Chapter 5120 | Department Of Rehabilitation And Correction

Section 5120.01 | Director of rehabilitation and correction - powers and duties.

• Effective: March 31, 2003
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 510 - 124th General Assembly

The director of rehabilitation and correction is the executive head of the department of rehabilitation and correction. All duties conferred on the various divisions and institutions of the department by law or by order of the director shall be performed under the rules and regulations that the director prescribes and shall be under the director's control. Inmates committed to the department of rehabilitation and correction shall be under the legal custody of the director or the director's designee, and the director or the director's designee shall have power to control transfers of inmates between the several state institutions included under section 5120.05 of the Revised Code.

Section 5120.011 | Sanctions imposed for frivolous actions.

• Effective: October 17, 1996
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 455 - 121st General Assembly

(A) As used in this section, "civil action or appeal against a government entity or employee," "inmate," "political subdivision," and "employee" have the same meanings as in section 2969.21 of the Revised Code.

(B) The director of rehabilitation and correction may adopt rules under section 5120.01 of the Revised Code to implement the procedures described in sections 2323.51, 2969.22, and 2969.23 of the Revised Code.

(C) The director of rehabilitation and correction shall adopt rules that provide that, if an inmate files a civil action or appeal against a government entity or employee or files a civil action against the state, a political subdivision, or an employee in a federal court and if the court in which the action or appeal is filed dismisses the action or appeal pursuant to section 2969.24 of the Revised Code or the federal court finds the action to be frivolous under 28 U.S.C. 1915(d), the inmate shall be subject to one or more of the following sanctions:

(1) Extra work duty, without compensation, for not more than sixty days;

(2) The loss of commissary privileges for not more than sixty days;

(3) The loss of sundry-package privileges for one time in any calendar year;

(4) The loss of television privileges for not more than sixty days;

(5) The loss of radio privileges for not more than sixty days;

(6) The loss of recreational activity privileges for not more than sixty days.

Section 5120.02 | Assistant director - powers and duties.

• Effective: July 1, 1972
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 494 - 109th General Assembly

The assistant director of the department of rehabilitation and correction is hereby excepted from section 121.05 of the Revised Code. The assistant director shall exercise the powers and perform the duties which the director of correction may order and shall act as director in the absence or disability of the director, or in case of a vacancy in the position of director.

Last updated April 19, 2022 at 4:48 PM

Section 5120.021 | Application of chapter.

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

(A) The provisions of Chapter 5120. of the Revised Code, as they existed prior to July 1, 1996, and that address the duration or potential duration of incarceration or parole or other forms of supervised release, apply to all persons upon whom a court imposed a term of imprisonment prior to July 1, 1996, and all persons upon whom a court, on or after July 1, 1996, and in accordance with law existing prior to July 1, 1996, imposed a term of imprisonment for an offense that was committed prior to July 1, 1996.

(B)(1) The provisions of Chapter 5120. of the Revised Code, as they exist on or after July 1, 1996, and that address the duration or potential duration of incarceration or supervised release, apply to all persons upon whom a court imposed a stated prison term for an offense committed on or after July 1, 1996.

(2) The provisions of Chapter 5120. of the Revised Code, as they exist on or after the effective date of this amendment, apply to an offender who is released from confinement in a state correctional institution on or after that date.

(C) Nothing in this section limits or affects the applicability of any provision in Chapter 5120. of the Revised Code, as amended or enacted on or after July 1, 1996, that pertains to an issue other than the duration or potential duration of incarceration or supervised release, to persons in custody or under the supervision of the department of rehabilitation and correction.

Section 5120.03 | Designation of use of institutions.

• Effective: March 29, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 699 - 126th General Assembly

(A) Subject to division (C) of this section, the director of rehabilitation and correction may change the purpose for which any institution or place under the control of the department of rehabilitation and correction is being used. The director may designate a new or another use for such institution, if the change of use and new designation has for its objective, improvement in the classification, segregation, care, education, cure, or rehabilitation of persons subject to the control of the department.

(B) The director of rehabilitation and correction, by executive order, issued on or before December 31, 1988, shall eliminate the distinction between penal institutions and reformatory institutions. Notwithstanding any provision of the Revised Code or the Administrative Code to the contrary, upon the issuance of the executive order, any distinction made between the types of prisoners sentenced to or otherwise assigned to the institutions under the control of the department shall be discontinued.

(C) The director shall contract under section 9.06 of the Revised Code for the private operation and management of not less than two facilities under the control of the department, unless the contractor managing and operating a facility is not in substantial compliance with the material terms and conditions of its contract and no other person or entity is willing and able to satisfy the obligations of the contract. All inmates assigned to a facility operated and managed by a private contractor remain inmates in the care and custody of the department. The statutes, rules, and policies of the department may apply to the private contractor and any inmate assigned to a facility operated and managed by a private contractor as agreed to in the contract entered into under section 9.06 of the Revised Code.

Section 5120.031 | Pilot program of shock incarceration.

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

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Certificate of high school equivalence" means either:

(a) A statement that is issued by the department of education and workforce that indicates that its holder has achieved the equivalent of a high school education as measured by scores obtained on a high school equivalency test approved by the department of education and workforce pursuant to division (B) of section 3301.80 of the Revised Code;

(b) A statement that is issued by a primary-secondary education or higher education agency of another state that indicates that its holder has achieved the equivalent of a high school education as measured by scores obtained on a similar nationally recognized high school equivalency test.

(2) "Certificate of adult basic education" means a statement that is issued by the department of rehabilitation and correction through the Ohio central school system approved by the department of education and workforce and that indicates that its holder has achieved a 6.0 grade level, or higher, as measured by scores of nationally standardized or recognized tests.

(3) "Deadly weapon" and "firearm" have the same meanings as in section 2923.11 of the Revised Code.

(4) "Eligible offender" means a person, other than one who is ineligible to participate in an intensive program prison under the criteria specified in section 5120.032 of the Revised Code, who has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to, and has been sentenced for, a felony.

(5) "Shock incarceration" means the program of incarceration that is established pursuant to the rules of the department of rehabilitation and correction adopted under this section.

(B)(1) The director of rehabilitation and correction, by rules adopted under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, shall establish a pilot program of shock incarceration that may be used for offenders who are sentenced to serve a term of imprisonment under the custody of the department of rehabilitation and correction, whom the department determines to be eligible offenders, and whom the department, subject to the approval of the sentencing judge, may permit to serve their sentence as a sentence of shock incarceration in accordance with this section.

(2) The rules for the pilot program shall require that the program be established at an appropriate state correctional institution designated by the director and that the program consist of both of the following for each eligible offender whom the department, with the approval of the sentencing judge, permits to serve the eligible offender's sentence as a sentence of shock incarceration:

(a) A period of imprisonment at that institution of ninety days that shall consist of a military style combination of discipline, physical training, and hard labor and substance abuse education, employment skills training, social skills training, and psychological treatment. During the ninety-day period, the department may permit an eligible offender to participate in a self-help program. Additionally, during the ninety-day period, an eligible offender who holds a high school diploma or a certificate of high school equivalence may be permitted to tutor other eligible offenders in the shock incarceration program. If an eligible offender does not hold a high school diploma or certificate of high school equivalence, the eligible offender may elect to participate in an education program that is designed to award a certificate of adult basic education or an education program that is designed to award a certificate of high school equivalence to those eligible offenders who successfully complete the education program, whether the completion occurs during or subsequent to the ninety-day period. To the extent possible, the department shall use as teachers in the education program persons who have been issued a license pursuant to sections 3319.22 to 3319.31 of the Revised Code, who have volunteered their services to the education program, and who satisfy any other criteria specified in the rules for the pilot project.

(b) Immediately following the ninety-day period of imprisonment, and notwithstanding any other provision governing the early release of a prisoner from imprisonment or the transfer of a prisoner to transitional control, one of the following, as determined by the director:

(i) An intermediate, transitional type of detention for the period of time determined by the director and, immediately following the intermediate, transitional type of detention, a release under a post-release control sanction imposed in accordance with section 2967.28 of the Revised Code. The period of intermediate, transitional type of detention imposed by the director under this division may be in a halfway house, in a community-based correctional facility and program or district community-based correctional facility and program established under sections 2301.51 to 2301.58 of the Revised Code, or in any other facility approved by the director that provides for detention to serve as a transition between imprisonment in a state correctional institution and release from imprisonment.

(ii) A release under a post-release control sanction imposed in accordance with section 2967.28 of the Revised Code.

(3) The rules for the pilot program also shall include, but are not limited to, all of the following:

(a) Rules identifying the locations within the state correctional institution designated by the director that will be used for eligible offenders serving a sentence of shock incarceration;

(b) Rules establishing specific schedules of discipline, physical training, and hard labor for eligible offenders serving a sentence of shock incarceration, based upon the offender's physical condition and needs;

(c) Rules establishing standards and criteria for the department to use in determining which eligible offenders the department will permit to serve their sentence of imprisonment as a sentence of shock incarceration;

(d) Rules establishing guidelines for the selection of post-release control sanctions for eligible offenders;

(e) Rules establishing procedures for notifying sentencing courts of the performance of eligible offenders serving their sentences of imprisonment as a sentence of shock incarceration;

(f) Any other rules that are necessary for the proper conduct of the pilot program.

(C)(1) If an offender is sentenced to a term of imprisonment under the custody of the department, if the sentencing court either recommends the offender for placement in a program of shock incarceration under this section or makes no recommendation on placement of the offender, and if the department determines that the offender is an eligible offender for placement in a program of shock incarceration under this section, the department may permit the eligible offender to serve the sentence in a program of shock incarceration, in accordance with division (I) of section 2929.14 of the Revised Code, with this section, and with the rules adopted under this section. If the sentencing court disapproves placement of the offender in a program of shock incarceration, the department shall not place the offender in any program of shock incarceration.

If the sentencing court recommends the offender for placement in a program of shock incarceration and if the department subsequently places the offender in the recommended program, the department shall notify the court of the offender's placement in the recommended program and shall include with the notice a brief description of the placement.

If the sentencing court recommends placement of the offender in a program of shock incarceration and the department for any reason does not subsequently place the offender in the recommended program, the department shall send a notice to the court indicating why the offender was not placed in the recommended program.

If the sentencing court does not make a recommendation on the placement of an offender in a program of shock incarceration and if the department determines that the offender is an eligible offender for placement in a program of that nature, the department shall screen the offender and determine if the offender is suited for the program of shock incarceration. If the offender is suited for the program of shock incarceration, at least three weeks prior to permitting an eligible offender to serve the sentence in a program of shock incarceration, the department shall notify the sentencing court of the proposed placement of the offender in the program and shall include with the notice a brief description of the placement. The court shall have ten days from receipt of the notice to disapprove the placement. If the sentencing court disapproves of the placement, the department shall not permit the eligible offender to serve the sentence in a program of shock incarceration. If the judge does not timely disapprove of placement of the offender in the program of shock incarceration, the department may proceed with plans for placement of the offender.

If the department determines that the offender is not eligible for placement in a program of shock incarceration, the department shall not place the offender in any program of shock incarceration.

(2) If the department permits an eligible offender to serve the eligible offender's sentence of imprisonment as a sentence of shock incarceration and the eligible offender does not satisfactorily complete the entire period of imprisonment described in division (B)(2)(a) of this section, the offender shall be removed from the pilot program for shock incarceration and shall be required to serve the remainder of the offender's sentence of imprisonment imposed by the sentencing court as a regular term of imprisonment. If the eligible offender commences a period of post-release control described in division (B)(2)(b) of this section and violates the conditions of that post-release control, the eligible offender shall be subject to the provisions of sections 2929.141, 2967.15, and 2967.28 of the Revised Code regarding violation of post-release control sanctions.

(3) If an eligible offender's stated prison term expires at any time during the eligible offender's participation in the shock incarceration program, the adult parole authority shall terminate the eligible offender's participation in the program and shall issue to the eligible offender a certificate of expiration of the stated prison term.

(D) The director shall keep sentencing courts informed of the performance of eligible offenders serving their sentences of imprisonment as a sentence of shock incarceration, including, but not limited to, notice of eligible offenders who fail to satisfactorily complete their entire sentence of shock incarceration or who satisfactorily complete their entire sentence of shock incarceration.

(E) Within a reasonable period of time after November 20, 1990, the director shall appoint a committee to search for one or more suitable sites at which one or more programs of shock incarceration, in addition to the pilot program required by division (B)(1) of this section, may be established. The search committee shall consist of the director or the director's designee, as chairperson; employees of the department of rehabilitation and correction appointed by the director; and any other persons that the director, in the director's discretion, appoints. In searching for such sites, the search committee shall give preference to any site owned by the state or any other governmental entity and to any existing structure that reasonably could be renovated, enlarged, converted, or remodeled for purposes of establishing such a program. The search committee shall prepare a report concerning its activities and, on the earlier of the day that is twelve months after the first day on which an eligible offender began serving a sentence of shock incarceration under the pilot program or January 1, 1992, shall file the report with the president and the minority leader of the senate, the speaker and the minority leader of the house of representatives, the members of the senate who were members of the senate judiciary committee in the 118th general assembly or their successors, and the members of the house of representatives who were members of the select committee to hear drug legislation that was established in the 118th general assembly or their successors. Upon the filing of the report, the search committee shall terminate. The report required by this division shall contain all of the following:

(1) A summary of the process used by the search committee in performing its duties under this division;

(2) A summary of all of the sites reviewed by the search committee in performing its duties under this division, and the benefits and disadvantages it found relative to the establishment of a program of shock incarceration at each such site;

(3) The findings and recommendations of the search committee as to the suitable site or sites, if any, at which a program of shock incarceration, in addition to the pilot program required by division (B)(1) of this section, may be established.

(F) The director periodically shall review the pilot program for shock incarceration required to be established by division (B)(1) of this section. The director shall prepare a report relative to the pilot program and, on the earlier of the day that is twelve months after the first day on which an eligible offender began serving a sentence of shock incarceration under the pilot program or January 1, 1992, shall file the report with the president and the minority leader of the senate, the speaker and the minority leader of the house of representatives, the members of the senate who were members of the senate judiciary committee in the 118th general assembly or their successors, and the members of the house of representatives who were members of the select committee to hear drug legislation that was established in the 118th general assembly or their successors. The pilot program shall not terminate at the time of the filing of the report, but shall continue in operation in accordance with this section. The report required by this division shall include all of the following:

(1) A summary of the pilot program as initially established, a summary of all changes in the pilot program made during the period covered by the report and the reasons for the changes, and a summary of the pilot program as it exists on the date of preparation of the report;

(2) A summary of the effectiveness of the pilot program, in the opinion of the director and employees of the department involved in its operation;

(3) An analysis of the total cost of the pilot program, of its cost per inmate who was permitted to serve a sentence of shock incarceration and who served the entire sentence of shock incarceration, and of its cost per inmate who was permitted to serve a sentence of shock incarceration;

(4) A summary of the standards and criteria used by the department in determining which eligible offenders were permitted to serve their sentence of imprisonment as a sentence of shock incarceration;

(5) A summary of the characteristics of the eligible offenders who were permitted to serve their sentence of imprisonment as a sentence of shock incarceration, which summary shall include, but not be limited to, a listing of every offense of which any such eligible offender was convicted or to which any such eligible offender pleaded guilty and in relation to which the eligible offender served a sentence of shock incarceration, and the total number of such eligible offenders who were convicted of or pleaded guilty to each such offense;

(6) A listing of the number of eligible offenders who were permitted to serve a sentence of shock incarceration and who did not serve the entire sentence of shock incarceration, and, to the extent possible, a summary of the length of the terms of imprisonment served by such eligible offenders after they were removed from the pilot program;

(7) A summary of the effect of the pilot program on overcrowding at state correctional institutions;

(8) To the extent possible, an analysis of the rate of recidivism of eligible offenders who were permitted to serve a sentence of shock incarceration and who served the entire sentence of shock incarceration;

(9) Recommendations as to legislative changes to the pilot program that would assist in its operation or that could further alleviate overcrowding at state correctional institutions, and recommendations as to whether the pilot program should be expanded.

Last updated September 19, 2023 at 11:32 AM

Section 5120.032 | Intensive program prisons.

• Effective: October 16, 2009
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 128th General Assembly

(A) No later than January 1, 1998, the department of rehabilitation and correction may develop and implement intensive program prisons for male and female prisoners other than prisoners described in division (B)(2) of this section. The intensive program prisons, if developed and implemented, shall include institutions at which imprisonment of the type described in division (B)(2)(a) of section 5120.031 of the Revised Code is provided and prisons that focus on educational achievement, vocational training, alcohol and other drug abuse treatment, community service and conservation work, and other intensive regimens or combinations of intensive regimens.

(B)(1)(a) Except as provided in division (B)(2) of this section, if one or more intensive program prisons are established under this section, if an offender is sentenced to a term of imprisonment under the custody of the department, if the sentencing court either recommends the prisoner for placement in an intensive program prison under this section or makes no recommendation on placement of the prisoner, and if the department determines that the prisoner is eligible for placement in an intensive program prison under this section, the department may place the prisoner in an intensive program prison established pursuant to division (A) of this section. If the sentencing court disapproves placement of the prisoner in an intensive program prison, the department shall not place the prisoner in any intensive program prison.

If the sentencing court recommends a prisoner for placement in an intensive program prison and if the department subsequently places the prisoner in the recommended prison, the department shall notify the court of the prisoner's placement in the recommended intensive program prison and shall include with the notice a brief description of the placement.

If the sentencing court recommends placement of a prisoner in an intensive program prison and the department for any reason does not subsequently place the prisoner in the recommended prison, the department shall send a notice to the court indicating why the prisoner was not placed in the recommended prison.

If the sentencing court does not make a recommendation on the placement of a prisoner in an intensive program prison and if the department determines that the prisoner is eligible for placement in a prison of that nature, the department shall screen the prisoner and determine if the prisoner is suited for the prison. If the prisoner is suited for an intensive program prison, at least three weeks prior to placing the prisoner in the prison, the department shall notify the sentencing court of the proposed placement of the prisoner in the intensive program prison and shall include with the notice a brief description of the placement. The court shall have ten days from receipt of the notice to disapprove the placement. If the sentencing court disapproves the placement, the department shall not proceed with it. If the sentencing court does not timely disapprove of the placement, the department may proceed with plans for it.

If the department determines that a prisoner is not eligible for placement in an intensive program prison, the department shall not place the prisoner in any intensive program prison.

(b) The department may reduce the stated prison term of a prisoner upon the prisoner's successful completion of a ninety-day period in an intensive program prison. A prisoner whose term has been so reduced shall be required to serve an intermediate, transitional type of detention followed by a release under post-release control sanctions or, in the alternative, shall be placed under post-release control sanctions, as described in division (B)(2)(b)(ii) of section 5120.031 of the Revised Code. In either case, the placement under post-release control sanctions shall be under terms set by the parole board in accordance with section 2967.28 of the Revised Code and shall be subject to the provisions of that section and section 2929.141 of the Revised Code with respect to a violation of any post-release control sanction.

(2) A prisoner who is in any of the following categories is not eligible to participate in an intensive program prison established pursuant to division (A) of this section:

(a) The prisoner is serving a prison term for aggravated murder, murder, or a felony of the first or second degree or a comparable offense under the law in effect prior to July 1, 1996, or the prisoner previously has been imprisoned for aggravated murder, murder, or a felony of the first or second degree or a comparable offense under the law in effect prior to July 1, 1996.

(b) The prisoner is serving a mandatory prison term, as defined in section 2929.01 of the Revised Code.

(c) The prisoner is serving a prison term for a felony of the third, fourth, or fifth degree that either is a sex offense, an offense betraying public trust, or an offense in which the prisoner caused or attempted to cause actual physical harm to a person, the prisoner is serving a prison term for a comparable offense under the law in effect prior to July 1, 1996, or the prisoner previously has been imprisoned for an offense of that type or a comparable offense under the law in effect prior to July 1, 1996.

(d) The prisoner is serving a mandatory prison term in prison for a third or fourth degree felony OVI offense, as defined in section 2929.01 of the Revised Code, that was imposed pursuant to division (G)(2) of section 2929.13 of the Revised Code.

(C) Upon the implementation of intensive program prisons pursuant to division (A) of this section, the department at all times shall maintain intensive program prisons sufficient in number to reduce the prison terms of at least three hundred fifty prisoners who are eligible for reduction of their stated prison terms as a result of their completion of a regimen in an intensive program prison under this section.

Section 5120.033 | Intensive program prisons for certain OVI offenders.

• Effective: October 16, 2009
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 128th General Assembly

(A) As used in this section, "third degree felony OVI offense" and "fourth degree felony OVI offense" have the same meanings as in section 2929.01 of the Revised Code.

(B) Within eighteen months after October 17, 1996, the department of rehabilitation and correction may develop and implement intensive program prisons for male and female prisoners who are sentenced pursuant to division (G)(2) of section 2929.13 of the Revised Code to a mandatory prison term for a third or fourth degree felony OVI offense. If one or more intensive program prisons are established under this section, the department may contract pursuant to section 9.06 of the Revised Code for the private operation and management of the initial intensive program prison established under this section and may contract pursuant to that section for the private operation and management of any other intensive program prison established under this section. The intensive program prisons, if established under this section, shall include prisons that focus on educational achievement, vocational training, alcohol and other drug abuse treatment, community service and conservation work, and other intensive regimens or combinations of intensive regimens.

(C) Except as provided in division (D) of this section, the department may place a prisoner who is sentenced to a mandatory prison term for a third or fourth degree felony OVI offense in an intensive program prison established pursuant to division (B) of this section if the sentencing judge, upon notification by the department of its intent to place the prisoner in an intensive program prison, does not notify the department that the judge disapproves the placement. If the stated prison term imposed on a prisoner who is so placed is longer than the mandatory prison term that is required to be imposed on the prisoner, the department may reduce the stated prison term upon the prisoner's successful completion of the prisoner's mandatory prison term in an intensive program prison. A prisoner whose term has been so reduced shall be required to serve an intermediate, transitional type of detention followed by a release under post-release control sanctions or, in the alternative, shall be placed under post-release control sanctions, as described in division (B)(2)(b)(ii) of section 5120.031 of the Revised Code. In either case, the placement under post-release control sanctions shall be under terms set by the parole board in accordance with section 2967.28 of the Revised Code and shall be subject to the provisions of that section and section 2929.141 of the Revised Code with respect to a violation of any post-release control sanction. If one or more intensive program prisons are established pursuant to division (B) of this section and if as described in that division the initial intensive program prison is to be privately operated and managed by a contractor pursuant to a contract the department entered into under section 9.06 of the Revised Code, upon the establishment of that initial intensive program prison the department shall comply with divisions (G)(2)(a) and (b) of section 2929.13 of the Revised Code in placing prisoners in intensive program prisons under this section.

(D) A prisoner who is sentenced to a mandatory prison term for a third or fourth degree felony OVI offense is not eligible to participate in an intensive program prison established under division (B) of this section if any of the following applies regarding the prisoner:

(1) In addition to the mandatory prison term for the third or fourth degree felony OVI offense, the prisoner also is serving a prison term of a type described in division (B)(2)(a), (b), or (c) of section 5120.032 of the Revised Code.

(2) The prisoner previously has been imprisoned for an offense of a type described in division (B)(2)(a) or (c) of section 5120.032 of the Revised Code or a comparable offense under the law in effect prior to July 1, 1996.

(E) Intensive program prisons established under division (B) of this section are not subject to section 5120.032 of the Revised Code.

Section 5120.034 | Reentry services by nonprofit faith-based organizations.

• Effective: June 25, 2008
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 113 - 127th General Assembly

(A)(1) The department of rehabilitation and correction shall permit representatives of all nonprofit faith-based, business, professional, civic, educational, and community organizations that are registered with the department to enter institutions under the control of the department for the purpose of providing reentry services to inmates. Reentry services may include, but are not limited to, counseling, housing, job-placement, and money-management assistance.

(2) The department shall adopt rules pursuant to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code for the screening and registration of nonprofit faith-based, business, professional, civic, educational, and community organizations that apply to provide reentry services in institutions under the department's control.

(B)(1) The department shall post a department telephone number on the department's official internet web site that nonprofit faith-based, business, professional, civic, educational, and community organizations that wish to provide reentry services to inmates may call to obtain information. The internet web site also shall list all of the nonprofit faith-based, business, professional, civic, educational, and community organizations that are registered with the department under this section.

(2) The department shall actively recruit nonprofit faith-based, business, professional, civic, educational, and community organizations to provide reentry services in institutions under the department's control. The department shall recruit nonprofit organizations from all faiths and beliefs.

(C) Annually, the department shall issue a written report on the department's progress in implementing the recommendations of the correctional faith-based initiatives task force. The department shall provide a copy of the written report to each member of the correctional institution inspection committee created under section 103.71 of the Revised Code.

(D) The department shall not endorse or sponsor any faith-based reentry program or endorse any specific religious message. The department may not require an inmate to participate in a faith-based program.

Section 5120.035 | Community-based substance use disorder treatment for qualified prisoners.

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

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Community treatment provider" means a program that provides substance use disorder assessment and treatment for persons and that satisfies all of the following:

(a) It is located outside of a state correctional institution.

(b) It shall provide the assessment and treatment for qualified prisoners referred and transferred to it under this section in a suitable facility that is licensed pursuant to division (C) of section 2967.14 of the Revised Code.

(c) All qualified prisoners referred and transferred to it under this section shall reside initially in the suitable facility specified in division (A)(1)(b) of this section while undergoing the assessment and treatment.

(2) "Electronic monitoring device" has the same meaning as in section 2929.01 of the Revised Code.

(3) "State correctional institution" has the same meaning as in section 2967.01 of the Revised Code.

(4) "Qualified prisoner" means a person who satisfies all of the following:

(a) The person is confined in a state correctional institution under a prison term imposed for a felony of the third, fourth, or fifth degree that is not an offense of violence.

(b) The department of rehabilitation and correction determines, using a standardized assessment tool, that the person has a substance use disorder.

(c) The person has not more than twelve months remaining to be served under the prison term described in division (A)(4)(a) of this section.

(d) The person is not serving any prison term other than the term described in division (A)(4)(a) of this section.

(e) The person is eighteen years of age or older.

(f) The person does not show signs of drug or alcohol withdrawal and does not require medical detoxification.

(g) As determined by the department of rehabilitation and correction, the person is physically and mentally capable of uninterrupted participation in the substance use disorder treatment program established under division (B) of this section.

(B) The department of rehabilitation and correction shall establish and operate a program for community-based substance use disorder treatment for qualified prisoners. The purpose of the program shall be to provide substance use disorder assessment and treatment through community treatment providers to help reduce substance use relapses and recidivism for qualified prisoners while preparing them for reentry into the community and improving public safety.

