the name of the person is necessary to the conduct of the investigation by the other agency.

(d) The auditor of state may provide to or discuss with other parties investigatory work product maintained pursuant to Chapter 117. of the Revised Code by the auditor of state.

(2)(a) Except as provided in divisions (I)(1)(c) and (d) of this section, no law enforcement officer or other person employed by a law enforcement agency shall knowingly release, disseminate, or otherwise make the investigatory work product or any information contained in that work product available to, or discuss any information contained in it with, any person not employed by the employing law enforcement agency.

(b) No law enforcement agency, or person employed by a law enforcement agency, that receives investigatory work product pursuant to divisions (I)(1)(c) and (d) of this section shall use that work product for any purpose other than the investigation of the offense for which it was obtained from the other law enforcement agency, or disclose the name of the person who is the subject of the work product except when necessary for the conduct of the investigation of the offense, or the prosecution of the person for committing the offense, for which it was obtained from the other law enforcement agency.

(3) Whoever violates division (I)(2)(a) or (b) of this section is guilty of divulging confidential investigatory work product, a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.

(J)(1) Except as authorized by divisions (A) to (C) of this section or by Chapter 2950. of the Revised Code and subject to division (J)(2) and (3) of this section, any officer or employee of the state, or a political subdivision of the state, who releases or otherwise disseminates or makes available for any purpose involving employment, bonding, or licensing in connection with any business, trade, or profession to any person, or to any department, agency, or other instrumentality of the state, or any political subdivision of the state, any information or other data concerning any law enforcement or justice system matter the records with respect to which the officer or employee had knowledge of were sealed by an existing order issued pursuant to section 2953.32 of the Revised Code, division (E) of section 2151.358, section 2953.35, or section 2953.36 of the Revised Code, or were expunged by an order issued pursuant to section 2953.42 of the Revised Code as it existed prior to June 29, 1988, is guilty of divulging confidential information, a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.

(2) Division (J)(1) of this section does not apply to an officer or employee of the state, or a political subdivision of the state, who releases or otherwise disseminates or makes available for any purpose specified in that division any information or other data concerning a law enforcement or justice system matter the records of which the officer had knowledge were sealed or expunged by an order of a type described in that division, if all of the following apply:

(a) The officer or employee released, disseminated, or made available the information or data from the sealed or expunged records together with information or data concerning another law enforcement or justice system matter.

(b) The records of the other law enforcement or justice system matter were not sealed or expunged by any order of a type described in division (J)(1) of this section.

(c) The law enforcement or justice system matter covered by the information or data from the sealed or expunged records and the other law enforcement or justice system matter covered by the information or data from the records that were not sealed or expunged resulted from or were connected to the same act.

(d) The officer or employee made a good faith effort to not release, disseminate, or make available any information or other data concerning any law enforcement or justice system matter from the sealed or expunged records, and the officer or employee did not release, disseminate, or make available the information or other data from the sealed or expunged records with malicious purpose, in bad faith, or in a wanton or reckless manner.

(3) Division (J)(1) of this section does not apply to an officer or employee of the state, or a political subdivision of the state, who releases or otherwise disseminates or makes available for any purpose specified in that division any information or other data concerning a law enforcement or justice system matter the records of which the officer had knowledge were sealed or expunged by an order of a type described in that division, if the records are released or disseminated or access is provided pursuant to an application by the person who is the subject of the information or data or by a legal representative of that person.

(4) Any person who, in violation of this section, uses, disseminates, or otherwise makes available any index prepared pursuant to division (C) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.

(K)(1) Except as otherwise provided in Chapter 2950. of the Revised Code, upon the issuance of an order by a court under division (B) of section 2953.33 of the Revised Code directing that all official records pertaining to a case be sealed or expunged and that the proceedings in the case be deemed not to have occurred:

(a) Every law enforcement officer possessing records or reports pertaining to the case that are the officer's specific investigatory work product and that are excepted from the definition of official records shall immediately deliver the records and reports to the officer's employing law enforcement agency. Except as provided in division (K)(1)(c) or (d) of this section, no such officer shall knowingly release, disseminate, or otherwise make the records and reports or any information contained in them available to, or discuss any information contained in them with, any person not employed by the officer's employing law enforcement agency.

(b) Every law enforcement agency that possesses records or reports pertaining to the case that are its specific investigatory work product and that are excepted from the definition of official records, or that are the specific investigatory work product of a law enforcement officer it employs and that were delivered to it under division (K)(1)(a) of this section shall, except as provided in division (K)(1)(c) or (d) of this section, close the records and reports to all persons who are not directly employed by the law enforcement agency and shall, except as provided in division (K)(1)(c) or (d) of this section, treat the records and reports, in relation to all persons other than those who are directly employed by the law enforcement agency, as if they did not exist and had never existed. Except as provided in division (K)(1)(c) or (d) of this section, no person who is employed by the law enforcement agency shall knowingly release, disseminate, or otherwise make the records and reports in the possession of the employing law enforcement agency or any information contained in them available to, or discuss any information contained in them with, any person not employed by the employing law enforcement agency.

(c) A law enforcement agency that possesses records or reports pertaining to the case that are its specific investigatory work product and that are excepted from the definition of official records, or that are the specific investigatory work product of a law enforcement officer it employs and that were delivered to it under division (K)(1)(a) of this section may permit another law enforcement agency to use the records or reports in the investigation of another offense, if the facts incident to the offense being investigated by the other law enforcement agency and the facts incident to an offense that is the subject of the case are reasonably similar. The agency that provides the records and reports may provide the other agency with the name of the person who is the subject of the case, if it believes that the name of the person is necessary to the conduct of the investigation by the other agency.

No law enforcement agency, or person employed by a law enforcement agency, that receives from another law enforcement agency records or reports pertaining to a case the records of which have been ordered sealed or expunged pursuant to division (B) of section 2953.33 of the Revised Code shall use the records and reports for any purpose other than the investigation of the offense for which they were obtained from the other law enforcement agency, or disclose the name of the person who is the subject of the records or reports except when necessary for the conduct of the investigation of the offense, or the prosecution of the person for committing the offense, for which they were obtained from the other law enforcement agency.

(d) The auditor of state may provide to or discuss with other parties records, reports, or audits maintained by the auditor of state pursuant to Chapter 117. of the Revised Code pertaining to the case that are the auditor of state's specific investigatory work product and that are excepted from the definition of "official records" contained in division (C) of section 2953.31 of the Revised Code, or that are the specific investigatory work product of a law enforcement officer the auditor of state employs and that were delivered to the auditor of state under division (K)(1)(a) of this section.

(2) Whoever violates division (K)(1) of this section is guilty of divulging confidential information, a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.

(L)(1) In any application for employment, license, or any other right or privilege, any appearance as a witness, or any other inquiry, a person may not be questioned with respect to any record that has been sealed or expunged pursuant to section 2953.33 of the Revised Code. If an inquiry is made in violation of this division, the person whose official record was sealed may respond as if the arrest underlying the case to which the sealed official records pertain and all other proceedings in that case did not occur, and the person whose official record was sealed shall not be subject to any adverse action because of the arrest, the proceedings, or the person's response.

(2)(a) Except as provided in division (L)(2)(b) of this section, an officer or employee of the state or any of its political subdivisions who knowingly releases, disseminates, or makes available for any purpose involving employment, bonding, licensing, or education to any person or to any department, agency, or other instrumentality of the state, or of any of its political subdivisions, any information or other data concerning any arrest, complaint, indictment, information, trial, adjudication, or correctional supervision, knowing the records of which have been sealed or expunged pursuant to section 2953.33 of the Revised Code, is guilty of divulging confidential information, a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.

(b) Division (L)(2)(a) of this section does not apply to any release, dissemination, or access to information or data if the records are released or disseminated or access is provided pursuant to an application by the person who is the subject of the information or data or by a legal representative of that person.

(M) It is not a violation of division (I), (J), (K), or (L) of this section for the bureau of criminal identification and investigation or any authorized employee of the bureau participating in the investigation of criminal activity to release, disseminate, or otherwise make available to, or discuss with, a person directly employed by a law enforcement agency DNA records collected in the DNA database or fingerprints filed for record by the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation.

(N)(1) An order issued under section 2953.35 of the Revised Code to expunge the record of a person's conviction or, except as provided in division (D) of this section, an order issued under that section to seal the record of a person's conviction restores the person who is the subject of the order to all rights and privileges not otherwise restored by termination of the sentence or community control sanction or by final release on parole or post-release control.

(2)(a) In any application for employment, license, or other right or privilege, any appearance as a witness, or any other inquiry, except as provided in division (B) of this section and in section 3319.292 of the Revised Code and subject to division (N)(2)(c) of this section, a person may be questioned only with respect to convictions not sealed, bail forfeitures not expunged under section 2953.42 of the Revised Code as it existed prior to June 29, 1988, and bail forfeitures not sealed, unless the question bears a direct and substantial relationship to the position for which the person is being considered.

(b) In any application for a certificate of qualification for employment under section 2953.25 of the Revised Code, a person may be questioned only with respect to convictions not sealed and bail forfeitures not sealed.

(c) A person may not be questioned in any application, appearance, or inquiry of a type described in division (N)(2)(a) of this section with respect to any conviction expunged under section 2953.35 of the Revised Code.

