Chapter 5147 | Convict Labor

Section 5147.07 | Purchasing supplies.

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

No articles or supplies manufactured under this section or sections 5147.12 to 5147.22 of the Revised Code by the labor of convicts of state correctional institutions shall be purchased from any other source for the state or its institutions unless the department of administrative services, in consultation with the department of rehabilitation and correction, determines that the articles or supplies cannot be furnished and issues a waiver under section 125.035 of the Revised Code.

Section 5147.12 | Labor of prisoners not to be sold.

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

The labor or time of any person confined in any workhouse or jail shall not be let, farmed out, given, sold, or contracted to any person. Work performed under a work-release program authorized under section 5147.28 of the Revised Code is not in violation of this section.

This section does not apply to any person serving a periodic sentence under division (B) of section 2929.26 of the Revised Code, insofar as that person is engaged between periods of confinement in the person's regular trade or occupation for the support of the person or the person's family. This section does not apply to prisoners participating in a county jail industry program established under section 5147.30 of the Revised Code.

Section 5147.13 | Prisoners in workhouses or jails may be employed to manufacture articles for public institutions.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

Persons confined in any workhouse or jail may be employed in the manufacture of articles used by any department or public institution belonging to or controlled by the political subdivisions supporting or contributing to the support of any such workhouse or jail or to any political subdivision of the state.

Section 5147.14 | Authority to procure equipment.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

The board or officer in charge of any workhouse or jail may provide, prepare, and procure machinery, power, and shop room for the manufacture of the articles specified in section 5147.13 of the Revised Code, and may employ such persons as may be necessary to instruct persons confined in such workhouses or jails in such manufacture.

Section 5147.15 | Employment of prisoners.

• Effective: November 8, 1990
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 51, House Bill 588 - 118th General Assembly

Except for articles manufactured in a county jail industry program established under section 5147.30 of the Revised Code, no articles other than those specified in section 5147.13 of the Revised Code shall be manufactured by the labor of prisoners in any jail or workhouse. This section does not prevent the employment by any political subdivision of any person so confined, elsewhere than within the jail or workhouse where that person has been committed.

Section 5147.16 | Purchase or lease beds of limestone, or other suitable road-building material.

• Effective: September 28, 1973
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 200 - 110th General Assembly

The board of county commissioners may purchase or lease beds of limestone, or other suitable road-building material, after such material is approved by the director of transportation as suitable for the construction of roads, or such board may lease and operate a plant for the manufacture of brick or other road-building materials or supplies needed for the construction or maintenance of public roads in such county and employ a superintendent to supervise the work. When such property is purchased or leased, the board shall make the arrangements necessary to work the convicts of the county.

Section 5147.17 | Sentence of hard labor in county.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

When the board of county commissioners has secured property and completed arrangements for the working of its prisoners as provided in section 5147.16 of the Revised Code, a court or magistrate may sentence persons convicted of offenses, the punishment of which is, in whole or in part, imprisonment in the county jail or workhouse, to be imprisoned at hard labor within such county for the same terms or periods as are prescribed for their confinement in such jail or workhouse.

Section 5147.18 | Duty of county commissioners to work prisoners at hard labor.

• Effective: September 3, 1970
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 460 - 108th General Assembly

In counties which have secured property and completed arrangements for the working of their convicts, the board of county commissioners, whenever practicable, shall cause to be worked as provided in sections 5147.01 to 5147.26, inclusive, of the Revised Code, all convicts sentenced to imprisonment at hard labor, and also all male convicts, physically capable of performing hard labor, confined in the county jail or workhouse for failure to pay a fine in criminal prosecution, or who plead insolvency or inability to pay such fine. A person confined for failure to pay a fine shall be released when the fine has been discharged by his labor at the rates to be fixed by such board.

Section 5147.19 | Control of prisoners at hard labor.

• Effective: November 8, 1990
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 51, House Bill 588 - 118th General Assembly

Except for prisoners participating in a county jail industry program established under section 5147.30 of the Revised Code, prisoners sentenced to hard labor under section 5147.18 of the Revised Code shall be under the control of the board of county commissioners, which may enact rules for the successful working of those prisoners according to sections 5147.01 to 5147.20 of the Revised Code. Sections 5147.01 to 5147.20 of the Revised Code do not authorize taking a prisoner convicted in a city from the control of the proper officer of the city and transferring him into the control of the board.