(C)(1) The department shall determine which qualified prisoners in its custody should be placed in the substance use disorder treatment program established under division (B) of this section. The department has full discretion in making that determination. If the department determines that a qualified prisoner should be placed in the program, the department may refer the prisoner to a community treatment provider the department has approved under division (E) of this section for participation in the program and transfer the prisoner from the state correctional institution to the provider's approved and licensed facility. Except as otherwise provided in division (C)(3) of this section, no prisoner shall be placed under the program in any facility other than a facility of a community treatment provider that has been so approved. If the department places a prisoner in the program, the prisoner shall receive credit against the prisoner's prison term for all time served in the provider's approved and licensed facility and may earn days of credit under section 2967.193 or 2967.194 of the Revised Code, but otherwise neither the placement nor the prisoner's participation in or completion of the program shall result in any reduction of the prisoner's prison term.

(2) If the department places a prisoner in the substance use disorder treatment program, the prisoner does not satisfactorily participate in the program, and the prisoner has not served the prisoner's entire prison term, the department may remove the prisoner from the program and return the prisoner to a state correctional institution.

(3) If the department places a prisoner in the substance use disorder treatment program and the prisoner is satisfactorily participating in the program, the department may permit the prisoner to reside at a residence approved by the department if the department determines, with input from the community treatment provider, that residing at the approved residence will help the prisoner prepare for reentry into the community and will help reduce substance use relapses and recidivism for the prisoner. If a prisoner is permitted under this division to reside at a residence approved by the department, the prisoner shall be monitored during the period of that residence by an electronic monitoring device.

(D)(1) When a prisoner has been placed in the substance use disorder treatment program established under division (B) of this section, before the prisoner is released from custody of the department upon completion of the prisoner's prison term, the department shall conduct and prepare an evaluation of the prisoner, the prisoner's participation in the program, and the prisoner's needs regarding substance use disorder treatment upon release. Before the prisoner is released from custody of the department upon completion of the prisoner's prison term, the parole board or the court acting pursuant to an agreement under section 2967.29 of the Revised Code shall consider the evaluation, in addition to all other information and materials considered, as follows:

(a) If the prisoner is a prisoner for whom post-release control is mandatory under section 2967.28 of the Revised Code, the board or court shall consider it in determining which post-release control sanction or sanctions to impose upon the prisoner under that section.

(b) If the prisoner is a prisoner for whom post-release control is not mandatory under section 2967.28 of the Revised Code, the board or court shall consider it in determining whether a post-release control sanction is necessary and, if so, which post-release control sanction or sanctions to impose upon the prisoner under that section.

(2) If the department determines that a prisoner it placed in the substance use disorder treatment program successfully completed the program and successfully completed a term of post-release control, if applicable, and if the prisoner submits an application under section 2953.32 or the prosecutor in the case submits an application under section 2953.39 of the Revised Code for sealing or expungement of the record of the conviction, the director may issue a letter to the court in support of the application.

(E)(1) The department shall accept applications from community treatment providers that satisfy the requirement specified in division (E)(2) of this section and that wish to participate in the substance use disorder treatment program established under division (B) of this section, and shall approve for participation in the program at least four and not more than eight of the providers that apply. To the extent feasible, the department shall approve one or more providers from each geographical quadrant of the state.

(2) Each community treatment provider that applies under division (E)(1) of this section to participate in the program shall have the provider's alcohol and drug addiction services that provide substance use disorder treatment certified by the department of mental health and addiction services under section 5119.36 of the Revised Code. A community treatment provider is not required to have the provider's halfway house or residential treatment certified by the department of mental health and addiction services.

(F) The department of rehabilitation and correction shall adopt rules for the operation of the substance use disorder treatment program it establishes under division (B) of this section and shall operate the program in accordance with this section and those rules. The rules shall establish, at a minimum, all of the following:

(1) Criteria that establish which qualified prisoners are eligible for the program;

(2) Criteria that must be satisfied to transfer a qualified prisoner to a residence pursuant to division (C)(3) of this section;

(3) Criteria for the removal of a prisoner from the program pursuant to division (C)(2) of this section;

(4) Criteria for determining when an offender has successfully completed the program for purposes of division (D)(2) of this section;

(5) Criteria for community treatment providers to provide assessment and treatment, including minimum standards for treatment.

Last updated March 8, 2023 at 1:08 PM

Section 5120.036 | Risk reduction programming and treatment.

• Effective: September 10, 2012
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 487 - 129th General Assembly

(A) The department of rehabilitation and correction shall provide risk reduction programming and treatment for inmates whom a court under section 2929.143 of the Revised Code recommends serve a risk reduction sentence and who meet the eligibility criteria described in division (B) of this section.

(B) If an offender is sentenced to a term of imprisonment in a state correctional institution and the sentencing court recommended that the offender serve a risk reduction sentence, the department of rehabilitation and correction shall conduct a validated and objective assessment of the person's needs and risk of reoffending. If the offender cooperates with the risk assessment and agrees to participate in any programming or treatment ordered by the department, the department shall provide programming and treatment to the offender to address the risks and needs identified in the assessment.

(C) If the department determines that an offender serving a term of incarceration for whom the sentencing court recommended a risk reduction sentence under section 2929.143 of the Revised Code has successfully completed the assessment and treatment or programming required by the department under division (B) of this section, the department shall release the offender to post-release control under one or more post-release control sanctions after the offender has served each mandatory prison term to which the offender was sentenced, if any, and a minimum of eighty per cent of the aggregated nonmandatory prison terms to which the offender was sentenced. The placement under post-release control sanctions shall be under terms set by the parole board in accordance with section 2967.28 of the Revised Code and shall be subject to the provisions of that section and sections 2929.141 and 2967.15 of the Revised Code regarding violation of post-release control sanctions. No mandatory prison term shall be reduced by, or as a result of, an offender's service of a risk reduction sentence. The department shall notify the sentencing court that the offender has successfully completed the terms of the risk reduction sentence at least thirty days prior to the date upon which the offender is to be released.

(D) As used in this section:

(1) "Mandatory prison term" has the same meaning as in section 2929.01 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Nonmandatory prison term" means a prison term that is not a mandatory prison term.

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

Section 5120.037 | Substance abuse recovery prison; feasibility study.

• Effective: September 29, 2015
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 64 - 131st General Assembly

(A) Not later than June 30, 2016, the department of rehabilitation and correction shall study the feasibility of converting an existing state correctional facility, another existing facility controlled by the department, an existing facility owned by the state or a political subdivision of the state, or an existing facility owned by a private entity into a substance abuse recovery prison. The purpose of the prison would be to help reduce relapses and recidivism while preparing offenders confined in the prison for reentry into the community. In conducting the study, the department shall do all of the following:

(1) Explore all alternatives for providing substance abuse recovery for offenders confined in the prison;

(2) Consider drug treatment and rehabilitation services to be provided in the prison to help to prepare offenders confined in the prison for reentry into the community;

(3) Consider the categories of offenders that should be confined in the prison, including whether the department should be limited to placing an offender sentenced to or serving a prison term in the prison only if the department knows or has reason to believe that drug usage by the offender was a factor leading to the offense for which the offender was sentenced to the prison term.

(B) Upon completion of the study specified in division (A) of this section, the department shall submit copies of the study to the president and minority leader of the senate, the speaker and minority leader of the house of representatives, and the governor.

Section 5120.038 | GPS monitoring of offenders.

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

(A) As used in this section, "GPS-monitored offender" means an offender who, on or after the effective date of this section, is released from confinement in a state correctional institution under a conditional pardon, parole, other form of authorized release, or transitional control that includes global positioning system monitoring as a condition of the person's release, or who, on or after that date, is placed under post-release control that includes global positioning system monitoring as a condition under the post-release control.

(B) Not later than June 30, 2019, the department of rehabilitation and correction shall study the feasibility of contracting with a third-party contract administrator for global position system monitoring that would include a crime scene correlation program that could interface by link with a statewide database for GPS-monitored offenders. The study also shall analyze the use of GPS monitoring as a supervision tool. In conducting the study, the department shall consider all of the following factors:

(1) The ability of the department or another state entity to establish and operate a statewide internet database of GPS-monitored offenders and the specific information that such a database could include.

(2) The capability for a GPS monitoring system run by a third-party contract administrator to include a crime scene correlation program that interfaces by link with a statewide database of GPS-monitored offenders.

(3) The ability of local law enforcement representatives to remotely search a statewide internet database of GPS-monitored offenders that is linked with a crime scene correlation program.

(4) The capability for a GPS monitoring system with crime scene correlation features to allow local law enforcement representatives without a subpoena or warrant to access information contained in the crime scene correlation program about a GPS-monitored offender, including the offender's current location, the offender's location at previous points in time, the location of recent criminal activity in or near the offender's inclusionary or exclusionary zones included as restrictions under the offender's supervision, and any possible connection between the offender's location and that recent criminal activity.

(5) The ability of law enforcement representatives to obtain, without a warrant or subpoena, information about a GPS-monitored offender from either an employee of the department or a third-party contract administrator who is monitoring the offender, including information of the types listed in division (B)(4) of this section.

(6) The types of offenders for whom GPS monitoring would be beneficial, the appropriate length for monitoring, and the costs related to GPS monitoring.

(C) Upon completion of the study specified in division (B) of this section, the department shall submit copies of the study to the president and minority leader of the senate, the speaker and minority leader of the house of representatives, and the governor.

Section 5120.04 | Assigning prisoner labor on public works.

• Effective: April 9, 1982
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 654 - 113th General Assembly

The department of rehabilitation and correction, with the approval of the governor and in accordance with rules adopted pursuant to division (B) of section 5145.03 of the Revised Code, may assign prisoners who are committed or transferred to institutions under the administration of the department to perform labor on any public work of the state.

Section 5120.05 | Maintenance and management of institutions.

• Effective: March 17, 1998
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 111 - 122nd General Assembly

The department of rehabilitation and correction may maintain, operate, manage, and govern all state institutions for the custody, control, training, and rehabilitation of persons convicted of crime and sentenced to correctional institutions.

The department may designate correctional institutions by appropriate respective names.

The department may receive from the department of youth services any children in the custody of the department of youth services, committed to the department of rehabilitation and correction by the department of youth services, upon the terms and conditions that are agreed upon by the departments.

Section 5120.051 | Mentally ill and persons with intellectual disabilities who are incarcerated.

• Effective: April 6, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 281 - 134th General Assembly

The department of rehabilitation and correction shall provide for the needs of persons with mental illnesses and persons with intellectual disabilities who are incarcerated in state correctional institutions. The department may designate an institution or a unit within an institution for the custody, care, special training, treatment, and rehabilitation of persons with mental illnesses or persons with intellectual disabilities.

Last updated March 10, 2023 at 12:52 PM

Section 5120.06 | Divisions of department.

• Effective: March 17, 1998
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 111 - 122nd General Assembly

(A) The following divisions are hereby established in the department of rehabilitation and correction:

(1) The division of business administration;

(2) The division of parole and community services.

(B) The director of rehabilitation and correction may establish offices, divisions in addition to those specified in division (A) of this section, bureaus, and other administrative units within the department of rehabilitation and correction and prescribe their powers and duties.

Section 5120.07 | Ex-offender reentry coalition.

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

(A) There is hereby created the ex-offender reentry coalition consisting of the following twenty-one members or their designees:

(1) The director of rehabilitation and correction;

(2) The director of aging;

(3) The director of mental health and addiction services;

(4) The director of development;

(5) The director of education and workforce;

(6) The director of health;

(7) The director of job and family services;

(8) The director of developmental disabilities;

(9) The director of public safety;

(10) The director of youth services;

(11) The chancellor of higher education;

(12) A representative or member of the governor's staff;

(13) The executive director of the opportunities for Ohioans with disabilities agency;

(14) The director of the department of commerce;

(15) The executive director of a health care licensing board created under Title XLVII of the Revised Code, as appointed by the chairperson of the coalition;

(16) The director of veterans services;

(17) An ex-offender appointed by the director of rehabilitation and correction;

(18) Two members of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, one of whom shall be the chairperson of the standing committee in the house of representatives that primarily addresses criminal justice matters and the other of whom shall be a member of the minority party in the house of representatives;

(19) Two members of the senate appointed by the president of the senate, one of whom shall be the chairperson of the standing committee in the senate that primarily addresses criminal justice matters and the other of whom shall be a member of the minority party in the senate.

(B) The members of the coalition shall serve without compensation. The director of rehabilitation and correction or the director's designee shall be the chairperson of the coalition.

(C) In consultation with persons interested and involved in the reentry of ex-offenders into the community, the members of the coalition shall meet periodically for the purpose of formulating, discussing, and developing policies and practices that facilitate the expansion and improvement of reentry services provided by state and local agencies in the collaborative efforts of those agencies to reintegrate offenders into society while simultaneously maintaining public safety and reducing recidivism in this state. Not later than one year after April 7, 2009, and on or before the same date of each year thereafter, the coalition shall submit to the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the senate a report, including recommendations for legislative action, the activities of the coalition, and the barriers affecting the successful reentry of ex-offenders into the community. The report shall analyze the effects of those barriers on ex-offenders and on their children and other family members in various areas, including but not limited to, the following:

(1) Admission to public and other housing;

(2) Child support obligations and procedures;

(3) Parental incarceration and family reunification;

(4) Social security benefits, veterans' benefits, food stamps, and other forms of public assistance;

(5) Employment;

(6) Education programs and financial assistance;

(7) Substance abuse and sex offender treatment programs and financial assistance and mental health services and financial assistance;

(8) Civic and political participation;

(9) Other collateral consequences under the Revised Code or the Ohio administrative code law that may result from a criminal conviction.

(D)(1) The report shall also include the following information:

(a) Identification of state appropriations for reentry programs;

(b) Identification of other funding sources for reentry programs that are not funded by the state.

(2) The coalition shall gather information about reentry programs in a repository maintained and made available by the coalition. Where available, the information shall include the following:

(a) The amount of funding received;

(b) The number of program participants;

(c) The composition of the program, including program goals, methods for measuring success, and program success rate;

(d) The type of post-program tracking that is utilized;

(e) Information about employment rates and recidivism rates of ex-offenders.

Last updated September 19, 2023 at 11:33 AM

Section 5120.08 | Bonds for employees.

• Effective: July 12, 1972
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 494 - 109th General Assembly

The department of rehabilitation and correction shall require any of its employees and each officer and employee of every institution under its control who may be charged with custody or control of any money or property belonging to the state or who is required to give bond, to give a surety company bond, properly conditioned, in a sum to be fixed by the department which when approved by the department, shall be filed in the office of the secretary of state. The cost of such bonds, when approved by the department, shall be paid from funds available for the department. The bonds required or authorized by this section may, in the discretion of the director of rehabilitation and correction, be individual, schedule, or blanket bonds.

Section 5120.09 | Division of business administration - powers and duties.

• Effective: September 29, 2013
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 59 - 130th General Assembly

Under the supervision and control of the director of rehabilitation and correction, the division of business administration shall do all of the following:

(A) Submit the budgets for the several divisions of the department of rehabilitation and correction, as prepared by the respective chiefs of those divisions, to the director. The director, with the assistance of the chief of the division of business administration, shall compile a departmental budget that contains all proposals submitted by the chiefs of the divisions and shall forward the departmental budget to the governor with comments and recommendations that the director considers necessary.

(B) Maintain accounts and records and compile statistics that the director prescribes;

(C) Under the control of the director, coordinate and make the necessary purchases and requisitions for the department and its divisions, except when goods and services are provided to the department as described in section 5119.44 of the Revised Code;

(D) Administer within this state federal criminal justice acts that the governor requires the department to administer. In order to improve the criminal justice system of this state, the division of business administration shall apply for, allocate, disburse, and account for grants that are made available pursuant to those federal criminal justice acts and grants that are made available from other federal government sources, state government sources, or private sources. As used in this division, "criminal justice system" and "federal criminal justice acts" have the same meanings as in section 5502.61 of the Revised Code.

(E) Audit the activities of governmental entities, persons as defined in section 1.59 of the Revised Code, and other types of nongovernmental entities that are financed in whole or in part by funds that the department allocates or disburses and that are derived from grants described in division (D) of this section;

(F) Enter into contracts, including contracts with federal, state, or local governmental entities, persons as defined in section 1.59 of the Revised Code, foundations, and other types of nongovernmental entities, that are necessary for the department to carry out its duties and that neither the director nor another section of the Revised Code authorizes another division of the department to enter;

(G) Exercise other powers and perform other duties that the director may assign to the division of business administration.

Section 5120.091 | Education services fund.

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

There is hereby created in the state treasury the education services fund. The department of rehabilitation and correction shall deposit into the fund all state revenues it receives from the Ohio department of education and workforce. Any money in the fund shall solely be used to pay educational expenses incurred by the department.

Last updated September 19, 2023 at 11:34 AM

Section 5120.092 | Adult and juvenile correctional facilities bond retirement fund.

• Effective: October 15, 2015
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 238 - 131st General Assembly

There is hereby created in the state treasury the adult and juvenile correctional facilities bond retirement fund. The fund shall receive proceeds derived from the sale of state adult or juvenile correctional facilities. Investment income with respect to moneys on deposit in the fund shall be retained by the fund. No investment of moneys in, or transfer of moneys from, the fund shall be made if the effect of the investment or transfer would be to adversely affect the exclusion from gross income of the interest payable on obligations previously issued for state adult or juvenile correctional facilities. Upon receipt of one or more opinions of nationally recognized bond counsel that the transfer of such moneys will not adversely affect the exclusion from gross income of the interest payable on such obligations, the director of budget and management may direct that moneys in the fund be transferred to one or more of the general revenue fund, any fund created in the state treasury administered by the department of rehabilitation and correction or the department of youth services, the adult correctional building fund, or the juvenile correctional building fund.

Section 5120.10 | Jail standards.

• Effective: October 17, 2019
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 166 - 133rd General Assembly

(A)(1) The director of rehabilitation and correction, by rule, shall promulgate minimum standards for jails in Ohio, including minimum security jails dedicated under section 341.34 or 753.21 of the Revised Code. Whenever the director files a rule or an amendment to a rule in final form with both the secretary of state and the director of the legislative service commission pursuant to section 111.15 of the Revised Code, the director of rehabilitation and correction promptly shall send a copy of the rule or amendment, if the rule or amendment pertains to minimum jail standards, by ordinary mail to the political subdivisions or affiliations of political subdivisions that operate jails to which the standards apply.

(2) The rules promulgated in accordance with division (A)(1) of this section shall serve as criteria for the investigative and supervisory powers and duties vested by division (D) of this section in the division of parole and community services of the department of rehabilitation and correction or in another division of the department to which those powers and duties are assigned.

(B) The director may initiate an action in the court of common pleas of the county in which a facility that is subject to the rules promulgated under division (A)(1) of this section is situated to enjoin compliance with the minimum standards for jails or with the minimum standards and minimum renovation, modification, and construction criteria for jails.

(C) Upon the request of an administrator of a jail facility, the chief executive of a municipal corporation, or a board of county commissioners, the director of rehabilitation and correction or the director's designee shall grant a variance from the minimum standards for jails in Ohio for a facility that is subject to one of those minimum standards when the director determines that strict compliance with the minimum standards would cause unusual, practical difficulties or financial hardship, that existing or alternative practices meet the intent of the minimum standards, and that granting a variance would not seriously affect the security of the facility, the supervision of the inmates, or the safe, healthful operation of the facility. If the director or the director's designee denies a variance, the applicant may appeal the denial pursuant to section 119.12 of the Revised Code.

(D) The following powers and duties shall be exercised by the division of parole and community services unless assigned to another division by the director:

(1) The investigation and supervision of county and municipal jails, workhouses, minimum security jails, and other correctional institutions and agencies;

(2) The review and approval of plans submitted to the department of rehabilitation and correction pursuant to division (E) of this section;

(3) The management and supervision of the adult parole authority created by section 5149.02 of the Revised Code;

(4) The review and approval of proposals for community-based correctional facilities and programs and district community-based correctional facilities and programs that are submitted pursuant to division (B) of section 2301.51 of the Revised Code;

(5) The distribution of funds made available to the division for purposes of assisting in the renovation, maintenance, and operation of community-based correctional facilities and programs and district community-based correctional facilities and programs in accordance with section 5120.112 of the Revised Code;

(6) The performance of the duty imposed upon the department of rehabilitation and correction in section 5149.31 of the Revised Code to establish and administer a program of subsidies to eligible municipal corporations, counties, and groups of contiguous counties for the development, implementation, and operation of community-based corrections programs;

(7) Licensing halfway houses and community residential centers for the care and treatment of adult offenders in accordance with section 2967.14 of the Revised Code;

(8) Contracting with a public or private agency or a department or political subdivision of the state that operates a licensed halfway house or community residential center for the provision of housing, supervision, and other services to parolees, releasees, persons placed under a residential sanction, persons under transitional control, and other eligible offenders in accordance with section 2967.14 of the Revised Code.

Other powers and duties may be assigned by the director of rehabilitation and correction to the division of parole and community services. This section does not apply to the department of youth services or its institutions or employees.

(E) No plan for any new jail, workhouse, or lockup, and no plan for a substantial addition or alteration to an existing jail, workhouse, or lockup, shall be adopted unless the officials responsible for adopting the plan have submitted the plan to the department of rehabilitation and correction for approval, and the department has approved the plan as provided in division (D)(2) of this section.

Section 5120.102 | Halfway house facility definitions.

• Effective: July 1, 2014
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 497 - 130th General Assembly

As used in sections 5120.102 to 5120.105 of the Revised Code:

(A) "Private, nonprofit organization" means a private association, organization, corporation, or other entity that is exempt from federal income taxation under section 501(a) and is described in section 501(c) of the "Internal Revenue Code of 1986," 100 Stat. 2085, 26 U.S.C.A. 501, as amended.

(B) "Governmental agency" means a state agency; a municipal corporation, county, township, other political subdivision or special district in this state established by or pursuant to law, or a combination of those political subdivisions or special districts; the United States or a department, division, or agency of the United States; or an agency, commission, or authority established pursuant to an interstate compact or agreement.

(C) "State agency" means the state or one of its branches, offices, boards, commissions, authorities, departments, divisions, or other units or agencies of the state.

(D) "Halfway house organization" means a private, nonprofit organization or a governmental agency that provides programs or activities in areas directly concerned with housing and monitoring offenders who are under the community supervision of the department of rehabilitation and correction or whom a court places in a halfway house pursuant to section 2929.16 or 2929.26 of the Revised Code.

(E) "Halfway house facility" means a capital facility in this state to which all of the following apply:

(1) The construction of the capital facility is authorized or funded by the general assembly pursuant to division (C) of section 5120.105 of the Revised Code.

(2) The state owns or has a sufficient real property interest in the capital facility or in the site of the capital facility for a period of not less than the greater of the useful life of the capital facility, as determined by the director of budget and management using the guidelines for maximum maturities as provided under divisions (B), (C), and (E) of section 133.20 of the Revised Code and certified to the department of rehabilitation and correction and the treasurer of state, or the final maturity of obligations issued by the treasurer of state to finance the capital facility.

(3) The capital facility is managed directly by, or by contract with, the department of rehabilitation and correction and is used for housing offenders who are under the community supervision of the department of rehabilitation and correction or whom a court places in a halfway house pursuant to section 2929.16 or 2929.26 of the Revised Code.

(F) "Construction" includes acquisition, demolition, reconstruction, alteration, renovation, remodeling, enlargement, improvement, site improvements, and related equipping and furnishing.

(G) "General building services" means general building services for a halfway house facility that include, but are not limited to, general custodial care, security, maintenance, repair, painting, decoration, cleaning, utilities, fire safety, grounds and site maintenance and upkeep, and plumbing.

(H) "Manage," "operate," or "management" means the provision of, or the exercise of control over the provision of, activities that relate to the housing of offenders in correctional facilities, including, but not limited to, providing for release services for offenders who are under the community supervision of the department of rehabilitation and correction or are placed by a court in a halfway house pursuant to section 2929.16 or 2929.26 of the Revised Code, and who reside in halfway house facilities.

Section 5120.103 | Construction of halfway houses.

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

(A) To the extent that funds are available, the department of rehabilitation and correction, in accordance with this section and sections 5120.104 and 5120.105 of the Revised Code, may construct or provide for the construction of halfway house facilities for offenders whom a court places in a halfway house pursuant to section 2929.16 or 2929.26 of the Revised Code or who are eligible for community supervision by the department of rehabilitation and correction.

(B) A halfway house organization that seeks to assist in the program planning of a halfway house facility described in division (A) of this section shall file an application with the director of rehabilitation and correction as set forth in a request for proposal. Upon the submission of an application, the division of parole and community services shall review it and, if the division believes it is appropriate, shall submit a recommendation for its approval to the director. When the division submits a recommendation for approval of an application, the director may approve the application. The director shall not take action or fail to take action, or permit the taking of action or the failure to take action, with respect to halfway house facilities that would adversely affect the exclusion of interest on public obligations or on fractionalized interests in public obligations from gross income for federal income tax purposes, or the classification or qualification of the public obligations or the interest on or fractionalized interests in public obligations for, or their exemption from, other treatment under the Internal Revenue Code.

(C) The director of rehabilitation and correction and the halfway house organization may enter into an agreement establishing terms for the program planning of the halfway house facility. Any terms so established shall conform to the terms of any covenant or agreement pertaining to an obligation from which the funds used for the construction of the halfway house facility are derived.

(D) The director of rehabilitation and correction, in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, shall adopt rules that specify procedures by which a halfway house organization may apply for a contract for program planning of a halfway house facility constructed under this section, procedures for the department to follow in considering an application, criteria for granting approval of an application, and any other rules that are necessary for the selection of program planners of a halfway house facility.

Section 5120.104 | Acquiring and leasing of capital facilities or sites for use as halfway house.

• Effective: July 1, 2014
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 497 - 130th General Assembly

(A) It is hereby declared to be a public purpose and an essential governmental function of the state that the department of rehabilitation and correction, in the name of the state and for the use and benefit of the department, purchase, acquire, construct, own, lease, or sublease capital facilities or sites for capital facilities for use as halfway house facilities.

(B) The director of rehabilitation and correction may lease or sublease capital facilities or sites for capital facilities under division (A) of this section to or from, and may make any other agreement with respect to the purchase, construction, management, or operation of those capital facilities with, a halfway house organization or the Ohio public facilities commission, the department of administrative services, or any other state agency having authority over that function. The director may make any lease, sublease, or other agreement under this division without the necessity for advertisement, auction, competitive bidding, court order, or other action or formality otherwise required by law. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Revised Code, the director shall make each lease or sublease to or from the Ohio public facilities commission or halfway house organization in accordance with Chapter 154. of the Revised Code.

(C) The director, by a sale, lease, sublease, release, or other agreement, may dispose of real or personal property or a lesser interest in real or personal property that is held or owned by the state for the use and benefit of the department, if the department does not need the property or interest for its purposes. The department shall make a sale, lease, sublease, release, or other agreement under this division upon the terms that it determines, subject to the approval by the governor in the case of a sale, lease, sublease, release, or other agreement regarding real property or an interest in real property. The director may make a lease, sublease, or other grant of use of property or an interest in property under this division without the necessity for advertisement, auction, competitive bidding, court order, or other action or formality otherwise required by law.

