(A) Except where otherwise specifically classified within the body of the section of a chapter of this title, a violation of such section shall be deemed a misdemeanor punishable upon conviction by a fine of not more than $500, imprisonment of not more than six months, or both.
(R.C. § 715.67)
(B) Considerations in misdemeanor sentencing.
(1) A court that sentences an offender for a misdemeanor or minor misdemeanor violation of any provision of the Ohio Revised Code, or of any municipal ordinance that is substantially equivalent to a misdemeanor or minor misdemeanor violation of a provision of the Ohio Revised Code, shall be guided by the overriding purposes of misdemeanor sentencing. The overriding purposes of misdemeanor sentencing are to protect the public from future crime by the offender and others and to punish the offender. To achieve those purposes, the sentencing court shall consider the impact of the offense upon the victim and the need for changing the offender’s behavior, rehabilitating the defender, and making restitution to the victim of the offense, the public, or the victim and the public.
(2) A sentence imposed for a misdemeanor or minor misdemeanor violation of an Ohio Revised Code provision or for a violation of a municipal ordinance that is subject to division (B)(1) of this section shall be reasonably calculated to achieve the two overriding purposes of misdemeanor sentencing set forth in division (B)(1) of this section, commensurate with and not demeaning to the seriousness of the offender’s conduct and its impact upon the victim, and consistent with sentences imposed for similar offenses committed by similar offenders.
(3) A court that imposes a sentence upon an offender for a misdemeanor or minor misdemeanor violation of an Ohio Revised Code provision or for a violation of a municipal ordinance that is subject to division (B)(1) of this section shall not base the sentence upon the race, ethnic background, gender, or religion of the offender.
(4) Divisions (B)(1) and (B)(2) of this section shall not apply to any offense that is disposed of by a traffic violations bureau of any court pursuant to Traffic Rule 13 and shall not apply to any violation of any provision of the Ohio Revised Code that is a minor misdemeanor and that is disposed of without a court appearance. Divisions (B)(1) to (B)(3) of this section do not affect any penalties established by the municipality for a violation of its ordinances that are not substantially equivalent to a misdemeanor or minor misdemeanor violation of a provision of the Ohio Revised Code.
(R.C. § 2929.21)
(C) Misdemeanor jail terms.
(1) Except as provided in § 130.18 or 133.99 of this code or R.C. § 2929.22 or 2929.23 or division (C)(5) of this section and unless another term is required or authorized pursuant to law, if the sentencing court imposing a sentence upon an offender for a misdemeanor elects or is required to impose a jail term on the offender pursuant to this chapter, the court shall impose a definite jail term that shall be one of the following:
(a) For a misdemeanor of the first degree, not more than 180 days;
(b) For a misdemeanor of the second degree, not more than 90 days;
(c) For a misdemeanor of the third degree, not more than 60 days;
(d) For a misdemeanor of the fourth degree, not more than 30 days.
(2) (a) A court that sentences an offender to a jail term under division (C) of this section may permit the offender to serve the sentence in intermittent confinement or may authorize a limited release of the offender as provided in division (E)(2) of this section. The court retains jurisdiction over every offender sentenced to jail to modify the jail sentence imposed at any time, but the court shall not reduce any mandatory jail term.
(b) 1. If a prosecutor, as defined in R.C. § 2935.01, has filed a notice with the court that the prosecutor wants to be notified about a particular case and if the court is considering modifying the jail sentence of the offender in that case, the court shall notify the prosecutor that the court is considering modifying the jail sentence of the offender in that case. The prosecutor may request a hearing regarding the court’s consideration of modifying the jail sentence of the offender in that case, and, if the prosecutor requests a hearing, the court shall notify the eligible offender of the hearing.
2. If the prosecutor requests a hearing regarding the court’s consideration of modifying the jail sentence of the offender in that case, the court shall hold the hearing before considering whether or not to release the offender from the offender’s jail sentence.