(O) Nothing in section 2953.32 or 2953.34 of the Revised Code precludes an offender from taking an appeal or seeking any relief from the offender's conviction or from relying on it in lieu of any subsequent prosecution for the same offense.

Last updated August 28, 2023 at 1:15 PM

Section 2953.35 | [Former R.C. 2953.37, amended and renumbered by S.B. 288, 134th General Assembly, effective 4/4/2023] Expungement of certain convictions relating to firearms.

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

(A) Any person who is convicted of, was convicted of, pleads guilty to, or has pleaded guilty to a violation of division (B), (C), or (E) of section 2923.16 of the Revised Code as the division existed prior to September 30, 2011, or a violation of division (E)(1) or (2) of section 2923.16 of the Revised Code as the division existed prior to June 13, 2022, and who is authorized by division (H)(2)(a) of that section to file an application under this section for the expungement of the conviction record may apply to the sentencing court for the expungement of the record of conviction. Any person who is convicted of, was convicted of, pleads guilty to, or has pleaded guilty to a violation of division (B)(1) of section 2923.12 of the Revised Code as it existed prior to June 13, 2022, and who is authorized by division (E)(2) of that section may apply to the sentencing court for the expungement of the record of conviction. The person may file the application at any time on or after September 30, 2011, with respect to violations of division (B), (C), or (E) of section 2923.16 of the Revised Code as they existed prior to that date, or at any time on or after June 13, 2022, with respect to a violation of division (B)(1) of section 2923.12 of the Revised Code or of division (E)(1) or (2) of section 2923.16 of the Revised Code as the particular division existed prior to June 13, 2022. The application shall do all of the following:

(1) Identify the applicant, the offense for which the expungement is sought, the date of the conviction of or plea of guilty to that offense, and the court in which the conviction occurred or the plea of guilty was entered;

(2) Include evidence that the offense was a violation of division (B), (C), or (E) of section 2923.16 of the Revised Code as the division existed prior to September 30, 2011, or was a violation of division (B)(1) of section 2923.12 of the Revised Code or of division (E)(1) or (2) of section 2923.16 of the Revised Code as the particular division existed prior to June 13, 2022, and that the applicant is authorized by division (H)(2)(a) of section 2923.16 or division (E)(2) of section 2923.12 of the Revised Code, whichever is applicable, to file an application under this section;

(3) Include a request for expungement of the record of conviction of that offense under this section.

(B) Upon the filing of an application under division (A) of this section and the payment of the fee described in division (C)(3) of this section if applicable, the court shall set a date for a hearing and shall notify the prosecutor for the case of the hearing on the application. The prosecutor may object to the granting of the application by filing an objection with the court prior to the date set for the hearing. The prosecutor shall specify in the objection the reasons for believing a denial of the application is justified. The court shall direct its regular probation officer, a state probation officer, or the department of probation of the county in which the applicant resides to make inquiries and written reports as the court requires concerning the applicant. The court shall hold the hearing scheduled under this division.

(C)(1) At the hearing held under division (B) of this section, the court shall do each of the following:

(a) Determine whether the applicant has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of division (E) of section 2923.16 of the Revised Code as the division existed prior to September 30, 2011, and whether the conduct that was the basis of the violation no longer would be a violation of that division on or after September 30, 2011;

(b) Determine whether the applicant has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of division (B) or (C) of section 2923.16 of the Revised Code as the division existed prior to September 30, 2011, and whether the conduct that was the basis of the violation no longer would be a violation of that division on or after September 30, 2011, due to the application of division (F)(5) of that section as it exists on and after September 30, 2011;

(c) Determine whether the applicant has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of division (B)(1) of section 2923.12 of the Revised Code or of division (E)(1) or (2) of section 2923.16 of the Revised Code as the particular division existed prior to June 13, 2022;

(d) If the prosecutor has filed an objection in accordance with division (B) of this section, consider the reasons against granting the application specified by the prosecutor in the objection;

(e) Weigh the interests of the applicant in having the records pertaining to the applicant's conviction or guilty plea expunged against the legitimate needs, if any, of the government to maintain those records.

(2)(a) The court may order the expungement of all official records pertaining to the case and the deletion of all index references to the case and, if it does order the expungement, shall send notice of the order to each public office or agency that the court has reason to believe may have an official record pertaining to the case if the court, after complying with division (C)(1) of this section, determines both of the following:

(i) That the applicant has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of division (E) of section 2923.16 of the Revised Code as it existed prior to September 30, 2011, and the conduct that was the basis of the violation no longer would be a violation of that division on or after September 30, 2011; that the applicant has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of division (B) or (C) of section 2923.16 of the Revised Code as the division existed prior to September 30, 2011, and the conduct that was the basis of the violation no longer would be a violation of that division on or after September 30, 2011, due to the application of division (F)(5) of that section as it exists on and after September 30, 2011; or that the applicant has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of division (B)(1) of section 2923.12 of the Revised Code or of division (E)(1) or (2) of section 2923.16 of the Revised Code as the particular division existed prior to June 13, 2022;

(ii) That the interests of the applicant in having the records pertaining to the applicant's conviction or guilty plea expunged are not outweighed by any legitimate needs of the government to maintain those records.

(b) The proceedings in the case that is the subject of an order issued under division (C)(2)(a) of this section shall be considered not to have occurred and the conviction or guilty plea of the person who is the subject of the proceedings shall be expunged. The record of the conviction shall not be used for any purpose, including, but not limited to, a criminal records check under section 109.572 of the Revised Code or a determination under section 2923.125 or 2923.1213 of the Revised Code of eligibility for a concealed handgun license. The applicant may, and the court shall, reply that no record exists with respect to the applicant upon any inquiry into the matter.

(3) Upon the filing of an application under this section, the applicant, unless indigent, shall pay a fee of fifty dollars. The court shall pay thirty dollars of the fee into the state treasury and shall pay twenty dollars of the fee into the county general revenue fund.

Last updated March 8, 2023 at 3:59 PM

Section 2953.36 | [Former R.C. 2953.38, amended and renumbered by S.B. 288, 134th General Assembly, effective 4/4/2023] Expungement of certain convictions for victims of human trafficking.

• Effective: October 24, 2024
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 214 - 135th General Assembly

(A)(1) Any person who is or was convicted of a violation of section 2907.24, 2907.241, or 2907.25 of the Revised Code may apply to the sentencing court for the expungement of the record of conviction of any offense, other than a record of conviction of a violation of section 2903.01, 2903.02, or 2907.02 of the Revised Code, the person's participation in which was a result of the person having been a victim of human trafficking.

(2) Any person who is or was convicted of a misdemeanor or a felony of the fourth or fifth degree may apply to the sentencing court for the expungement of the record of conviction of that offense, the person's participation in which was a result of the person having been a victim of human trafficking.

(3) The person may file the application at any time. The application may request an order to expunge the record of conviction for more than one offense, but if it does, the court shall consider the request for each offense separately as if a separate application had been made for each offense and all references in divisions (A) to (G) of this section to "the offense" or "that offense" mean each of those offenses that are the subject of the application. The application shall do all of the following:

(a) Identify the applicant, the offense for which the expungement is sought, the date of the conviction of that offense, and the court in which the conviction occurred;

(b) Describe the evidence and provide copies of any documentation showing that the person is entitled to relief under this section;

(c) Include a request for expungement of the record of conviction of that offense under this section.

(B) The court may deny an application made under division (A) of this section if it finds that the application fails to assert grounds on which relief may be granted.

(C) If the court does not deny an application under division (B) of this section, it shall set a date for a hearing and shall notify the prosecutor for the case from which the record of conviction resulted of the hearing on the application. The prosecutor may object to the granting of the application by filing an objection with the court prior to the date set for the hearing. The prosecutor shall specify in the objection the reasons for believing a denial of the application is justified. The court may direct its regular probation officer, a state probation officer, or the department of probation of the county in which the applicant resides to make inquiries and written reports as the court requires concerning the applicant.

(D)(1) At the hearing held under division (C) of this section, the court shall do both of the following:

(a) If the prosecutor has filed an objection, consider the reasons against granting the application specified by the prosecutor in the objection;

(b) Determine whether the applicant, for an application submitted under division (A)(1) of this section, has demonstrated by a preponderance of the evidence, or for an application submitted under division (A)(2) of this section, has demonstrated by clear and convincing evidence, that the applicant's participation in the offense that is the subject of the application was a result of the applicant having been a victim of human trafficking.

(2) If the court at the hearing held under division (C) of this section determines that the applicant's participation in the offense that is the subject of the application was a result of the applicant having been a victim of human trafficking and if that subject offense is a felony of the first or second degree, the court at the hearing also shall consider all of the following factors and, upon consideration of the factors, shall determine whether the interests of the applicant in having the record of the conviction of that offense expunged are outweighed by any legitimate needs of the government to maintain that record of conviction:

(a) The degree of duress under which the applicant acted in committing the subject offense, including, but not limited to, the history of the use of force or threatened use of force against the applicant or another person, whether the applicant's judgment or control was impaired by the administration to the applicant of any intoxicant, drug, or controlled substance, and the threat of withholding from the applicant food, water, or any drug;

(b) The seriousness of the subject offense;

(c) The relative degree of physical harm done to any person in the commission of the subject offense;

(d) The length of time that has expired since the commission of the subject offense;

(e) Whether the prosecutor represents to the court that criminal proceedings are likely to still be initiated against the applicant for a felony offense for which the period of limitations has not expired;

(f) Whether the applicant at the time of the hearing is subject to supervision as a result of the subject offense.