(D) The director may grant an easement or other interest in real property held by the state for the use and benefit of the department if that easement or interest will not interfere with the use of the property as a halfway house facility.

(E) All property purchased, acquired, constructed, owned, leased, or subleased by the department in the exercise of its powers and duties are public property used exclusively for a public purpose, and that property and the income derived by the department from the property are exempt from all taxation within this state, including without limitation, ad valorem and excise taxes.

Section 5120.105 | Providing construction services for halfway houses.

• Effective: September 10, 2012
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 487 - 129th General Assembly

(A) The Ohio facilities construction commission shall provide for the construction of a halfway house facility in conformity with Chapter 153. of the Revised Code, except that construction services may be provided by the department of rehabilitation and correction.

(B) The director of rehabilitation and correction may enter into an agreement with a halfway house organization for the management of a halfway house facility. The halfway house organization that occupies, will occupy, or is responsible for the management of a halfway house facility shall pay the costs of management of and general building services for the halfway house facility as provided in an agreement between the department of rehabilitation and correction and the halfway house organization.

(C) No state funds, including state bond proceeds, shall be spent on the construction of a halfway house facility under sections 5120.102 to 5120.105 of the Revised Code, unless the general assembly has specifically authorized the spending of money on, or has made an appropriation to the department of rehabilitation and correction for, the construction of the halfway house facility or rental payments relating to the financing of the construction of that facility. An authorization to spend money or an appropriation for planning a halfway house facility does not constitute an authorization to spend money on, or an appropriation for, the construction of that facility. Capital funds for the construction of halfway house facilities under sections 5120.102 to 5120.105 of the Revised Code shall be paid from the adult correctional building fund created in division (F) of section 154.24 of the Revised Code.

Section 5120.11 | Bureau of examination and classification.

• Effective: October 12, 2016
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 158 - 131st General Assembly

Within the department of rehabilitation and correction, there shall be established and maintained a bureau of examination and classification. The bureau shall conduct or provide for sociological, psychological, and psychiatric examination of each inmate of the correctional institutions. The examination shall be made as soon as possible after each inmate is admitted to any of the institutions, and further examinations may be made, if it is advisable. If the inmate is determined to be a person with a developmental disability, as defined in section 5123.01 of the Revised Code, the bureau shall notify the sentencing court in writing of its determination within forty-five days after sentencing.

The bureau shall collect such social and other information as will aid in the interpretation of its examinations.

Subject to division (C) of section 5120.21 of the Revised Code, the bureau shall keep a record of the health, activities, and behavior of each inmate while the inmate is in the custody of the state. The records, including the findings and recommendations of the bureau, shall be made available to the adult parole authority for use in imposing post-release control sanctions under section 2967.28 of the Revised Code or any other section of the Revised Code, in granting parole, and in making parole, post-release, and rehabilitation plans for the inmate when the inmate leaves the institution, and to the department for its use in approving transfers of inmates from one institution to another.

Section 5120.111 | Rules and forms for community-based correctional facilities and programs.

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

With respect to community-based correctional facilities and programs and district community-based correctional facilities and programs authorized under section 2301.51 of the Revised Code, the department of rehabilitation and correction shall do all of the following:

(A) Adopt rules, under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, that serve as criteria for the operation of community-based correctional facilities and programs and district community-based correctional facilities and programs approved in accordance with sections 2301.51 and 5120.10 of the Revised Code;

(B) Adopt rules, under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, governing the procedures for the submission of proposals for the establishment of community-based correctional facilities and programs and district community-based correctional facilities and programs to the division of parole and community services under division (B) of section 2301.51 of the Revised Code;

(C) Prescribe forms that are to be used by facility governing boards of community-based correctional facilities and programs and district community-based correctional facilities and programs in making application for state financial assistance under section 2301.56 of the Revised Code;

(D) Adopt rules, under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, that prescribe the standards of operation for the facilities and programs that must be satisfied for community-based correctional facilities and programs and district community-based correctional facilities and programs to be eligible for state financial assistance. The standards adopted by the department shall specify the class of offender whose degree of felony, whose community control sanction revocation history, or whose risk level as assessed by the single validated risk assessment tool described in section 5120.114 of the Revised Code, make the offender suitable for admission to the facility. The rules shall make the level of state financial assistance provided to every facility contingent upon the number of offenders admitted to the facility each fiscal year who satisfy the admission suitability standards established by the department.

(E) Through the division of parole and community services, accept and review proposals for the establishment of community-based correctional facilities and programs and district community-based correctional facilities and programs and approve those proposals that satisfy the minimum requirements contained in section 2301.52 of the Revised Code; and administer the program for state financial assistance to the facilities and programs in accordance with section 5120.112 of the Revised Code.

Section 5120.112 | Application for state financial assistance to community-based correctional facilities and programs.

• Effective: October 17, 2019
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 166 - 133rd General Assembly

(A) The division of parole and community services shall accept applications for state financial assistance for the renovation, maintenance, and operation of proposed and approved community-based correctional facilities and programs and district community-based correctional facilities and programs that are filed in accordance with section 2301.56 of the Revised Code. The division, upon receipt of an application for a particular facility and program, shall determine whether the application is in proper form, whether the applicant satisfies the standards of operation that are prescribed by the department of rehabilitation and correction under section 5120.111 of the Revised Code, whether the applicant has established the facility and program, and, if the applicant has not at that time established the facility and program, whether the proposal of the applicant sufficiently indicates that the standards will be satisfied upon the establishment of the facility and program. If the division determines that the application is in proper form and that the applicant has satisfied or will satisfy the standards of the department, the division shall notify the applicant that it is qualified to receive state financial assistance for the facility and program under this section from moneys made available to the division for purposes of providing assistance to community-based correctional facilities and programs and district community-based correctional facilities and programs.

(B) The amount of state financial assistance that is awarded to a qualified applicant under this section shall be determined by the division of parole and community services in accordance with this division. In determining the amount of state financial assistance to be awarded to a qualified applicant under this section, the division shall not calculate the cost of an offender incarcerated in a community-based correctional facility and program or district community-based correctional facility program to be greater than the average yearly cost of incarceration per inmate in all state correctional institutions, as defined in section 2967.01 of the Revised Code, as determined by the department of rehabilitation and correction.

The times and manner of distribution of state financial assistance to be awarded to a qualified applicant under this section shall be determined by the division of parole and community services.

(C) Upon approval of a proposal for a community-based correctional facility and program or a district community-based correctional facility and program by the division of parole and community services, the facility governing board, upon the advice of the judicial advisory board, shall enter into an award agreement with the department of rehabilitation and correction that outlines terms and conditions of the agreement. The agreement shall not be effective for longer than the state fiscal biennium in which the financial assistance is to be awarded. In the award agreement, the facility governing board shall identify a fiscal agent responsible for the deposit of funds and compliance with sections 2301.55 and 2301.56 of the Revised Code.

(D) No state financial assistance shall be distributed to a qualified applicant until an agreement concerning the assistance has been entered into by the director of rehabilitation and correction and the deputy director of the division of parole and community services on the part of the state, and by the chairperson of the facility governing board of the community-based correctional facility and program or district community-based correctional facility and program to receive the financial assistance, whichever is applicable. The agreement shall not be effective for longer than the state fiscal biennium in which the financial assistance is to be awarded, and shall specify all terms and conditions that are applicable to the awarding of the assistance, including, but not limited to:

(1) The total amount of assistance to be awarded for each community-based correctional facility and program or district community-based correctional facility and program, and the times and manner of the payment of the assistance;

(2) How persons who will staff and operate the facility and program are to be utilized during the period for which the assistance is to be granted, including descriptions of their positions and duties, and their salaries and fringe benefits;

(3) A statement that none of the persons who will staff and operate the facility and program, including those who are receiving some or all of their salaries out of funds received by the facility and program as state financial assistance, are employees or are to be considered as being employees of the department of rehabilitation and correction, and a statement that the employees who will staff and operate that facility and program are employees of the facility and program;

(4) A list of the type of expenses, other than salaries of persons who will staff and operate the facility and program, for which the state financial assistance can be used, and a requirement that purchases made with funds received as state financial assistance follow established fiscal guidelines as determined by the division of parole and community services and any applicable sections of the Revised Code, including, but not limited to, sections 125.01 to 125.11 and Chapter 153. of the Revised Code;

(5) The accounting procedures that are to be used by the facility and program in relation to the state financial assistance;

(6) A requirement that the facility and program file reports, during the period that it receives state financial assistance, with the division of parole and community services, which reports shall be statistical in nature and shall contain that information required under a research design agreed upon by all parties to the agreement, for purposes of evaluating the facility and program;

(7) A requirement that the facility and program comply with standards of operation as prescribed by the department under section 5120.111 of the Revised Code, and with all information submitted on its application;

(8) A statement that the facility and program will make a reasonable effort to augment the funding received from the state.

(E)(1) No state financial assistance shall be distributed to a qualified applicant until its proposal for a community-based correctional facility and program or district community-based correctional facility and program has been approved by the division of parole and community services.

(2) State financial assistance may be denied to any applicant if it fails to comply with the terms of any agreement entered into pursuant to division (D) of this section.

(F) The division of parole and community services may expend up to one-half per cent of the annual appropriation made for community-based correctional facility programs, for goods or services that benefit those programs.

Section 5120.113 | Written reentry plans.

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

(A) For each inmate committed to the department of rehabilitation and correction, except as provided in division (B) of this section, the department shall prepare a written reentry plan for the inmate to help guide the inmate's rehabilitation program during imprisonment, to assist in the inmate's reentry into the community, and to assess the inmate's needs upon release.

(B) Division (A) of this section does not apply to an inmate who has been sentenced to life imprisonment without parole or who has been sentenced to death. Division (A) of this section does not apply to any inmate who is expected to be imprisoned for thirty days or less, but the department may prepare a written reentry plan of the type described in that division if the department determines that the plan is needed.

(C) The department may collect, if available, any social and other information that will aid in the preparation of reentry plans under this section.

(D) In the event the department does not prepare a written reentry plan as specified in division (A) of this section, or makes a decision to not prepare a written reentry plan under division (B) of this section or to not collect information under division (C) of this section, that fact does not give rise to a claim for damages against the state, the department, the director of the department, or any employee of the department.

Section 5120.114 | Single validated risk assessment tool.

• Effective: March 20, 2019
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 231, Senate Bill 66 - 132nd General Assembly

(A) The department of rehabilitation and correction shall select a single validated risk assessment tool for adult offenders. This assessment tool shall be used by the following entities:

(1) Municipal courts, when the particular court orders an assessment of an offender for sentencing or another purpose;

(2) Common pleas courts, when the particular court orders an assessment of an offender for sentencing or another purpose;

(3) County courts, when the particular court orders an assessment of an offender for sentencing or another purpose;

(4) Municipal court departments of probation;

(5) County departments of probation;

(6) Probation departments established by two or more counties;

(7) State and local correctional institutions;

(8) Private correctional facilities;

(9) Community-based correctional facilities;

(10) The adult parole authority;

(11) The parole board ;

(12) The department of mental health and addiction services;

(13) Halfway houses.

(B) For each entity required to use the assessment tool, every employee of the entity who actually uses the tool shall be trained and certified by a trainer who is certified by the department. Each entity utilizing the assessment tool shall develop policies and protocols regarding all of the following activities:

(1) Application and integration of the assessment tool into operations, supervision, and case planning;

(2) Administrative oversight of the use of the assessment tool;

(3) Staff training;

(4) Quality assurance;

(5) Data collection and sharing as described under section 5120.115 of the Revised Code.

Section 5120.115 | Authorized users; confidentiality of reports.

• Effective: October 29, 2018
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 66 - 132nd General Assembly

(A) Each authorized user of the single validated risk assessment tool described in section 5120.114 of the Revised Code shall have access to all reports generated by the risk assessment tool and all data stored in the risk assessment tool. An authorized user may disclose any report generated by the risk assessment tool to law enforcement agencies, halfway houses, and medical, mental health, and substance abuse treatment providers for penological and rehabilitative purposes. An authorized user may also disclose any report generated by the risk assessment tool to qualified persons and research organizations for research, evaluative, and statistical purposes under the terms of written agreements between the authorized user and the recipients of the report. Reports generated by the risk assessment tool shall be disclosed in a manner that ensures the security and confidentiality of information in the reports.

(B) All reports generated by or data collected in the risk assessment tool are confidential information and are not a public record. No person shall disclose any report generated by or data collected in the risk assessment tool except as provided in division (A) of this section.

(C) As used in this section, "public record" has the same meaning as in section 149.43 of the Revised Code.

Section 5120.13 | Holding funds in trust for inmates.

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

(A) The department of rehabilitation and correction shall accept and hold on behalf of the state, if it is for the public interest, any grant, gift, devise, or bequest of money or property made to or for the use or benefit of any institution described in section 5120.05 of the Revised Code. The department shall keep such gift, grant, devise, or bequest as a distinct property or fund, and shall invest the same, if in money, in the manner provided by law. The department may deposit in a proper trust company or savings bank any fund left in trust during a specified life or lives, and shall adopt rules governing the deposit, transfer, withdrawal, or investment of such funds and the income thereof. Upon the expiration of any trust according to its terms, the department shall dispose of the funds or property held thereunder in the manner provided in the instrument creating the trust; except that, if the instrument creating the trust failed to make any terms of disposition, or if no trust was in evidence, then the decedent patient's, pupil's, or inmate's moneys, savings or commercial deposits, dividends or distributions, bonds, or any other interest bearing debt certificate or stamp issued by the United States government shall escheat to the state. All such unclaimed intangible personal property of a former inmate shall be retained by the managing officer in such institution for the period of one year during which time every possible effort shall be made to find that former inmate or that former inmate's legal representative. If, after a period of one year from the time such inmate has left such institution or has died, the managing officer is unable to locate the inmate or the inmate's legal representative, upon proper notice of such fact, the director of rehabilitation and correction shall at that time formulate in writing a method of disposition on the minutes of the department authorizing the managing officer of the institution to convert the same to cash to be paid into the treasury of the state to the credit of the general revenue fund. The department shall include in the annual report a statement of all such funds and property and the terms and conditions relating thereto.

Moneys or property deposited with managing officers of institutions by relatives, guardians, conservators, and friends for the special benefit of any inmate shall remain in the hands of such officers for use accordingly. Such funds shall be deposited in a personal deposit fund. Each such managing officer shall keep an itemized book account of the receipt and disposition thereof, which book shall be open at all times to the inspection of the department. The department shall adopt rules governing the deposit, transfer, withdrawal, or investment of such funds and the income thereof.

(B) Whenever an inmate confined in any state institution subject to the jurisdiction of the department dies, escapes, is discharged or paroled from the institution, or is placed on a term of post-release control under any section of the Revised Code and personal funds of the person remain in the hands of the managing officer of the institution and no demand is made upon the managing officer by the owner of the funds or the owner's legally appointed representative, the managing officer shall hold the funds in the personal deposit fund for a period of at least one year during which time the managing officer shall make every effort possible to locate the owner or the owner's legally appointed representative.

If, at the end of this period, no demand has been made for the funds, the managing officer shall dispose of the funds as follows:

(1) All moneys in a personal deposit fund in excess of ten dollars due for the support of an inmate shall be paid into the state's general revenue fund.

(2) All moneys in a personal deposit fund in excess of ten dollars not due for the support of an inmate shall be placed to the credit of the institution's local account designated as "industrial and entertainment" fund.

(3) All moneys less than ten dollars to the credit of an inmate shall be placed to the credit of the institution's local account designated as "industrial and entertainment" fund.

(C) Whenever an inmate in any state institution subject to the jurisdiction of the department dies, escapes, is discharged or paroled from the institution or is placed on a term of post-release control, and personal effects of the person remain in the hands of the managing officer of the institution, and no demand is made upon the managing officer by the owner of the property or the owner's legally appointed representative, the managing officer shall hold and dispose of such property as follows:

All the miscellaneous personal effects shall be held for a period of at least one year, during which time the managing officer shall make every effort possible to locate the owner or the owner's legal representative. If at the end of this period no demand has been made by the owner of the property or the owner's legal representative, the managing officer shall file with the county recorder of the county of commitment of the owner, all deeds, wills, contract mortgages, or assignments. The balance of the personal effects shall be sold at public auction after being duly advertised, and the funds turned over to the treasurer of state for credit to the general revenue fund. If any of the property is not of a type to be filed with the county recorder and is not salable at public auction, then the managing officer of the institution shall destroy the property.

Section 5120.131 | Industrial and entertainment fund - commissary fund.

• Effective: July 12, 1972
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 494 - 109th General Assembly

Each managing officer of an institution under the jurisdiction of the department of rehabilitation and correction as described in section 5120.05 of the Revised Code, with the approval of the director of the department of rehabilitation and correction, may establish local institution funds designated as follows:

(A) Industrial and entertainment fund created and maintained for the entertainment and welfare of the inmates of the institutions under the jurisdiction of the department. The director shall establish rules and regulations for the operation of the industrial and entertainment fund.

(B) Commissary fund created and maintained for the benefit of inmates in the institutions under the jurisdiction of the department.

Commissary revenue over and above operating costs and reserve shall be considered profits. All profits from the commissary fund operations shall be paid into the industrial and entertainment fund and used only for the entertainment and welfare of inmates. The director shall establish rules and regulations for the operation of the commissary fund.

Section 5120.132 | Prisoner programs fund.

• Effective: September 10, 2012
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 487 - 129th General Assembly

(A) There is hereby created in the state treasury the prisoner programs fund. The director of rehabilitation and correction shall deposit in the fund all moneys received by the department from commissions on telephone systems and services provided to prisoners in relation to electronic mail, prisoner trust fund deposits, and the purchase of music, digital music players, and other electronic devices. The money in the fund shall be used only to pay for the costs of the following:

(1) The purchase of material, supplies, and equipment used in any library program, educational program, religious program, recreational program, or pre-release program operated by the department for the benefit of prisoners;

(2) The construction, alteration, repair, or reconstruction of buildings and structures owned by the department for use in any library program, educational program, religious program, recreational program, or pre-release program operated by the department for the benefit of prisoners;

(3) The payment of salary, wages, and other compensation to employees of the department who are employed in any library program, educational program, religious program, recreational program, or pre-release program operated by the department for the benefit of prisoners;

(4) The compensation to vendors that contract with the department for the provision of services for the benefit of prisoners in any library program, educational program, religious program, recreational program, or pre-release program operated by the department;

(5) The payment of prisoner release payments in an appropriate amount as determined pursuant to rule;

(6) The purchase of other goods and the payment of other services that are determined, in the discretion of the director, to be goods and services that may provide additional benefit to prisoners.

(B) The director shall establish rules for the operation of the prisoner programs fund.

Section 5120.133 | Prisoner's financial obligations and funds.

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

(A) The department of rehabilitation and correction, upon receipt of a certified copy of the judgment of a court of record in an action in which a prisoner was a party that orders a prisoner to pay a stated obligation, may apply toward payment of the obligation money that belongs to a prisoner and that is in the account kept for the prisoner by the department. The department may transmit the prisoner's funds directly to the court for disbursement or may make payment in another manner as directed by the court. Except as provided in rules adopted under this section, when an amount is received for the prisoner's account, the department shall use it for the payment of the obligation and shall continue using amounts received for the account until the full amount of the obligation has been paid. No proceedings in aid of execution are necessary for the department to take the action required by this section.

(B) The department may adopt rules specifying a portion of an inmate's earnings or other receipts that the inmate is allowed to retain to make purchases from the commissary and that may not be used to satisfy an obligation pursuant to division (A) of this section. The rules shall not permit the application or disbursement of funds belonging to an inmate if those funds are exempt from execution, garnishment, attachment, or sale to satisfy a judgment or order pursuant to section 2329.66 of the Revised Code or to any other provision of law.

Section 5120.134 | Vending commission fund.

• Effective: June 30, 1995
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 117 - 121st General Assembly

Each managing officer of an institution under the jurisdiction of the department of rehabilitation and correction, based upon a recommendation of the institution's joint labor management committee, may establish a local institution fund that shall be designated the vending commission fund and that shall be created and maintained for the benefit and welfare of the employees of that institution. The fund shall receive the profits from vending commission areas that are designated solely for use by department of rehabilitation and correction employees. The director of rehabilitation and correction shall establish rules for the operation of employee vending commission funds.

Section 5120.14 | Notice of escape and of apprehension of escapee.

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

(A) If a person who was convicted of or pleaded guilty to an offense escapes from a correctional institution in this state under the control of the department of rehabilitation and correction or otherwise escapes from the custody of the department, the department immediately after the escape shall report the escape, by telephone and in writing, to all local law enforcement agencies with jurisdiction in the county in which the institution from which the escape was made or to which the person was sentenced is located, to all local law enforcement agencies with jurisdiction in the county in which the person was convicted or pleaded guilty to the offense for which the escaped person was sentenced, to the state highway patrol, to the prosecuting attorney of the county in which the institution from which the escape was made or to which the person was sentenced is located, to the prosecuting attorney of the county in which the person was convicted or pleaded guilty to the offense for which the escaped person was sentenced, to a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the institution from which the escape was made or to which the person was sentenced is located, and to a newspaper of general circulation in each county in which the escaped person was indicted for an offense for which, at the time of the escape, the escaped person had been sentenced to that institution. The written notice may be by facsimile transmission, electronic mail, or mail. A failure to comply with this requirement is a violation of section 2921.22 of the Revised Code.

(B) Upon the apprehension of the escaped person, the department shall give notice of the apprehension by telephone and in writing to the persons who were given notice of the escape under division (A) of this section.

Last updated September 18, 2023 at 10:59 AM

Section 5120.15 | Admission and discharge of inmates.

• Effective: July 12, 1972
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 494 - 109th General Assembly

The department of rehabilitation and correction shall regulate the admission and discharge of inmates in the institutions described in section 5120.05 of the Revised Code.

Section 5120.16 | Reception, examination, observation, and classification of inmates.

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

(A) Persons sentenced to any institution, division, or place under the control of the department of rehabilitation and correction are committed to the control, care, and custody of the department. Subject to division (B) of this section, the director of rehabilitation and correction or the director's designee may direct that persons sentenced to the department, or to any institution or place within the department, shall be conveyed initially to an appropriate facility established and maintained by the department for reception, examination, observation, and classification of the persons so sentenced. If a presentence investigation report was not prepared pursuant to section 2947.06 or 2951.03 of the Revised Code or Criminal Rule 32.2 regarding any person sentenced to the department or to any institution or place within the department, the director or the director's designee may order the department's field staff to conduct an offender background investigation and prepare an offender background investigation report regarding the person. The investigation and report shall be conducted in accordance with division (A) of section 2951.03 of the Revised Code and the report shall contain the same information as a presentence investigation report prepared pursuant to that section.

When the examination, observation, and classification of the person have been completed by the facility and a written report of the examination, observation, and classification is filed with the commitment papers, the director or the director's designee, subject to division (B) of this section, shall assign the person to a suitable state institution or place maintained by the state within the director's department or shall designate that the person is to be housed in a county, multicounty, municipal, municipal-county, or multicounty-municipal jail or workhouse, if authorized by section 5120.161 of the Revised Code, there to be confined, cared for, treated, trained, and rehabilitated until paroled, released in accordance with section 2929.20, 2967.26, 2967.28, or 5120.036 of the Revised Code, or otherwise released under the order of the court that imposed the person's sentence. No person committed by a probate court, a trial court pursuant to section 2945.40, 2945.401, or 2945.402 of the Revised Code subsequent to a finding of not guilty by reason of insanity, or a juvenile court shall be assigned to a state correctional institution.

If a person is sentenced, committed, or assigned for the commission of a felony to any one of the institutions or places maintained by the department or to a county, multicounty, municipal, municipal-county, or multicounty-municipal jail or workhouse, the department, by order duly recorded and subject to division (B) of this section, may transfer the person to any other institution, or, if authorized by section 5120.161 of the Revised Code, to a county, multicounty, municipal, municipal-county, or multicounty-municipal jail or workhouse.

(B) If the case of a child who is alleged to be a delinquent child is transferred for criminal prosecution to the appropriate court having jurisdiction of the offense pursuant to section 2152.12 of the Revised Code, if the child is convicted of or pleads guilty to a felony in that case, if the child is sentenced to a prison term, as defined in section 2901.01 of the Revised Code, and if the child is under eighteen years of age when delivered to the custody of the department of rehabilitation and correction, all of the following apply regarding the housing of the child:

(1) Until the child attains eighteen years of age, subject to divisions (B)(2), (3), and (4) of this section, the department shall house the child in a housing unit in a state correctional institution separate from inmates who are eighteen years of age or older.

(2) The department is not required to house the child in the manner described in division (B)(1) of this section if the child does not observe the rules and regulations of the institution or the child otherwise creates a security risk by being housed separately.

(3) If the department receives too few inmates who are under eighteen years of age to fill a housing unit in a state correctional institution separate from inmates who are eighteen years of age or older, as described in division (B)(1) of this section, the department may house the child in a housing unit in a state correctional institution that includes both inmates who are under eighteen years of age and inmates who are eighteen years of age or older and under twenty-one years of age.

(4) Upon the child's attainment of eighteen years of age, the department may house the child with the adult population of the state correctional institution.

(C) The director or the director's designee shall develop a policy for dealing with problems related to infection with the human immunodeficiency virus. The policy shall include methods of identifying individuals committed to the custody of the department who are at high risk of infection with the virus and counseling those individuals.

Arrangements for housing individuals diagnosed as having AIDS or an AIDS-related condition shall be made by the department based on security and medical considerations and in accordance with division (B) of this section, if applicable.

Section 5120.161 | Local housing of certain state prisoners.

• Effective: January 1, 2004
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 123 - 124th General Assembly

(A) Except as provided in division (C) of this section, the department of rehabilitation and correction may enter into an agreement with any local authority operating a county, multicounty, municipal, municipal-county, or multicounty-municipal jail or workhouse, as described in section 307.93, 341.21, or 753.16 of the Revised Code, for the housing in the jail or workhouse operated by the local authority of persons who are convicted of or plead guilty to a felony of the fourth or fifth degree if the person previously has not been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a felony and if the felony is not an offense of violence. The agreement shall specify a per diem fee that the department shall pay the local authority for each such person housed in the jail or workhouse pursuant to the agreement, shall set forth any other terms and conditions for the housing of such persons in the jail or workhouse, and shall indicate that the department, subject to the relevant terms and conditions set forth, may designate those persons to be housed at the jail or workhouse.