(3) If a court sentences an offender to a jail term under division (C) of this section and the court assigns the offender to a county jail that has established a county jail industry program pursuant to R.C. § 5147.30, the court shall specify, as part of the sentence, whether the offender may be considered for participation in the program. During the offender’s term in the county jail, the court retains jurisdiction to modify its specification regarding the offender’s participation in the county jail industry program.
(4) If a person sentenced to a jail term pursuant to division (C) of this section, the court may impose as part of the sentence pursuant to R.C. § 2929.28 a reimbursement sanction, and, if the local detention facility in which the term is to be served is covered by a policy adopted pursuant to R.C. §§ 307.93, 341.14, 341.19, 341.21, 341.23, 753.02, 753.04, 753.16, 2301.56, or 2947.19 and R.C. § 2929.37, both of the following apply:
(a) The court shall specify both of the following as part of the sentence:
1. If the person is presented with an itemized bill pursuant to R.C. § 2929.37 for payment of the costs of confinement, the person is required to pay the bill in accordance with that section.
2. If the person does not dispute the bill described in division (C)(4)(a)1. of this section and does not pay the bill by the times specified in R.C. § 2929.37, the clerk of the court may issue a certificate of judgment against the person as described in that section.
(b) The sentence automatically includes any certificate of judgment issued as described in division (C)(4)(a)2. of this section.
(5) (a) If an offender is convicted of or pleads guilty to a misdemeanor violation of R.C. § 2907.23, 2907.24, 2907.241, or 2907.25, or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, and to a specification of the type described in R.C. § 2941.1421 and if the court imposes a jail term on the offender for the misdemeanor violation, the court may impose upon the offender an additional definite jail term as follows:
1. Subject to division (C)(5)(a)2. of this section, an additional definite jail term of not more than 60 days;
2. If the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to one or more misdemeanor or felony violations of R.C. § 2907.22, 2907.23, 2907.24, 2907.241, or 2907.25, or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, and also was convicted of or pleaded guilty to a specification of the type described in R.C. § 2941.1421 regarding one or more of those violations, an additional definite jail term of not more than 120 days.
(b) In lieu of imposing an additional definite jail term under division (C)(5)(a) of this section, the court may directly impose on the offender a sanction that requires the offender to wear a real-time processing, continual tracking electronic monitoring device during the period of time specified by the court. The period of time specified by the court shall equal the duration of an additional jail term that the court could have imposed upon the offender under division (C)(5)(a) of this section. A sanction imposed under this division shall commence on the date specified by the court, provided that the sanction shall not commence until after the offender has served the jail term imposed for the misdemeanor violation of R.C. § 2907.23, 2907.24, 2907.241, or 2907.25, or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, and any residential sanction imposed for the violation under division (E) of this section or R.C. § 2929.26. A sanction imposed under this division shall be considered to be a community control sanction for purposes of division (D) of this section or R.C. § 2929.25, and all provisions of this Code and the Ohio Revised Code that pertain to community control sanctions shall apply to a sanction imposed under this division, except to the extent that they would by their nature be clearly inapplicable. The offender shall pay all costs associated with a sanction imposed under this division, including the cost of the use of the monitoring device.
(6) If an offender is convicted of or pleads guilty to a misdemeanor violation of R.C. § 2903.13 and also is convicted of or pleads guilty to a specification of the type described in R.C. § 2941.1423 that charges that the victim of the violation was a woman whom the offender knew was pregnant at the time of the violation, the court shall impose on the offender a mandatory jail term that is a definite term of at least 30 days.
(7) If a court sentences an offender to a jail term under this division (C), the sentencing court retains jurisdiction over the offender and the jail term. Upon motion of either party or upon the court’s own motion, the court, in the court’s sole discretion and as the circumstances warrant, may substitute one or more community control sanctions under division (E) or (F) of this section for any jail days that are not mandatory jail days.
(R.C. § 2929.24)
(D) Misdemeanor community control sanctions.