(E) If after a hearing held under division (C) of this section the court finds that the applicant has demonstrated by a preponderance of the evidence for an application made under division (A)(1) of this section, or by clear and convincing evidence for an application made under division (A)(2) of this section, that the applicant's participation in the offense that is the subject of the application was the result of the applicant having been a victim of human trafficking, and, if the offense that is the subject of the application is a felony of the first or second degree, after consideration of the factors required under division (D)(2) of this section, it finds that the interests of the applicant in having the record of the conviction of that offense expunged are not outweighed by any legitimate needs of the government to maintain that record of conviction, the court shall grant the application and order that the record of conviction be expunged.

(F)(1) The court shall send notice of the order of expungement issued under division (E) of this section to each public office or agency that the court has reason to believe may have an official record pertaining to the case.

(2) The proceedings in the case that is the subject of an order of expungement issued under division (E) of this section shall be considered not to have occurred and the conviction of the person who is the subject of the proceedings shall be expunged. The record of the conviction shall not be used for any purpose, including, but not limited to, a criminal records check under section 109.572 of the Revised Code. The applicant may, and the court shall, reply that no record exists with respect to the applicant upon any inquiry into the matter.

(G) Upon the filing of an application under this section, the applicant, unless indigent, shall pay a fee of fifty dollars. The court shall pay thirty dollars of the fee into the state treasury and shall pay twenty dollars of the fee into the county general revenue fund.

Last updated August 13, 2024 at 2:47 PM

Section 2953.37 | [Former R.C. 2953.56, renumbered by S.B. 288, 134th General Assembly, effective 4/4/2023] Violations of R.C. 2953.31 to 2953.61 not basis to exclude or suppress certain evidence.

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

Violations of sections 2953.31 to 2953.61 of the Revised Code shall not provide the basis to exclude or suppress any of the following evidence that is otherwise admissible in a criminal proceeding, delinquent child proceeding, or other legal proceeding:

(A) DNA records collected in the DNA database;

(B) Fingerprints filed for record by the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation;

(C) Other evidence that was obtained or discovered as the direct or indirect result of divulging or otherwise using the records described in divisions (A) and (B) of this section.

Last updated March 8, 2023 at 3:37 PM

Section 2953.39 | Low-level controlled substance offense conviction record sealing or expungement, on prosecutor's motion.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Applicant prosecutor" means the prosecutor who applies under division (B)(1) of this section for the sealing or expungement of the record of a case that pertains to a conviction of a person of a low-level controlled substance offense.

(2) "Low-level controlled substance offense" means a violation of any provision of Chapter 2925. of the Revised Code that is a misdemeanor of the fourth degree or a minor misdemeanor or a violation of an ordinance of a municipal corporation that is substantially equivalent to a violation of any provision of Chapter 2925. of the Revised Code and that, if the violation were to be charged under the provision of Chapter 2925. of the Revised Code, would be a misdemeanor of the fourth degree or a minor misdemeanor.

(3) "Subject offender" means, regarding an application filed under division (B)(1) of this section requesting the sealing or expungement of the record of a case that pertains to a conviction of a low-level controlled substance offense, the person who was convicted of the low-level controlled substance offense for which the application requests the sealing or expungement.

(B)(1) If a person is or was convicted of a low-level controlled substance offense, the prosecutor in the case may apply to the sentencing court for the sealing or expungement of the record of the case that pertains to the conviction. The prosecutor may file the application with respect to the offense that is the subject of the application at any time after the expiration, with respect to that offense and the subject offender, of the corresponding period of time specified in division (B)(1) of section 2953.32 of the Revised Code for sealing or expungement applications filed by an offender under that section.

(2) An application under division (B)(1) of this section may request an order to seal or expunge the record of conviction for more than one low-level controlled substance offense, but if it does, the court shall consider the request for each offense separately as if a separate application had been made for each offense and all references in divisions (B) to (F) of this section to "the offense" or "that offense" mean each of those offenses that are the subject of the application.

(3) Upon the filing of an application under division (B)(1) of this section, except as otherwise provided in this division, the applicant prosecutor shall pay a fee of not more than fifty dollars, including court fees, regardless of the number of records the application requests to have sealed or expunged. The court may direct the clerk of the court to waive some or all of the fee that otherwise would be charged. If the applicant pays a fee, the court shall pay three-fifths of the fee collected into the state treasury, with half of that amount credited to the attorney general reimbursement fund created under section 109.11 of the Revised Code. If the applicant pays a fee, the court shall pay two-fifths of the fee collected into the county general revenue fund if the sealed or expunged conviction was pursuant to a state statute, or into the general revenue fund of the municipal corporation involved if the sealed or expunged conviction was pursuant to a municipal ordinance.

(C) An application filed under division (B)(1) of this section shall do all of the following:

(1) Identify the subject offender and the applicant prosecutor, the offense for which the sealing or expungement is sought, the date of the conviction of that offense, and the court in which the conviction occurred;

(2) Describe the evidence and provide copies of any documentation showing that the subject offender is entitled to relief under this section;

(3) Include a request for sealing or expungement under this section of the record of the case that pertains to the conviction of that offense.

(D)(1) Upon the filing of an application under division (B)(1) of this section, the court shall set a date for a hearing and shall notify the applicant prosecutor of the date, time, and location of the hearing not later than sixty days prior to the hearing. Upon receipt of the notice, the prosecutor shall do both of the following:

(a) Notify the subject offender of the application, the date, time, and location of the hearing on the application, and the offender's right to object to the granting of the application. The notice shall be provided at the offender's last known address or through another means of contact.

(b) Provide timely notice to the victim of the offense, if such a victim exists, or the victim's representative, of the application, the date, time, and location of the hearing on the application, and the victim's or representative's right to object to the granting of the application. The victim, victim's representative, and victim's attorney, if applicable, may be present and heard orally, in writing, or both at any hearing under this section. The notice shall be provided by any reasonable means reasonably calculated to provide prompt actual notice, including regular mail, telephone, and electronic mail. If the prosecutor attempts to provide notice to a victim under this division but the attempt is unsuccessful because the prosecutor is unable to locate the victim, is unable to provide the notice by the chosen method because the mailing address, telephone number, or electronic mail address at which to provide the notice cannot be determined, or the notice is sent by mail and it is returned, the prosecutor shall make another attempt to provide the notice to the victim. If the second attempt is unsuccessful, the prosecutor shall make at least one more attempt to provide the notice.

(2) The court shall hold the hearing set under division (D)(1) of this section not less than forty-five days and not more than ninety days from the date of the filing of the application.

The subject offender may object to the granting of the application by filing an objection with the court prior to the date set for the hearing. The victim of the offense may object to the granting of the application by filing an objection with the court prior to the date set for the hearing. The subject offender or victim shall specify in the objection the reasons for believing that the application should be denied.

(E)(1) At the hearing held under division (D) of this section, the court shall determine whether the offense that is the subject of the application is a low-level controlled substance offense and whether the amount of time specified in division (B)(1) of this section for the filing of the application has expired.

(2) If the court at the hearing held under division (D) of this section determines that the offense that is the subject of the application is a low-level controlled substance offense and that the amount of time specified in division (B)(1) of this section for the filing of the application has expired, the court at the hearing also shall do all of the following:

(a) Determine whether criminal proceedings are pending against the subject offender;

(b) Determine whether the subject offender has been rehabilitated to the satisfaction of the court;

(c) If the subject offender objected, consider the reasons against granting the application specified by the offender in the objection;

(d) If the victim objected, pursuant to the Ohio Constitution, consider the reasons against granting the application specified by the victim in the objection;

(e) Weigh the interests of the subject offender in having the records pertaining to the offender's conviction sealed or expunged against the legitimate needs, if any, of the government to maintain those records;

(f) Consider the oral or written statement of the victim, victim's representative, and victim's attorney, if applicable.

(F)(1) If the court determines, after complying with divisions (E)(1) and (2) of this section, that no criminal proceeding is pending against the subject offender, that the interests of the offender in having the records pertaining to the offender's conviction sealed or expunged are not outweighed by any legitimate governmental needs to maintain those records, and that the rehabilitation of the offender has been attained to the satisfaction of the court, all of the following apply:

(a) The court shall issue orders of the type specified in division (D)(2) of section 2953.32 of the Revised Code, subject to the exceptions specified in that division.

(b) The proceedings in the case that pertain to the conviction shall be considered not to have occurred and the conviction of the subject offender shall be sealed or expunged, subject to the exceptions specified in division (D)(2) of section 2953.32 of the Revised Code.

(c) The court shall notify the subject offender, at the offender's last known address or through another means of contact, that the court has issued the order requiring the sealing or expungement of the official records pertaining to the case and shall specifically identify the offense and case with respect to which the order applies.

(2) If the court orders the official records pertaining to the case sealed or expunged under division (F)(1) of this section, the court shall comply with division (D)(4)(a) or (b) of section 2953.32 of the Revised Code, whichever is applicable.

