CHAPTER 525
Law Enforcement and Public Office
525.01   Definitions.
525.02   Falsification.
525.03   Impersonation of peace officer.
525.04   Compounding a crime.
525.05   Failure to report a crime, injury or knowledge of death.
525.06   Failure to aid a law enforcement officer.
525.07   Obstructing official business.
525.08   Obstructing justice.
525.09   Resisting arrest.
525.10   Having an unlawful interest in a public contract.
525.11   Soliciting or receiving improper compensation.
525.12   Dereliction of duty.
525.13   Interfering with civil rights.
525.14   Unauthorized display of law enforcement emblems on motor vehicles.
525.15   Failure of complainant to testify.
525.16   Assaulting police dog or horse or an assistance dog.
525.17   False allegation of peace officer misconduct.
525.18   Refusal to disclose personal information in public place.
525.99   Penalty.
CROSS REFERENCES
See sectional histories for similar State law
Law enforcement officer defined - see GEN. OFF. 501.01 (k)
Misconduct at an emergency - see GEN. OFF. 509.05
Making false alarms - see GEN. OFF. 509.07
Personating an officer to defraud - see GEN. OFF. 545.16
   525.01 DEFINITIONS.
   As used in this chapter:
   (a)   "Public official" means any elected or appointed officer, or employee, or agent of the State or any political subdivision thereof, whether in a temporary or permanent capacity, and includes, but is not limited to, legislators, judges and law enforcement officers. “Public official” does not include an employee, officer, or governor-appointed member of the board of directors of the nonprofit corporation formed under Ohio R.C. 187.01.
   (b)   "Public servant" means any of the following:
      (1)   Any public official;
      (2)   Any person performing ad hoc a governmental function, including, but not limited to, a juror, member of a temporary commission, master, arbitrator, advisor or consultant;
      (3)   A person who is a candidate for public office, whether or not the person is elected or appointed to the office for which the person is a candidate. A person is a candidate for purposes of this subsection if the person has been nominated according to law for election or appointment to public office, or if the person has filed a petition or petitions as required by law to have the person’s name placed on the ballot in a primary, general or special election, or if the person campaigns as a write-in candidate in any primary, general or special election. “Public servant” does not include an employee, officer, or governor-appointed member of the board of directors of the nonprofit corporation formed under Ohio R.C. 187.01.
   (c)   "Party official" means any person who holds an elective or appointive post in a political party in the United States or this State, by virtue of which the person directs, conducts or participates in directing or conducting party affairs at any level of responsibility.
   (d)   "Official proceeding" means any proceeding before a legislative, judicial, administrative or other governmental agency or official authorized to take evidence under oath, and includes any proceeding before a referee, hearing examiner, commissioner, notary or other person taking testimony or a deposition in connection with an official proceeding.
   (e)   "Detention" means arrest, confinement in any vehicle subsequent to an arrest, confinement in any public or private facility for custody of persons charged with or convicted of a crime in this State or another state or under the laws of the United States or alleged or found to be a delinquent child or unruly child in this State or another state or under the laws of the United States; hospitalization, institutionalization or confinement in any public or private facility that is ordered pursuant to or under the authority of Ohio R.C. 2945.37, 2945.371, 2945.38, 2945.39 or 2945.40, 2945.401 or 2945.402; confinement in any vehicle for transportation to or from any facility of any of those natures; detention for extradition or deportation, except as provided in this subsection, supervision by any employee of any facility of any of those natures; that is incidental to hospitalization, institutionalization or confinement in the facility but that occurs outside the facility; supervision by an employee of the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction of a person on any type of release from a State correctional institution; or confinement in any vehicle, airplane, or place while being returned from outside of this State into this State by a private person or entity pursuant to a contract entered into under Ohio R.C. 311.29(E) or Ohio R.C. 5149.03(B). For a person confined in a county jail who participates in a county jail industry program pursuant to Ohio R.C. 5147.30, "detention" includes time spent at an assigned work site and going to and from the work site.
