Criminal Justice (Corrections)

in committee · Ohio · House Oct 1, 2025

HB 457: Regards penalties for politically motivated criminal offenses

To amend sections 2903.01, 2929.01, 2929.12, 2929.14, and 2929.22 and to enact section 2941.1428 of the Revised Code to create new aggravated murder offenses for political motivation and political victims, to create a mandatory prison term for politically motivated offenses of violence, and to add political motivation to sentencing factors for felonies and misdemeanors.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill creates new aggravated murder offenses and mandatory prison terms for politically motivated crimes, which increases penalties and expands criminalization.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Corrections Sentencing

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in committee · Ohio · House Oct 1, 2025

HB 461: Require jails, prisons provide teletypewriters to certain inmates

To enact sections 341.193, 753.022, and 5120.052 of the Revised Code to require municipal and county correctional facilities and state correctional institutions to provide inmates who are deaf, hard of hearing, or severely speech impaired with access to teletypewriters.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeHB 461 requires correctional facilities to provide teletypewriters to deaf, hard of hearing, or speech-impaired inmates, protecting civil rights within the criminal justice system.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill HB 461 requires providing teletypewriters for inmates with hearing/speech impairments, improving communication access for individuals with disabilities, which supports health services.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyHB 461 mandates the provision of teletypewriters, a communication technology, to inmates with disabilities, thereby promoting access and communication equity.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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signed · Ohio · Senate Jun 24, 2026

SB 179: Verify veteran status of imprisoned individuals

To amend sections 341.02 and 5901.03 and to enact section 341.43 of the Revised Code to verify the veteran status of imprisoned individuals and individuals facing imprisonment.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeVerifying veteran status within the justice system enables tailored support and programs, advancing rehabilitation and addressing specific needs of a population within corrections.75% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransThe bill verifies veteran status for imprisoned individuals, a foundational step to identify and potentially provide specialized services or considerations for these veterans.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Memorials & Recognition Veteran Benefits Veteran Healthcare

in committee · Ohio · House Oct 8, 2025

HB 487: Create a repeat drug offender specification

HB 487 creates a new legal category for individuals convicted of drug offenses who have prior drug-related convictions. This bill directly affects repeat offenders by adding a "repeat drug offender" specification to sentencing guidelines. The key provision amends sentencing laws to require judges to impose longer prison terms when this specification applies. Specifically, it enhances penalties for subsequent drug crimes by treating repeat offenders as having a higher level of culpability under the law.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeHB 487 increases mandatory prison terms and enhances penalties for repeat drug offenders, restricting judicial discretion and expanding punitive measures.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Drug Policy Sentencing

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in committee · Ohio · House Oct 29, 2025

HB 557: Prohibit judicial release denial solely on offense classification

HB 557 amends Ohio law to prevent judges from denying judicial release (a type of early release for inmates) based solely on how the original crime was classified (e.g., violent vs. non-violent). This directly affects inmates who are eligible for judicial release but might have been denied solely because of their offense's category. The bill requires judges to consider other factors beyond offense classification, such as the inmate's behavior in prison and risk assessment, when making release decisions. This change aims to ensure release decisions are based on a more comprehensive evaluation of the individual.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBy preventing denial of judicial release solely on offense classification, the bill could lead to earlier release for some inmates, potentially reducing state expenditures on incarceration.65% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeThe bill promotes criminal justice reform by preventing judges from denying judicial release solely based on offense classification, requiring consideration of inmate behavior and risk assessment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole Sentencing

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in committee · Ohio · House Apr 30, 2025

HB 236: Regards crimes committed while masked or disguised

To amend sections 2152.17, 2911.21, 2917.02, and 2929.14 and to enact sections 2917.10 and 2941.1427 of the Revised Code to prohibit masked harassment and masked trespassing, to modify the offense of aggravated riot when the offender is wearing a mask or disguise or is otherwise concealing or attempting to conceal the offender's face, and to require an additional prison term of one year for an offender who is convicted of or pleads guilty to a felony if the offender is convicted of or pleads guilty to a specification that the offender wore a mask or disguise or otherwise concealed or attempted to conceal the offender's face in commission of the offense.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill expands criminalization with new offenses (masked harassment/trespassing) and increases mandatory prison terms for felonies committed while masked, aligning with stricter, more punitive criminal justice policies.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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in committee · Ohio · House Oct 29, 2025

HB 542: Require all inmate pregnancy outcomes be reported to DRC

To enact sections 341.28, 753.34, and 5120.6511 of the Revised Code to require all inmate pregnancy outcomes to be reported to the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill requires reporting of inmate pregnancy outcomes to the DRC, enhancing data and oversight within the correctional system, a core component of criminal justice.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill requires reporting of inmate pregnancy outcomes, providing data crucial for monitoring and potentially improving health services and public health within correctional facilities.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Women's Health

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passed · Ohio · House Mar 4, 2026

HB 296: Delay offender financial sanctions until 180 days after release

To amend section 2929.18 of the Revised Code to delay financial sanctions for one hundred eighty days after an offender's release from prison or completion of transitional control.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeThe bill delays financial sanctions for released offenders, promoting successful reintegration and potentially reducing recidivism by easing post-release financial burdens.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole

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passed · Ohio · House Jun 4, 2026

HB 397: Expand allowable uses of profits from jail commissary funds

HB 397 amends Ohio's Revised Code (Section 341.25) to allow county jails to use profits from inmate commissary sales for additional purposes beyond current restrictions. This directly affects county jails managing these funds, as it expands their flexibility in allocating commissary profits. The key change is removing specific limitations on fund usage, permitting counties to direct these profits toward other operational needs as permitted by law, without creating new spending requirements. The bill focuses solely on reallocating existing revenue streams, not increasing funding.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesThe bill promotes fiscal responsibility by expanding flexibility for county jails to allocate existing commissary profits to various operational needs, optimizing resource use.75% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeHB 397 strengthens county jails' operational capabilities by expanding flexibility in using commissary funds, directly impacting the corrections aspect of criminal justice.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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passed · Ohio · House Feb 11, 2026

HB 338: Enact Andy's Law

HB 338, "Andy's Law," increases criminal penalties for assaults or causing death of staff or inmates at Ohio state or local correctional facilities. It amends specific Ohio Revised Code sections to impose stricter sentencing for these offenses and updates policies and procedures for the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction. The law directly affects correctional facility staff, inmates, and the state's criminal justice system by changing how such incidents are prosecuted and managed. These changes focus on enhancing accountability for violence within correctional settings.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeHB 338 increases criminal penalties and imposes stricter sentencing for assaults/deaths in correctional facilities, aligning with 'increases mandatory sentences' indicator.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentHB 338 increases criminal penalties for assaults against correctional facility staff, directly enhancing workplace safety for these employees.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Sentencing

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