Section 341.43 | Veteran status of imprisoned individuals.
(A) As used in this section:
(1) "VRSS" means the veterans reentry search service that is operated by the United States department of veterans affairs.
(2) "Incarcerating institution" means all of the following:
(a) Each institution that is under the control of the department of rehabilitation and correction;
(b) Each county, municipal, municipal-county, and multicounty correctional institution that has on its premises a jail, workhouse, minimum security jail, community-based correctional facility, or facility in which an individual shall serve a term of incarceration or a prison or jail term pursuant to section 2929.34 of the Revised Code for the type of criminal offense and under the circumstances specified or referred to in that section;
(c) An institution described in division (A)(2)(a) or (b) of this section that confines an individual awaiting disposition, in cases where an individual is charged with a felony that is punishable by a term of incarceration, a misdemeanor that is punishable by a term of incarceration, or a traffic offense that is punishable by a term of incarceration.
(B) Each incarcerating institution shall do all of the following:
(1) Register with VRSS;
(2) During the confinement booking process, obtain personal information from each individual, including name, social security number, and any other required information necessary to determine whether the individual is a veteran;
(3) Not later than three days after each booking, access VRSS to which the incarcerating institution is registered under division (B)(1) of this section to verify or confirm if an individual who is incarcerated or charged with a criminal offense has served in the United States military;
(4) For each individual verified as a veteran as a result of an investigation conducted pursuant to division (B)(3) of this section, note the individual's status as a veteran on all appropriate records pursuant to rules adopted under division (E) of this section.
(C) An incarcerating institution is not required to access VRSS if another incarcerating institution has complied with the requirements of this section with respect to the individual and charge that led to the specific incarceration.
(D) Each incarcerating institution shall train staff to use VRSS to which the institution is registered. The institution shall seek cost-free training assistance and computer software installation from a representative of the veterans justice outreach program operated by the department of veterans affairs or other appropriate representative of the department. If an institution is unable to acquire cost-free assistance from that department, the institution may, at the institution's own expense, retain individuals who are knowledgeable about VRSS, by training or experience, to assist in training designated qualified individuals to use VRSS, and may request financial assistance under division (E)(3) of section 5901.03 of the Revised Code.
(E) The director of rehabilitation and correction shall adopt rules to implement the requirements of this section for each of the incarcerating institutions under its control, including rules establishing the types of records upon which an individual's veteran status must be indicated. Incarcerating institutions referred to in division (A) of this section that are not under the control of the department of rehabilitation and corrections shall adopt rules to implement the requirements of this section, including rules establishing the types of records upon which an individual's veteran status must be indicated.
Last updated July 7, 2026 at 10:33 AM
Available Versions of this Section
- September 23, 2026 – Enacted by Senate Bill 179 - 136th General Assembly [ View September 23, 2026 Version ]