Section 5147.20 | Resentence of prisoner sick or incapacitated for work.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

When a prisoner sentenced to imprisonment at hard labor under section 5147.17 of the Revised Code, becomes sick or incapacitated for work, or the board of county commissioners finds it impracticable to employ him, the prisoner shall be taken forthwith before the court or magistrate which imposed the sentence and he shall be resentenced to confinement in the jail or a workhouse for the unexpired portion of his sentence. If such prisoner becomes able to labor before completing his sentence, or if the board finds it practicable to employ him, he shall be liable to work, as provided in section 5147.18 of the Revised Code.

Section 5147.21 | Board of county commissioners may employ superintendent.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

The board of county commissioners may employ a superintendent and such guards and attendants as are necessary for the safekeeping, proper working, and welfare of its convicts, and, in all other respects, shall make efficient the service contemplated in sections 5147.01 to 5147.26, inclusive, of the Revised Code.

Section 5147.22 | Earnings of prisoners.

• Effective: March 31, 2021
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 24 - 133rd General Assembly

Except for prisoners participating in a county jail industry program established under section 5147.30 of the Revised Code, the board of county commissioners, or officer in charge of any workhouse or jail, shall place to the credit of each prisoner the amount of the prisoner's earnings that the board or officer considers equitable and just, taking into consideration the character of the prisoner, the nature of the crime for which the prisoner is imprisoned, and the prisoner's general deportment. The board or officer may cancel any portion of that credit for violation of the rules, want of propriety, or other misconduct. When such earnings are credited to any such prisoner and the prisoner has a child under the age of sixteen or a spouse, the board or officer in control of the workhouse or jail shall pay the earnings weekly to the person having custody of the child, or to the spouse of the prisoner, as the board or officer determines. When the prisoner has no such child or spouse, the earnings shall be paid to the prisoner upon discharge.

Section 5147.27 | Temporary details to specified labor.

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

The department of rehabilitation and correction, in accordance with rules adopted pursuant to division (B) of section 5145.03 of the Revised Code, may detail, temporarily, from a state correctional institution, with the consent of the managing officer of the institution, any inmates under its control, to perform specified labor.

Section 5147.28 | Court may establish work-release program.

• Effective: October 16, 1996
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 480 - 121st General Assembly

(A) The court of common pleas and each municipal and county court in a county in which all of those courts agree on uniform standards may provide by rule for a work-release program to permit any prisoner in a county or city jail or workhouse, other than a prisoner sentenced under a non-suspendable sentence, to be employed with the prisoner's consent outside of the jail or workhouse. In any county in which the common pleas court, after reasonable efforts to obtain such an agreement, determines that such an agreement is not possible, the court, after reasonable notice to all interested courts and officials, shall place into effect rules of the court making provision for a work-release program available to all courts within the county. These rules shall limit the participants eligible for the work release program at any one time to a number established by the officer in charge of the county or city jail or workhouse in which the prisoners are confined. The limit shall be based upon the number of beds that may be allocated for the work release program under the classification plan of the facility adopted pursuant to rules adopted pursuant to section 5120.10 of the Revised Code.

(B) Any court that establishes a work-release program under division (A) of this section shall adopt rules prescribing the conditions under which a prisoner is to leave the jail or workhouse during the hours of the prisoner's employment and go to and from work. The rules shall limit the hours of work-release to the hours of work plus a reasonable period of time for travel to and from the work site. The rules shall require a prisoner requesting additional travel time or modification to the hours of employment to justify the need for the additional travel time or modification to the hours of employment.

(C) Upon approval of the sentencing judge located in any jurisdiction having a work-release program and subject to division (A) of this section, any person sentenced to a county or city jail or workhouse shall be permitted to participate in a work-release program. The sentencing judge may modify the conditions of work-release as the judge considers appropriate.

(D) The court shall not assign a prisoner to work in an establishment where a legally constituted strike is in process.

(E) Any prisoner participating in a work-release program shall be paid remuneration, subject to garnishment, and have hours and other conditions of work that are substantially equal to those prevailing for similar work in the locality.