(B) A person designated by the department to be housed in a county, multicounty, municipal, municipal-county, or multicounty-municipal jail or workhouse that is the subject of an agreement entered into under division (A) of this section shall be conveyed by the department to that jail or workhouse and shall be kept at the jail or workhouse until the person's term of imprisonment expires, the person is pardoned, paroled, or placed under a post-release control sanction, or the person is transferred under the laws permitting the transfer of prisoners. The department shall pay the local authority that operates the jail or workhouse the per diem fee specified in the agreement for each such person housed in the jail or workhouse. Each such person housed in the jail or workhouse shall be under the direct supervision and control of the keeper, superintendent, or other person in charge of the jail or workhouse, but shall be considered for all other purposes to be within the custody of the department of rehabilitation and correction. Section 2967.193 of the Revised Code and all other provisions of the Revised Code that pertain to persons within the custody of the department that would not by their nature clearly be inapplicable apply to persons housed pursuant to this section.

(C) The department of rehabilitation and correction shall not enter into an agreement pursuant to division (A) of this section with any local authority unless the jail or workhouse operated by the authority complies with the Minimum Standards for Jails in Ohio.

(D) A court that sentences a person for a felony may include as the sentence or part of the sentence, in accordance with division (A) of section 2929.16 of the Revised Code and regardless of whether the jail or workhouse is the subject of an agreement entered into under division (A) of this section, a sanction that consists of a term of up to six months in a jail or workhouse or, if the offense is a fourth degree felony OVI offense and the offender is sentenced under division (G)(1) of section 2929.13 of the Revised Code, a sanction that consists of a term of up to one year in jail less the mandatory term of local incarceration of sixty or one hundred twenty consecutive days imposed pursuant to division (G)(1) of section 2929.13 of the Revised Code.

(E) "Fourth degree felony OVI offense" and "mandatory term of local incarceration" have the same meanings as in section 2929.01 of the Revised Code.

Section 5120.162 | Transferring children in custody of youth services department to correctional medical center.

• Effective: November 13, 1992
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 331 - 119th General Assembly

(A) The department of rehabilitation and correction may enter into an agreement with the department of youth services pursuant to which the department of youth services may transfer to a correctional medical center established by the department of rehabilitation and correction children who are within its custody, who have an illness, physical condition, or other medical problem, and who apparently would benefit from diagnosis or treatment at the center for that illness, condition, or problem. Notwithstanding the fact that portions of the center may be used for the benefit of children in the custody of the department of youth services, the center shall be considered a facility of the department of rehabilitation and correction and shall be controlled and operated in accordance with the agreement and the provisions of this section. A child who is in the custody of the department of youth services and who is transferred to the center shall be considered as remaining in the custody of the department of youth services during the period of his diagnosis, treatment, or housing for diagnosis or treatment in the center.

During the development or renovation of a correctional medical center that is the subject of an agreement under this section, the department of rehabilitation and correction shall confer with the department of youth services to ensure that the center is planned and constructed or renovated to facilitate its use for the diagnosis or treatment of both prisoners in the custody of the department of rehabilitation and correction and children in the custody of the department of youth services who may be transferred to the center.

(B) All children who are in the custody of the department of youth services and who are transferred to a correctional medical center pursuant to an agreement under this section shall be housed in areas of the center that are totally separate and removed by sight and sound from all prisoners who are in the custody of the department of rehabilitation and correction and who are being diagnosed, treated, or housed for diagnosis or treatment in the center or who otherwise are in the center. For purposes of this division, children who are being diagnosed, treated, or housed for diagnosis or treatment in a building or wing of a building in which no prisoners in the custody of the department of rehabilitation and correction are being diagnosed, treated, or housed for diagnosis or treatment or otherwise are present are being housed totally separate from any prisoners who are in the custody of the department of rehabilitation and correction.

Section 5120.163 | Examination, testing and treatment for certain diseases.

• Effective: March 17, 1998
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 111 - 122nd General Assembly

At the time of reception and at other times the director determines to be appropriate, the department of rehabilitation and correction may examine and test a prisoner for tuberculosis, HIV infection, hepatitis, including but not limited to hepatitis A, B, and C, and other contagious diseases. The department may test and treat involuntarily a prisoner in a state correctional institution who refuses to be tested or treated for tuberculosis, HIV infection, hepatitis, including but not limited to hepatitis A, B, and C, or another contagious disease.

Section 5120.17 | Transferring inmate to psychiatric hospital.

• Effective: April 6, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 281 - 134th General Assembly

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Mental illness" means a substantial disorder of thought, mood, perception, orientation, or memory that grossly impairs judgment, behavior, capacity to recognize reality, or ability to meet the ordinary demands of life.

(2) "Person with a mental illness subject to hospitalization" means a person with a mental illness to whom any of the following applies because of the person's mental illness:

(a) The person represents a substantial risk of physical harm to the person as manifested by evidence of threats of, or attempts at, suicide or serious self-inflicted bodily harm.

(b) The person represents a substantial risk of physical harm to others as manifested by evidence of recent homicidal or other violent behavior, evidence of recent threats that place another in reasonable fear of violent behavior and serious physical harm, or other evidence of present dangerousness.

(c) The person represents a substantial and immediate risk of serious physical impairment or injury to the person as manifested by evidence that the person is unable to provide for and is not providing for the person's basic physical needs because of the person's mental illness and that appropriate provision for those needs cannot be made immediately available in the correctional institution in which the inmate is currently housed.

(d) The person would benefit from treatment in a hospital for the person's mental illness and is in need of treatment in a hospital as manifested by evidence of behavior that creates a grave and imminent risk to substantial rights of others or the person.

(3) "Psychiatric hospital" means all or part of a facility that is operated and managed by the department of mental health and addiction services to provide psychiatric hospitalization services in accordance with the requirements of this section pursuant to an agreement between the directors of rehabilitation and correction and mental health and addiction services or, is licensed by the department of mental health and addiction services pursuant to section 5119.33 of the Revised Code as a psychiatric hospital and is accredited by a health care accrediting organization approved by the department of mental health and addiction services and the psychiatric hospital is any of the following:

(a) Operated and managed by the department of rehabilitation and correction within a facility that is operated by the department of rehabilitation and correction;

(b) Operated and managed by a contractor for the department of rehabilitation and correction within a facility that is operated by the department of rehabilitation and correction;

(c) Operated and managed in the community by an entity that has contracted with the department of rehabilitation and correction to provide psychiatric hospitalization services in accordance with the requirements of this section.

(4) "Inmate patient" means an inmate who is admitted to a psychiatric hospital.

(5) "Admitted" to a psychiatric hospital means being accepted for and staying at least one night at the psychiatric hospital.

(6) "Treatment plan" means a written statement of reasonable objectives and goals for an inmate patient that is based on the needs of the inmate patient and that is established by the treatment team, with the active participation of the inmate patient and with documentation of that participation. "Treatment plan" includes all of the following:

(a) The specific criteria to be used in evaluating progress toward achieving the objectives and goals;

(b) The services to be provided to the inmate patient during the inmate patient's hospitalization;

(c) The services to be provided to the inmate patient after discharge from the hospital, including, but not limited to, housing and mental health services provided at the state correctional institution to which the inmate patient returns after discharge or community mental health services.

(7) "Emergency transfer" means the transfer of an inmate with a mental illness to a psychiatric hospital when the inmate presents an immediate danger to self or others and requires hospital-level care.

(8) "Uncontested transfer" means the transfer of an inmate with a mental illness to a psychiatric hospital when the inmate has the mental capacity to, and has waived, the hearing required by division (B) of this section.

(9)(a) "Independent decision-maker" means a person who is employed or retained by the department of rehabilitation and correction and is appointed by the chief or chief clinical officer of mental health services as a hospitalization hearing officer to conduct due process hearings.

(b) An independent decision-maker who presides over any hearing or issues any order pursuant to this section shall be a psychiatrist, psychologist, or attorney, shall not be specifically associated with the institution in which the inmate who is the subject of the hearing or order resides at the time of the hearing or order, and previously shall not have had any treatment relationship with nor have represented in any legal proceeding the inmate who is the subject of the order.

(B)(1) Except as provided in division (C) of this section, if the warden of a state correctional institution or the warden's designee believes that an inmate should be transferred from the institution to a psychiatric hospital, the department shall hold a hearing to determine whether the inmate is a person with a mental illness subject to hospitalization. The department shall conduct the hearing at the state correctional institution in which the inmate is confined, and the department shall provide qualified independent assistance to the inmate for the hearing. An independent decision-maker provided by the department shall preside at the hearing and determine whether the inmate is a person with a mental illness subject to hospitalization.

(2) Except as provided in division (C) of this section, prior to the hearing held pursuant to division (B)(1) of this section, the warden or the warden's designee shall give written notice to the inmate that the department is considering transferring the inmate to a psychiatric hospital, that it will hold a hearing on the proposed transfer at which the inmate may be present, that at the hearing the inmate has the rights described in division (B)(3) of this section, and that the department will provide qualified independent assistance to the inmate with respect to the hearing. The department shall not hold the hearing until the inmate has received written notice of the proposed transfer and has had sufficient time to consult with the person appointed by the department to provide assistance to the inmate and to prepare for a presentation at the hearing.

(3) At the hearing held pursuant to division (B)(1) of this section, the department shall disclose to the inmate the evidence that it relies upon for the transfer and shall give the inmate an opportunity to be heard. Unless the independent decision-maker finds good cause for not permitting it, the inmate may present documentary evidence and the testimony of witnesses at the hearing and may confront and cross-examine witnesses called by the department.

(4) If the independent decision-maker does not find clear and convincing evidence that the inmate is a person with a mental illness subject to hospitalization, the department shall not transfer the inmate to a psychiatric hospital but shall continue to confine the inmate in the same state correctional institution or in another state correctional institution that the department considers appropriate. If the independent decision-maker finds clear and convincing evidence that the inmate is a person with a mental illness subject to hospitalization, the decision-maker shall order that the inmate be transported to a psychiatric hospital for observation and treatment for a period of not longer than thirty days. After the hearing, the independent decision-maker shall submit to the department a written decision that states one of the findings described in division (B)(4) of this section, the evidence that the decision-maker relied on in reaching that conclusion, and, if the decision is that the inmate should be transferred, the reasons for the transfer.

(C)(1) The department may transfer an inmate to a psychiatric hospital under an emergency transfer order if the chief clinical officer of mental health services of the department or that officer's designee and either a psychiatrist employed or retained by the department or, in the absence of a psychiatrist, a psychologist employed or retained by the department determines that the inmate has a mental illness, presents an immediate danger to self or others, and requires hospital-level care.

(2) The department may transfer an inmate to a psychiatric hospital under an uncontested transfer order if both of the following apply:

(a) A psychiatrist employed or retained by the department determines all of the following apply:

(i) The inmate has a mental illness or is a person with a mental illness subject to hospitalization.

(ii) The inmate requires hospital care to address the mental illness.

(iii) The inmate has the mental capacity to make a reasoned choice regarding the inmate's transfer to a hospital.

(b) The inmate agrees to a transfer to a hospital.

(3) The written notice and the hearing required under divisions (B)(1) and (2) of this section are not required for an emergency transfer or uncontested transfer under division (C)(1) or (2) of this section.

(4) After an emergency transfer under division (C)(1) of this section, the department shall hold a hearing for continued hospitalization within five working days after admission of the transferred inmate to the psychiatric hospital. The department shall hold subsequent hearings pursuant to division (F) of this section at the same intervals as required for inmate patients who are transported to a psychiatric hospital under division (B)(4) of this section.

(5) After an uncontested transfer under division (C)(2) of this section, the inmate may withdraw consent to the transfer in writing at any time. Upon the inmate's withdrawal of consent, the hospital shall discharge the inmate, or, within five working days, the department shall hold a hearing for continued hospitalization. The department shall hold subsequent hearings pursuant to division (F) of this section at the same time intervals as required for inmate patients who are transported to a psychiatric hospital under division (B)(4) of this section.

(D)(1) If an independent decision-maker, pursuant to division (B)(4) of this section, orders an inmate transported to a psychiatric hospital or if an inmate is transferred pursuant to division (C)(1) or (2) of this section, the staff of the psychiatric hospital shall examine the inmate patient when admitted to the psychiatric hospital as soon as practicable after the inmate patient arrives at the hospital and no later than twenty-four hours after the time of arrival. The attending physician responsible for the inmate patient's care shall give the inmate patient all information necessary to enable the patient to give a fully informed, intelligent, and knowing consent to the treatment the inmate patient will receive in the hospital. The attending physician shall tell the inmate patient the expected physical and medical consequences of any proposed treatment and shall give the inmate patient the opportunity to consult with another psychiatrist at the hospital and with the inmate advisor.

(2) No inmate patient who is transported or transferred pursuant to division (B)(4) or (C)(1) or (2) of this section to a psychiatric hospital within a facility that is operated by the department of rehabilitation and correction shall be subjected to any of the following procedures:

(a) Convulsive therapy;

(b) Major aversive interventions;

(c) Any unusually hazardous treatment procedures;

(d) Psychosurgery.

(E) The department of rehabilitation and correction shall ensure that an inmate patient hospitalized pursuant to this section receives or has all of the following:

(1) Receives sufficient professional care within twenty days of admission to ensure that an evaluation of the inmate patient's current status, differential diagnosis, probable prognosis, and description of the current treatment plan have been formulated and are stated on the inmate patient's official chart;

(2) Has a written treatment plan consistent with the evaluation, diagnosis, prognosis, and goals of treatment;

(3) Receives treatment consistent with the treatment plan;

(4) Receives periodic reevaluations of the treatment plan by the professional staff at intervals not to exceed thirty days;

(5) Is provided with adequate medical treatment for physical disease or injury;

(6) Receives humane care and treatment, including, without being limited to, the following:

(a) Access to the facilities and personnel required by the treatment plan;

(b) A humane psychological and physical environment;

(c) The right to obtain current information concerning the treatment program, the expected outcomes of treatment, and the expectations for the inmate patient's participation in the treatment program in terms that the inmate patient reasonably can understand;

(d) Opportunity for participation in programs designed to help the inmate patient acquire the skills needed to work toward discharge from the psychiatric hospital;

(e) The right to be free from unnecessary or excessive medication and from unnecessary restraints or isolation;

(f) All other rights afforded inmates in the custody of the department consistent with rules, policy, and procedure of the department.

(F) The department shall hold a hearing for the continued hospitalization of an inmate patient who is transported or transferred to a psychiatric hospital pursuant to division (B)(4) or (C)(1) of this section prior to the expiration of the initial thirty-day period of hospitalization. The department shall hold any subsequent hearings, if necessary, not later than ninety days after the first thirty-day hearing and then not later than each one hundred and eighty days after the immediately prior hearing. An independent decision-maker shall conduct the hearings at the psychiatric hospital in which the inmate patient is confined. The inmate patient shall be afforded all of the rights set forth in this section for the hearing prior to transfer to the psychiatric hospital. The department may not waive a hearing for continued commitment. A hearing for continued commitment is mandatory for an inmate patient transported or transferred to a psychiatric hospital pursuant to division (B)(4) or (C)(1) of this section unless the inmate patient has the capacity to make a reasoned choice to execute a waiver and waives the hearing in writing. An inmate patient who is transferred to a psychiatric hospital pursuant to an uncontested transfer under division (C)(2) of this section and who has scheduled hearings after withdrawal of consent for hospitalization may waive any of the scheduled hearings if the inmate has the capacity to make a reasoned choice and executes a written waiver of the hearing.

If upon completion of the hearing the independent decision-maker does not find by clear and convincing evidence that the inmate patient is a person with a mental illness subject to hospitalization, the independent decision-maker shall order the inmate patient's discharge from the psychiatric hospital. If the independent decision-maker finds by clear and convincing evidence that the inmate patient is a person with a mental illness subject to hospitalization, the independent decision-maker shall order that the inmate patient remain at the psychiatric hospital for continued hospitalization until the next required hearing.

If at any time prior to the next required hearing for continued hospitalization, the medical director of the hospital or the attending physician determines that the treatment needs of the inmate patient could be met equally well in an available and appropriate less restrictive state correctional institution or unit, the medical director or attending physician may discharge the inmate to that facility.

(G) An inmate patient is entitled to the credits toward the reduction of the inmate patient's stated prison term pursuant to Chapters 2967. and 5120. of the Revised Code under the same terms and conditions as if the inmate patient were in any other institution of the department of rehabilitation and correction.

(H) The adult parole authority may place an inmate patient on parole or under post-release control directly from a psychiatric hospital.

(I) If an inmate patient who is a person with a mental illness subject to hospitalization is to be released from a psychiatric hospital because of the expiration of the inmate patient's stated prison term, the director of rehabilitation and correction or the director's designee, at least fourteen days before the expiration date, may file an affidavit under section 5122.11 or 5123.71 of the Revised Code with the probate court in the county where the psychiatric hospital is located or the probate court in the county where the inmate will reside, alleging that the inmate patient is a person with a mental illness subject to court order, as defined in section 5122.01 of the Revised Code, or a person with an intellectual disability subject to institutionalization by court order, as defined in section 5123.01 of the Revised Code, whichever is applicable. The proceedings in the probate court shall be conducted pursuant to Chapter 5122. or 5123. of the Revised Code except as modified by this division.

Upon the request of the inmate patient, the probate court shall grant the inmate patient an initial hearing under section 5122.141 of the Revised Code or a probable cause hearing under section 5123.75 of the Revised Code before the expiration of the stated prison term. After holding a full hearing, the probate court shall make a disposition authorized by section 5122.15 or 5123.76 of the Revised Code before the date of the expiration of the stated prison term. No inmate patient shall be held in the custody of the department of rehabilitation and correction past the date of the expiration of the inmate patient's stated prison term.

(J) The department of rehabilitation and correction shall set standards for treatment provided to inmate patients.

(K) A certificate, application, record, or report that is made in compliance with this section and that directly or indirectly identifies an inmate or former inmate whose hospitalization has been sought under this section is confidential. No person shall disclose the contents of any certificate, application, record, or report of that nature or any other psychiatric or medical record or report regarding an inmate with a mental illness unless one of the following applies:

(1) The person identified, or the person's legal guardian, if any, consents to disclosure, and the chief clinical officer or designee of mental health services of the department of rehabilitation and correction determines that disclosure is in the best interests of the person.

(2) Disclosure is required by a court order signed by a judge.

(3) An inmate patient seeks access to the inmate patient's own psychiatric and medical records, unless access is specifically restricted in the treatment plan for clear treatment reasons.

(4) Hospitals and other institutions and facilities within the department of rehabilitation and correction may exchange psychiatric records and other pertinent information with other hospitals, institutions, and facilities of the department, but the information that may be released about an inmate patient is limited to medication history, physical health status and history, summary of course of treatment in the hospital, summary of treatment needs, and a discharge summary, if any.

(5) An inmate patient's family member who is involved in planning, providing, and monitoring services to the inmate patient may receive medication information, a summary of the inmate patient's diagnosis and prognosis, and a list of the services and personnel available to assist the inmate patient and family if the attending physician determines that disclosure would be in the best interest of the inmate patient. No disclosure shall be made under this division unless the inmate patient is notified of the possible disclosure, receives the information to be disclosed, and does not object to the disclosure.

(6) The department of rehabilitation and correction may exchange psychiatric hospitalization records, other mental health treatment records, and other pertinent information with county sheriffs' offices, hospitals, institutions, and facilities of the department of mental health and addiction services and with community mental health services providers and boards of alcohol, drug addiction, and mental health services with which the department of mental health and addiction services has a current agreement for patient care or services to ensure continuity of care. With respect to an inmate with a mental illness, disclosure under this division is limited to records regarding the inmate's medication history, physical health status and history, summary of course of treatment, summary of treatment needs, and a discharge summary, if any. No office, department, agency, provider, or board shall disclose the records and other information unless one of the following applies:

(a) The inmate with a mental illness is notified of the possible disclosure and consents to the disclosure.

(b) The inmate with a mental illness is notified of the possible disclosure, an attempt to gain the consent of the inmate is made, and the office, department, agency, or board documents the attempt to gain consent, the inmate's objections, if any, and the reasons for disclosure in spite of the inmate's objections.

(7) Information may be disclosed to staff members designated by the director of rehabilitation and correction for the purpose of evaluating the quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of services and determining if the services meet minimum standards.

The name of an inmate patient shall not be retained with the information obtained during the evaluations.

(L) The director of rehabilitation and correction may adopt rules setting forth guidelines for the procedures required under divisions (B), (C)(1), and (C)(2) of this section.

Last updated March 10, 2023 at 12:53 PM

Section 5120.171 | Care and treatment of seriously mentally ill inmates.

• Effective: September 29, 2013
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 59 - 130th General Assembly

(A) The department of rehabilitation and correction shall have exclusive direction and control of the care and treatment of seriously mentally ill inmates who are in the department's custody. The department shall enter into any arrangements it considers desirable on such matters, including but not limited to both of the following:

(1) The monitoring of such services by another state agency or agencies;

(2) Adopting joint standards for the provision and monitoring of mental health services with the department of mental health and addiction services and other state agencies.

(B) In order to implement its duties imposed by division (A) of this section, the department of rehabilitation and correction may enter into a contract for the provision of the mental health services described in that division.

Section 5120.172 | Consent to medical treatment of minor prosecuted as adult.

• Effective: January 1, 2002
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 179 - 123rd General Assembly

A minor whose case is transferred for criminal prosecution pursuant to section 2152.12 of the Revised Code, who is prosecuted as an adult and is convicted of or pleads guilty to one or more offenses in that case, and who is sentenced to a prison term or term of imprisonment in a state correctional institution for one or more of those offenses shall be considered emancipated for the purpose of consenting to medical treatment while confined in the state correctional institution.

Section 5120.173 | Report of child abuse or neglect to state highway patrol.

• Effective: October 12, 2016
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 158 - 131st General Assembly

Any person who is required to report abuse or neglect of a child under eighteen years of age that is reasonably suspected or believed to have occurred or the threat of which is reasonably suspected or believed to exist pursuant to division (A) of section 2151.421 of the Revised Code, any person who is permitted to report or cause a report to be made of reasonably suspected abuse or neglect of a child under eighteen years of age pursuant to division (B) of that section, any person who is required to report suspected abuse or neglect of a person with a developmental disability pursuant to division (C) of section 5123.61 of the Revised Code, and any person who is permitted to report suspected abuse or neglect of a person with a developmental disability pursuant to division (F) of that section and who makes or causes the report to be made, shall direct that report to the state highway patrol if the child or the person with a developmental disability is an inmate in the custody of a state correctional institution. If the state highway patrol determines after receipt of the report that it is probable that abuse or neglect of the inmate occurred, the patrol shall report its findings to the department of rehabilitation and correction, to the court that sentenced the inmate for the offense for which the inmate is in the custody of the department, and to the chairperson and vice-chairperson of the correctional institution inspection committee established by section 103.71 of the Revised Code.

Section 5120.18 | Classifying public buildings - purchase of articles.

• Effective: August 26, 1977
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 112th General Assembly

The department of rehabilitation and correction shall, with the advice and consent of the department of administrative services, classify public buildings, offices, and institutions and determine the kinds, patterns, designs, and qualities of articles to be manufactured for use therein, which shall be uniform for each class, so far as practicable.

Whenever the department of rehabilitation and correction gives written notice to the superintendent of purchases and printing, or other official having authority to purchase articles, that the department is prepared to supply such articles from any institution under its control, the superintendent or other official shall make any needed purchases of said articles from such institution, unless the chief officer thereof, or the department, having been requested to furnish such articles, gives notice in writing within thirty days from the date of the request, that such articles cannot be furnished.

If the superintendent requires such articles within thirty days from the day of making such request and so states upon the face of such request, the chief officer of such institution or the department of rehabilitation and correction shall forthwith advise the superintendent whether it will be able to furnish such articles within such time, the superintendent may purchase such articles in the open market as in other cases. This section does not apply to any officer, board, or agent of any municipal corporation which maintains an institution that produces or manufactures articles of the kind desired.

Section 5120.19 | Cultivating lands - transactions between institutions.

• Effective: July 1, 1987
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 171 - 117th General Assembly

(A) The department of rehabilitation and correction, in accordance with rules adopted pursuant to division (B) of section 5145.03 of the Revised Code, shall determine and direct what lands belonging to institutions under its control shall be cultivated, the crops to be raised, and the use to be made of the land and crops, and may distribute the products among the different institutions. If the crops are distributed to institutions under the control of the department, the department shall keep records of the distributions and of the fair market value of the crops distributed. The department may sell any crops that are not necessary for the institutions under its control to any person. The money received from the sale of the crops shall be deposited in the services and agricultural fund created pursuant to section 5120.29 of the Revised Code.

The department may require institutions under its control, when they have proper lands and labor, to undertake intensive agriculture, may rent lands for the production of supplies for any of the institutions that have surplus labor, and may rent lands for the production of crops for sale, when it can be done to advantage.

The department shall pay and assign the prisoners who perform any labor pursuant to this division in accordance with the rules adopted pursuant to division (B) of section 5145.03 of the Revised Code.

(B) The department may direct the purchase of any materials, supplies, or other articles for any institution under its control from any other institution under its control at the reasonable market value, which value shall be fixed by the department. Payments for the articles shall be made as between institutions in the manner provided for payment for supplies.

Section 5120.20 | Cooperative tests by agriculture and health departments.

• Effective: June 13, 1975
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 111th General Assembly

The department of agriculture, department of health, and Ohio state university shall cooperate with the department of rehabilitation and correction in making such cooperative tests as are necessary to determine the quality, strength, and purity of supplies, the value and use of farm lands, or conditions and needs of mechanical equipment.

Section 5120.21 | Records.

• Effective: March 31, 2003
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 510 - 124th General Assembly

(A) The department of rehabilitation and correction shall keep in its office, accessible only to its employees, except by the consent of the department or the order of the judge of a court of record, and except as provided in division (C) of this section, a record showing the name, residence, sex, age, nativity, occupation, condition, and date of entrance or commitment of every inmate in the several institutions governed by it. The record also shall include the date, cause, and terms of discharge and the condition of such person at the time of leaving, a record of all transfers from one institution to another, and, if such inmate is dead, the date and cause of death. These and other facts that the department requires shall be furnished by the managing officer of each institution within ten days after the commitment, entrance, death, or discharge of an inmate.

(B) In case of an accident or injury or peculiar death of an inmate, the managing officer shall make a special report to the department within twenty-four hours thereafter, giving the circumstances as fully as possible.

(C)(1) As used in this division, "medical record" means any document or combination of documents that pertains to the medical history, diagnosis, prognosis, or medical condition of a patient and that is generated and maintained in the process of medical treatment.

(2) A separate medical record of every inmate in an institution governed by the department shall be compiled, maintained, and kept apart from and independently of any other record pertaining to the inmate. Upon the signed written request of the inmate to whom the record pertains together with the written request of either a licensed attorney at law or a licensed physician designated by the inmate, the department shall make the inmate's medical record available to the designated attorney or physician. The record may be inspected or copied by the inmate's designated attorney or physician. The department may establish a reasonable fee for the copying of any medical record. If a physician concludes that presentation of all or any part of the medical record directly to the inmate will result in serious medical harm to the inmate, the physician shall so indicate on the medical record. An inmate's medical record shall be made available to a physician or to an attorney designated in writing by the inmate not more than once every twelve months.