(3) All provisions of section 2953.34 of the Revised Code that apply with respect to an order to seal or expunge official records that is issued under section 2953.32 of the Revised Code, or that apply with respect to the official records to be sealed or expunged under such an order, apply with respect to an order to seal or expunge official records that is issued under division (F)(1) of this section and to the official records to be sealed or expunged under such an order.

(G) A record that is expunged pursuant to an order issued under division (F)(1) of this section shall be destroyed, deleted, and erased, as appropriate for the record's physical or electronic form or characteristic, so that the record is permanently irretrievable.

(H) The provisions of this section are separate from, and independent of, the provisions of sections 2953.35 and 2953.36 and, except as otherwise specified in this section, the provisions of sections 2953.32 and 2953.34 of the Revised Code.

Last updated August 28, 2023 at 1:17 PM

Section 2953.521 | Expungement of record of not guilty finding or dismissed charges when defendant victim of human trafficking.

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

(A) Any person who is found not guilty of an offense by a jury or a court or who is the defendant named in a dismissed complaint, indictment, or information may apply to the court for an order to expunge the person's official records in the case if the complaint, indictment, information, or finding of not guilty that is the subject of the application was the result of the applicant having been a victim of human trafficking. The application may be filed at any time after the finding of not guilty or the dismissal of the complaint, indictment, or information is entered upon the minutes of the court or the journal, whichever entry occurs first. The application may request an order to expunge official records for more than one offense, but if it does, the court shall consider the request for each offense separately as if a separate application had been made for each offense and all references in divisions (A) to (G) of this section to "the offense" or "that offense" mean each of those offenses that are the subject of the application.

(B) The court may deny an application made under division (A) of this section if it finds that the application fails to assert grounds on which relief may be granted.

(C) If the court does not deny an application under division (B) of this section, the court shall set a date for a hearing and shall notify the prosecutor for the case of the hearing on the application. The prosecutor may object to the granting of the application by filing an objection with the court prior to the date set for the hearing. The prosecutor shall specify in the objection the reasons for believing a denial of the application is justified.

(D) At the hearing held under division (C) of this section, the court shall do all of the following:

(1) If the prosecutor has filed an objection, consider the reasons against granting the application specified by the prosecutor in the objection;

(2) Determine whether the applicant has demonstrated by a preponderance of the evidence that the complaint, indictment, information, or finding of not guilty that is the subject of the application was the result of the applicant having been a victim of human trafficking;

(3) If the application pertains to a dismissed complaint, indictment, or information, determine whether the dismissal was with prejudice or without prejudice and, if the dismissal was without prejudice, whether the period of limitations applicable to the offense that was the subject of that complaint, indictment, or information has expired;

(4) Determine whether any criminal proceedings are pending against the applicant.

(E)(1) Subject to division (E)(2) of this section, if the court finds that the applicant has demonstrated by a preponderance of the evidence that the complaint, indictment, information, or finding of not guilty that is the subject of the application was the result of the applicant having been a victim of human trafficking, the court shall grant the application and order that the official records be expunged.

(2) The court shall not grant the application and order that the official records be expunged unless the court determines that the interests of the applicant in having the official records pertaining to the complaint, indictment, or information or finding of not guilty that is the subject of the application expunged are not outweighed by any legitimate needs of the government to maintain those records.

(F) If an expungement is ordered under division (E) of this section, the court shall send notice of the order of expungement to each public office or agency that the court has reason to believe may have an official record pertaining to the case.

(G) The proceedings in the case that is the subject of an order issued under division (E) of this section shall be considered not to have occurred and the official records shall be expunged. The official records shall not be used for any purpose, including a criminal records check under section 109.572 of the Revised Code. The applicant may, and the court shall, reply that no record exists with respect to the applicant upon any inquiry into the matter.

Last updated March 10, 2023 at 2:16 PM

Section 2953.57 | Timing of judgment vacating and setting aside conviction because of DNA testing.

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

(A) A court that enters a judgment that vacates and sets aside the conviction of a person because of DNA testing that was performed under sections 2953.71 to 2953.81 of the Revised Code or under section 2953.82 of the Revised Code shall issue ninety days after the court vacates and sets aside the conviction an order directing that all official records pertaining to the case involving the vacated conviction be sealed and that the proceedings in the case shall be deemed not to have occurred.

(B) As used in sections 2953.57 to 2953.60 of the Revised Code, "official records" has the same meaning as in section 2953.31 of the Revised Code.

Last updated March 8, 2023 at 11:43 AM

Section 2953.58 | Effect of sealing order under R.C. 2953.57.

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

(A) The court shall send notice of an order to seal official records issued pursuant to section 2953.57 of the Revised Code to any public office or agency that the court knows or has reason to believe may have any record of the case, whether or not it is an official record, that is the subject of the order. The notice shall be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested.

(B) A person whose official records have been sealed pursuant to an order issued pursuant to section 2953.57 of the Revised Code may present a copy of that order and a written request to comply with it, to a public office or agency that has a record of the case that is the subject of the order.

(C) An order to seal official records issued pursuant to section 2953.57 of the Revised Code applies to every public office or agency that has a record of the case that is the subject of the order, regardless of whether it receives a copy of the order to seal the official records pursuant to division (A) or (B) of this section.

(D) Upon receiving a copy of an order to seal official records pursuant to division (A) or (B) of this section or upon otherwise becoming aware of an applicable order to seal official records issued pursuant to section 2953.57 of the Revised Code, a public office or agency shall comply with the order and, if applicable, with the provisions of section 2953.59 of the Revised Code, except that it may maintain a record of the case that is the subject of the order if the record is maintained for the purpose of compiling statistical data only and does not contain any reference to the person who is the subject of the case and the order.

A public office or agency also may maintain an index of sealed official records, in a form similar to that for sealed records of conviction as set forth in division (C) of section 2953.34 of the Revised Code, access to which may not be afforded to any person other than the person who has custody of the sealed official records. The sealed official records to which such an index pertains shall not be available to any person, except that the official records of a case that have been sealed may be made available to the following persons for the following purposes:

(1) To the person who is the subject of the records upon written application, and to any other person named in the application, for any purpose;

(2) To a law enforcement officer who was involved in the case, for use in the officer's defense of a civil action arising out of the officer's involvement in that case.

Last updated March 10, 2023 at 2:28 PM

Section 2953.59 | Law enforcement investigatory work product - sealing order under R.C. 2953.57.

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

(A) Except as otherwise provided in Chapter 2950. of the Revised Code, upon the issuance of an order by a court under section 2953.57 of the Revised Code directing that all official records pertaining to a case be sealed and that the proceedings in the case be deemed not to have occurred:

(1) Every law enforcement officer possessing records or reports pertaining to the case that are the officer's specific investigatory work product and that are excepted from the definition of "official records" contained in section 2953.31 of the Revised Code shall immediately deliver the records and reports to the officer's employing law enforcement agency. Except as provided in division (A)(3) of this section, no such officer shall knowingly release, disseminate, or otherwise make the records and reports or any information contained in them available to, or discuss any information contained in them with, any person not employed by the officer's employing law enforcement agency.

(2) Every law enforcement agency that possesses records or reports pertaining to the case that are its specific investigatory work product and that are excepted from the definition of "official records" contained in section 2953.31 of the Revised Code, or that are the specific investigatory work product of a law enforcement officer it employs and that were delivered to it under division (A)(1) of this section shall, except as provided in division (A)(3) of this section, close the records and reports to all persons who are not directly employed by the law enforcement agency and shall, except as provided in division (A)(3) of this section, treat the records and reports, in relation to all persons other than those who are directly employed by the law enforcement agency, as if they did not exist and had never existed. Except as provided in division (A)(3) of this section, no person who is employed by the law enforcement agency shall knowingly release, disseminate, or otherwise make the records and reports in the possession of the employing law enforcement agency or any information contained in them available to, or discuss any information contained in them with, any person not employed by the employing law enforcement agency.

(3) A law enforcement agency that possesses records or reports pertaining to the case that are its specific investigatory work product and that are excepted from the definition of "official records" contained in division (C) of section 2953.31 of the Revised Code, or that are the specific investigatory work product of a law enforcement officer it employs and that were delivered to it under division (A)(1) of this section may permit another law enforcement agency to use the records or reports in the investigation of another offense, if the facts incident to the offense being investigated by the other law enforcement agency and the facts incident to an offense that is the subject of the case are reasonably similar and if all references to the name or identifying information of the person whose records were sealed are redacted from the records or reports. The agency that provides the records and reports may not provide the other agency with the name of the person who is the subject of the case the records of which were sealed.

(B) Whoever violates division (A)(1), (2), or (3) of this section is guilty of divulging confidential information, a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.

Last updated March 10, 2023 at 2:31 PM

Section 2953.60 | Questioning regarding, or release of, records sealed under R.C. 2953.57.

• Effective: July 6, 2010
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 77 - 128th General Assembly

(A) In any application for employment, license, or any other right or privilege, any appearance as a witness, or any other inquiry, a person may not be questioned with respect to any record that has been sealed pursuant to section 2953.57 of the Revised Code. If an inquiry is made in violation of this section, the person whose official record was sealed may respond as if the arrest underlying the case to which the sealed official records pertain and all other proceedings in that case did not occur, and the person whose official record was sealed shall not be subject to any adverse action because of the arrest, the proceedings, or the person's response.