1. Directly impose a sentence that consists of one or more community control sanctions authorized by divisions (E), (F), or (G) of this section. The court may impose any other conditions of release under a community control sanction that the court considers appropriate. If the court imposes a jail term upon the offender, the court may impose any community control sanction or combination of community control sanctions in addition to the jail term.
2. Impose a jail term under division (C) of this section from the range of jail terms authorized under that division for the offense, suspend all or a portion of the jail term imposed, and place the offender under a community control sanction or combination of community control sanctions authorized under divisions (E), (F), or (G) of this section.
(b) The duration of all community control sanctions imposed upon an offender and in effect for an offender at any time shall not exceed five years.
(c) At sentencing, if a court directly imposes a community control sanction or combination of community control sanctions pursuant to division (D)(1)(a)1. of this section, the court shall state the duration of the community control sanctions imposed and shall notify the offender that if any of the conditions of the community control sanctions are violated the court may do any of the following:
1. Impose a longer time under the same community control sanction if the total time under all of the offender’s community control sanctions does not exceed the five-year limit specified in division (D)(1)(b) of this section;
2. Impose a more restrictive community control sanction under division (E), (F), or (G) of this section, but the court is not required to impose any particular sanction or sanctions;
3. Impose a definite jail term from the range of jail terms authorized for the offense under division (C) of this section.
(2) If a court sentences an offender to any community control sanction or combination of community control sanctions pursuant to division (D)(1)(a)1. of this section, the sentencing court retains jurisdiction over the offender and the period of community control for the duration of the period of community control. Upon the motion of either party or on the court’s own motion, the court, in the court’s sole discretion and as the circumstances warrant, may modify the community control sanctions or conditions of release previously imposed, substitute a community control sanction or condition of release for another community control sanction or condition of release previously imposed, or impose an additional community control sanction or condition of release.
(3) (a) If a court sentences an offender to any community control sanction or combination of community control sanctions authorized under division (E), (F), or (G) of this section, the court shall place the offender under the general control and supervision of the court or of a department of probation in the jurisdiction that serves the court for purposes of reporting to the court a violation of any of the conditions of the sanctions imposed. If the offender resides in another jurisdiction and a department of probation has been established to serve the municipal court or county court in that jurisdiction, the sentencing court may request the municipal court or the county court to receive the offender into the general control and supervision of that department of probation for purposes of reporting to the sentencing court a violation of any of the conditions of the sanctions imposed. The sentencing court retains jurisdiction over any offender whom it sentences for the duration of the sanction or sanctions imposed.
(b) The sentencing court shall require as a condition of any community control sanction that the offender abide by the law and not leave the state without the permission of the court or the offender’s probation officer. In the interests of doing justice, rehabilitating the offender, and ensuring the offender’s good behavior, the court may impose additional requirements on the offender. The offender’s compliance with the additional requirements also shall be a condition of the community control sanction imposed upon the offender.
(4) (a) If the court imposing sentence upon an offender sentences the offender to any community control sanction or combination of community control sanctions authorized under division (E), (F), or (G) of this section, and the offender violates any of the conditions of the sanctions, the public or private person or entity that supervises or administers the program or activity that comprises the sanction shall report the violation directly to the sentencing court or to the department of probation or probation officer with general control and supervision over the offender. If the public or private person or entity reports the violation to the department of probation or probation officer, the department or officer shall report the violation to the sentencing court.
(b) Except as provided in division (D)(4)(c) of this section, if an offender violates any condition of a community control sanction, the sentencing court may impose upon the violator one or more of the following penalties:
1. A longer time under the same community control sanction if the total time under all of the community control sanctions imposed on the violator does not exceed the five-year limit specified in division (D)(1)(b) of this section;
2. A more restrictive community control sanction;
3. A combination of community control sanctions, including a jail term.
(c) If an offender was acting pursuant to R.C. § 2925.11(B)(2)(b), or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, or a related provision under R.C. § 2925.12, R.C. § 2925.14, or R.C. § 2925.141, or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, and in so doing violated the conditions of a community control sanction based on a minor drug possession offense, as defined in R.C. § 2925.11, or violated R.C. § 2925.12, R.C. § 2925.14(C)(1), or R.C. § 2925.141, or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, the sentencing court shall not impose any of the penalties described in division (D)(4)(b) of this section based on the violation.