(D) Except as otherwise provided by a law of this state or the United States, the department and the officers of its institutions shall keep confidential and accessible only to its employees, except by the consent of the department or the order of a judge of a court of record, all of the following:

(1) Architectural, engineering, or construction diagrams, drawings, or plans of a correctional institution;

(2) Plans for hostage negotiation, for disturbance control, for the control and location of keys, and for dealing with escapes;

(3) Statements made by inmate informants;

(4) Records that are maintained by the department of youth services, that pertain to children in its custody, and that are released to the department of rehabilitation and correction by the department of youth services pursuant to section 5139.05 of the Revised Code;

(5) Victim impact statements and information provided by victims of crimes that the department considers when determining the security level assignment, program participation, and release eligibility of inmates;

(6) Information and data of any kind or medium pertaining to groups that pose a security threat;

(7) Conversations recorded from the monitored inmate telephones that involve nonprivileged communications.

(E) Except as otherwise provided by a law of this state or the United States, the department of rehabilitation and correction may release inmate records to the department of youth services or a court of record, and the department of youth services or the court of record may use those records for the limited purpose of carrying out the duties of the department of youth services or the court of record. Inmate records released by the department of rehabilitation and correction to the department of youth services or a court of record shall remain confidential and shall not be considered public records as defined in section 149.43 of the Revised Code.

(F) Except as otherwise provided in division (C) of this section, records of inmates committed to the department of rehabilitation and correction as well as records of persons under the supervision of the adult parole authority shall not be considered public records as defined in section 149.43 of the Revised Code.

Section 5120.211 | Quality assurance records are confidential.

• Effective: March 17, 1998
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 111 - 122nd General Assembly

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Quality assurance committee" means a committee that is appointed in the central office of the department of rehabilitation and correction by the director of rehabilitation and correction, a committee appointed at a state correctional institution by the managing officer of the institution, or a duly authorized subcommittee of a committee of that nature and that is designated to carry out quality assurance program activities.

(2) "Quality assurance program" means a comprehensive program within the department of rehabilitation and correction to systematically review and improve the quality of medical and mental health services within the department and its institutions, the safety and security of persons receiving medical and mental health services within the department and its institutions, and the efficiency and effectiveness of the utilization of staff and resources in the delivery of medical and mental health services within the department and its institutions.

(3) "Quality assurance program activities" includes the activities of the institutional and central office quality assurance committees, of persons who provide, collect, or compile information and reports required by quality assurance committees, and of persons who receive, review, or implement the recommendations made by quality assurance committees. "Quality assurance program activities" includes credentialing, infection control, utilization review including access to patient care, patient care assessments, medical and mental health records, medical and mental health resource management, mortality and morbidity review, and identification and prevention of medical or mental health incidents and risks, whether performed by a quality assurance committee or by persons who are directed by a quality assurance committee.

(4) "Quality assurance records" means the proceedings, records, minutes, and reports that emanate from quality assurance program activities. "Quality assurance records" does not include aggregate statistical information that does not disclose the identity of persons receiving or providing medical or mental health services in state correctional institutions.

(B)(1) Except as provided in division (E) of this section, quality assurance records are confidential and are not public records under section 149.43 of the Revised Code, and shall be used only in the course of the proper functions of a quality assurance program.

(2) Except as provided in division (E) of this section, no person who possesses or has access to quality assurance records and who knows that the records are quality assurance records shall wilfully disclose the contents of the records to any person or entity.

(C)(1) Except as provided in division (E) of this section, no quality assurance record shall be subject to discovery, and is not admissible in evidence, in any judicial or administrative proceeding.

(2) Except as provided in division (E) of this section, no member of a quality assurance committee or a person who is performing a function that is part of a quality assurance program shall be permitted or required to testify in a judicial or administrative proceeding with respect to quality assurance records or with respect to any finding, recommendation, evaluation, opinion, or other action taken by the committee, member, or person.

(3) Information, documents, or records otherwise available from original sources are not to be construed as being unavailable for discovery or admission in evidence in a judicial or administrative proceeding merely because they were presented to a quality assurance committee. No person testifying before a quality assurance committee or person who is a member of a quality assurance committee shall be prevented from testifying as to matters within the person's knowledge, but the witness cannot be asked about the witness' testimony before the quality assurance committee or about an opinion formed by the person as a result of the quality assurance committee proceedings.

(D)(1) A person who, without malice and in the reasonable belief that the information is warranted by the facts known to the person, provides information to a person engaged in quality assurance program activities is not liable for damages in a civil action for injury, death, or loss to person or property to any person as a result of providing the information.

(2) A member of a quality assurance committee, a person engaged in quality assurance program activities, and an employee of the department of rehabilitation and correction shall not be liable in damages in a civil action for injury, death, or loss to person or property to any person for any acts, omissions, decisions, or other conduct within the scope of the functions of the quality assurance program.

(3) Nothing in this section shall relieve any institution or individual from liability arising from the treatment of a patient.

(E) Quality assurance records may be disclosed, and testimony may be provided concerning quality assurance records, only to the following persons or entities or in the following circumstances:

(1) Persons who are employed or retained by the department of rehabilitation and correction and who have authority to evaluate or implement the recommendations of an institutional or central office quality assurance committee;

(2) Public or private agencies or organizations if needed to perform a licensing or accreditation function related to state correctional institutions or to perform monitoring of state correctional institutions as required by law;

(3) A governmental board or agency, a professional health care society or organization, or a professional standards review organization, if the records or testimony are needed to perform licensing, credentialing, or monitoring of professional standards with respect to medical or mental health professionals employed or retained by the department;

(4) A criminal or civil law enforcement agency or public health agency charged by law with the protection of public health or safety, if a qualified representative of the agency makes a written request stating that the records or testimony is necessary for a purpose authorized by law;

(5) In a judicial or administrative proceeding commenced by an entity described in division (E)(3) or (4) of this section and for a purpose described in that division, but only with respect to the subject of the proceedings.

(F) A disclosure of quality assurance records pursuant to division (E) of this section does not otherwise waive the confidential and privileged status of the disclosed quality assurance records. The names and other identifying information regarding individual patients, employees, or members of a quality assurance committee contained in a quality assurance record shall be deleted from the record prior to the disclosure of the record unless the identity of an individual is necessary to the purpose for which disclosure is being made and does not constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.

Section 5120.212 | Data matching agreements.

• Effective: April 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 302 - 134th General Assembly

Notwithstanding division (A) of section 5120.21 of the Revised Code, the department of rehabilitation and correction shall share the records described in that division with the director of job and family services to the extent necessary to effectuate the data matching agreements required under sections 4141.287 and 5101.041 of the Revised Code.

Last updated March 22, 2023 at 5:14 PM

Section 5120.22 | Division of business administration - property management duties.

• Effective: September 29, 2017
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 49 - 132nd General Assembly

(A) The division of business administration shall examine the conditions of all buildings, grounds, and other property connected with the institutions under the control of the department of rehabilitation and correction, the methods of bookkeeping and storekeeping, and all matters relating to the management of such property. The division shall study and become familiar with the advantages and disadvantages of each as to location, freight rates, and efficiency of farm and equipment, for the purpose of aiding in the determination of the local and general requirements both for maintenance and improvements.

(B) The division, with respect to the various types of state-owned housing under jurisdiction of the department, shall adopt, in accordance with section 111.15 of the Revised Code, rules governing maintenance of the housing and its usage by department personnel. The rules shall include a procedure for determining charges for rent and utilities, which the division shall assess against and collect from department personnel using the housing. All money collected for rent and utilities pursuant to the rules shall be deposited into the property receipts fund, which is hereby created in the state treasury. Money in the fund shall be used for any expenses necessary to provide housing of department employees, including but not limited to expenses for the acquisition, construction, operation, maintenance, repair, reconstruction, or demolition of land and buildings.

(C) The division may enter into a lease or agreement with a state agency, political subdivision of the state, or private entity to use facilities or other property under the jurisdiction of the department that is not being utilized by the department. All money collected for leasing and services performed in accordance with the lease or agreement shall be deposited into the property receipts fund created under division (B) of this section. Money in the fund shall be used for any expenses resulting from the lease or agreement, including, but not limited to, expenses for services performed, construction, maintenance, repair, reconstruction, or demolition of the facilities or other property.

(D) If, after meeting the expenditure obligations required by divisions (B) and (C) of this section, the division determines that the property receipts fund has excess funds, the division may use money in the fund for services performed, construction, maintenance, repair, reconstruction, or demolition of any other facilities or property owned by the department.

Section 5120.23 | Estimates of required supplies.

• Effective: July 1, 1987
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 171 - 117th General Assembly

(A) The department of rehabilitation and correction shall require proper officials of the state and its political subdivisions and of the institutions of the state and its political subdivisions, to report estimates for the ensuing year of the amount of supplies required by them, of the kinds that are produced by the state correctional and penal institutions. It may make rules for the reports and provide the manner in which the estimates shall be made.

(B) Any money that is received by the department of rehabiliation and correction from the state and its political subdivisions, any other state and its political subdivisions, the United States, or private persons for products and services produced by the state correctional and penal institutions shall be deposited in the services and agricultural fund or the Ohio penal industries manufacturing fund created pursuant to section 5120.29 of the Revised Code and shall be used and accounted for as provided in that section.

Section 5120.24 | Purchasing supplies.

• Effective: July 1, 1993
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 152 - 120th General Assembly

The department of administrative services shall purchase all supplies needed for the proper support and maintenance of the institutions under the control of the department of rehabilitation and correction in accordance with the competitive selection procedures of Chapter 125. of the Revised Code and such rules as the department of administrative services adopts. All bids shall be publicly opened on the day and hour and at the place specified in the advertisement.

Preference shall be given to bidders in localities wherein the institution is located if the price is fair and reasonable and not greater than the usual price. Bids not meeting the specifications shall be rejected.

The department of administrative services may require such security as it considers proper to accompany the bids and shall fix the security to be given by the contractor.

The department of administrative services may reject any or all bids and secure new bids, if for any reason it is considered to be in the best interest of the state to do so, and it may authorize the managing officer of any institution to purchase perishable goods and supplies for use in cases of emergency, in which cases such managing officer shall certify such fact in writing and the department of administrative services shall record the reasons for such purchase.

Section 5120.25 | Books and accounts.

• Effective: July 12, 1972
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 494 - 109th General Assembly

The department of correction shall keep in its office a proper and complete set of books and accounts with each institution, which shall clearly show the nature and amount of every expenditure authorized and made at such institution, and which shall contain an account of all appropriations made by the general assembly and of all other funds, together with the disposition of such funds.

The department shall prescribe the form of vouchers, records, and methods of keeping accounts at each of the institutions, which shall be as nearly uniform as possible. The department may examine the records of each institution, at any time.

The department may authorize any of its bookkeepers, accountants, or employees to examine and check the records, accounts, and vouchers or take an inventory of the property of any institution, or do whatever is necessary, and pay the actual and reasonable expenses incurred in such service when an itemized account is filed and approved.

Section 5120.26 | Funds.

• Effective: April 9, 1982
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 654 - 113th General Assembly

(A) The treasurer of state shall have charge of all funds under the jurisdiction of the department of rehabilitation and correction and shall pay out the funds only in accordance with this chapter.

(B) The department shall cause to be furnished a contract of indemnity to cover all moneys and funds received by it or by its managing officers, employees, or agents while the moneys or funds are in the possession of the managing officers, employees, or agents. The funds are designated as follows:

(1) Funds that are due and payable to the treasurer of state as provided by Chapter 131. of the Revised Code;

(2) Funds that are held in trust by the managing officers, employees, or agents of the institution as local funds or accounts under the jurisdiction of the department.

The contract of indemnity shall be made payable to the state and the premium for the contract of indemnity may be paid from any of the moneys received for the use of the department under this chapter and Chapters 5121., 5123., and 5125. of the Revised Code.

(C) Moneys collected from various sources, such as the sale of goods, farm products, services, and all miscellaneous articles, shall be transmitted on or before Monday of each week to the treasurer of state and a detailed statement of the collections shall be made to the division of business administration by each managing officer. The receipts from manufacturing and service industries and agricultural products shall be used and accounted for as provided in section 5120.29 of the Revised Code.

Section 5120.27 | Industries carried on by institutions.

• Effective: April 9, 1982
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 654 - 113th General Assembly

The department of rehabilitation and correction may assign, among the correctional and penal institutions under its control and in accordance with the rules adopted pursuant to division (B) of section 5145.03 of the Revised Code, the industries to be carried on by the institutions, having due regard to the location and convenience of the industries, other institutions to be supplied, to the machinery in the institutions, and to the number and character of prisoners employed in the industries.

Section 5120.28 | Fixing prices for labor and services.

• Effective: September 29, 2015
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 64 - 131st General Assembly

(A) The department of rehabilitation and correction shall fix the prices at which all labor and services performed, all agricultural products produced, and all articles manufactured in correctional and penal institutions shall be furnished to the state, the political subdivisions of the state, and the public institutions of the state and the political subdivisions, and to private persons. The prices shall be uniform to all and not higher than the usual market price for like labor, products, services, and articles.

(B) Any money received by the department of rehabilitation and correction for labor and services performed shall be deposited into the institutional services fund created pursuant to division (A) of section 5120.29 of the Revised Code and shall be used and accounted for as provided in that section and division (B) of section 5145.03 of the Revised Code.

(C) Any money received by the department of rehabilitation and correction for articles manufactured and agricultural products produced in penal and correctional institutions shall be deposited into the Ohio penal industries manufacturing fund created pursuant to division (B) of section 5120.29 of the Revised Code and shall be used and accounted for as provided in that section and division (B) of section 5145.03 of the Revised Code.

Section 5120.29 | Institutional services fund; Ohio penal industries manufacturing fund.

• Effective: July 1, 2014
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 497 - 130th General Assembly

(A) There is hereby created, in the state treasury, the institutional services fund, which shall be used for the:

(1) Purchase of material, supplies, and equipment and the erection and extension of buildings used in services provided between institutions of the department of rehabilitation and correction;

(2) Payment of compensation to employees necessary to carry on institutional services;

(3) Payment of prisoners confined in state correctional institutions a portion of their earnings in accordance with rules adopted pursuant to section 5145.03 of the Revised Code.

(B) There is hereby created, in the state treasury, the Ohio penal industries manufacturing fund, which shall be used for the:

(1) Purchase of material, supplies, and equipment and the erection and extension of buildings used in manufacturing industries and agriculture;

(2) Purchase of lands and buildings necessary to carry on or extend the manufacturing industries and agriculture upon the approval of the governor;

(3) Payment of compensation to employees necessary to carry on the manufacturing industries and agriculture;

(4) Payment of prisoners confined in state correctional institutions a portion of their earnings in accordance with rules adopted pursuant to section 5145.03 of the Revised Code.

(C) The department of rehabilitation and correction shall, in accordance with rules adopted pursuant to section 5145.03 of the Revised Code and subject to any pledge made as provided in division (D) of this section, place to the credit of each prisoner the prisoner's earnings and pay the earnings so credited to the prisoner or the prisoner's family.

(D) Receipts credited to the funds created in divisions (A) and (B) of this section constitute available receipts as defined in section 154.24 of the Revised Code, and may be pledged to the payment of bond service charges on obligations issued by the treasurer of state pursuant to that section to construct, reconstruct, or otherwise improve capital facilities useful to the department. The treasurer of state may, with the consent of the department, provide in the bond proceedings for a pledge of all or such portion of receipts credited to the funds as the treasurer of state determines. The treasurer of state may provide in the bond proceedings for the transfer of receipts credited to the funds to the appropriate bond service fund or bond service reserve fund as required to pay the bond service charges when due, and any such provision for the transfer of receipts shall be controlling notwithstanding any other provision of law pertaining to such receipts.

All receipts received by the treasurer of state on account of the department and required by the applicable bond proceedings to be deposited, transferred, or credited to the bond service fund or bond service reserve fund established by such bond proceedings shall be transferred by the treasurer of state to such fund, whether or not such fund is in the custody of the treasurer of state, without necessity for further appropriation. The treasurer of state may covenant in the bond proceedings that so long as any obligations are outstanding to which receipts credited to the fund are pledged, the state and the department shall neither reduce the prices charged pursuant to section 5120.28 of the Revised Code nor the level of manpower collectively devoted to the production of goods and services for which prices are set pursuant to section 5120.28 of the Revised Code, which covenant shall be controlling notwithstanding any other provision of law; provided, that no covenant shall require the general assembly to appropriate money derived from the levying of excises or taxes to purchase such goods and services or to pay rent or bond service charges.

Section 5120.30 | Investigations.

• Effective: July 1, 2009
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 525 - 127th General Assembly

The department of rehabilitation and correction may make any investigations that are necessary in the performance of its duties, and to that end the director of rehabilitation and correction shall have the same power as a judge of a county court to administer oaths and to enforce the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of books or papers.

The department shall keep a record of the investigations pursuant to the record retention schedule approved by the department of administrative services.

Witnesses shall be paid the fees and mileage provided for under section 119.094 of the Revised Code, but no officer or employee of the institution under investigation is entitled to such fees.

Any judge of the probate court or of the court of common pleas, upon application of the department, may compel the attendance of witnesses, the production of books or papers, and the giving of testimony before the department, by a judgment for contempt or otherwise, in the same manner as in cases before courts of common pleas.

Section 5120.31 | Appointing special agents and persons.

• Effective: July 12, 1972
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 494 - 109th General Assembly

The department of rehabilitation and correction may appoint and commission any competent agency or person, to serve without compensation, as a special agent, investigator, or representative to perform a designated duty for and in behalf of the department. Specific credentials shall be given by the department to each person so designated, and each credential shall state:

(A) The name;

(B) Agency with which such person is connected;

(C) Purpose of appointment;

(D) Date of expiration of appointment;

(E) Such information as the department considers proper.

Section 5120.32 | Annual report.

• Effective: July 12, 1972
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 494 - 109th General Assembly

In its annual report, the department of rehabilitation and correction shall include a complete financial statement of the various institutions under its control. The report shall state, as to each such institution, whether:

(A) The moneys appropriated have been economically and judiciously expended;

(B) The objects of the several institutions have been accomplished;

(C) The laws in relation to such institutions have been fully complied with;

(D) All parts of the state are equally benefited by said institutions.

Such annual report shall be accompanied by the reports of the managing officers and such other information and recommendations as the department considers proper.

Section 5120.33 | Listing employees.

• Effective: July 12, 1972
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 494 - 109th General Assembly

The annual report of the department of rehabilitation and correction shall include a list of the officers and agents employed, and the condition of the state institutions under its control. Such report may include statistics and information in regard to correctional institutions of this or other states.

Section 5120.331 | Annual report of inmate time served and releases.

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

(A) Not later than the first day of April of each year, the department of rehabilitation and correction shall prepare an annual report covering the preceding calendar year that does all of the following:

(1) Indicates the total number of persons sentenced to any institution, division, or place under its control and management who are delivered within that calendar year to its custody and control;

(2) Indicates the total number of persons who, during that calendar year, were released from a prison term on any of the following bases:

(a) On judicial release under section 2929.20 of the Revised Code;

(b) On transitional control under section 2967.26 of the Revised Code;

(c) As a result of successfully completing a risk reduction sentence under section 5120.036 of the Revised Code;

(d) On parole;

(e) Due to the expiration of the stated prison term imposed;

(f) On any basis not described in divisions (A)(2)(a) to (e) of this section.

(3) Lists each offense, by Revised Code section number and, if applicable, by designated name, for which at least one person who was released from a prison term in that calendar year was serving a prison term at the time of release;

(4) For each offense included in the list described in division (A)(3) of this section, indicates all of the following:

(a) The total number of persons released from a prison term in that calendar year who were serving a prison term for that offense at the time of release;

(b) The shortest, longest, and average prison term that had been imposed for that offense upon the persons described in division (A)(4)(a) of this section and that they were serving at the time of release;

(c) The shortest, longest, and average period of imprisonment actually served by the persons described in division (A)(4)(a) of this section under a prison term that had been imposed for that offense upon them and that they were serving at the time of release;

(d) The total number of persons released from a prison term in that calendar year under each of the bases for release set forth in division (A)(2) of this section who were serving a prison term for that offense at the time of release;

(e) The shortest, longest, and average prison term that had been imposed for that offense upon the persons in each category described in division (A)(4)(d) of this section and that they were serving at the time of release;

(f) The shortest, longest, and average period of imprisonment actually served by the persons in each category described in division (A)(4)(d) of this section under a prison term that had been imposed for that offense upon them and that they were serving at the time of release.

(B) No report prepared under division (A) of this section shall identify or enable the identification of any person released from a prison term in the preceding calendar year.

(C) Each annual report prepared under division (A) of this section shall be distributed to each member of the general assembly.

(D) As used in this section, "prison term" and "stated prison term" have the same meanings as in section 2929.01 of the Revised Code.

Section 5120.34 | Nonpartisan management of institutions.

• Effective: November 7, 1975
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 617 - 111th General Assembly

Sec. 5120.34. The department of rehabilitation and correction shall make rules for the nonpartisan management of the institutions under its control. Any officer or employee of the department or any officer or employee of any institution under its control, who, by solicitation or otherwise, exerts his influence, directly or indirectly, to induce any other officer or employee of any such institutions to adopt his political views or to favor any particular person, issue, or candidate for office shall be removed from his office or position, by the department in case of an officer or employee and by the governor in case of the director of rehabilitation and correction.

Section 5120.35 | Annual report suggestions and recommendations.

• Effective: July 12, 1972
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 494 - 109th General Assembly

In its annual report, the department of rehabilitation and correction shall make any suggestions or recommendations it considers wise for the more effectual accomplishment of the general purpose of Chapter 5120. of the Revised Code.

Section 5120.36 | Executive, administrative, and fiscal supervision of institutions.

• Effective: July 12, 1972
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 494 - 109th General Assembly

The department of rehabilitation and correction, in addition to the powers expressly conferred, shall have all power and authority necessary for the full and efficient exercise of the executive, administrative, and fiscal supervision over the state institutions described in section 5120.05 of the Revised Code.

Section 5120.37 | Sharing information with department of job and family services.

• Effective: July 1, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 471 - 123rd General Assembly

The department of rehabilitation and correction shall enter into an agreement with the department of job and family services to exchange or share information monthly concerning persons under the control or supervision of the department of rehabilitation and correction.

Section 5120.38 | Duties of managing officer.

• Effective: March 23, 2016
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 56 - 131st General Assembly

Subject to the rules of the department of rehabilitation and correction, each institution under the department's jurisdiction other than an institution operated pursuant to a contract entered into under section 9.06 of the Revised Code shall be under the control of a managing officer known as a warden or other appropriate title. The managing officer shall be appointed by the director of rehabilitation and correction and shall be in the unclassified service and serve at the pleasure of the director. Appointment to the position of managing officer shall be made from persons who have criminal justice experience.

A person who is appointed to the position of managing officer from a permanent, classified position within the department shall retain the right to resume the position and status that the person held in the classified service immediately prior to the person's appointment to the position in the unclassified service, regardless of the number of positions the person held in the unclassified service. An employee's right to resume a position in the classified service may be exercised only when an appointing authority demotes the employee to a pay range lower than the employee's current pay range or revokes the employee's appointment to the position in the unclassified service. An employee who holds a position in the classified service and who is appointed to a position in the unclassified service on or after January 1, 2016, shall have the right to resume a position in the classified service under this section only within five years after the effective date of the employee's appointment in the unclassified service. An employee forfeits the right to resume a position in the classified service if the employee is removed from a position in the unclassified service due to incompetence, inefficiency, dishonesty, drunkenness, immoral conduct, insubordination, discourteous treatment of the public, neglect of duty, a violation of this chapter or the rules of the department or the director of administrative services, any other failure of good behavior, any other acts of misfeasance, malfeasance, or nonfeasance in office, or conviction of or plea of guilty to a felony while employed in the civil service. An employee also forfeits the right to resume the prior position in the classified service upon transfer to a different agency. Reinstatement to a position in the classified service shall be to a position substantially equal to the position in the classified service that the person previously held, as certified by the director of rehabilitation and correction and approved by the director of administrative services. If the position the person previously held in the classified service has been placed in the unclassified service or is otherwise unavailable, the person shall be appointed to a position in the classified service within the department that the director of administrative services certifies is comparable in compensation to the position the person previously held in the classified service. Service in a position in the unclassified service shall be counted as service in the position in the classified service held by the person immediately preceding the person's appointment to the position in the unclassified service. When a person is reinstated to a position in the classified service, as provided in this section, the person is entitled to all rights and benefits and any status accruing to the position in the classified service during the time of the person's service in the position in the unclassified service.

The managing officer, under the director of rehabilitation and correction, shall have entire executive charge of the institution for which the managing officer is appointed. Subject to civil service rules and regulations, the managing officer shall appoint the necessary employees and the managing officer or the director may remove such employees for cause.

Section 5120.381 | Deputy warden.

• Effective: March 23, 2016
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 56 - 131st General Assembly

Subject to the rules of the department of rehabilitation and correction, the director of rehabilitation and correction may appoint a deputy warden for each institution under the jurisdiction of the department. A deputy warden shall be in the unclassified service and serve at the pleasure of the director of rehabilitation and correction. The director of rehabilitation and correction shall make an appointment to the position of deputy warden from persons having criminal justice experience. A person who is appointed to a position as deputy warden from a permanent, classified position within the department shall retain the right to resume the position and status that the person held in the classified service immediately prior to the person's appointment to the position in the unclassified service, regardless of the number of positions the person held in the unclassified service. An employee's right to resume a position in the classified service may be exercised only when an appointing authority demotes the employee to a pay range lower than the employee's current pay range or revokes the employee's appointment to the unclassified service. An employee who holds a position in the classified service and who is appointed to a position in the unclassified service on or after January 1, 2016, shall have the right to resume a position in the classified service under this section only within five years after the effective date of the employee's appointment in the unclassified service. An employee forfeits the right to resume a position in the classified service when the employee is removed from the position in the unclassified service due to incompetence, inefficiency, dishonesty, drunkenness, immoral conduct, insubordination, discourteous treatment of the public, neglect of duty, a violation of this chapter or the rules of the department or the director of administrative services, any other failure of good behavior, any other acts of misfeasance, malfeasance, or nonfeasance in office, or conviction of or plea of guilty to a felony while employed in the civil service. An employee also forfeits the right to resume the prior position in the classified service upon transfer to a different agency. Reinstatement to a position in the classified service shall be to a position substantially equal to the position in the classified service that the person previously held, as certified by the director of rehabilitation and correction and approved by the director of administrative services. If the position the person previously held in the classified service has been placed in the unclassified service or is otherwise unavailable, the person shall be appointed to a position in the classified service within the department that the director of administrative services certifies is comparable in compensation to the position the person previously held in the classified service. Service in the position in the unclassified service shall be counted as service in the position in the classified service that the person held immediately preceding the person's appointment to the position in the unclassified service. When a person who is reinstated to a position in the classified service as provided in this section, the person is entitled to all rights and benefits and any status accruing to the position during the time of the person's service in the unclassified service.