(B) An officer or employee of the state or any of its political subdivisions who knowingly releases, disseminates, or makes available for any purpose involving employment, bonding, licensing, or education to any person or to any department, agency, or other instrumentality of the state, or of any of its political subdivisions, any information or other data concerning any arrest, complaint, indictment, information, trial, adjudication, or correctional supervision, the records of which have been sealed pursuant to section 2953.57 of the Revised Code, is guilty of divulging confidential information, a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.

Last updated March 10, 2023 at 2:34 PM

Section 2953.61 | Multiple charges; sealing or expungement of records.

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

(A) Except as provided in division (B)(1) of this section, a person charged with two or more offenses as a result of or in connection with the same act may not apply to the court pursuant to section 2953.32, 2953.33, or 2953.521 of the Revised Code for the sealing or expungement of the person's record in relation to any of the charges, and a prosecutor may not apply to the court pursuant to section 2953.39 of the Revised Code for the sealing or expungement of the record of a person in relation to any of the charges if the person was charged with two or more offenses as a result of or in connection with the same act, when at least one of the charges has a final disposition that is different from the final disposition of the other charges until such time as the person, or prosecutor, would be able to apply to the court and have all of the records pertaining to all of those charges sealed or expunged pursuant to section 2953.32, 2953.33, 2953.39, or 2953.521 of the Revised Code.

(B)(1) When a person is charged with two or more offenses as a result of or in connection with the same act and the final disposition of one, and only one, of the charges is a conviction under any section of Chapter 4507., 4510., 4511., or 4549., other than section 4511.19 or 4511.194 of the Revised Code, or under a municipal ordinance that is substantially similar to any section other than section 4511.19 or 4511.194 of the Revised Code contained in any of those chapters, and if the records pertaining to all the other charges would be eligible for sealing or expungement under section 2953.33, 2953.39, or 2953.521 of the Revised Code in the absence of that conviction, the court may order that the records pertaining to all the charges be sealed or expunged. In such a case, the court shall not order that only a portion of the records be sealed or expunged.

(2) Division (B)(1) of this section does not apply if the person convicted of the offenses currently holds a commercial driver's license or commercial driver's license temporary instruction permit.

Last updated March 8, 2023 at 4:13 PM

Section 2953.71 | Post conviction DNA testing definitions.

• Effective: July 6, 2010
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 77 - 128th General Assembly

As used in sections 2953.71 to 2953.83 of the Revised Code:

(A) "Application" or "application for DNA testing" means a request through postconviction relief for the state to do DNA testing on biological material from the case in which the offender was convicted of the offense for which the offender is an eligible offender and is requesting the DNA testing under sections 2953.71 to 2953.81 of the Revised Code.

(B) "Biological material" means any product of a human body containing DNA.

(C) "Chain of custody" means a record or other evidence that tracks a subject sample of biological material from the time the biological material was first obtained until the time it currently exists in its place of storage and, in relation to a DNA sample, a record or other evidence that tracks the DNA sample from the time it was first obtained until it currently exists in its place of storage. For purposes of this division, examples of when biological material or a DNA sample is first obtained include, but are not limited to, obtaining the material or sample at the scene of a crime, from a victim, from an offender, or in any other manner or time as is appropriate in the facts and circumstances present.

(D) "Custodial agency" means the group or entity that has the responsibility to maintain biological material in question.

(E) "Custodian" means the person who is the primary representative of a custodial agency.

(F) "Eligible offender" means an offender who is eligible under division (C) of section 2953.72 of the Revised Code to request DNA testing to be conducted under sections 2953.71 to 2953.81 of the Revised Code.

(G) "Exclusion" or "exclusion result" means a result of DNA testing that scientifically precludes or forecloses the subject offender as a contributor of biological material recovered from the crime scene or victim in question, in relation to the offense for which the offender is an eligible offender and for which the sentence of death or prison term was imposed upon the offender.

(H) "Extracting personnel" means medically approved personnel who are employed to physically obtain an offender's DNA specimen for purposes of DNA testing under sections 2953.71 to 2953.81 of the Revised Code.

(I) "Inclusion" or "inclusion result" means a result of DNA testing that scientifically cannot exclude, or that holds accountable, the subject offender as a contributor of biological material recovered from the crime scene or victim in question, in relation to the offense for which the offender is an eligible offender and for which the sentence of death or prison term was imposed upon the offender.

(J) "Inconclusive" or "inconclusive result" means a result of DNA testing that is rendered when a scientifically appropriate and definitive DNA analysis or result, or both, cannot be determined.

(K) "Offender" means a criminal offender who was sentenced by a court, or by a jury and a court, of this state.

(L) "Outcome determinative" means that had the results of DNA testing of the subject offender been presented at the trial of the subject offender requesting DNA testing and been found relevant and admissible with respect to the felony offense for which the offender is an eligible offender and is requesting the DNA testing, and had those results been analyzed in the context of and upon consideration of all available admissible evidence related to the offender's case as described in division (D) of section 2953.74 of the Revised Code, there is a strong probability that no reasonable factfinder would have found the offender guilty of that offense or, if the offender was sentenced to death relative to that offense, would have found the offender guilty of the aggravating circumstance or circumstances the offender was found guilty of committing and that is or are the basis of that sentence of death.

(M) "Parent sample" means the biological material first obtained from a crime scene or a victim of an offense for which an offender is an eligible offender, and from which a sample will be presently taken to do a DNA comparison to the DNA of the subject offender under sections 2953.71 to 2953.81 of the Revised Code.

(N) "Prison" and "community control sanction" have the same meanings as in section 2929.01 of the Revised Code.

(O) "Prosecuting attorney" means the prosecuting attorney who, or whose office, prosecuted the case in which the subject offender was convicted of the offense for which the offender is an eligible offender and is requesting the DNA testing.

(P) "Prosecuting authority" means the prosecuting attorney or the attorney general.

(Q) "Reasonable diligence" means a degree of diligence that is comparable to the diligence a reasonable person would employ in searching for information regarding an important matter in the person's own life.

(R) "Testing authority" means a laboratory at which DNA testing will be conducted under sections 2953.71 to 2953.81 of the Revised Code.

(S) "Parole" and "post-release control" have the same meanings as in section 2967.01 of the Revised Code.

(T) "Sexually oriented offense" and "child-victim oriented offense" have the same meanings as in section 2950.01 of the Revised Code.

(U) "Definitive DNA test" means a DNA test that clearly establishes that biological material from the perpetrator of the crime was recovered from the crime scene and also clearly establishes whether or not the biological material is that of the eligible offender. A prior DNA test is not definitive if the eligible offender proves by a preponderance of the evidence that because of advances in DNA technology there is a possibility of discovering new biological material from the perpetrator that the prior DNA test may have failed to discover. Prior testing may have been a prior "definitive DNA test" as to some biological evidence but may not have been a prior "definitive DNA test" as to other biological evidence.

Section 2953.72 | Application for testing.

• Effective: July 6, 2010
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 77 - 128th General Assembly

(A) Any eligible offender who wishes to request DNA testing under sections 2953.71 to 2953.81 of the Revised Code shall submit an application for the testing to the court of common pleas specified in section 2953.73 of the Revised Code, on a form prescribed by the attorney general for this purpose. The eligible offender shall submit the application in accordance with the procedures set forth in section 2953.73 of the Revised Code. The eligible offender shall specify on the application the offense or offenses for which the offender is an eligible offender and is requesting the DNA testing. Along with the application, the eligible offender shall submit an acknowledgment that is on a form prescribed by the attorney general for this purpose and that is signed by the offender. The acknowledgment shall set forth all of the following:

(1) That sections 2953.71 to 2953.81 of the Revised Code contemplate applications for DNA testing of an eligible offender at a stage of a prosecution or case after the offender has been sentenced, that any exclusion or inclusion result of DNA testing rendered pursuant to those sections may be used by a party in any proceeding as described in section 2953.81 of the Revised Code, and that all requests for any DNA testing made at trial will continue to be handled by the prosecuting attorney in the case;

(2) That the process of conducting postconviction DNA testing for an eligible offender under sections 2953.71 to 2953.81 of the Revised Code begins when the offender submits an application under section 2953.73 of the Revised Code and the acknowledgment described in this section;

(3) That the eligible offender must submit the application and acknowledgment to the court of common pleas that heard the case in which the offender was convicted of the offense for which the offender is an eligible offender and is requesting the DNA testing;

(4) That the state has established a set of criteria set forth in section 2953.74 of the Revised Code by which eligible offender applications for DNA testing will be screened and that a judge of a court of common pleas upon receipt of a properly filed application and accompanying acknowledgment will apply those criteria to determine whether to accept or reject the application;

(5) That the results of DNA testing conducted under sections 2953.71 to 2953.81 of the Revised Code will be provided as described in section 2953.81 of the Revised Code to all parties in the postconviction proceedings and will be reported to various courts;

(6) That, if DNA testing is conducted with respect to an offender under sections 2953.71 to 2953.81 of the Revised Code, the state will not offer the offender a retest if an inclusion result is achieved relative to the testing and that, if the state were to offer a retest after an inclusion result, the policy would create an atmosphere in which endless testing could occur and in which postconviction proceedings could be stalled for many years;