(d) If the court imposes a jail term upon a violator pursuant to division (D)(4)(b) of this section, the total time spent in jail for the misdemeanor offense and the violation of a condition of the community control sanction shall not exceed the maximum jail term available for the offense for which the sanction that was violated was imposed. The court may reduce the longer period of time that the violator is required to spend under the longer sanction or the more restrictive sanction imposed under division (D)(4)(b) of this section by all or part of the time the violator successfully spent under the sanction that was initially imposed.
(5) Except as otherwise provided in this division, if an offender, for a significant period of time, fulfills the conditions of a community control sanction imposed pursuant to division (E), (F), or (G) of this section in an exemplary manner, the court may reduce the period of time under the community control sanction or impose a less restrictive community control sanction. Fulfilling the conditions of a community control sanction does not relieve the offender of a duty to make restitution under division (G) of this section.
(R.C. § 2929.25)
(E) Community residential sanction.
(1) Except when a mandatory jail term is required by law, the court imposing a sentence for a misdemeanor, other than a minor misdemeanor, may impose upon the offender any community residential sanction or combination of community residential sanctions under this division (E). Community residential sanctions include, but are not limited to, the following:
(a) A term of up to 180 days in a halfway house or a term in a halfway house not to exceed the longest jail term available for the offense, whichever is shorter, if the political subdivision that would have responsibility for paying the costs of confining the offender in a jail has entered into a contract with the halfway house for use of the facility for misdemeanor offenders;
(b) If the offender is an eligible offender, as defined in R.C. § 307.932, a term in a community alternative sentencing center or district community alternative sentencing center established and operated in accordance with that section, in the circumstances specified in that section, with one of the conditions of the sanction being that the offender successfully complete the portion of the sentence to be served in the center.
(2) A sentence to a community residential sanction under division (E)(1)(b) of this section shall be in accordance with R.C. § 307.932. In all other cases, the court that sentences an offender to a community residential sanction under this division (E) may do either or both of the following:
(a) Permit the offender to serve the offender’s sentence in intermittent confinement, overnight, on weekends or at any other time or times that will allow the offender to continue at the offender’s occupation or care for the offender’s family;
(b) Authorize the offender to be released so that the offender may seek or maintain employment, receive education or training, receive treatment, perform community service, or otherwise fulfill an obligation imposed by law or by the court. A release pursuant to this division shall be only for the duration of time that is needed to fulfill the purpose of the release and for travel that reasonably is necessary to fulfill the purposes of release.
(3) The court may order that a reasonable portion of the income earned by the offender upon a release pursuant to division (E)(2) of this section be applied to any financial sanction imposed under division (G) of this section.
(4) No court shall sentence any person to a prison term for a misdemeanor or minor misdemeanor or to a jail term for a minor misdemeanor.
(5) If a court sentences a person who has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor to a community residential sanction as described in division (E)(1) of this section, at the time of reception and at other times the person in charge of the operation of the halfway house, community alternative sentencing center, district community alternative sentencing center, or other place at which the offender will serve the residential sanction determines to be appropriate, the person in charge of the operation of the halfway house, community alternative sentencing center, district community alternative sentencing center, or other place may cause the convicted offender to be examined and tested for tuberculosis, HIV infection, hepatitis, including but not limited to hepatitis A, B, and C, and other contagious diseases. The person in charge of the operation of the halfway house, community alternative sentencing center, district community alternative sentencing center, or other place at which the offender will serve the residential sanction may cause a convicted offender in the halfway house, community alternative sentencing center, district community alternative sentencing center, or other place 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 to be tested and treated involuntarily.