   (f)   "Detention facility" means any public or private place used for the confinement of a person charged with or convicted of any crime in this State or another state or under the laws of the United States or alleged or found to be a delinquent child or unruly child in this State or another state or under the laws of the United States.
   (g)   "Valuable thing or valuable benefit" includes, but is not limited to, a contribution. This inclusion does not indicate or imply that a contribution was not included in those terms before September 17, 1986.
   (h)   "Campaign committee," "contribution," "political action committee," “legislative campaign fund,” “political party” and “political contributing entity” have the same meanings as in Ohio R.C. 3517.01.
   (i)   "Provider agreement" has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 5164.01.
      (ORC 2921.01)
   525.02 FALSIFICATION.
   (a)   No person shall knowingly make a false statement, or knowingly swear or affirm the truth of a false statement previously made, when any of the following applies:
      (1)   The statement is made in any official proceeding.
      (2)   The statement is made with purpose to incriminate another.
      (3)   The statement is made with purpose to mislead a public official in performing the public official’s official function.
      (4)   The statement is made with purpose to secure the payment of unemployment compensation; Ohio works first; prevention, retention and contingency benefits and services; disability financial assistance; retirement benefits or health care coverage from a state retirement system; economic development assistance as defined in Ohio R.C. 9.66; or other benefits administered by a governmental agency or paid out of a public treasury.
      (5)   The statement is made with purpose to secure the issuance by a governmental agency of a license, permit, authorization, certificate, registration, release or provider agreement.
      (6)   The statement is sworn or affirmed before a notary public or another person empowered to administer oaths.
      (7)   The statement is in writing on or in connection with a report or return that is required or authorized by law.
      (8)   The statement is in writing, and is made with purpose to induce another to extend credit to or employ the offender, or to confer any degree, diploma, certificate of attainment, award of excellence or honor on the offender, or to extend to or bestow upon the offender any other valuable benefit or distinction, when the person to whom the statement is directed relies upon it to that person’s detriment.
      (9)   The statement is made with purpose to commit or facilitate the commission of a theft offense.
      (10)   The statement is knowingly made to a probate court in connection with any action, proceeding or other matter within its jurisdiction, either orally or in a written document, including, but not limited to, an application, petition, complaint or other pleading, or an inventory, account or report.
      (11)   The statement is made on an account, form, record, stamp, label or other writing that is required by law.
      (12)   The statement is made in a document or instrument of writing that purports to be a judgment, lien, or claim of indebtedness and is filed or recorded with the Secretary of State, a county recorder, or the clerk of a court of record.
      (13)   The statement is required under Ohio R.C. 5743.71 in connection with the person’s purchase of cigarettes or tobacco products in a delivery sale.
   (b)   It is no defense to a charge under subsection (a)(6) hereof that the oath or affirmation was administered or taken in an irregular manner.
   (c)   If contradictory statements relating to the same fact are made by the offender within the period of the statute of limitations for falsification, it is not necessary for the prosecution to prove which statement was false, but only that one or the other was false.
   (d)   (1)   Whoever violates any provision of subsection (a)(1) to (8) or (10) to (13) hereof is guilty of falsification, a misdemeanor of the first degree.
      (2)    Whoever violates subsection (a)(9) hereof is guilty of falsification in a theft offense, a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the value of the property or services stolen is one thousand dollars ($1,000) or more, falsification in a theft offense is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law.
   (e)   A person who violates this section is liable in a civil action to any person harmed by the violation for injury, death, or loss to person or property incurred as a result of the commission of the offense and for reasonable attorney’s fees, court costs, and other expenses incurred as a result of prosecuting the civil action commenced under this section. A civil action under this section is not the exclusive remedy of a person who incurs injury, death, or loss to person or property as a result of a violation of this section.
(ORC 2921.13)
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