(7) That, if the court rejects an eligible offender's application for DNA testing because the offender does not satisfy the acceptance criteria described in division (A)(4) of this section, the court will not accept or consider subsequent applications;

(8) That the acknowledgment memorializes the provisions of sections 2953.71 to 2953.81 of the Revised Code with respect to the application of postconviction DNA testing to offenders, that those provisions do not give any offender any additional constitutional right that the offender did not already have, that the court has no duty or obligation to provide postconviction DNA testing to offenders, that the court of common pleas has the sole discretion subject to an appeal as described in this division to determine whether an offender is an eligible offender and whether an eligible offender's application for DNA testing satisfies the acceptance criteria described in division (A)(4) of this section and whether the application should be accepted or rejected, that if the court of common pleas rejects an eligible offender's application, the offender may seek leave of the supreme court to appeal the rejection to that court if the offender was sentenced to death for the offense for which the offender is requesting the DNA testing and, if the offender was not sentenced to death for that offense, may appeal the rejection to the court of appeals, and that no determination otherwise made by the court of common pleas in the exercise of its discretion regarding the eligibility of an offender or regarding postconviction DNA testing under those provisions is reviewable by or appealable to any court;

(9) That the manner in which sections 2953.71 to 2953.81 of the Revised Code with respect to the offering of postconviction DNA testing to offenders are carried out does not confer any constitutional right upon any offender, that the state has established guidelines and procedures relative to those provisions to ensure that they are carried out with both justice and efficiency in mind, and that an offender who participates in any phase of the mechanism contained in those provisions, including, but not limited to, applying for DNA testing and being rejected, having an application for DNA testing accepted and not receiving the test, or having DNA testing conducted and receiving unfavorable results, does not gain as a result of the participation any constitutional right to challenge, or, except as provided in division (A)(8) of this section, any right to any review or appeal of, the manner in which those provisions are carried out;

(10) That the most basic aspect of sections 2953.71 to 2953.81 of the Revised Code is that, in order for DNA testing to occur, there must be an offender sample against which other evidence may be compared, that, if an eligible offender's application is accepted but the offender subsequently refuses to submit to the collection of the sample of biological material from the offender or hinders the state from obtaining a sample of biological material from the offender, the goal of those provisions will be frustrated, and that an offender's refusal or hindrance shall cause the court to rescind its prior acceptance of the application for DNA testing for the offender and deny the application.

(B) The attorney general shall prescribe a form to be used to make an application for DNA testing under division (A) of this section and section 2953.73 of the Revised Code and a form to be used to provide the acknowledgment described in division (A) of this section. The forms shall include all information described in division (A) of this section, spaces for an offender to insert all information necessary to complete the forms, including, but not limited to, specifying the offense or offenses for which the offender is an eligible offender and is requesting the DNA testing, and any other information or material the attorney general determines is necessary or relevant. The attorney general shall distribute copies of the prescribed forms to the department of rehabilitation and correction, the department shall ensure that each prison in which offenders are housed has a supply of copies of the forms, and the department shall ensure that copies of the forms are provided free of charge to any offender who requests them.

(C)(1) An offender is eligible to request DNA testing to be conducted under sections 2953.71 to 2953.81 of the Revised Code only if all of the following apply:

(a) The offense for which the offender claims to be an eligible offender is a felony, and the offender was convicted by a judge or jury of that offense.

(b) One of the following applies:

(i) The offender was sentenced to a prison term or sentence of death for the felony described in division (C)(1)(a) of this section, and the offender is in prison serving that prison term or under that sentence of death, has been paroled or is on probation regarding that felony, is under post-release control regarding that felony, or has been released from that prison term and is under a community control sanction regarding that felony.

(ii) The offender was not sentenced to a prison term or sentence of death for the felony described in division (C)(1)(a) of this section, but was sentenced to a community control sanction for that felony and is under that community control sanction.

(iii) The felony described in division (C)(1)(a) of this section was a sexually oriented offense or child-victim oriented offense, and the offender has a duty to comply with sections 2950.04, 2950.041, 2950.05, and 2950.06 of the Revised Code relative to that felony.

(2) An offender is not an eligible offender under division (C)(1) of this section regarding any offense to which the offender pleaded guilty or no contest.

(3) An offender is not an eligible offender under division (C)(1) of this section regarding any offense if the offender dies prior to submitting an application for DNA testing related to that offense under section 2953.73 of the Revised Code.

Section 2953.73 | Form and service of application.

• Effective: July 6, 2010
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 77 - 128th General Assembly

(A) An eligible offender who wishes to request DNA testing to be conducted under sections 2953.71 to 2953.81 of the Revised Code shall submit an application for DNA testing on a form prescribed by the attorney general for this purpose and shall submit the form to the court of common pleas that sentenced the offender for the offense for which the offender is an eligible offender and is requesting DNA testing.

(B) If an eligible offender submits an application for DNA testing under division (A) of this section, upon the submission of the application, all of the following apply:

(1) The eligible offender shall serve a copy of the application on the prosecuting attorney and the attorney general.

(2) The application shall be assigned to the judge of that court of common pleas who was the trial judge in the case in which the eligible offender was convicted of the offense for which the offender is requesting DNA testing, or, if that judge no longer is a judge of that court, it shall be assigned according to court rules. The judge to whom the application is assigned shall decide the application. The application shall become part of the file in the case.

(C) If an eligible offender submits an application for DNA testing under division (A) of this section, regardless of whether the offender has commenced any federal habeas corpus proceeding relative to the case in which the offender was convicted of the offense for which the offender is an eligible offender and is requesting DNA testing, any response to the application by the prosecuting attorney or the attorney general shall be filed not later than forty-five days after the date on which the eligible offender submits the application. The prosecuting attorney or the attorney general, or both, may, but are not required to, file a response to the application. If the prosecuting attorney or the attorney general files a response under this division, the prosecuting attorney or attorney general, whoever filed the response, shall serve a copy of the response on the eligible offender.

(D) If an eligible offender submits an application for DNA testing under division (A) of this section, the court shall make the determination as to whether the application should be accepted or rejected. The court shall expedite its review of the application. The court shall make the determination in accordance with the criteria and procedures set forth in sections 2953.74 to 2953.81 of the Revised Code and, in making the determination, shall consider the application, the supporting affidavits, and the documentary evidence and, in addition to those materials, shall consider all the files and records pertaining to the proceedings against the applicant, including, but not limited to, the indictment, the court's journal entries, the journalized records of the clerk of the court, and the court reporter's transcript and all responses to the application filed under division (C) of this section by a prosecuting attorney or the attorney general, unless the application and the files and records show the applicant is not entitled to DNA testing, in which case the application may be denied. The court is not required to conduct an evidentiary hearing in conducting its review of, and in making its determination as to whether to accept or reject, the application. Upon making its determination, the court shall enter a judgment and order that either accepts or rejects the application and that includes within the judgment and order the reasons for the acceptance or rejection as applied to the criteria and procedures set forth in sections 2953.71 to 2953.81 of the Revised Code. The court shall send a copy of the judgment and order to the eligible offender who filed it, the prosecuting attorney, and the attorney general.

(E) A judgment and order of a court entered under division (D) of this section is appealable only as provided in this division. If an eligible offender submits an application for DNA testing under section 2953.73 of the Revised Code and the court of common pleas rejects the application under division (D) of this section, one of the following applies:

(1) If the offender was sentenced to death for the offense for which the offender claims to be an eligible offender and is requesting DNA testing, the offender may seek leave of the supreme court to appeal the rejection to the supreme court. Courts of appeals do not have jurisdiction to review any rejection if the offender was sentenced to death for the offense for which the offender claims to be an eligible offender and is requesting DNA testing.

(2) If the offender was not sentenced to death for the offense for which the offender claims to be an eligible offender and is requesting DNA testing, the rejection is a final appealable order, and the offender may appeal it to the court of appeals of the district in which is located that court of common pleas.

(F) Notwithstanding any provision of law regarding fees and costs, no filing fee shall be required of, and no court costs shall be assessed against, an eligible offender who is indigent and who submits an application under this section.

(G) If a court rejects an eligible offender's application for DNA testing under division (D) of this section, unless the rejection is overturned on appeal, no court shall require the state to administer a DNA test under sections 2953.71 to 2953.81 of the Revised Code on the eligible offender.

Section 2953.74 | Effect of prior tests.

• Effective: July 6, 2010
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 77 - 128th General Assembly

(A) If an eligible offender submits an application for DNA testing under section 2953.73 of the Revised Code and a prior definitive DNA test has been conducted regarding the same biological evidence that the offender seeks to have tested, the court shall reject the offender's application. If an eligible offender files an application for DNA testing and a prior inconclusive DNA test has been conducted regarding the same biological evidence that the offender seeks to have tested, the court shall review the application and has the discretion, on a case-by-case basis, to either accept or reject the application. The court may direct a testing authority to provide the court with information that the court may use in determining whether prior DNA test results were definitive or inconclusive and whether to accept or reject an application in relation to which there were prior inconclusive DNA test results.