(6) The municipality may enter into a contract with a halfway house for use of the halfway house to house misdemeanor offenders under a sanction imposed under division (E)(1)(a) of this section.
(R.C. § 2929.26)
(F) Nonresidential sanction where jail term is not mandatory.
(1) Except when a mandatory jail term is required by law, the court imposing a sentence for a misdemeanor, other than a minor misdemeanor, may impose upon the offender any nonresidential sanction or combination of nonresidential sanctions authorized under this division. Nonresidential sanctions include, but are not limited to, the following:
(a) A term of day reporting;
(b) A term of house arrest with electronic monitoring or continuous alcohol monitoring or both electronic monitoring and continuous alcohol monitoring, a term of electronic monitoring or continuous alcohol monitoring without house arrest, or a term of house arrest without electronic monitoring or continuous alcohol monitoring;
(c) A term of community service of up to 500 hours for misdemeanor of the first degree or 200 hours for a misdemeanor of the second, third, or fourth degree;
(d) A term in a drug treatment program with a level of security for the offender as determined necessary by the court;
(e) A term of intensive probation supervision;
(f) A term of basic probation supervision;
(g) A term of monitored time;
(h) A term of drug and alcohol use monitoring, including random drug testing;
(i) A curfew term;
(j) A requirement that the offender obtain employment;
(k) A requirement that the offender obtain education or training;
(l) Provided the court obtains the prior approval of the victim, a requirement that the offender participate in victim-offender mediation;
(m) If authorized by law, suspension of the offender’s privilege to operate a motor vehicle, immobilization or forfeiture of the offender’s motor vehicle, a requirement that the offender obtain a valid motor vehicle operator’s license, or any other related sanction;
(n) A requirement that the offender obtain counseling if the offense is a violation of R.C. § 2919.25 or a substantially similar municipal ordinance or a violation of R.C. § 2903.13 or a substantially similar municipal ordinance involving a person who was a family or household member at the time of the violation, if the offender committed the offense in the vicinity of one or more children who are not victims of the offense, and if the offender or the victim of the offense is a parent, guardian, custodian, or person in loco parentis of one or more of those children. This division does not limit the court in requiring that the offender obtain counseling for any offense or in any circumstance not specified in this division.
(2) If the court imposes a term of community service pursuant to division (F)(1)(c) of this section, the offender may request that the court modify the sentence to authorize the offender to make a reasonable contribution, as determined by the court, to the general fund of the county, municipality, or other local entity that provides funding to the court. The court may grant the request if the offender demonstrates a change in circumstances from the date the court imposes the sentence or that the modification would otherwise be in the interests of justice. If the court grants the request, the offender shall make a reasonable contribution to the court, and the clerk of the court shall deposit that contribution into the general fund of the county, municipality, or other local entity that provides funding to the court. If more than one entity provides funding to the court, the clerk shall deposit a percentage of the reasonable contribution equal to the percentage of funding the entity provides to the court in that entity’s general fund.
(3) In addition to the sanctions authorized under division (F)(1) of this section, the court imposing a sentence for a misdemeanor, other than a minor misdemeanor, upon an offender who is not required to serve a mandatory jail term may impose any other sanction that is intended to discourage the offender or other persons from committing a similar offense if the sanction is reasonably related to the overriding purposes and principles of misdemeanor sentencing.
(4) The court imposing a sentence for a minor misdemeanor may impose a term of community service in lieu of all or part of a fine. The term of community service imposed for a minor misdemeanor shall not exceed 30 hours. After imposing a term of community service, the court may modify the sentence to authorize a reasonable contribution, as determined by the court, to the appropriate general fund as provided in division (F)(2) of this section.
(R.C. § 2929.27)
(G) Financial sanctions.