(F) If the officer in charge of the county or city jail or workhouse believes that a prisoner participating in the work-release program has violated the conditions of work-release, the officer may temporarily suspend the prisoner's work-release privileges pending the outcome of the hearing described in this division. The officer shall provide notice to the prisoner and to the sentencing judge on the next day that the court is in session. The sentencing judge shall hold a hearing to determine whether the prisoner violated the conditions of work-release and, if the prisoner is found to have violated the conditions of work release, take appropriate action.

Section 5147.29 | Collection and disbursal of prisoner's earnings from work-release program.

• Effective: June 19, 1978
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 398 - 112th General Assembly

(A) A prisoner participating in a work-release program shall surrender his earnings, less standard payroll deductions required by law, to a person designated by the court which has established the work-release program.

(B) The person designated by the court to collect the earnings of the prisoner shall maintain complete and accurate records as to all prisoners employed in a work-release program with respect to all moneys received and disbursed. Each prisoner shall be furnished a written statement of his account at least every sixty days.

(C) The earnings of the prisoner participating in a work- release program shall be disbursed in the following order:

(1) Reimbursement of the county or city for the direct costs of administering the program and the cost of boarding the prisoner in accordance with division (D) of this section;

(2) Support of the prisoner's dependents as ordered by the sentencing judge;

(3) Necessary travel expenses to and from work and other expenses incidental to employment;

(4) Payment of fines, court costs, and debts acknowledged by the prisoner in writing subsequent to his sentencing or which have resulted in garnishment or other attachment of personal earnings;

(5) The balance to the prisoner upon discharge from the sentence.

(D) The court may establish rules to determine the amount of the payments that are required to be made under division (C) (1) of this section from a prisoner's earnings to reimburse the county or city for the costs of boarding the prisoner while on the work-release program. The rules shall require the payment for each day of boarding to be based upon a uniform schedule based upon the average weekly earnings of the prisoner and upon the number of persons actually dependent upon the prisoner for their support. The payment may be less than, but shall not exceed, the actual cost of boarding the prisoner for a day.

Section 5147.30 | County jail industry program.

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

(A) As used in this section, "prisoner" means any person confined in the county jail in lieu of bail while awaiting trial, any person committed to jail for nonpayment of a fine, or any person sentenced by a court to the jail.

(B) A board of county commissioners, by resolution adopted by a majority vote of its members, may approve the establishment of a county jail industry program for its county in accordance with this section.

(C) Upon the adoption by the board of the resolution described in division (B) of this section, a jail industry board shall be established, consisting of three voting members appointed by the board of county commissioners, three voting members appointed by the county sheriff, and one voting member appointed jointly by the board of county commissioners and the county sheriff. One of these voting members shall have knowledge of and experience in the social services, one in the field of labor, one in law enforcement, and one in business. The initial appointments to the jail industry board shall be made on the same date. Of the initial appointments, one by the board of county commissioners and one by the county sheriff shall be for terms ending one year after the date of appointment, two by the board of county commissioners and two by the county sheriff shall be for terms ending two years after that date, and the joint appointment shall be for a term ending three years after that date. Thereafter, terms of office for all appointed members shall be for three years, with each term ending on the same day of the same month as did the term that it succeeds. Any vacancy on the board shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. Any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration date of the term for which the member's predecessor was appointed shall hold office as a member for the remainder of that term. Any member shall continue in office subsequent to the expiration date of the member's term until the member's successor takes office, or until a period of sixty days has elapsed, whichever occurs first.

The jail industry board, by majority vote, may appoint additional persons to serve as nonvoting members of the board.

Each member of the jail industry board shall be reimbursed for expenses actually and necessarily incurred in the performance of the member's duties as a board member. The board of county commissioners, by resolution, shall approve the expenses to be reimbursed.