(B) If an eligible offender submits an application for DNA testing under section 2953.73 of the Revised Code, the court may accept the application only if one of the following applies:

(1) The offender did not have a DNA test taken at the trial stage in the case in which the offender was convicted of the offense for which the offender is an eligible offender and is requesting the DNA testing regarding the same biological evidence that the offender seeks to have tested, the offender shows that DNA exclusion when analyzed in the context of and upon consideration of all available admissible evidence related to the subject offender's case as described in division (D) of this section would have been outcome determinative at that trial stage in that case, and, at the time of the trial stage in that case, DNA testing was not generally accepted, the results of DNA testing were not generally admissible in evidence, or DNA testing was not yet available.

(2) The offender had a DNA test taken at the trial stage in the case in which the offender was convicted of the offense for which the offender is an eligible offender and is requesting the DNA testing regarding the same biological evidence that the offender seeks to have tested, the test was not a prior definitive DNA test that is subject to division (A) of this section, and the offender shows that DNA exclusion when analyzed in the context of and upon consideration of all available admissible evidence related to the subject offender's case as described in division (D) of this section would have been outcome determinative at the trial stage in that case.

(C) If an eligible offender submits an application for DNA testing under section 2953.73 of the Revised Code, the court may accept the application only if all of the following apply:

(1) The court determines pursuant to section 2953.75 of the Revised Code that biological material was collected from the crime scene or the victim of the offense for which the offender is an eligible offender and is requesting the DNA testing and that the parent sample of that biological material against which a sample from the offender can be compared still exists at that point in time.

(2) The testing authority determines all of the following pursuant to section 2953.76 of the Revised Code regarding the parent sample of the biological material described in division (C)(1) of this section:

(a) The parent sample of the biological material so collected contains scientifically sufficient material to extract a test sample.

(b) The parent sample of the biological material so collected is not so minute or fragile as to risk destruction of the parent sample by the extraction described in division (C)(2)(a) of this section; provided that the court may determine in its discretion, on a case-by-case basis, that, even if the parent sample of the biological material so collected is so minute or fragile as to risk destruction of the parent sample by the extraction, the application should not be rejected solely on the basis of that risk.

(c) The parent sample of the biological material so collected has not degraded or been contaminated to the extent that it has become scientifically unsuitable for testing, and the parent sample otherwise has been preserved, and remains, in a condition that is scientifically suitable for testing.

(3) The court determines that, at the trial stage in the case in which the offender was convicted of the offense for which the offender is an eligible offender and is requesting the DNA testing, the identity of the person who committed the offense was an issue.

(4) The court determines that one or more of the defense theories asserted by the offender at the trial stage in the case described in division (C)(3) of this section or in a retrial of that case in a court of this state was of such a nature that, if DNA testing is conducted and an exclusion result is obtained, the exclusion result will be outcome determinative.

(5) The court determines that, if DNA testing is conducted and an exclusion result is obtained, the results of the testing will be outcome determinative regarding that offender.

(6) The court determines pursuant to section 2953.76 of the Revised Code from the chain of custody of the parent sample of the biological material to be tested and of any test sample extracted from the parent sample, and from the totality of circumstances involved, that the parent sample and the extracted test sample are the same sample as collected and that there is no reason to believe that they have been out of state custody or have been tampered with or contaminated since they were collected.

(D) If an eligible offender submits an application for DNA testing under section 2953.73 of the Revised Code, the court, in determining whether the "outcome determinative" criterion described in divisions (B)(1) and (2) of this section has been satisfied, shall consider all available admissible evidence related to the subject offender's case.

(E) If an eligible offender submits an application for DNA testing under section 2953.73 of the Revised Code and the court accepts the application, the eligible offender may request the court to order, or the court on its own initiative may order, the bureau of criminal identification and investigation to compare the results of DNA testing of biological material from an unidentified person other than the offender that was obtained from the crime scene or from a victim of the offense for which the offender has been approved for DNA testing to the combined DNA index system maintained by the federal bureau of investigation.

If the bureau, upon comparing the test results to the combined DNA index system, determines the identity of the person who is the contributor of the biological material, the bureau shall provide that information to the court that accepted the application, the offender, and the prosecuting attorney. The offender or the state may use the information for any lawful purpose.

If the bureau, upon comparing the test results to the combined DNA index system, is unable to determine the identity of the person who is the contributor of the biological material, the bureau may compare the test results to other previously obtained and acceptable DNA test results of any person whose identity is known other than the eligible offender. If the bureau, upon comparing the test results to the DNA test results of any person whose identity is known, determines that the person whose identity is known is the contributor of the biological material, the bureau shall provide that information to the court that accepted the application, the offender, and the prosecuting attorney. The offender or the state may use the information for any lawful purpose.

Section 2953.75 | Prosecutor to use reasonable diligence to obtain biological material for test.

• Effective: July 6, 2010
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 77 - 128th General Assembly

(A) If an eligible offender submits an application for DNA testing under section 2953.73 of the Revised Code, the court shall require the prosecuting attorney to use reasonable diligence to determine whether biological material was collected from the crime scene or victim of the offense for which the offender is an eligible offender and is requesting the DNA testing against which a sample from the offender can be compared and whether the parent sample of that biological material still exists at that point in time. In using reasonable diligence to make those determinations, the prosecuting attorney shall rely upon all relevant sources, including, but not limited to, all of the following:

(1) All prosecuting authorities in the case in which the offender was convicted of the offense for which the offender is an eligible offender and is requesting the DNA testing and in the appeals of, and postconviction proceedings related to, that case;

(2) All law enforcement authorities involved in the investigation of the offense for which the offender is an eligible offender and is requesting the DNA testing;

(3) All custodial agencies involved at any time with the biological material in question;

(4) The custodian of all custodial agencies described in division (A)(3) of this section;

(5) All crime laboratories involved at any time with the biological material in question;

(6) All other reasonable sources.

(B) The prosecuting attorney shall prepare a report that contains the prosecuting attorney's determinations made under division (A) of this section and shall file a copy of the report with the court and provide a copy to the eligible offender and the attorney general.

Section 2953.76 | Prosecutor to consult with testing authority.

• Effective: July 6, 2010
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 77 - 128th General Assembly

If an eligible offender submits an application for DNA testing under section 2953.73 of the Revised Code, the court shall require the prosecuting attorney to consult with the testing authority and to prepare findings regarding the quantity and quality of the parent sample of the biological material collected from the crime scene or victim of the offense for which the offender is an eligible offender and is requesting the DNA testing and that is to be tested, and of the chain of custody and reliability regarding that parent sample, as follows:

(A) The testing authority shall determine whether there is a scientifically sufficient quantity of the parent sample to test and whether the parent sample is so minute or fragile that there is a substantial risk that the parent sample could be destroyed in testing. The testing authority may determine that there is not a sufficient quantity to test in order to preserve the state's ability to present in the future the original evidence presented at trial, if another trial is required. Upon making its determination under this division, the testing authority shall prepare a written document that contains its determination and the reasoning and rationale for that determination and shall provide a copy to the court, the eligible offender, the prosecuting attorney, and the attorney general. The court may determine in its discretion, on a case-by-case basis, that, even if the parent sample of the biological material so collected is so minute or fragile as to risk destruction of the parent sample by the extraction, the application should not be rejected solely on the basis of that risk.

(B) The testing authority shall determine whether the parent sample has degraded or been contaminated to the extent that it has become scientifically unsuitable for testing and whether the parent sample otherwise has been preserved, and remains, in a condition that is suitable for testing. Upon making its determination under this division, the testing authority shall prepare a written document that contains its determination and the reasoning and rationale for that determination and shall provide a copy to the court, the eligible offender, the prosecuting attorney, and the attorney general.

(C) The court shall determine, from the chain of custody of the parent sample of the biological material to be tested and of any test sample extracted from the parent sample and from the totality of circumstances involved, whether the parent sample and the extracted test sample are the same sample as collected and whether there is any reason to believe that they have been out of state custody or have been tampered with or contaminated since they were collected. Upon making its determination under this division, the court shall prepare and retain a written document that contains its determination and the reasoning and rationale for that determination.

Section 2953.77 | Chain of custody.

• Effective: July 6, 2010
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 77 - 128th General Assembly

(A) If an eligible offender submits an application for DNA testing under section 2953.73 of the Revised Code and if the application is accepted and DNA testing is to be performed, the court shall require that the chain of custody remain intact and that all of the applicable following precautions are satisfied to ensure that the parent sample of the biological material collected from the crime scene or the victim of the offense for which the offender is an eligible offender and requested the DNA testing, and the test sample of the parent sample that is extracted and actually is to be tested, are not contaminated during transport or the testing process:

(1) The court shall require that the chain of custody be maintained and documented relative to the parent sample and the test sample actually to be tested between the time they are removed from their place of storage or the time of their extraction to the time at which the DNA testing will be performed.

(2) The court, the testing authority, and the law enforcement and prosecutorial personnel involved in the process, or any combination of those entities and persons, shall coordinate the transport of the parent sample and the test sample actually to be tested between their place of storage and the place where the DNA testing will be performed, and the court and testing authority shall document the transport procedures so used.

(3) The testing authority shall determine and document the custodian of the parent sample and the test sample actually to be tested after they are in the possession of the testing authority.

(4) The testing authority shall maintain and preserve the parent sample and the test sample actually to be tested after they are in the possession of the testing authority and shall document the maintenance and preservation procedures used.