Section 5120.382 | Appointment of employees.

• Effective: March 23, 2016
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 56 - 131st General Assembly

Except as otherwise provided in this chapter for appointments by division chiefs and managing officers, the director of rehabilitation and correction shall appoint employees who are necessary for the efficient conduct of the department of rehabilitation and correction and prescribe their titles and duties. A person who is appointed to an unclassified position from a permanent, classified position within the department shall retain the right to resume the position and status that the person held in the classified service immediately prior to the person's appointment to the position in the unclassified service, regardless of the number of positions the person held in the unclassified service. An employee's right to resume a position in the classified service may be exercised only when an appointing authority demotes the employee to a pay range lower than the employee's current pay range or revokes the employee's appointment to the unclassified service. An employee who holds a position in the classified service and who is appointed to a position in the unclassified service on or after January 1, 2016, shall have the right to resume a position in the classified service under this section only within five years after the effective date of the person's appointment in the unclassified service. An employee forfeits the right to resume a position in the classified service when the employee is removed from the position in the unclassified service due to incompetence, inefficiency, dishonesty, drunkenness, immoral conduct, insubordination, discourteous treatment of the public, neglect of duty, a violation of this chapter or the rules of the department or the director of administrative services, any other failure of good behavior, any other acts of misfeasance, malfeasance, or nonfeasance in office, or conviction of or plea of guilty to a felony while employed in the civil service. An employee also forfeits the right to resume the prior position in the classified service upon transfer to a different agency. Reinstatement to a position in the classified service shall be to a position substantially equal to the position in the classified service that the person previously held, as certified by the director of rehabilitation and correction and approved by the director of administrative services. If the position the person previously held in the classified service has been placed in the unclassified service or is otherwise unavailable, the person shall be appointed to a position in the classified service within the department that the director of administrative services certifies is comparable in compensation to the position the person previously held in the classified service. Service in the position in the unclassified service shall be counted as service in the position in the classified service that the person held immediately preceding the person's appointment to the position in the unclassified service. When a person is reinstated to a position in the classified service as provided in this section, the person is entitled to all rights and benefits and any status accruing to the position in the classified service during the time of the person's service in the position in the unclassified service.

Section 5120.39 | Superintendent of institution - powers and duties.

• Effective: July 12, 1972
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 494 - 109th General Assembly

Each superintendent of an institution under the control of the department of rehabilitation and correction shall be of good moral character and have skill, ability, and experience in his profession. He shall have control of the institution, and be responsible for the management thereof and for the service of all its employees. He shall appoint necessary teachers, attendants, nurses, servants, and other persons, assign their places and duties, and may discharge them, keeping a record thereof and reasons therefor.

Section 5120.40 | Qualification of teachers.

• Effective: October 29, 1996
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 230 - 121st General Assembly

All teachers employed in any institution under the jurisdiction of the department of rehabilitation and correction shall possess educator licenses or have the qualifications and approval that the superintendent of the Ohio central school system, after conference with the officers in charge of the several institutions, prescribes for the various particular types of service or service in the particular institutions.

Section 5120.41 | Courses of study.

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

The courses of study for the instruction and training of all persons in the correctional institutions under the control of the department of rehabilitation and correction shall be subject to the approval of the superintendent of public instruction.

Section 5120.42 | Rules for proper execution of powers.

• Effective: July 12, 1972
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 494 - 109th General Assembly

The department of rehabilitation and correction shall make rules for the proper execution of its powers and may require the performance of additional duties by the officers of the several institutions, so as to fully meet the requirements, intents, and purposes of Chapter 5120. of the Revised Code, and particularly those relating to making estimates and furnishing proper proof of the use made of all articles furnished or produced in such institutions. In case of an apparent conflict between the powers conferred upon any managing officer and those conferred by such sections upon the department, the presumption shall be conclusive in favor of the department.

Section 5120.421 | Visitor searches.

• Effective: March 31, 2003
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 510 - 124th General Assembly

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Body cavity search" means an inspection of the anal or vaginal cavity of a person that is conducted visually, manually, by means of any instrument, apparatus, or object, or in any other manner.

(2) "Deadly weapon" and "dangerous ordnance" have the same meanings as in section 2923.11 of the Revised Code.

(3) "Drug of abuse" has the same meaning as in section 3719.011 of the Revised Code.

(4) "Intoxicating liquor" has the same meaning as in section 4301.01 of the Revised Code.

(5) "Strip search" means an inspection of the genitalia, buttocks, breasts, or undergarments of a person that is preceded by the removal or rearrangement of some or all of the person's clothing that directly covers the person's genitalia, buttocks, breasts, or undergarments and that is conducted visually, manually, by means of any instrument, apparatus, or object, or in any other manner.

(B) For purposes of determining whether visitors to an institution under the control of the department of rehabilitation and correction are knowingly conveying, or attempting to convey, onto the grounds of the institution any deadly weapon, dangerous ordnance, drug of abuse, intoxicating liquor, or electronic communications device in violation of section 2921.36 of the Revised Code, the department may adopt rules, pursuant to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, that are consistent with this section.

(C) For the purposes described in division (B) of this section, visitors who are entering or have entered an institution under the control of the department of rehabilitation and correction may be searched by the use of a magnetometer or similar device, by a pat-down of the visitor's person that is conducted by a person of the same sex as that of the visitor, and by an examination of the contents of pockets, bags, purses, packages, and other containers proposed to be conveyed or already conveyed onto the grounds of the institution. Searches of visitors authorized by this division may be conducted without cause, but shall be conducted uniformly or by automatic random selection. Discriminatory or arbitrary selection searches of visitors are prohibited under this division.

(D) For the purposes described in division (B) of this section, visitors who are entering or have entered an institution under the control of the department of rehabilitation and correction may be searched by a strip or body cavity search, but only under the circumstances described in this division. In order for a strip or body cavity search to be conducted of a visitor, the highest officer present in the institution shall expressly authorize the search on the basis of a reasonable suspicion, based on specific objective facts and reasonable inferences drawn from those facts in the light of experience, that a visitor proposed to be so searched possesses, and intends to convey or already has conveyed, a deadly weapon, dangerous ordnance, drug of abuse, intoxicating liquor, or electronic communications device onto the grounds of the institution in violation of section 2921.36 of the Revised Code.

Except as otherwise provided in this division, prior to the conduct of the strip or body cavity search, the highest officer present in the institution shall cause the visitor to be provided with a written statement that sets forth the specific objective facts upon which the proposed search is based. In the case of an emergency under which time constraints make it impossible to prepare the written statement before the conduct of the proposed search, the highest officer in the institution instead shall cause the visitor to be orally informed of the specific objective facts upon which the proposed search is based prior to its conduct, and shall cause the preparation of the written statement and its provision to the visitor within twenty-four hours after the conduct of the search. Both the highest officer present in the institution and the visitor shall retain a copy of a written statement provided in accordance with this division.

Any strip or body cavity search conducted pursuant to this division shall be conducted in a private setting by a person of the same sex as that of the visitor. Any body cavity search conducted under this division additionally shall be conducted by medical personnel.

This division does not preclude, and shall not be construed as precluding, a less intrusive search as authorized by division (C) of this section when reasonable suspicion as described in this division exists for a strip or body cavity search.

Section 5120.422 | Rules for site selection.

• Effective: September 29, 1995
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 117 - 121st General Assembly

Sec. 5120.422. The department of rehabilitation and correction shall prescribe rules, in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, that govern the department's actions whenever it has the authority to select a site for a proposed state correctional institution. The rules shall include at least procedures under which the department shall receive, review, and select proposals from persons and political subdivisions for the establishment of a proposed state correctional institution at a particular geographic location.

Section 5120.423 | Rules for designating equipment and programs that improve fighting skills.

• Effective: October 4, 1996
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 152 - 121st General Assembly

The department of rehabilitation and correction shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code that designate devices and programs that, in addition to free weight exercise equipment as defined in sections 341.41, 753.31, and 5145.30 of the Revised Code and in addition to boxing, wrestling, and martial arts programs, would enable a person who uses a designated device or participates in a designated program to increase muscle mass and physical strength or to improve fighting skills.

Section 5120.424 | Purchasing fixed weight exercise equipment.

• Effective: October 4, 1996
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 152 - 121st General Assembly

Section 6. On and after the effective date of this act, no moneys in the treasury of the state, or moneys coming lawfully into the possession or custody of the Treasurer of State, except moneys donated by gift, devise, or bequest specifically for this purpose, shall be used to purchase any fixed weight exercise equipment authorized by the act, and no moneys in the treasury of any subdivision of the state, or moneys coming lawfully into the possession or custody of the treasurer of any subdivision, shall be used to purchase any fixed weight exercise equipment for use at any facility described in Section 5 of this act.

Section 5120.425 | Prisoner access to inflammatory and other materials definitions.

• Effective: November 3, 1999
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 62 - 123rd General Assembly

As used in sections 5120.425 to 5120.428 of the Revised Code:

(A) "Head of a state correctional institution," "prisoner," and "state correctional institution" have the same meanings as in section 2967.01 of the Revised Code.

(B) "Material" means a prerecorded magnetic audio or video tape, book, drawing, magazine, newspaper, pamphlet, poster, print, photograph, or other similar printed, written, recorded, or otherwise produced item.

(C) "Prohibited inflammatory material" means a material that, in the determination of the warden or the warden's designee, is detrimental to, or poses a threat to, the rehabilitation of the inmates or the security, good order, or discipline within or on the grounds of the institution for any reason, including, but not limited to, that it is material with a sexually explicit nature.

(D) "Publication review committee" means the committee created by the director of rehabilitation and correction pursuant to division (C) of section 5120.426 of the Revised Code.

(E) "Warden" means the head of a state correctional institution.

(F) "Warden's designee" means a person or a panel of persons designated by a warden to perform a responsibility that sections 5120.425 to 5120.428 of the Revised Code generally otherwise impose upon the warden.

Section 5120.426 | Rules governing access to materials.

• Effective: November 3, 1999
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 62 - 123rd General Assembly

(A) The director of rehabilitation and correction shall adopt rules, and each warden shall adopt regulations that govern the form, medium, and quantity of materials that each prisoner confined in the warden's institution is permitted to receive and retain. Those rules and regulations shall be consistent with sections 5120.425 to 5120.428 of the Revised Code. The regulations adopted by the warden shall be consistent with the rules that the director of rehabilitation and correction adopts pursuant to this division.

(B) The director of rehabilitation and correction shall adopt a rule establishing a standard for determining whether material is a prohibited inflammatory material. In establishing the standard for determining whether material is a prohibited inflammatory material, the director shall consider all relevant information, including, but not limited to, the standard established for material that is harmful to juveniles in section 2907.01 of the Revised Code; in establishing the standard under this division, the director shall not be governed or limited by the standard established by section 2907.01 of the Revised Code.

(C) The director of rehabilitation and correction shall appoint a publication review committee of one or more persons. The member or members of the committee shall review withholding determinations pursuant to section 5120.428 of the Revised Code.

Section 5120.427 | Right to receive materials.

• Effective: November 3, 1999
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 62 - 123rd General Assembly

(A) Each prisoner confined in a state correctional institution may receive a reasonable number of materials directly from the publishers or other distributors of those materials. With the prior approval of the warden of the state correctional institution in which a prisoner is confined, each prisoner also may receive a reasonable number of materials from a source other than the publisher or other distributor of those materials.

A prisoner's receipt and retention of materials is subject to security inspections conducted by the institution in which the prisoner is confined and to the rules and regulations adopted pursuant to section 5120.426 of the Revised Code. Subject to a contrary decision with respect to a material's nature by the publication review committee following a review pursuant to section 5120.428 of the Revised Code, a prisoner is not entitled to receive or retain any material that a warden or the warden's designee determines during the course of a security inspection to be a prohibited inflammatory material.

(B)(1) For each state correctional institution, the warden or the warden's designee shall inspect each incoming material to determine whether the material is a prohibited inflammatory material or another type of material. The warden or the warden's designee shall not determine a material to be a prohibited inflammatory material solely on the basis of its appeal to a particular ethnic, racial, or religious audience.

(2) If the warden or the warden's designee determines that an incoming material is not a prohibited inflammatory material, the warden or the warden's designee shall cause the material to be promptly forwarded to the prisoner who is its intended recipient. If the warden or the warden's designee determines that an incoming material is a prohibited inflammatory material, the warden or the warden's designee shall cause the material to be withheld from the prisoner who is its intended recipient and promptly shall provide that prisoner with a written withholding notice containing all of the following:

(a) A general description of the withheld material;

(b) The reason why the material has not been forwarded to the prisoner;

(c) A statement of the prisoner's right under division (A) of section 5120.428 of the Revised Code to have the publication review committee review the withholding decision of the warden or the warden's designee.

(3) Within five working days after a prisoner's receipt of the withholding notice described in division (B)(2) of this section, the prisoner may submit to the warden a written request for a review of the withholding decision. If the prisoner fails to submit a timely written request for a review of that nature, the failure shall constitute the prisoner's acceptance of the withholding decision, and the warden or the warden's designee shall cause the material to be disposed of in the manner that the warden or the warden's designee considered to be most appropriate under the circumstances.

Section 5120.428 | Request for review.

• Effective: November 3, 1999
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 62 - 123rd General Assembly

(A) If a prisoner confined in a state correctional institution submits a timely written review request under division (B)(3) of section 5120.427 of the Revised Code, the warden of the state correctional institution in which the prisoner is confined or the warden's designee promptly shall forward the withheld material to the publication review committee. As soon as is practicable after receipt of the withheld material, the publication review committee shall review the material to determine whether it is a prohibited inflammatory material or another type of material.

(B) If the publication review committee determines that the withheld material is not a prohibited inflammatory material, the committee shall cause the withheld material to be promptly forwarded to the prisoner who requested the review.

(C) If the publication review committee determines that the withheld material is a prohibited inflammatory material, the committee shall forward the material to the warden or the warden's designee for disposal in the manner considered to be most appropriate under the circumstances.

Section 5120.44 | Liberal construction of chapter.

• Effective: April 6, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 281 - 134th General Assembly

Chapter 5120. of the Revised Code attempts:

(A) To provide humane and scientific treatment and care and the highest attainable degree of individual development for the dependent wards of the state;

(B) To provide for the delinquent, conditions of modern education and training that will restore the largest possible portion of them to useful citizenship;

(C) To promote the study of the causes of dependency and delinquency, and of mental, moral, and physical impairments, with a view to cure and ultimate prevention;

(D) To secure by uniform and systematic management the highest attainable degree of economy in the administration of the state institutions.

Such sections shall be liberally construed to attain such purposes.

Last updated March 10, 2023 at 12:54 PM

Section 5120.45 | Burial or cremation of inmate.

• Effective: August 5, 1998
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 117 - 122nd General Assembly

The state shall bear the expense of the burial or cremation of an inmate who dies in a state correctional institution, if the body is not claimed for interment or cremation at the expense of friends or relatives, or is not delivered for anatomical purposes or for the study of embalming in accordance with section 1713.34 of the Revised Code. When the expense is borne by the state, interment of the person or the person's cremated remains shall be in the institution cemetery or other place provided by the state. The managing officer of the institution shall provide at the grave of the person or, if the person's cremated remains are buried, at the grave of the person's cremated remains, a metal, stone, or concrete marker on which shall be inscribed the name and age of the person and the date of death.

Section 5120.46 | Appropriating property.

• Effective: October 26, 1999
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 19 - 123rd General Assembly

When it is necessary for a state correctional institution to acquire any real estate, right-of-way, or easement in real estate in order to accomplish the purposes for which it was organized or is being conducted, and the department of rehabilitation and correction is unable to agree with the owner of the property upon the price to be paid therefor, the property may be appropriated in the manner provided for the appropriation of property for other state purposes.

Any instrument by which real property is acquired pursuant to this section shall identify the agency of the state that has the use and benefit of the real property as specified in section 5301.012 of the Revised Code.

Section 5120.47 | Leasing capital facilities.

• Effective: July 1, 2014
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 497 - 130th General Assembly

The department of rehabilitation and correction shall lease capital facilities constructed, reconstructed, or otherwise improved, which facilities are financed by the treasurer of state pursuant to Chapter 154. of the Revised Code, for the use of the department, and may enter into any other agreements with the Ohio public facilities commission, the department of administrative services, or any other authorized state agency ancillary to the construction, reconstruction, improvement, financing, leasing, or operation of such capital facilities, including, but not limited to, any agreements required by the applicable bond proceedings authorized by Chapter 154. of the Revised Code. Such agreements shall not be subject to section 5120.24 of the Revised Code. Any lease of capital facilities authorized by this section shall be governed by Chapter 154. of the Revised Code.

Section 5120.48 | Apprehending escapee or prisoner mistakenly released.

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

(A) If a prisoner escapes from a state correctional institution, the managing officer of the institution, after consultation with and upon the advice of appropriate law enforcement officials, shall assign and deploy into the community appropriate staff persons necessary to apprehend the prisoner. Correctional officers and officials may carry firearms when required in the discharge of their duties in apprehending, taking into custody, or transporting to a place of confinement a prisoner who has escaped from a state correctional institution.

(B) If a prisoner is released from a state correctional institution prior to the lawful end of the person's prison term or term of imprisonment, whether by error, inadvertence, fraud, or any other cause except a lawful parole or judicial release granted pursuant to section 2929.20 of the Revised Code or the successful completion of a risk reduction sentence under section 5120.036 of the Revised Code, the managing officer of the institution, after consulting with the bureau of sentence computation, shall notify the chief of the adult parole authority, the office of victim services of the division of parole and community services, and the sentencing court of the mistaken release. Upon the direction of the chief, or the chief's designee, field officers of the authority may arrest the prisoner without a warrant and return the prisoner to the state correctional institution to complete the balance of the prisoner's sentence. The chief of the adult parole authority, or the chief's designee, may require the assistance of any peace officer or law enforcement officer in the apprehension of a prisoner of that nature.

Section 5120.49 | Standards and guidelines for termination of parole board's control over certain sexually violent offenders.

• Effective: January 1, 2008
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 10 - 127th General Assembly

The department of rehabilitation and correction, by rule adopted under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, shall prescribe standards and guidelines to be used by the parole board in determining, pursuant to section 2971.04 of the Revised Code, whether it should terminate its control over an offender's service of a prison term imposed upon the offender under division (A)(3), (B)(1)(a), (b), or (c), (B)(2)(a), (b), or (c), or (B)(3)(a), (b), (c), or (d) of section 2971.03 of the Revised Code. The rules shall include provisions that specify that the parole board may not terminate its control over an offender's service of a prison term imposed upon the offender under any of the specified divisions until after the offender has served the minimum term imposed as part of that prison term and until the parole board has determined that the offender does not represent a substantial risk of physical harm to others.

Section 5120.50 | Interstate correction compact.

• Effective: December 28, 1976
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 47 - 111th General Assembly

(A) The party states, desiring by common action to fully utilize and improve their programs for the confinement, treatment, and rehabilitation of various types of offenders, declare that it is the policy of each of the party states to provide institutional facilities and such programs on a basis of cooperation with one another, thereby serving the best interest of such offenders and of society and effecting economies in capital expenditures and operational costs. The purpose of this compact is to provide for the mutual development and execution of such programs of cooperation for the confinement, treatment, and rehabilitation of offenders with the most economical use of human and material resources.

(B) DEFINITIONS

As used in this compact, unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

(1) "State" means a state of the United States; the United States; a territory or possession of the United States; the District of Columbia; the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

(2) "Sending state" means a state party to this compact in which conviction or court commitment was had.

(3) "Receiving state" means a state party to this compact to which an inmate is sent for confinement other than a state in which conviction or court commitment was had.

(4) "Inmate" means a male or female offender who is committed, under sentence to or confined in a state penal or state reformatory institution.

(5) "Institution" means any state penal or state reformatory facility, including but not limited to a facility for the mentally ill or mentally defective, in which inmates as defined in division (B)(4) of this section may lawfully be confined.

(C) CONTRACTS

(1) Each party state may make one or more contracts with any one or more of the other party states for the confinement of inmates on behalf of a sending state in institutions situated within receiving states. Any such contract shall provide for:

(a) Its duration;

(b) Payments to be made to the receiving state by the sending state for inmate maintenance, extraordinary medical and dental expenses, and any participation in or receipt by inmates of rehabilitative or correctional services, facilities, programs, or treatment not reasonably included as part of normal maintenance;

(c) Participation in programs of inmate employment, if any; the disposition or crediting of any payments received by inmates on account thereof; and the crediting of proceeds from or disposal of any products resulting therefrom;

(d) Delivery and retaking of inmates;

(e) Such other matters as may be necessary and appropriate to fix the obligations, responsibilities, and rights of the sending and receiving states.

(2) The terms and provisions of this compact shall be a part of any contract entered into by the authority of or pursuant thereto, and nothing in any such contract shall be inconsistent therewith.

(D) PROCEDURES AND RIGHTS

(1) Whenever the duly constituted authorities in a state party to this compact, and which has entered into a contract pursuant to division (C) of this section, shall decide that confinement in, or transfer of an inmate to, an institution within the territory of another party state is necessary or desirable in order to provide adequate quarters and care, or an appropriate program of rehabilitation or treatment, said officials may direct that the confinement be within an institution within the territory of said other party state, the receiving state to act in that regard solely as agent for the sending state.

(2) No transfer shall take place pursuant to this compact unless one of the following has occurred: (a) the inmate has given his written consent to such transfer; (b) in the event the inmate does not consent to such transfer, a hearing shall be held and a record made indicating the reasons for said transfer.

(3) The appropriate officials of any state party to this compact shall have access, at all reasonable times, to any institution in which it has a contractural right to confine inmates for the purpose of inspecting the facilities thereof and visiting such of its inmates as may be confined in the institution.

(4) Inmates confined in an institution pursuant to the terms of this compact shall at all times be subject to the jurisdiction of the sending state and may at any time be removed therefrom for transfer to a prison or other institution within the sending state, for transfer to another institution in which the sending state may have a contractual or other right to confine inmates, for release on probation or parole, for discharge, or for any other purpose permitted by the laws of the sending state; provided that the sending state shall continue to be obligated to such payments as may be required pursuant to the terms of any contract entered into under the terms of division (C) of this section.

(5) Each receiving state shall provide regular reports, no less than semiannually, to each sending state on the inmates of that sending state in institutions pursuant to this compact, including a conduct record of each inmate and certify said record to the official designated by the sending state, in order that each inmate may have official review of his or her record in determining and altering the disposition of said inmate in accordance with the law which may obtain in the sending state and in order that the same may be a source of information for the sending state.

(6) All inmates who may be confined in an institution pursuant to the provisions of this compact shall be treated in a reasonable and humane manner and shall be treated equally with such similar inmates of the receiving state as may be confined in the same institution. The fact of confinement in a receiving state shall not deprive any inmate so confined of any legal rights which said inmate would have had if confined in an appropriate institution of the sending state.

(7) Any hearing or hearings to which an inmate confined pursuant to this compact may be entitled by the laws of the sending state may be had before the appropriate authorities of the sending state, or of the receiving state if authorized by the sending state. The receiving state shall provide adequate facilities for such hearings as may be conducted by the appropriate officials of a sending state. In the event such hearing or hearings are had before officials of the receiving state, the governing law shall be that of the sending state and a record of the hearing or hearings as prescribed by the sending state shall be made. Said record together with any recommendations of the hearing officials shall be transmitted forthwith to the official or officials before whom the hearing would have been had if it had taken place in the sending state. In any and all proceedings had pursuant to the provisions of this division, the officials of the receiving state shall act solely as agents of the sending state and no final determination shall be made in any matter except by the appropriate officials of the sending state.

(8) Any inmate confined pursuant to this compact shall be released within the territory of the sending state unless the inmate, and the sending and receiving states, shall agree upon release in some other place. The sending state shall bear the cost of such return to its territory.

(9) Any inmate confined pursuant to the terms of this compact shall have any and all rights to participate in and derive any benefits, or incur or be relieved of any obligations, or have such obligations modified or his status changed on account of any action or proceeding in which he could have participated if confined in any appropriate institution of the sending state located within such state.

(10) The parent, guardian, trustee, or other person or persons entitled under the laws of the sending state to act for, advise, or otherwise function with respect to any inmate shall not be deprived of or restricted in his exercise of any power in respect of any inmate confined pursuant to the terms of this compact.

(E) ACTS NOT REVIEWABLE IN RECEIVING STATE:

EXTRADITION

(1) Any decision of the sending state in respect of any matter over which it retains jurisdiction pursuant to this compact shall be conclusive upon and not reviewable within the receiving state, but if at the time the sending state seeks to remove an inmate from an institution in the receiving state there is pending against the inmate within such state any criminal charge or if the inmate is formally accused of having committed within such state a criminal offense, the inmate shall not be returned without the consent of the receiving state until discharged from prosecution or other form of proceeding, imprisonment or detention for such offense. The duly accredited officers of the sending state shall be permitted to transport inmates pursuant to this compact through any and all states party to this compact without interference.

(2) An inmate who escapes from an institution in which he is confined pursuant to this compact shall be deemed a fugitive from the sending state and from the state in which the institution is situated. In the case of an escape to a jurisdiction other than the sending or receiving state, the responsibility for institution of extradition or rendition proceedings shall be that of the sending state, but nothing contained herein shall be construed to prevent or affect the activities of officers and agencies of any jurisdiction directed toward the apprehension and return of an escapee.

(F) FEDERAL AID

Any state party to this compact may accept federal aid for use in connection with any institution or program, the use of which is or may be affected by this compact or any contract pursuant hereto. Any inmate in a receiving state pursuant to this compact may participate in any such federally aided program or activity for which the sending and receiving states have made contractual provision, provided that if such program or activity is not part of the customary correctional regimen, the express consent of the appropriate official of the sending state shall be required therefor.

(G) ENTRY INTO FORCE

This compact shall enter into force and become effective and binding upon the states so acting when it has been enacted into law by any two states. Thereafter, this compact shall enter into force and become effective and binding as to any other of said states upon similar action by such state.

(H) WITHDRAWAL AND TERMINATION

This compact shall continue in force and remain binding upon a party state until it shall have enacted a statute repealing the same and providing for the sending of formal written notice of withdrawal from the compact to the appropriate officials of all other party states. An actual withdrawal shall not take effect until one year after the notices provided in said statute have been sent. Such withdrawal shall not relieve the withdrawing state from its obligations assumed hereunder prior to the effective date of withdrawal. Before the effective date of withdrawal, a withdrawing state shall remove to its territory, at its own expense, such inmates as it may have confined pursuant to the provisions of this compact.