(1) In addition to imposing court costs pursuant to R.C. § 2947.23, the court imposing a sentence upon an offender for a misdemeanor, including a minor misdemeanor, may sentence the offender to any financial sanction or combination of financial sanctions authorized under this division (G) and, if the offender is being sentenced for a criminal offense as defined in R.C. § 2930.01, shall sentence the offender to make restitution pursuant to this division (G) and R.C. § 2929.281. If the court, in its discretion or as required by this division (G), imposes one or more financial sanctions, the financial sanctions that may be imposed pursuant to this division (G) include, but are not limited to, the following:
(a) Restitution.
1. Unless the misdemeanor offense could be disposed of by the traffic violations bureau serving the court under Traffic Rule 13, restitution by the offender to the victim of the offender's crime or the victim's estate, in an amount based on the victim's economic loss. The court may not impose restitution as a sanction pursuant to this division if the offense could be disposed of by the traffic violations bureau serving the court under Traffic Rule 13. If the court requires restitution, the court shall order that the restitution be made to the victim in open court or to the adult probation department that serves the jurisdiction or the clerk of the court on behalf of the victim.
2. The court shall determine the amount of restitution to be paid by the offender. The victim, victim's representative, victim's attorney, if applicable, the prosecutor or the prosecutor's designee, and the offender may provide information relevant to the determination of the amount of restitution. The amount the court orders as restitution shall not exceed the amount of the economic loss suffered by the victim as a direct and proximate result of the commission of the offense. If the court imposes restitution for the cost of accounting or auditing done to determine the extent of economic loss, the court may order restitution for any amount of the victim's costs of accounting or auditing provided that the amount of restitution is reasonable and does not exceed the value of property or services stolen or damaged as a result of the offense. If the court decides to or is required to impose restitution, the court shall hold an evidentiary hearing on restitution if the offender, victim, victim's representative, victim's attorney, if applicable, or victim's estate disputes the amount of restitution. The court shall determine the amount of full restitution by a preponderance of the evidence.
3. All restitution payments shall be credited against any recovery of economic loss in a civil action brought by the victim or the victim's estate against the offender. No person may introduce evidence of an award of restitution under this division (G) in a civil action for purposes of imposing liability against an insurer under R.C. § 3937.18.
4. The court may order that the offender pay a surcharge, of not more than 5% of the amount of the restitution otherwise ordered, to the entity responsible for collecting and processing restitution payments.
5. The victim, victim's attorney, if applicable, or the attorney for the victim's estate may request that the prosecutor in the case file a motion, or the offender may file a motion, for modification of the payment terms of any restitution ordered. If the court grants the motion, it may modify the payment terms as it determines appropriate but shall not reduce the amount of restitution ordered, except as provided in R.C. § 2929.281(A).
(b) Fines. A fine of the type described in divisions (G)(1)(b)1. and 2. of this section payable to the appropriate entity as required by law:
1. A fine in the following amount:
a. For a misdemeanor of the first degree, not more than $1,000;
b. For a misdemeanor of the second degree, not more than $750;
c. For a misdemeanor of the third degree, not more than $500;
d. For a misdemeanor of the fourth degree, not more than $250;
e. For a minor misdemeanor, not more than $150.
2. A state fine or cost as defined in R.C. § 2949.111.
(c) Reimbursement.
1. Reimbursement by the offender of any or all of the costs of sanctions incurred by the government, including, but not limited to, the following:
a. All or part of the costs of implementing any community control sanction, including a supervision fee under R.C. § 2951.021 and the costs of global positioning system device monitoring;
b. All or part of the costs of confinement in a jail or other residential facility, including, but not limited to, a per diem fee for room and board, the costs of medical and dental treatment, and the costs of repairing property damaged by the offender while confined;
c. All or part of the cost of purchasing and using an immobilizing or disabling device, including a certified ignition interlock device, or a remote alcohol monitoring device that a court orders an offender to use under R.C. § 4510.13.