(D) A jail industry board established under division (C) of this section shall establish a program for the employment of as many prisoners as possible, except those unable to perform labor because of illness or other health problems, security requirements, routine processing, disciplinary action, or other reasonable circumstances or because they are engaged in education or vocational or other training. The employment may be in jail manufacturing and service industries and agriculture, in private industry or agriculture that is located within or outside the jail, in public works, in institutional jobs necessary for the proper maintenance and operation of the jail, or in any other appropriate form of labor. The county shall attempt to employ, provide employment for, and seek employment for as many prisoners as possible through the program. The county is not required to provide employment for every employable prisoner when the available funds, facilities, or jobs are insufficient to provide the employment; however, a county that has a county jail industry program shall continuously seek sources of employment for as many employable prisoners as possible.

(E) The jail industry program established under division (D) of this section shall do all of the following:

(1) Establish a system for assigning prisoners to perform jobs, for periodically evaluating the job performance of each prisoner, and for periodically evaluating the qualifications of each prisoner for other jobs;

(2) Attempt to provide jobs and job training for prisoners that will be useful to them in obtaining employment when released, except that institutional jobs at the jail need not be related to any previous employment of the prisoner or relevant to any job the prisoner intends to pursue after release from jail;

(3) Establish an accounting system to administer and allocate the earnings of each prisoner. The accounting system may permit earnings to be used for payment of the employee taxes and workers' compensation of the prisoner, for reimbursing the county for room and board and for the expense of providing employment to the prisoner, for restitution to the victims of the prisoner's offenses if the prisoner voluntarily requests or is under court order to make restitution payments, for fines and court costs, for support of the dependents of the prisoner, and for an account for the prisoner.

(4) Require all persons who employ prisoners to meet all applicable work safety standards.

(F) The jail industry board, with the approval of the county sheriff, shall adopt rules for the establishment and administration of the jail industry program. The rules shall provide for all of the following:

(1) A procedure for seeking the employment of prisoners in penal industries and agriculture, in private industry and agriculture located within or outside the county jail, in public works, in institutional jobs necessary for the proper maintenance or operation of the county's institutions, and in other appropriate forms of labor;

(2) A system of compensation, allowances, hours, conditions of employment, and advancement for prisoners employed in any form of labor;

(3) The regulation of the working conditions of prisoners employed in any form of labor;

(4) An accounting system for the allocation of the earnings of each prisoner;

(5) Any other rules on any subject that are necessary to administer the program or to provide employment for as many prisoners as possible.

(G) In establishing and administering a county jail industry program, the board of county commissioners, upon the recommendation of the jail industry board and the county sheriff may do any of the following:

(1) Enter into contracts with private industry, agriculture, and other organizations or persons, and receive grants to establish test work programs within or outside institutions under the control of the county;

(2) Enter into contracts with private industry for the establishment of manufacturing and service industries within or near institutions under the control of the county for the employment of prisoners;

(3) Enter into contracts with private industry, agriculture, and other organizations or persons to provide employment for prisoners;

(4) Enter into any other contracts or perform any other functions that are necessary for the county jail industry program.

(H) The jail industry program established under division (D) of this section shall be administered in accordance with any rules adopted by the jail industry board pursuant to division (F) of this section and with the following requirements:

(1) The county sheriff at all times shall be responsible for the security and discipline of the prisoners in the program. The sheriff shall adopt a procedure for the discipline of a prisoner who violates the requirements of a job in the program, and the sheriff may remove a prisoner from the program if the sheriff determines that considerations of security or discipline require it.

(2) When making the initial job assignment for a prisoner whom the county sheriff has approved for participation in the program, the board shall consider the nature of the offense committed by the prisoner, the availability of employment, the security requirements of the prisoner, the prisoner's present state of mind, the prisoner's jail record, and all other relevant factors. When making the initial job assignment of a prisoner, the board shall attempt to develop the work skills of the prisoner, provide the prisoner rehabilitation, consider the proximity of the job to the prisoner's family, and permit the prisoner to provide support for the prisoner's dependents if the prisoner's earnings are sufficient to make that feasible.

(3) Each prisoner shall be required to perform satisfactorily the job to which the prisoner is assigned, be permitted to be absent from that job only for legitimate reasons, be required to comply with all security requirements, and be required to comply with any other reasonable job performance standards.

(4) A prisoner who violates the work requirements of any job shall be disciplined pursuant to the disciplinary procedure adopted by the county sheriff pursuant to division (H)(1) of this section.

Last updated March 8, 2023 at 1:10 PM