(I) OTHER ARRANGEMENTS UNAFFECTED

Nothing contained in this compact shall be construed to abrogate or impair any agreement or other arrangement which a party state may have with a nonparty state for the confinement, rehabilitation, or treatment of inmates nor to repeal any oher laws of a party state authorizing the making of cooperative institutional arrangements.

(J) CONSTRUCTION AND SEVERABILITY

The provisions of this compact shall be liberally construed and shall be severable. If any phrase, clause, sentence, or provision of this compact is declared to be contrary to the constitution of any participating state or of the United States, or the applicability thereof to any government, agency, person, or circumstance is held invalid, the validity of the remainder of this compact and the applicability thereof to any government, agency, person, or circumstance shall not be affected thereby. If this compact shall be held contrary to the constitution of any state participating therein, the compact shall remain in full force and effect as to the remaining states and in full force and effect as to the state affected as to all severable matters.

(K) POWERS

The director of the department of rehabilitation and correction is hereby authorized and directed to do all things necessary or incidental to the carrying out of the compact in every particular and he may in his discretion delegate this authority to the deputy director of the department of rehabilitation and correction.

Section 5120.51 | Population and cost impact statement for legislative bill.

• Effective: June 30, 2005
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 66 - 126th General Assembly

(A)(1) If the director of rehabilitation and correction determines that a bill introduced in the general assembly is likely to have a significant impact on the population of, or the cost of operating, any or all state correctional institutions under the administration of the department of rehabilitation and correction, the department shall prepare a population and cost impact statement for the bill, in accordance with division (A)(2) of this section.

(2) A population and cost impact statement required for a bill shall estimate the increase or decrease in the correctional institution population that likely would result if the bill were enacted, shall estimate, in dollars, the amount by which revenues or expenditures likely would increase or decrease if the bill were enacted, and briefly shall explain each of the estimates.

A population and cost impact statement required for a bill initially shall be prepared after the bill is referred to a committee of the general assembly in the house of origination but before the meeting of the committee at which the committee is scheduled to vote on whether to recommend the bill for passage. A copy of the statement shall be distributed to each member of the committee that is considering the bill and to the member of the general assembly who introduced it. If the bill is recommended for passage by the committee, the department shall update the statement before the bill is taken up for final consideration by the house of origination. A copy of the updated statement shall be distributed to each member of that house and to the member of the general assembly who introduced the bill. If the bill is passed by the house of origination and is introduced in the second house, the provisions of this division concerning the preparation, updating, and distribution of the statement in the house of origination also apply in the second house.

(B) The governor or any member of the general assembly, at any time, may request the department to prepare a population and cost impact statement for any bill introduced in the general assembly. Upon receipt of a request, the department promptly shall prepare a statement that includes the estimates and explanations described in division (A)(2) of this section and present a copy of it to the governor or member who made the request.

(C) In the preparation of a population and cost impact statement required by division (A) or (B) of this section, the department shall use a technologically sophisticated system capable of estimating future state correctional institution populations. The system shall have the capability to adjust its estimates based on actual and proposed changes in sentencing laws and trends, sentence durations, parole rates, crime rates, and any other data that affect state correctional institution populations. The department, in conjunction with the advisory committee appointed under division (E) of this section, shall review and update the data used in the system, not less than once every six months, to improve the accuracy of the system.

(D) At least once every six months, the department shall provide to the correctional institution inspection committee a copy of the estimates of state correctional institution populations obtained through use of the system described in division (C) of this section and a description of the assumptions regarding sentencing laws and trends, sentence durations, parole rates, crime rates, and other relevant data that were made by the department to obtain the estimates. Additionally, a copy of the estimates and a description of the assumptions made to obtain them shall be provided, upon reasonable request, to other legislative staff, including the staff of the legislative service commission, to the office of budget and management, and to the division of criminal justice services in the department of public safety.

(E) The correctional institution inspection committee shall appoint an advisory committee to review the operation of the system for estimating future state correctional institution populations that is used by the department in the preparation of population cost impact statements pursuant to this section and to join with the department in its reviews and updating of the data used in the system under division (C) of this section. The advisory committee shall be comprised of at least one prosecuting attorney, at least one common pleas court judge, at least one public defender, at least one person who is a member or staff employee of the committee, and at least one representative of the division of criminal justice services in the department of public safety.

Section 5120.52 | Contract for sewage services.

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

The department of rehabilitation and correction may enter into a contract with any person or with a political subdivision in which a state correctional institution is located under which an institution will provide water or sewage treatment services for the person or political subdivision if the institution has a water or sewage treatment facility with sufficient excess capacity to provide the services.

Any such contract shall include all of the following:

(A) Limitations on the quantity of sewage that the facility will accept or the quantity of potable water that the facility will provide that are compatible with the needs of the state correctional institution;

(B) The bases for calculating reasonable rates to be charged the person or political subdivision for potable water or for sewage treatment services and for adjusting the rates;

(C) All other provisions the department considers necessary or proper to protect the interests of the state in the facility and the purpose for which it was constructed.

All amounts due the department under the contract shall be paid to the department by the person or political subdivision at the times specified in the contract. The department shall deposit all such amounts in the state treasury to the credit of the correctional institution water and sewage treatment facility services fund, which is hereby created. The fund shall be used by the department to pay costs associated with operating and maintaining the water or sewage treatment facility.

Section 5120.53 | Transfer or exchange of convicted offender to foreign country pursuant to treaty.

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

(A) If a treaty between the United States and a foreign country provides for the transfer or exchange, from one of the signatory countries to the other signatory country, of convicted offenders who are citizens or nationals of the other signatory country, the governor, subject to and in accordance with the terms of the treaty, may authorize the director of rehabilitation and correction to allow the transfer or exchange of convicted offenders and to take any action necessary to initiate participation in the treaty. If the governor grants the director the authority described in this division, the director may take the necessary action to initiate participation in the treaty and, subject to and in accordance with division (B) of this section and the terms of the treaty, may allow the transfer or exchange to a foreign country that has signed the treaty of any convicted offender who is a citizen or national of that signatory country.

(B)(1) No convicted offender who is serving a term of imprisonment in this state for aggravated murder, murder, or a felony of the first or second degree, who is serving a mandatory prison term imposed under section 2925.03 or 2925.11 of the Revised Code in circumstances in which the court was required to impose as the mandatory prison term the maximum definite prison term or longest minimum prison term authorized for the degree of offense committed, who is serving a term of imprisonment in this state imposed for an offense committed prior to July 1, 1996, that was an aggravated felony of the first or second degree or that was aggravated trafficking in violation of division (A)(9) or (10) of section 2925.03 of the Revised Code, or who has been sentenced to death in this state shall be transferred or exchanged to another country pursuant to a treaty of the type described in division (A) of this section.

(2) If a convicted offender is serving a term of imprisonment in this state and the offender is a citizen or national of a foreign country that has signed a treaty of the type described in division (A) of this section, if the governor has granted the director of rehabilitation and correction the authority described in that division, and if the transfer or exchange of the offender is not barred by division (B)(1) of this section, the director or the director's designee may approve the offender for transfer or exchange pursuant to the treaty if the director or the designee, after consideration of the factors set forth in the rules adopted by the department under division (D) of this section and all other relevant factors, determines that the transfer or exchange of the offender is appropriate.

(C) Notwithstanding any provision of the Revised Code regarding the parole eligibility of, or the duration or calculation of a sentence of imprisonment imposed upon, an offender, if a convicted offender is serving a term of imprisonment in this state and the offender is a citizen or national of a foreign country that has signed a treaty of the type described in division (A) of this section, if the offender is serving an indefinite term of imprisonment, if the offender is barred from being transferred or exchanged pursuant to the treaty due to the indefinite nature of the offender's term of imprisonment, and if in accordance with division (B)(2) of this section the director of rehabilitation and correction or the director's designee approves the offender for transfer or exchange pursuant to the treaty, the parole board, pursuant to rules adopted by the director, shall set a date certain for the release of the offender. To the extent possible, the date certain that is set shall be reasonably proportionate to the indefinite term of imprisonment that the offender is serving. The date certain that is set for the release of the offender shall be considered only for purposes of facilitating the international transfer or exchange of the offender, shall not be viable or actionable for any other purpose, and shall not create any expectation or guarantee of release. If an offender for whom a date certain for release is set under this division is not transferred to or exchanged with the foreign country pursuant to the treaty, the date certain is null and void, and the offender's release shall be determined pursuant to the laws and rules of this state pertaining to parole eligibility and the duration and calculation of an indefinite sentence of imprisonment.

(D) If the governor, pursuant to division (A) of this section, authorizes the director of rehabilitation and correction to allow any transfer or exchange of convicted offenders as described in that division, the director shall adopt rules under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to implement the provisions of this section. The rules shall include a rule that requires the director or the director's designee, in determining whether to approve a convicted offender who is serving a term of imprisonment in this state for transfer or exchange pursuant to a treaty of the type described in division (A) of this section, to consider all of the following factors:

(1) The nature of the offense for which the offender is serving the term of imprisonment in this state;

(2) The likelihood that, if the offender is transferred or exchanged to a foreign country pursuant to the treaty, the offender will serve a shorter period of time in imprisonment in the foreign country than the offender would serve if the offender is not transferred or exchanged to the foreign country pursuant to the treaty;

(3) The likelihood that, if the offender is transferred or exchanged to a foreign country pursuant to the treaty, the offender will return or attempt to return to this state after the offender has been released from imprisonment in the foreign country;

(4) The degree of any shock to the conscience of justice and society that will be experienced in this state if the offender is transferred or exchanged to a foreign country pursuant to the treaty;

(5) All other factors that the department determines are relevant to the determination.

Section 5120.55 | Licensed health professional recruitment program.

• Effective: October 9, 2021
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 263 - 133rd General Assembly

(A) As used in this section, "licensed health professional" means any or all of the following:

(1) A dentist who holds a current, valid license issued under Chapter 4715. of the Revised Code to practice dentistry;

(2) A licensed practical nurse who holds a current, valid license issued under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code that authorizes the practice of nursing as a licensed practical nurse;

(3) An optometrist who holds a current, valid certificate of licensure issued under Chapter 4725. of the Revised Code that authorizes the holder to engage in the practice of optometry;

(4) A physician who is authorized under Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code to practice medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery;

(5) A psychologist who holds a current, valid license issued under Chapter 4732. of the Revised Code that authorizes the practice of psychology as a licensed psychologist;

(6) A registered nurse who holds a current, valid license issued under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code that authorizes the practice of nursing as a registered nurse, including such a nurse who is also licensed to practice as an advanced practice registered nurse as defined in section 4723.01 of the Revised Code.

(B)(1) The department of rehabilitation and correction may establish a recruitment program under which the department, by means of a contract entered into under division (C) of this section, agrees to repay all or part of the principal and interest of a government or other educational loan incurred by a licensed health professional who agrees to provide services to inmates of correctional institutions under the department's administration.

(2)(a) For a physician to be eligible to participate in the program, the physician must have attended a school that was, during the time of attendance, a medical school or osteopathic medical school in this country accredited by the liaison committee on medical education or the American osteopathic association, a college of podiatry in this country in good standing with the state medical board, or a medical school, osteopathic medical school, or college of podiatry located outside this country that was acknowledged by the world health organization and verified by a member state of that organization as operating within that state's jurisdiction.

(b) For a nurse to be eligible to participate in the program, the nurse must have attended a school that was, during the time of attendance, a nursing school in this country accredited by the commission on collegiate nursing education or the national league for nursing accrediting commission or a nursing school located outside this country that was acknowledged by the world health organization and verified by a member state of that organization as operating within that state's jurisdiction.

(c) For a dentist to be eligible to participate in the program, the dentist must have attended a school that was, during the time of attendance, a dental college that enabled the dentist to meet the requirements specified in section 4715.10 of the Revised Code to be granted a license to practice dentistry.

(d) For an optometrist to be eligible to participate in the program, the optometrist must have attended a school of optometry that was, during the time of attendance, approved by the state vision professionals board.

(e) For a psychologist to be eligible to participate in the program, the psychologist must have attended an educational institution that, during the time of attendance, maintained a specific degree program recognized by the state board of psychology as acceptable for fulfilling the requirement of division (B)(2) of section 4732.10 of the Revised Code.

(C) The department shall enter into a contract with each licensed health professional it recruits under this section. Each contract shall include at least the following terms:

(1) The licensed health professional agrees to provide a specified scope of medical, osteopathic medical, podiatric, optometric, psychological, nursing, or dental services to inmates of one or more specified state correctional institutions for a specified number of hours per week for a specified number of years.

(2) The department agrees to repay all or a specified portion of the principal and interest of a government or other educational loan taken by the licensed health professional for the following expenses to attend, for up to a maximum of four years, a school that qualifies the licensed health professional to participate in the program:

(a) Tuition;

(b) Other educational expenses for specific purposes, including fees, books, and laboratory expenses, in amounts determined to be reasonable in accordance with rules adopted under division (D) of this section;

(c) Room and board, in an amount determined to be reasonable in accordance with rules adopted under division (D) of this section.

(3) The licensed health professional agrees to pay the department a specified amount, which shall be no less than the amount already paid by the department pursuant to its agreement, as damages if the licensed health professional fails to complete the service obligation agreed to or fails to comply with other specified terms of the contract. The contract may vary the amount of damages based on the portion of the service obligation that remains uncompleted.

(4) Other terms agreed upon by the parties.

The licensed health professional's lending institution or the department of higher education may be a party to the contract. The contract may include an assignment to the department of rehabilitation and correction of the licensed health professional's duty to repay the principal and interest of the loan.

(D) If the department of rehabilitation and correction elects to implement the recruitment program, it shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code that establish all of the following:

(1) Criteria for designating institutions for which licensed health professionals will be recruited;

(2) Criteria for selecting licensed health professionals for participation in the program;

(3) Criteria for determining the portion of a loan which the department will agree to repay;

(4) Criteria for determining reasonable amounts of the expenses described in divisions (C)(2)(b) and (c) of this section;

(5) Procedures for monitoring compliance by a licensed health professional with the terms of the contract the licensed health professional enters into under this section;

(6) Any other criteria or procedures necessary to implement the program.

Last updated October 9, 2021 at 5:10 AM

Section 5120.56 | Recovering cost of incarceration or supervision from offender.

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

(A) As used in sections 5120.56 to 5120.58 of the Revised Code:

(1) "Ancillary services" means services provided to an offender as necessary for the particular circumstances of the offender's personal supervision, including, but not limited to, specialized counseling, testing, or other services not included in the calculation of residential or supervision costs.

(2) "Cost debt" means a cost of incarceration or supervision that may be assessed against and collected from an offender as a debt to the state as described in division (D) of this section.

(3) "Detention facility" means any place used for the confinement of a person charged with or convicted of any crime.

(4) "Offender" means any inmate, parolee, person placed under a community control sanction, releasee, or other person who has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any felony or misdemeanor and is sentenced to any of the following:

(a) A term of imprisonment, a prison term, a jail term, or another type of confinement in a detention facility;

(b) Participation in another correctional program in lieu of incarceration.

(5) "Community control sanction," "prison term," and "jail term" have the same meanings as in section 2929.01 of the Revised Code.

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

(B) The department of rehabilitation and correction may recover from an offender who is in its custody or under its supervision any cost debt described in division (D) of this section. To satisfy a cost debt described in that division that relates to an offender, the department may apply directly assets that are in the department's possession and that are being held for that offender without further proceedings in aid of execution, and, if assets belonging to or subject to the direction of that offender are in the possession of a third party, the department may request the attorney general to initiate proceedings to collect the assets from the third party to satisfy the cost debt.

(C) Except as otherwise provided in division (E) or (G) of this section, all of the following assets of an offender shall be subject to attachment, collection, or application toward the cost debts described in division (D) of this section that are to be recovered under division (B) of this section:

(1) Subject to division (E) of this section, any pay the offender receives from the state;

(2) Subject to division (E) of this section, any funds the offender receives from persons on an approved visitor list;

(3) Any liquid assets belonging to the offender and in the custody of the department;

(4) Any assets the offender acquires or any other income the offender earns subsequent to the offender's commitment.

(D) Costs of incarceration or supervision that may be assessed against and collected from an offender under division (B) of this section as a debt to the state shall include, but are not limited to, all of the following costs that accrue while the offender is in the custody or under the supervision of the department:

(1) Any user fee or copayment for services at a detention facility or housing facility, including, but not limited to, a fee or copayment for sick call visits;

(2) Assessment for damage to or destruction of property in a detention facility subsequent to commitment;

(3) Restitution to an offender or to a staff member of a state correctional institution for theft, loss, or damage to the personal property of the offender or staff member;

(4) The cost of housing and feeding the offender in a detention facility;

(5) The cost of supervision of the offender;

(6) The cost of any ancillary services provided to the offender;

(7) The cost of any medical care provided to the offender.

(E) The cost of housing and feeding an offender in a state correctional institution shall not be collected from a payment made to the offender for performing an activity at a state job or assignment that pays less than the minimum wage or from money the offender receives from visitors, unless the combined assets in the offender's institution personal account exceed, at any time, one hundred dollars. If the combined assets in that account exceed one hundred dollars, the cost of housing and feeding the offender may be collected from the amount in excess of one hundred dollars.

(F)(1) The department shall adopt rules pursuant to section 111.15 of the Revised Code to implement the requirements of this section.

(2) The rules adopted under division (F)(1) of this section shall include, but are not limited to, rules that establish or contain all of the following:

(a) A process for ascertaining the items of cost to be assessed against an offender;

(b) Subject to division (F)(3) of this section, a process by which the offender shall have the opportunity to respond to the assessment of costs under division (B) of this section and to contest any item of cost in the department's calculation or as it applies to the offender;

(c) A requirement that the offender be notified, in writing, of a final decision to collect or apply the offender's assets under division (B) of this section and that the notification be provided after the offender has had an opportunity to contest the application or collection;

(d) Criteria for evaluating an offender's ongoing, permanent injury and evaluating the ability of that type of offender to provide for the offender after incarceration.

(3) The rules adopted under division (F)(1) of this section may allow the collection of a cost debt as a flat fee or over time in installments. If the cost debt is to be collected over time in installments, the rules are not required to permit the offender an opportunity to contest the assessment of each installment. The rules may establish a standard fee to apply to all offenders who receive a particular service.

(G) The department shall not collect cost debts or apply offender assets toward a cost debt under division (B) of this section if, due to an ongoing, permanent injury, the collection or application would unjustly limit the offender's ability to provide for the offender after incarceration.

(H) If an offender acquires assets after the offender is convicted of or pleads guilty to an offense and if the transferor knows of the offender's status as an offender, the transferor shall notify the department in advance of the transfer.

(I) There is hereby created in the state treasury the offender financial responsibility fund. All moneys collected by or on behalf of the department under this section, and all moneys currently in the department's custody that are applied to satisfy an allowable cost debt under this section, shall be deposited into the fund. The department may expend moneys in the fund for goods and services of the same type as those for which offenders are assessed pursuant to this section.

Section 5120.57 | Reimbursement for health care services rendered to insured offender.

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

(A) For each offender who is in the custody or under the supervision of the department of rehabilitation and correction, the department may make a determination as to whether the offender is covered under an individual or group sickness and accident insurance policy or an individual or group health insuring corporation policy, contract, or agreement. If the offender has coverage of that type, the department shall familiarize itself with the terms and conditions to receive benefits under the policy, contract, or agreement.

(B) If, pursuant to division (A) of this section, it is determined that the offender is covered under an individual or group sickness and accident insurance policy or an individual or group health insuring corporation policy, contract, or agreement and if, while that coverage is in force, the department renders or arranges for the rendering of health care services to the person in accordance with the terms and conditions of the policy, contract, or agreement, the department or provider of the health care services, as appropriate under the terms and conditions of the policy, contract, or agreement, may submit a claim for payment for the health care services to the appropriate third-party payer. If the policy holder is the offender, the offender shall be required to assign payment of benefits directly to the provider or department, as appropriate. If the policy holder is not the offender, the policy holder shall be asked to voluntarily provide policy information and assign payments directly to the provider or department, as appropriate. The department shall provide the third-party payer with a copy of the assignment of benefits by the policy holder. The policy holder and the third-party payer shall make all arrangements necessary to ensure that payment of any amount due on the claim is made to the provider or department as specified in the assignment. The department shall remain ultimately responsible for payment of all health care services provided to an offender in the custody or under the supervision of the department but shall be the payer of last resort. If the department pays a provider for health care services rendered to an offender and payment subsequently is made for the same services by a third-party payer, the provider shall refund the duplicate payment to the department and, the department shall deposit the refunded payment into the offender financial responsibility fund as described in division (E) of this section.

(C) If, pursuant to division (A) of this section, it is determined that the offender is covered under an individual or group sickness and accident insurance policy or an individual or group health insuring corporation policy, contract, or agreement, the department shall make a determination, after considering security, public safety, and transportation issues, whether or not to render or arrange for the rendering of health care services in accordance with the terms and conditions of the policy, contract, or agreement. The department, based on security, public safety, or transportation concerns or any combination of those concerns, may arrange for the rendering of health care services for the offender at a health care facility, by a provider, or at a health care facility and by a provider not covered by the policy, contract, or agreement and pay the costs of the health care services for the offender.

(D) If the department renders or arranges for the rendering of health care services to an offender and pays for the services, the department reserves the right to seek reimbursement from a third-party payer for the services if it subsequently is determined that the offender was covered under an individual or group sickness and accident insurance policy or an individual or group health insuring corporation policy, contract, or agreement. The department shall submit a claim for reimbursement of the type described in this division within the time frames applicable to claims submitted by a policy holder in accordance with the terms and conditions of the policy, contract, or agreement.

(E) Any payment made to the department pursuant to division (B) of this section shall be deposited into the offender financial responsibility fund created in section 5120.56 of the Revised Code.

(F) If, at the time the department arranges for health care services for an offender and a provider renders those services, the department determines pursuant to division (A) of this section that the offender is covered, or potentially is covered, under an individual or group sickness and accident insurance policy or an individual or group health insuring corporation policy, contract, or agreement, then all of the following apply:

(1) The department is responsible for any cost-sharing, co-payments, or deductibles required under the policy, contract, or agreement.

(2) If the insurer or potential insurer denies the claim for payment, the department remains liable for payment to the provider of services.

(3) If an insurer covers a service, but the amount the insurer pays to the provider is less than the amount negotiated and established by contract then in effect between the department and the provider, the department is liable for reimbursing the difference to the provider.

(G) Nothing in this section requires a third-party payer to reimburse any provider or the department for health care services not covered under the terms or conditions of an individual or group sickness and accident insurance policy, an individual or group health insuring corporation policy, contract, or agreement, or any other policy, contract, or agreement.

Section 5120.58 | Rules for health care benefits and preventive services.

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

The department of rehabilitation and correction shall adopt rules under section 111.15 of the Revised Code to do both of the following:

(A) Establish a schedule of health care benefits that are available to offenders who are in the custody or under the supervision of the department;

(B) Establish a program to encourage the utilization of preventive health care services by offenders.

Section 5120.59 | Verification of prisoner's identity before release.

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

Before a prisoner is released from a state correctional institution, the department of rehabilitation and correction shall attempt to verify the prisoner's identification and social security number. If the department is not able to verify the prisoner's identification and social security number, if the prisoner has no other documentary evidence required by the registrar of motor vehicles for the issuance of an identification card under section 4507.50 of the Revised Code, and if the department determines that the prisoner is legally living in the United States, the department shall issue to the prisoner upon the prisoner's release an identification card that the prisoner may present to the registrar or a deputy registrar of motor vehicles.

Section 5120.60 | Office of victim services.

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

(A) There is hereby created in the division of parole and community services the office of victim services.

(B) The office shall provide assistance to victims of crime, victims' representatives designated under section 2930.02 of the Revised Code, and members of the victim's family. The assistance shall include, but not be limited to, providing information about the policies and procedures of the department of rehabilitation and correction and the status of offenders under the department's jurisdiction.

(C) The office shall also make available publications that will assist victims in contacting staff of the department about problems with offenders under the supervision of the adult parole authority or confined in state correctional institutions under the department's jurisdiction.

(D) The office shall employ a victim coordinator who shall administer the office's functions. The victim coordinator shall be in the unclassified civil service and report directly to the chief of the division.

(E) The office shall also employ at least three persons in the unclassified civil service whose primary duties shall be to help parole board hearing officers identify victims' issues and to make recommendations to the parole board in accordance with rules adopted by the department. The member of the parole board appointed pursuant to division (B) of section 5149.10 of the Revised Code shall approve the hiring of the employees of the office.

(F) The office shall coordinate its activities with the member of the parole board appointed pursuant to division (B) of section 5149.10 of the Revised Code. The victim coordinator and other employees of the office shall have full access to records of prisoners under the department's jurisdiction.

(G) Information provided to the office of victim services by victims of crime or a victim representative designated under section 2930.02 of the Revised Code for the purpose of program participation, of receiving services, or to communicate acts of an inmate or person under the supervision of the adult parole authority that threaten the safety and security of the victim shall be confidential and is not a public record under section 149.43 of the Revised Code.

(H)(1) If a person who was convicted of or pleaded guilty to an offense of violence that is a felony escapes from a correctional institution under the control of the department of rehabilitation and correction or otherwise escapes from the custody of the department, the office of victim services shall notify each victim of the offense or offenses committed by that person of that person's escape and, if applicable, of that person's subsequent apprehension. The office shall give this notice as soon as practicable after the escape and the office identifies and locates the victim. The office shall give this notice to each victim of the escaped person, regardless of whether the victim is registered for notification with the office, unless the victim has specifically notified the office that the victim does not wish to be notified regarding the person.

The office may give the notice required by this division by telephone, in person, or by e-mail or other electronic means. If the office cannot locate a victim to whom notice is to be provided under this division, the office shall send the notice in writing to the last known address of that victim.

(2) If a person escapes as described in division (H)(1) of this section, the office of victim services may request assistance from the prosecuting attorney of the county in which the person was convicted of or pleaded guilty to the offense in identifying and locating the victim of the offense.

(I) Any reference in any Revised Code section other than this section to the "office of victims' services" of the division of parole and community services or of the department of rehabilitation and correction shall be construed as being a reference to, and meaning, the office of victim services created by division (A) of this section.

(J) As used in this section, "crime," "member of the victim's family," and "victim" have the meanings given in section 2930.01 of the Revised Code.

Section 5120.61 | Risk assessment reports for sexually violent offenders.