2. The amount of reimbursement under division (G)(1)(c)1. of this section shall not exceed the total amount of reimbursement the offender is able to pay and shall not exceed the actual cost of the sanctions. The court may collect any amount of reimbursement the offender is required to pay under that division. If the court does not order reimbursement under that division, confinement costs may be assessed pursuant to a repayment policy adopted under R.C. § 2929.37. In addition, the offender may be required to pay the fees specified in R.C. § 2929.38 in accordance with that section.
(3) (a) The offender shall pay reimbursements imposed upon the offender pursuant to division (G)(1)(c) of this section to pay the costs incurred by a county pursuant to any sanction imposed under division (E), (F), or (G) of this section or in operating a facility used to confine offenders pursuant to a sanction imposed under division (E) of this section to the county treasurer. The county treasurer shall deposit the reimbursements in the county’s general fund. The county shall use the amounts deposited in the fund to pay the costs incurred by the county pursuant to any sanction imposed under division (E), (F), or (G) of this section or in operating a facility used to confine offenders pursuant to a sanction imposed under division (E) of this section.
(b) The offender shall pay reimbursements imposed upon the offender pursuant to division (G)(1)(c) of this section to pay the costs incurred by a municipal corporation pursuant to any sanction imposed under division (E), (F), or (G) of this section or in operating a facility used to confine offenders pursuant to a sanction imposed under division (E) of this section to the treasurer of the municipal corporation. The treasurer shall deposit the reimbursements in the municipal corporation’s general fund. The municipal corporation shall use the amounts deposited in the fund to pay the costs incurred by the municipal corporation pursuant to any sanction imposed under division (E), (F), or (G) of this section or in operating a facility used to confine offenders pursuant to a sanction imposed under division (E) of this section.
(c) The offender shall pay reimbursements imposed pursuant to division (G)(1)(c) of this section for the costs incurred by a private provider pursuant to a sanction imposed under division (E), (F), or (G) of this section to the provider.
(4) (a) In addition to any other fine that is or may be imposed under this section, the court imposing sentence upon an offender for misdemeanor domestic violence or menacing by stalking may impose a fine of not less than $70 nor more than $500, which shall, except as provided in divisions (G)(4)(b) and (G)(4)(c) of this section, be transmitted to the Treasurer of Ohio to be credited to the address confidentiality program fund created by R.C. § 111.48.
(b) A court that imposes a fine under division (G)(4)(a) of this section may retain up to 25% of amounts collected in satisfaction of the fine to cover administrative costs.
(c) A court that imposes a fine under division (G)(4)(a) of this section may assign up to 25% of amounts collected in satisfaction of the fine to reimburse the prosecuting attorney for costs associated with prosecution of the offense.
(5) (a) Except as otherwise provided in this division (G)(5), a financial sanction imposed under division (G)(1) of this section is a judgment in favor of the state or the political subdivision that operates the court that imposed the financial sanction, and the offender subject to the financial sanction is the judgment debtor. A financial sanction of reimbursement imposed pursuant to division (G)(1)(c)1.a. of this section upon an offender is a judgment in favor of the entity administering the community control sanction, and the offender subject to the financial sanction is the judgment debtor. A financial sanction of reimbursement imposed pursuant to division (G)(1)(c)1.b. of this section upon an offender confined in a jail or other residential facility is a judgment in favor of the entity operating the jail or other residential facility, and the offender subject to the financial sanction is the judgment debtor. A financial sanction of restitution imposed pursuant to division (G)(1)(a) of this section is an order in favor of the victim of the offender’s criminal act that can be collected through a certificate of judgment as described in division (G)(5)(b)1. of this section, through execution as described in division (G)(5)(b)2. of this section or through an order as described in division (G)(5)(b)3. of this section and the offender shall be considered for purposes of the collection as a judgment debtor.
