(a) Unless a mandatory jail term is required to be imposed by division (G) of Section 1547.99, division (B) of Section 4510.14, division (G) of Section 4511.19 of the Ohio Revised Code, or any other provision of the Ohio Revised Code a court that imposes a sentence under this Code upon an offender for a misdemeanor or minor misdemeanor has discretion to determine the most efficient way to achieve the purposes and principles of sentencing set forth in Section 2929.21 of the Ohio Revised Code.
Unless a specific sanction is required to be imposed or is precluded from being imposed by the section setting forth an offense or the penalty for an offense or by any provision of Sections 2929.23 to 2929.28 of the Ohio Revised Code, a court that imposes a sentence upon an offender for a misdemeanor may impose on the offender any sanction or combination of sanctions under Sections 2929.24 to 2929.28 of the Ohio Revised Code. The court shall not impose a sentence that imposes an unnecessary burden on local government resources.
(b) (1) In determining the appropriate sentence for a misdemeanor, the court shall determine whether the victim of the offense was sixty-five years of age or older, permanently and totally disabled, or under eighteen years of age at the time of the commission of the offense and, to the extent applicable, shall proceed as follows:
A. If the court determines that the victim was sixty-five years of age or older, permanently and totally disabled, or under eighteen years of age at the time of the commission of the offense, regardless of whether the offender knew the age of the victim or knew of the victim’s disability, and if the offense is a misdemeanor other than a minor misdemeanor, the court shall consider that fact in favor of imposing a jail term on the offender, but that fact shall not control the decision of the court.
B. If the court determines that the victim was sixty-five years of age or older or permanently and totally disabled at the time of the commission of the offense, regardless of whether the offender knew the age of the victim or knew of the victim’s disability, the court shall consider that fact in favor of imposing a financial sanction of restitution on the offender under Section 2929.28 of the Ohio Revised Code, but that fact shall not control the decision of the court.
(2) In determining the appropriate sentence for a misdemeanor, in addition to complying with division (b)(1) of this section, the court shall consider all of the following factors:
A. The nature and circumstances of the offense or offenses;
B. Whether the circumstances regarding the offender and the offense or offenses indicate that the offender has a history of persistent criminal activity and that the offender’s character and condition reveal a substantial risk that the offender will commit another offense;
C. Whether the circumstances regarding th offender and the offense or offenses indicate that the offender’s history, character, and condition reveal a substantial risk that the offender will be a danger to others and that the offender’s conduct has been characterized by a pattern of repetitive, compulsive, or aggressive behavior with heedless indifference to the consequences;
D. The criminal history and character of the offender in general, in addition to the circumstances described in divisions (b)(2)B. and C. of this section.
E. Whether the offender is likely to commit future crimes in general, in addition to the circumstances described in divisions (b)(2)B. and C. of this section.
(3) In determining the appropriate sentence for a misdemeanor, in addition to complying with divisions (b)(1) and (2) of this section, the court may consider any other factors that are relevant to achieving the purposes and principles of sentencing set forth in Section 2929.21 of the Ohio Revised Code.
(c) Before imposing a jail term as a sentence for a misdemeanor, a court shall consider the appropriateness of imposing a community control sanction or a combination of community control sanctions under Sections 2929.25, 2929.26, 2929.27 and 2929.28 of the Ohio Revised Code. A court may impose the longest jail term authorized under Section 2929.24 of the Ohio Revised Code only upon offenders who commit the worst forms of the offense or upon offenders whose conduct and response to prior sanctions for prior offenses demonstrate that the imposition of the longest jail term is necessary to deter the offender from committing a future crime.
(d) (1) A sentencing court shall consider any relevant oral or written statement made by the victim, the defendant, the defense attorney, or the prosecuting authority regarding sentencing for a misdemeanor. This division does not create any rights to notice other than those rights authorized by Chapter 2930 of the Ohio Revised Code.
(2) At the time of sentencing for a misdemeanor or as soon as possible after sentencing, the court shall notify the victim of the offense of the victim’s right to file an application for an award of reparations pursuant to Sections 2743.51 to 2743.72 of the Ohio Revised Code.
(ORC 2929.22)