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

(A)(1) Not later than ninety days after January 1, 1997, the department of rehabilitation and correction shall adopt standards that it will use under this section to assess the following criminal offenders and may periodically revise the standards:

(a) A criminal offender who is convicted of or pleads guilty to a violent sex offense or designated homicide, assault, or kidnapping offense and is adjudicated a sexually violent predator in relation to that offense;

(b) A criminal offender who is convicted of or pleads guilty to a violation of division (A)(1)(b) of section 2907.02 of the Revised Code committed on or after January 2, 2007, and either who is sentenced under section 2971.03 of the Revised Code or upon whom a sentence of life without parole is imposed under division (B) of section 2907.02 of the Revised Code;

(c) A criminal offender who is convicted of or pleads guilty to attempted rape committed on or after January 2, 2007, and a specification of the type described in section 2941.1418, 2941.1419, or 2941.1420 of the Revised Code;

(d) A criminal offender who is convicted of or pleads guilty to a violation of section 2905.01 of the Revised Code and also is convicted of or pleads guilty to a sexual motivation specification that was included in the indictment, count in the indictment, or information charging that offense, and who is sentenced pursuant to section 2971.03 of the Revised Code;

(e) A criminal offender who is convicted of or pleads guilty to aggravated murder and also is convicted of or pleads guilty to a sexual motivation specification that was included in the indictment, count in the indictment, or information charging that offense, and who pursuant to division (A)(2)(b)(ii) of section 2929.022, division (A)(1)(e), (C)(1)(a)(v), (C)(2)(a)(ii), (D)(2)(b), (D)(3)(a)(iv), or (E)(1)(a)(iv) of section 2929.03, or division (A) or (B) of section 2929.06 of the Revised Code is sentenced pursuant to division (B)(3) of section 2971.03 of the Revised Code;

(f) A criminal offender who is convicted of or pleads guilty to murder and also is convicted of or pleads guilty to a sexual motivation specification that was included in the indictment, count in the indictment, or information charging that offense, and who pursuant to division (B)(2) of section 2929.02 of the Revised Code is sentenced pursuant to section 2971.03 of the Revised Code.

(2) When the department is requested by the parole board or the court to provide a risk assessment report of the offender under section 2971.04 or 2971.05 of the Revised Code, it shall assess the offender and complete the assessment as soon as possible after the offender has commenced serving the prison term or term of life imprisonment without parole imposed under division (A), (B)(1)(a), (b), or (c), (B)(2)(a), (b), or (c), or (B)(3)(a), (b), (c), or (d) of section 2971.03 of the Revised Code. Thereafter, the department shall update a risk assessment report pertaining to an offender as follows:

(a) Periodically, in the discretion of the department, provided that each report shall be updated no later than two years after its initial preparation or most recent update;

(b) Upon the request of the parole board for use in determining pursuant to section 2971.04 of the Revised Code whether it should terminate its control over an offender's service of a prison term imposed upon the offender under division (A)(3), (B)(1)(a), (b), or (c), (B)(2)(a), (b), or (c), or (B)(3)(a), (b), (c), or (d) of section 2971.03 of the Revised Code;

(c) Upon the request of the court.

(3) After the department of rehabilitation and correction assesses an offender pursuant to division (A)(2) of this section, it shall prepare a report that contains its risk assessment for the offender or, if a risk assessment report previously has been prepared, it shall update the risk assessment report.

(4) The department of rehabilitation and correction shall provide each risk assessment report that it prepares or updates pursuant to this section regarding an offender to all of the following:

(a) The parole board for its use in determining pursuant to section 2971.04 of the Revised Code whether it should terminate its control over an offender's service of a prison term imposed upon the offender under division (A)(3), (B)(1)(a), (b), or (c), (B)(2)(a), (b), or (c), or (B)(3)(a), (b), (c), or (d) of section 2971.03 of the Revised Code, if the parole board has not terminated its control over the offender;

(b) The court for use in determining, pursuant to section 2971.05 of the Revised Code, whether to modify the requirement that the offender serve the entire prison term imposed upon the offender under division (A)(3), (B)(1)(a), (b), or (c), (B)(2)(a), (b), or (c), or (B)(3)(a), (b), (c), or (d) of section 2971.03 of the Revised Code in a state correctional institution, whether to revise any modification previously made, or whether to terminate the prison term;

(c) The prosecuting attorney who prosecuted the case, or the successor in office to that prosecuting attorney;

(d) The offender.

(B) When the department of rehabilitation and correction provides a risk assessment report regarding an offender to the parole board or court pursuant to division (A)(4)(a) or (b) of this section, the department, prior to the parole board's or court's hearing, also shall provide to the offender or to the offender's attorney of record a copy of the report and a copy of any other relevant documents the department possesses regarding the offender that the department does not consider to be confidential.

(C) As used in this section:

(1) "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.

(2) "Designated homicide, assault, or kidnapping offense" and "violent sex offense" have the same meanings as in section 2971.01 of the Revised Code.

Section 5120.62 | Internet access for prisoners.

• Effective: September 30, 2021
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 110 - 134th General Assembly

The director of rehabilitation and correction shall adopt rules under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code that govern the establishment and operation of a system that provides limited and monitored access to the internet for prisoners solely for a use or purpose approved by the managing officer of that prisoner's institution or by the managing officer's designee. The rules shall include all of the following:

(A) Criteria by which inmates may be screened and approved for access or training involving the internet;

(B) Designation of the authority to approve internet sites for authorized use;

(C) A requirement that only pre-approved sites will be accessible;

(D) A process for the periodic review of the operation of the system, including users of the system and the sites accessed by the system;

(E) Sanctions that must be imposed against prisoners and staff members who violate department rules governing prisoner access to the internet.

Last updated August 12, 2021 at 11:29 AM

Section 5120.63 | Random drug testing of state prisoners.

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

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Random drug testing" means a procedure in which blood or urine specimens are collected from individuals chosen by automatic, random selection and without prearrangement or planning, for the purpose of scientifically analyzing the specimens to determine whether the individual ingested or was injected with a drug of abuse.

(2) "State correctional institution" has the same meaning as in section 2967.01 of the Revised Code.

(3) "Stated prison term" has the same meaning as in section 2929.01 of the Revised Code.

(B) The department of rehabilitation and correction shall establish and administer a statewide random drug testing program in which all persons who were convicted of or pleaded guilty to a felony offense and are serving a stated prison term in a state correctional institution shall submit to random drug testing. The department may enter into contracts with laboratories or entities in the state that are accredited by the national institute on drug abuse to perform blood or urine specimen collection, documentation, maintenance, transportation, preservation, storage, and analyses and other duties required under this section in the performance of random drug testing of prisoners in those correctional institutions. The terms of any contract entered into under this division shall include a requirement that the laboratory or entity and its employees, the superintendents, managing officers, and employees of state correctional institutions, all employees of the department, and all other persons comply with the standards for the performance of random drug testing as specified in the policies and procedures established by the department under division (D) of this section. If no laboratory or entity has entered into a contract as specified in this division, the department shall cause a prisoner to submit to random drug testing performed by a reputable public laboratory to determine whether the prisoner ingested or was injected with a drug of abuse.

(C) A prisoner who is subjected to random drug testing under this section and whose test indicates that the prisoner ingested or was injected with a drug of abuse shall pay the fee for that positive test and other subsequent test fees as a sanction specified by the department of rehabilitation and correction pursuant to division (D)(6) of this section.

(D) The department of rehabilitation and correction shall establish policies and procedures to implement the random drug testing program established under this section. The policies and procedures shall include, but are not limited to, provisions that do the following:

(1) Establish standards for the performance of random drug testing that include, but are not limited to, standards governing the following:

(a) The collection by the laboratory or entity described in division (B) of this section of blood or urine specimens of individuals in a scientifically or medically approved manner and under reasonable and sanitary conditions;

(b) The collection and testing by the laboratory or entity described in division (B) of this section of blood or urine specimens with due regard for the privacy of the individual being tested and in a manner reasonably calculated to prevent substitutions or interference with the collection and testing of the specimens;

(c) The documentation of blood or urine specimens collected by the laboratory or entity described in division (B) of this section and documentation procedures that reasonably preclude the possibility of erroneous identification of test results and that provide the individual being tested an opportunity to furnish information identifying any prescription or nonprescription drugs used by the individual in connection with a medical condition;

(d) The collection, maintenance, storage, and transportation by the laboratory or entity described in division (B) of this section of blood or urine specimens in a manner that reasonably precludes the possibility of contamination or adulteration of the specimens;

(e) The testing by the laboratory or entity described in division (B) of this section of blood or urine specimen of an individual to determine whether the individual ingested or was injected with a drug of abuse, in a manner that conforms to scientifically accepted analytical methods and procedures and that may include verification or confirmation of any positive test result by a reliable analytical method;

(f) The analysis of an individual's blood or urine specimen by an employee of the laboratory or entity described in division (B) of this section who is qualified by education, training, and experience to perform that analysis and whose regular duties include the analysis of blood or urine specimens to determine the presence of a drug of abuse and whether the individual who is the subject of the test ingested or was injected with a drug of abuse.

(2) Specify the frequency of performing random drug testing of prisoners in a state correctional institution;

(3) Prescribe procedures for the automatic, random selection of prisoners in a state correctional institution to submit to random drug testing under this section;

(4) Provide for reasonable safeguards for the transmittal from the laboratory or entity described in division (B) of this section to the department of the results of the random drug testing of prisoners in state correctional institutions pursuant to division (F) of this section;

(5) Establish a reasonable fee to cover the costs associated with random drug testing and analyses performed by a laboratory or entity under this section and establish procedures for the collection of those fees from the prisoners subjected to the drug test;

(6) Establish guidelines for imposing sanctions upon a prisoner whose test results indicate that the prisoner ingested or was injected with a drug of abuse.

(E) The warden of each correctional institution, pursuant to the contract entered into under division (B) of this section or, if no contract was entered into under that division, pursuant to the policies and procedures established by the department of rehabilitation and correction under division (D) of this section, shall facilitate the collection, documentation, maintenance, and transportation by the laboratory or entity described in division (B) of this section, of the blood or urine specimens of the prisoners in the state correctional institution who are subject to random drug testing.

(F) A laboratory or entity that performs random drug testing of prisoners and analyses of blood or urine specimens under this section shall transmit the results of each drug test to the department of rehabilitation and correction. The department shall file for record the results of the drug tests that indicate whether or not each prisoner in the state correctional institution who was subjected to the drug test ingested or was injected with a drug of abuse. The department shall send a copy of the results of the drug tests to the warden of the state correctional institution in which the prisoner who was subjected to the drug test is confined. The warden shall give appropriate notice of the drug test results to each prisoner who was subjected to the drug test and whose drug test results indicate that the prisoner ingested or was injected with a drug of abuse. In accordance with institutional disciplinary procedures, the warden shall afford that prisoner an opportunity to be heard regarding the results of the drug test and to present contrary evidence at a hearing held before the warden within thirty days after notification to the prisoner under this division. After the hearing, if a hearing is held, the warden shall make a determination regarding any evidence presented by the prisoner. If the warden rejects the evidence presented by the prisoner at the hearing or if no hearing is held under this division, the warden may subject the prisoner to sanctions that include payment of the fee for the test.

(G) All fees for random drug tests collected from prisoners under this section or collected by the adult parole authority under section 2929.15, 2951.05, or 2967.131 of the Revised Code shall be forwarded to the treasurer of state for deposit in the offender financial responsibility fund created in division (I) of section 5120.56 of the Revised Code.

Section 5120.64 | Rules regarding the return of Ohio prisoners from outside of this state into this state by a private person or entity.

• Effective: March 15, 2001
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 661 - 123rd General Assembly

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Ohio prisoner" means a person who is charged with or convicted of a crime in this state or who is alleged or found to be a delinquent child in this state.

(2) "Out-of-state prisoner" and "private contractor" have the same meaning as in section 9.07 of the Revised Code.

(B) Not later than nine months after the effective date of this section, the department of rehabilitation and correction, in consultation with the attorney general, the county commissioners association of Ohio, and the buckeye state sheriffs association, shall adopt rules under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code regarding the return of Ohio prisoners from outside of this state into this state by a private person or entity pursuant to a contract entered into with a sheriff under authority of division (E) of section 311.29 of the Revised Code or the adult parole authority under authority of division (B) of section 5149.03 of the Revised Code. The rules shall establish all of the following:

(1) Standards that specify required training of officers and employees of the private person or entity that actually engage in the return of the prisoners, including standards related to the length and nature of the training;

(2) Physical standards for vehicles used in the return of the prisoners;

(3) standards that govern the responsibility of the private person or entity to do one or more of the following:

(a) Provide an adequate policy of liability insurance to cover all injuries, death, or loss to person or property that arise from or is related to its return of the prisoners;

(b) Indemnify and hold harmless the sheriff, the county, and all county officers and employees regarding a contract for the return of prisoners entered into under division (E) of section 311.29 of the Revised Code or the department of rehabilitation and correction and all state officers and employees regarding a contract for the return of prisoners entered into under division (B) of section 5149.03 of the Revised Code;

(c) File a performance bond or other surety to guarantee performance.

(4) Standards requiring the private person or entity to have criminal records checks and pre-employment drug testing performed for officers and employees of the private person or entity that actually engage in the return of the prisoners and to have a random drug-screening policy and be able to document compliance with the policy;

(5) Standards requiring the private person or entity to have twenty-four-hour operations staff to constantly monitor activities in the field and to have on-board, constant communication ability with vehicles in the field;

(6) Standards requiring the officers and employees of the private person or entity that actually engage in the return of the prisoners to be CPR and first-aid certified.

(C) Upon the effective date of the rules adopted under division (B) of this section, in no case shall a private person or entity return Ohio prisoners from outside of this state into this state for a sheriff or for the adult parole authority unless the private person or entity complies with all applicable standards that are contained in the rules.

(D) This section does not apply regarding any out-of-state prisoner who is brought into this state to be housed pursuant to section 9.07 of the Revised Code in a correctional facility in this state that is managed and operated by a private contractor.

Section 5120.65 | Prison nursery program.

• Effective: September 3, 2004
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 117 - 125th General Assembly

(A) The department of rehabilitation and correction may establish in one or more of the institutions for women operated by the department a prison nursery program under which eligible inmates and children born to them while in the custody of the department may reside together in the institution. If the department establishes a prison nursery program in one or more institutions under this section, sections 5120.651 to 5120.657 of the Revised Code apply regarding the program. If the department establishes a prison nursery program and an inmate participates in the program, neither the inmate's participation in the program nor any provision of sections 5120.65 to 5120.657 of the Revised Code affects, modifies, or interferes with the inmate's custodial rights of the child or establishes legal custody of the child with the department.

(B) As used in sections 5120.651 to 5120.657 of the Revised Code:

(1) "Prison nursery program" means the prison nursery program established by the department of rehabilitation and correction under this section, if one is so established.

(2) "Public assistance" has the same meaning as in section 5101.58 of the Revised Code.

(3) "Support" means amounts to be paid under a support order.

(4) "Support order" has the same meaning as in section 3119.01 of the Revised Code.

Section 5120.651 | Eligibility for program.

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

An inmate is eligible to participate in the prison nursery program if she is pregnant at the time she is delivered into the custody of the department of rehabilitation and correction, she gives birth on or after the date the program is implemented, she is subject to a sentence of imprisonment of not more than three years, and she and the child meet any other criteria established by the department.

Section 5120.652 | Duties of inmate participants.

• Effective: September 29, 2013
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 59 - 130th General Assembly

To participate in the prison nursery program, each eligible inmate selected by the department shall do all the following:

(A) Agree in writing to do all the following:

(1) Comply with any program, educational, counseling, and other requirements established for the program by the department of rehabilitation and correction;

(2) If eligible, have the child participate in the medicaid program or a health insurance program;

(3) Accept the normal risks of childrearing;

(4) Abide by any court decisions regarding the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities with respect to the child.

(B) Assign to the department any rights to support from any other person, excluding support assigned pursuant to section 5107.20 of the Revised Code and medical support assigned pursuant to section 5160.38 of the Revised Code;

(C) Specify with whom the child is to be placed in the event the inmate's participation in the program is terminated for a reason other than release from imprisonment.

Section 5120.653 | Termination of participation in program.

• Effective: March 15, 2001
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 661 - 123rd General Assembly

An inmate's participation in the prison nursery program may be terminated by the department of rehabilitation and correction if one of the following occurs:

(A) The inmate fails to comply with the agreement entered into under division (A) of section 5120.652 of the Revised Code.

(B) The inmate's child becomes seriously ill, cannot meet medical criteria established by the department of rehabilitation and correction for the program, or otherwise cannot safely participate in the program.

(C) A court issues an order that designates a person other than the inmate as the child's residential parent and legal custodian.

(D) A juvenile court, in an action brought pursuant to division (A)(2) of section 2151.23 of the Revised Code, grants custody of the child to a person other than the inmate.

(E) An order is issued pursuant to section 3109.04 of the Revised Code granting shared parenting of the child.

(F) An order of disposition regarding the child is issued pursuant to division (A)(2), (3), or (4) of section 2151.353 of the Revised Code granting temporary, permanent, or legal custody of the child to a person, other than the inmate, or to a public children services agency or private child placing agency.

(G) The inmate is released from imprisonment.

Section 5120.654 | Collecting support payments.

• Effective: September 29, 2013
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 59 - 130th General Assembly

(A) The rights to support assigned by an inmate pursuant to section 5120.652 of the Revised Code constitute an obligation of the person who is responsible for providing the support to the department of rehabilitation and correction for the support provided the inmate and child pursuant to the prison nursery program. The division of child support in the department of job and family services shall collect support payments made pursuant to the assignment and forward them to the department of rehabilitation and correction.

(B) The department of rehabilitation and correction may receive the following:

(1) Money that is assigned or donated on behalf of, and assistance provided under Ohio works first to, a specific inmate or child participating in the prison nursery program;

(2) Money assigned or donated to establish and maintain the prison nursery program.

(C) The amounts described in division (B)(1) of this section shall be placed in the individual nursery account created and maintained under section 5120.655 of the Revised Code for the inmate and child for whom the money was received. The money described in division (B)(2) of this section shall be deposited in the appropriate prison nursery program fund.

Section 5120.655 | Prison nursery program fund - individual nursery accounts.

• Effective: March 15, 2001
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 661 - 123rd General Assembly

The managing officer of each institution in which a prison nursery program is established pursuant to section 5120.65 of the Revised Code shall do the following:

(A) Create and maintain a prison nursery program fund to pay expenses associated with the prison nursery program;

(B) Create and maintain an individual nursery account for each inmate participating in the prison nursery program at the institution to help pay for the support provided to the inmate and child pursuant to the program.

Section 5120.656 | No regulation by department of job and family services.

• Effective: March 15, 2001
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 661 - 123rd General Assembly

Notwithstanding any other provision of the Revised Code, neither the prison nursery program nor the department of rehabilitation and correction, with respect to the program, is subject to any regulation, licensing, or oversight by the department of job and family services unless the departments agree to voluntary regulation, licensing, or oversight by the department of job and family services.

Section 5120.657 | Adoption of rules.

• Effective: March 15, 2001
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 661 - 123rd General Assembly

If the department of rehabilitation and correction establishes the prison nursery program, it shall, in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, adopt rules that establish requirements necessary and appropriate to the establishment, implementation, and operation of the program. The department shall adopt the rules prior to implementing the program.

Section 5120.66 | Internet database of inmate offense, sentence, and release information; "Laura's Law".

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

(A) Within ninety days after November 23, 2005, but not before January 1, 2006, the department of rehabilitation and correction shall establish and operate on the internet a database that contains all of the following:

(1) For each inmate in the custody of the department under a sentence imposed for a conviction of or plea of guilty to any offense, all of the following information:

(a) The inmate's name;

(b) For each offense for which the inmate was sentenced to a prison term or term of imprisonment and is in the department's custody, the name of the offense, the Revised Code section of which the offense is a violation, the gender of each victim of the offense if those facts are known, whether each victim of the offense was an adult or child if those facts are known, whether any victim of the offense was a law enforcement officer if that fact is known, the range of the possible prison terms or term of imprisonment that could have been imposed for the offense, the actual prison term or term of imprisonment imposed for the offense, the county in which the offense was committed, the date on which the inmate began serving the prison term or term of imprisonment imposed for the offense, and whichever of the following is applicable:

(i) The date on which the inmate will be eligible for parole relative to the offense if the prison term or term of imprisonment is an indefinite term or life term with parole eligibility;

(ii) The date on which the term ends if the prison term is a definite term;

(iii) The date on which the inmate will be eligible for presumptive release under section 2967.271 of the Revised Code, if the inmate is serving a non-life felony indefinite prison term.

(c) All of the following information that is applicable regarding the inmate:

(i) If known to the department prior to the conduct of any hearing for judicial release of the defendant pursuant to section 2929.20 of the Revised Code in relation to any prison term or term of imprisonment the inmate is serving for any offense, notice of the fact that the inmate will be having a hearing regarding a possible grant of judicial release, the date of the hearing, and the right of any person pursuant to division (I) of section 2929.20 of the Revised Code to submit to the court a written statement regarding the possible judicial release. The department also shall post notice of the submission to a sentencing court of any recommendation for judicial release of the inmate submitted by the director of the department of rehabilitation and correction pursuant to division (O) of section 2929.20 of the Revised Code, as required by that division.

(ii) If the inmate is serving a prison term pursuant to division (A)(3), (B)(1)(a), (b), or (c), (B)(2)(a), (b), or (c), or (B)(3)(a), (b), (c), or (d) of section 2971.03 of the Revised Code, prior to the conduct of any hearing pursuant to section 2971.05 of the Revised Code to determine whether to modify the requirement that the inmate serve the entire prison term in a state correctional facility in accordance with division (C) of that section, whether to continue, revise, or revoke any existing modification of that requirement, or whether to terminate the prison term in accordance with division (D) of that section, notice of the fact that the inmate will be having a hearing regarding those determinations and the date of the hearing;

(iii) At least sixty days before the adult parole authority recommends a pardon or commutation of sentence for the inmate, at least sixty days prior to a hearing before the adult parole authority regarding a grant of parole to the inmate in relation to any prison term or term of imprisonment the inmate is serving for any offense, or at least sixty days prior to a hearing before the department regarding a determination of whether the inmate must be released under division (C) or (D)(2) of section 2967.271 of the Revised Code if the inmate is serving a non-life felony indefinite prison term, notice of the fact that the inmate might be under consideration for a pardon or commutation of sentence or will be having a hearing regarding a possible grant of parole or release, the date of any hearing regarding a possible grant of parole or release, and the right of any person to submit a written statement regarding the pending action;

(iv) At least sixty days before the inmate is transferred to transitional control under section 2967.26 of the Revised Code in relation to any prison term or term of imprisonment the inmate is serving for any offense, notice of the pendency of the transfer, the date of the possible transfer, and the right of any person to submit a statement regarding the possible transfer;

(v) Prompt notice of the inmate's escape from any facility in which the inmate was incarcerated and of the capture of the inmate after an escape;

(vi) Notice of the inmate's death while in confinement;

(vii) Prior to the release of the inmate from confinement, notice of the fact that the inmate will be released, of the date of the release, and, if applicable, of the standard terms and conditions of the release;

(viii) Notice of the inmate's judicial release pursuant to section 2929.20 of the Revised Code.

(2) Information as to where a person can send written statements of the types referred to in divisions (A)(1)(c)(i), (iii), and (iv) of this section.

(B)(1) The department shall update the database required under division (A) of this section every twenty-four hours to ensure that the information it contains is accurate and current.

(2) The database required under division (A) of this section is a public record open for inspection under section 149.43 of the Revised Code. The department shall make the database searchable by inmate name and by the county and zip code where the offender intends to reside after release from a state correctional institution if this information is known to the department.

(3) The database required under division (A) of this section may contain information regarding inmates who are listed in the database in addition to the information described in that division.

(4) No information included on the database required under division (A) of this section shall identify or enable the identification of any victim of any offense committed by an inmate.

(C) The failure of the department to comply with the requirements of division (A) or (B) of this section does not give any rights or any grounds for appeal or post-conviction relief to any inmate.

(D) This section, and the related provisions of sections 2929.20, 2967.03, 2967.12, and 2967.26 of the Revised Code enacted in the act in which this section was enacted, shall be known as "Laura's Law."

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

Last updated March 8, 2023 at 1:08 PM

Section 5120.68 | Warden's report to parole board.

• Effective: September 29, 2017
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 49 - 132nd General Assembly

(A) When a prisoner becomes eligible for parole under section 2967.13 of the Revised Code, the warden of the institution in which the prisoner is incarcerated shall prepare a report containing all of the following information:

(1) Information concerning the prisoner's participation in programs during the prisoner's time at the institution;

(2) Information concerning the prisoner's compliance or noncompliance with rules while at the institution;

(3) Information concerning the ability of the prisoner to seek and obtain employment upon release from incarceration.

(B) The warden shall submit the report created under division (A) of this section to the parole board prior to any hearing to determine whether or not the prisoner should be paroled.

Section 5120.70 | Federal equitable sharing fund.

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

(A) There is hereby created in the state treasury the federal equitable sharing fund. The director of rehabilitation and correction shall deposit in the fund all money received by the department from the federal government as equitable sharing payments under 28 U.S.C. 524. The director shall establish rules pursuant to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code for the operation of the fund.

(B)(1) The department of rehabilitation and correction shall use federally forfeited property and the proceeds of federally forfeited property only for law enforcement purposes. The department shall implement auditing procedures that will trace assets and interest to the equitable sharing fund.

(2) Within sixty days of the close of the fiscal year, the department shall submit to the chairpersons of the committees of the senate and the house of representatives that consider criminal justice legislation all of the following information:

(a) The annual certification report submitted to the United States department of justice and the United States department of treasury;

(b) A report identifying all DAG-71 forms submitted to the federal government and a consecutive numbering log of the copies including identifiers for the type of asset, the amount, the share requested, the amount received, and the date received.

(3) The department shall provide the committees with any documentation related to the reports that members of the committees request. The report may be submitted in a tangible format, an electronic format, or both.

Section 5120.80 | Community programs fund.

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

There is hereby created in the state treasury the community programs fund. The department of rehabilitation and correction shall use the moneys in the fund to do the following:

(A) Fund the halfway house, reentry center, and community residential center program under section 2967.14 of the Revised Code, with priority being given to the funding of residential service contracts that reduce the number of homeless offenders by housing offenders released from a state correctional institution who are required to reside in a community residential center pursuant to section 2967.14 of the Revised Code, regardless of criminal history, security level at release, or any other factor or factors that otherwise would have caused the offender to be rejected from placement;

(B) Fund the transitional control program under section 2967.26 of the Revised Code;

(C) Provide assistance to approved community-based correctional facilities and programs and district community-based correctional facilities and programs under section 5120.112 of the Revised Code;

(D) Support the subsidy program established under section 5149.31 of the Revised Code; and

(E) Provide probation improvement grants and probation incentive grants under section 5149.311 of the Revised Code.

Section 5120.99 | Penalty.

• Effective: March 17, 1998
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 111 - 122nd General Assembly

A person who violates division (B)(2) of section 5120.211 of the Revised Code shall be fined not more than two thousand five hundred dollars on a first offense and not more than twenty thousand dollars on a subsequent offense.