(b) Once a financial sanction is imposed as a judgment or order under this division, the victim, private provider, state, or political subdivision may do any of the following:
1. Obtain from the clerk of the court in which the judgment was entered, at no charge, a certificate of judgment that shall be in the same manner and form as a certificate of judgment issued in a civil action;
2. Obtain execution of the judgment or order through any available procedure, including any of the procedures identified in R.C. § 2929.18(D)(1) and (D)(2) or a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance.
3. Obtain an order for the assignment of wages of the judgment debtor under R.C. § 1321.33 or a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance.
(6) The civil remedies authorized under division (G)(5) of this section for the collection of the financial sanction supplement, but do not preclude, enforcement of the criminal sentence.
(7) Each court imposing a financial sanction upon an offender under this division (G) may designate the clerk of the court or another person to collect the financial sanction. The clerk, or another person authorized by law or the court to collect the financial sanction may do the following:
(a) Enter into contracts with one or more public agencies or private vendors for the collection of amounts due under the sanction. Before entering into a contract for the collection of amounts due from an offender pursuant to any financial sanction imposed pursuant to this division (G), a court shall comply with R.C. §§ 307.86 to 307.92.
(b) Permit payment of all or any portion of the sanction in installments, by financial transaction device if the court is a county court or a municipal court operated by a county, or by any other reasonable method, in any time, and on any terms that the court considers just. If the court is a county court or a municipal court operated by a county, the acceptance of payments by any financial transaction device shall be governed by the policy adopted by the board of county commissioners of the county pursuant to R.C. § 301.28. If the court is a municipal court not operated by a county, the clerk may pay any fee associated with processing an electronic transfer out of public money or may charge the fee to the offender.
(c) To defray administrative costs, charge a reasonable fee to an offender who elects a payment plan rather than a lump sum payment of any financial sanction.
(8) No financial sanction imposed under this division (G) shall preclude a victim from bringing a civil action against the offender.
(9) If the court imposes restitution, fines, fees, or incarceration costs on a business or corporation, it is the duty of the person authorized to make disbursements from assets of the business or corporation to pay the restitution, fines, fees, or incarceration costs from those assets.
(R.C. § 2929.28)
(H) Organizational penalties.
(1) Regardless of the other penalties provided in this section, an organization convicted of an offense pursuant to § 130.09 shall be fined by the court as follows:
(a) For a misdemeanor of the first degree, not more than $5,000;
(b) For a misdemeanor of the second degree, not more than $4,000;
(c) For a misdemeanor of the third degree, not more than $3,000;
(d) For a misdemeanor of the fourth degree, not more than $2,000;
(e) For a minor misdemeanor, not more than $1,000;
(f) For a misdemeanor not specifically classified, not more than $2,000;
(g) For a minor misdemeanor not specifically classified, not more than $1,000.
(2) When an organization is convicted of an offense not specifically classified, and the section defining the offense or penalty plainly indicates a purpose to impose the penalty provided for violation upon organizations, then such penalty shall be imposed in lieu of the penalty provided in this section.
(3) When an organization is convicted of an offense not specifically classified, and the penalty provided includes a higher fine than that provided in this section, then the penalty imposed shall be pursuant to the penalty provided for violation of the section defining the offense.
(4) This section does not prevent the imposition of available civil sanctions against an organization convicted of an offense pursuant to § 130.09, either in addition to or in lieu of a fine imposed pursuant to this section.
(R.C. § 2929.31)
Cross-reference:
Sentencing for sexually oriented offenses; sexual predators; registration, see § 133.99
Statutory reference:
Citation issuance and limitations on arrest for minor misdemeanors, see R.C. § 2935.26
Crime victim's reparations fund, see R.C. § 2929.32
Habitual sex offender and sexual predator registration, see R.C. Chapter 2950
Reimbursement for costs of confinement, see R.C. §§ 2929.36 et seq.
Reports to health care licensing boards of criminal offenses, see R.C. § 2929.42
Restitution, see R.C. § 2929.281