(5) After the DNA testing, the court, the testing authority, and the original custodial agency of the parent sample, or any combination of those entities, shall coordinate the return of the remaining parent sample back to its place of storage with the original custodial agency or to any other place determined in accordance with this division and section 2953.81 of the Revised Code. The court shall determine, in consultation with the testing authority, the custodial agency to maintain any newly created, extracted, or collected DNA material resulting from the testing. The court and testing authority shall document the return procedures for original materials and for any newly created, extracted, or collected DNA material resulting from the testing, and also the custodial agency to which those materials should be taken.

(B) A court or testing authority shall provide the documentation required under division (A) of this section in writing and shall maintain that documentation.

Section 2953.78 | Selection of testing authority.

• Effective: July 6, 2010
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 77 - 128th General Assembly

(A) If an eligible offender submits an application for DNA testing under section 2953.73 of the Revised Code and if the application is accepted and DNA testing is to be performed, the court shall select the testing authority to be used for the testing. A court shall not select or use a testing authority for DNA testing unless the attorney general approves or designates the testing authority pursuant to division (C) of this section and unless the testing authority satisfies the criteria set forth in section 2953.80 of the Revised Code.

(B) If a court selects a testing authority pursuant to division (A) of this section and the eligible offender for whom the test is to be performed objects to the use of the selected testing authority, the court shall rescind its prior acceptance of the application for DNA testing for the offender and deny the application. An objection as described in this division, and the resulting rescission and denial, do not preclude a court from accepting in the court's discretion, a subsequent application by the same eligible offender requesting DNA testing.

(C) The attorney general shall approve or designate testing authorities that may be selected and used to conduct DNA testing, shall prepare a list of the approved or designated testing authorities, and shall provide copies of the list to all courts of common pleas. The attorney general shall update the list as appropriate to reflect changes in the approved or designated testing authorities and shall provide copies of the updated list to all courts of common pleas. The attorney general shall not approve or designate a testing authority under this division unless the testing authority satisfies the criteria set forth in section 2953.80 of the Revised Code. A testing authority that is equipped to handle advanced DNA testing may be approved or designated under this division, provided it satisfies the criteria set forth in that section.

(D) The attorney general's approval or designation of testing authorities under division (C) of this section, and the selection and use of any approved or designated testing authority, do not afford an offender any right to subsequently challenge the approval, designation, selection, or use, and an offender may not appeal to any court the approval, designation, selection, or use of a testing authority.

Section 2953.79 | Obtaining sample from applicant.

• Effective: July 6, 2010
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 77 - 128th General Assembly

(A) If an eligible offender submits an application for DNA testing under section 2953.73 of the Revised Code and if the application is accepted and DNA testing is to be performed, a sample of biological material shall be obtained from the offender in accordance with this section, to be compared with the parent sample of biological material collected from the crime scene or the victim of the offense for which the offender is an eligible offender and requested the DNA testing. The offender's filing of the application constitutes the offender's consent to the obtaining of the sample of biological material from the offender. The testing authority shall obtain the sample of biological material from the offender in accordance with medically accepted procedures.

(B) If DNA testing is to be performed for an offender as described in division (A) of this section, the court shall require the state to coordinate with the department of rehabilitation and correction or the other state agency or entity of local government with custody of the offender, whichever is applicable, as to the time and place at which the sample of biological material will be obtained from the offender. If the offender is in prison or is in custody in another facility at the time the DNA testing is to be performed, the sample of biological material shall be obtained from the offender at the facility in which the offender is housed, and the department of rehabilitation and correction or the other state agency or entity of local government with custody of the offender, whichever is applicable, shall make the offender available at the specified time. The court shall require the state to provide notice to the offender and to the offender's counsel of the date on which, and the time and place at which, the sample will be so obtained.

The court also shall require the state to coordinate with the testing authority regarding the obtaining of the sample from the offender.

(C)(1) If DNA testing is to be performed for an offender as described in division (A) of this section, and the offender refuses to submit to the collection of the sample of biological material from the offender or hinders the state from obtaining a sample of biological material from the offender, the court shall rescind its prior acceptance of the application for DNA testing for the offender and deny the application.

(2) For purposes of division (C)(1) of this section:

(a) An offender's "refusal to submit to the collection of a sample of biological material from the offender" includes, but is not limited to, the offender's rejection of the physical manner in which a sample of the offender's biological material is to be taken.

(b) An offender's "hindrance of the state in obtaining a sample of biological material from the offender" includes, but is not limited to, the offender being physically or verbally uncooperative or antagonistic in the taking of a sample of the offender's biological material.

(D) The extracting personnel shall make the determination as to whether an eligible offender for whom DNA testing is to be performed is refusing to submit to the collection of a sample of biological material from the offender or is hindering the state from obtaining a sample of biological material from the offender at the time and date of the scheduled collection of the sample. If the extracting personnel determine that an offender is refusing to submit to the collection of a sample or is hindering the state from obtaining a sample, the extracting personnel shall document in writing the conditions that constitute the refusal or hindrance, maintain the documentation, and notify the court of the offender's refusal or hindrance.

Section 2953.80 | Criteria for testing authority.

• Effective: July 11, 2006
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 262 - 126th General Assembly

(A) The attorney general shall not approve or designate a testing authority for conducting DNA testing under section 2953.78 of the Revised Code, and a court shall not select or use a testing authority for DNA testing under that section, unless the testing authority satisfies all of the following criteria:

(1) It is in compliance with nationally accepted quality assurance standards for forensic DNA testing or advanced DNA testing, as published in the quality assurance standards for forensic DNA testing laboratories issued by the director of the federal bureau of investigation.

(2) It undergoes an annual internal or external audit for quality assurance in conformity with the standards identified in division (A)(1) of this section.

(3) At least once in the preceding two-year period, and at least once each two-year period thereafter, it undergoes an external audit for quality assurance in conformity with the standards identified in division (A)(1) of this section.

(B) As used in division (A) of this section:

(1) "External audit" means a quality assurance review of a testing authority that is conducted by a forensic DNA testing agency outside of, and not affiliated with, the testing authority.

(2) "Internal audit" means an internal review of a testing authority that is conducted by the testing authority itself.

Section 2953.81 | Test results.

• Effective: July 6, 2010
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 77 - 128th General Assembly

If an eligible offender submits an application for DNA testing under section 2953.73 of the Revised Code and if DNA testing is performed based on that application, upon completion of the testing, all of the following apply:

(A) The court or a designee of the court shall require the state to maintain the results of the testing and to maintain and preserve both the parent sample of the biological material used and the offender sample of the biological material used. The testing authority may be designated as the person to maintain the results of the testing or to maintain and preserve some or all of the samples, or both. The results of the testing remain state's evidence. The samples shall be preserved during the entire period of time for which the offender is imprisoned or confined relative to the sentence in question, is on parole or probation relative to that sentence, is under post-release control or a community control sanction relative to that sentence, or has a duty to comply with sections 2950.04, 2950.041, 2950.05, and 2950.06 of the Revised Code relative to that sentence. Additionally, if the prison term or confinement under the sentence in question expires, if the sentence in question is a sentence of death and the offender is executed, or if the parole or probation period, the period of post-release control, the community control sanction, or the duty to comply with sections 2950.04, 2950.041, 2950.05, and 2950.06 of the Revised Code under the sentence in question ends, the samples shall be preserved for a reasonable period of time of not less than twenty-four months after the term or confinement expires, the offender is executed, or the parole or probation period, the period of post-release control, the community control sanction, or the duty to comply with sections 2950.04, 2950.041, 2950.05, and 2950.06 of the Revised Code ends, whichever is applicable. The court shall determine the period of time that is reasonable for purposes of this division, provided that the period shall not be less than twenty-four months after the term or confinement expires, the offender is executed, or the parole or probation period, the period of post-release control, the community control sanction, or the duty to comply with sections 2950.04, 2950.041, 2950.05, and 2950.06 of the Revised Code ends, whichever is applicable.

(B) The results of the testing are a public record.

(C) The court or the testing authority shall provide a copy of the results of the testing to the prosecuting attorney, the attorney general, and the subject offender.

(D) If the postconviction proceeding in question is pending at that time in a court of this state, the court of common pleas that decided the DNA application or the testing authority shall provide a copy of the results of the testing to any court of this state, and, if it is pending in a federal court, the court of common pleas that decided the DNA application or the testing authority shall provide a copy of the results of the testing to that federal court.

(E) The testing authority shall provide a copy of the results of the testing to the court of common pleas that decided the DNA application.

(F) The offender or the state may enter the results of the testing into any proceeding.

Section 2953.83 | Rules of criminal procedure applicable.

• Effective: July 6, 2010
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 77 - 128th General Assembly

In any court proceeding under sections 2953.71 to 2953.81 of the Revised Code, the Rules of Criminal Procedure apply, except to the extent that sections 2953.71 to 2953.81 of the Revised Code provide a different procedure or to the extent that the Rules would by their nature be clearly inapplicable.

Section 2953.84 | Statutory post-conviction DNA testing not exclusive.

• Effective: July 6, 2010
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 77 - 128th General Assembly

The provisions of sections 2953.71 to 2953.81 of the Revised Code by which an offender may obtain postconviction DNA testing are not the exclusive means by which an offender may obtain postconviction DNA testing, and the provisions of those sections do not limit or affect any other means by which an offender may obtain postconviction DNA testing.