PART SIX - GENERAL OFFENSES

            Chap. 606. General Provisions.

            Chap. 608. Administration, Enforcement and Public Service.

            Chap. 612. Alcoholic Beverages.

            Chap. 618. Animals.

            Chap. 620. Civil Rights.

            Chap. 622. Clean Indoor Air.

            Chap. 624. Drugs.

            Chap. 630. Gambling.

            Chap. 636. Offenses Relating to Persons.

            Chap. 642. Property Offenses.

            Chap. 648. Peace Disturbances.

            Chap. 660. Safety, Sanitation and Health.

            Chap. 666. Sex Related Offenses.

            Chap. 672. Theft and Fraud.

            Chap. 676. Vegetation. (Repealed)

            Chap. 678. Weapons and Explosives.

            Chap. 698. Penalties and Sentencing.

CHAPTER 606: GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section

606.01   (Reserved)

606.02   Classification of Offenses

606.03   Offenses Defined

606.04   Rules of Construction

606.05   Criminal Law Jurisdiction

606.06   Limitation on Criminal Prosecution

606.07   Requirements for Criminal Liability; Voluntary Intoxication

606.08   Culpable Mental States

606.09   Organizational Liability

606.10   Personal Accountability for Organizational Conduct

606.11   Attempt

606.12   Complicity

606.13   Self Defense; Limitations on Duty to Retreat Prior to Using Force

   CROSS REFERENCES

   See sectional histories for similar State law

   Burden and Degree of Proof - see ORC 2901.05

   Definition of Imprisoned - see ORC 1.05

   Venue - see ORC 2901.12; 2931.29 et seq.

§ 606.01 (Reserved)

§ 606.02 CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENSES.

   As used in this General Offenses Code:

   (a)   Offenses include misdemeanors of the first, second, third and fourth degree, minor misdemeanors, and offenses not specifically classified.

   (b)   Regardless of the penalty that may be imposed, any offense specifically classified as a misdemeanor is a misdemeanor.

   (c)   Any offense not specifically classified is a misdemeanor if imprisonment for not more than one (1) year may be imposed as a penalty.

   (d)   Any offense not specifically classified is a minor misdemeanor if the only penalty that may be imposed is one of the following:

      (1)   For an offense committed prior to January 1, 2004, a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars ($100); or

      (2)   For an offense committed on or after January 1, 2004, a fine not exceeding one hundred fifty dollars ($150), community service under ORC 2929.27(D) or a financial sanction other than a fine under ORC 2929.28.

(ORC 2901.02)

§ 606.03 OFFENSES DEFINED.

   (a)   No conduct constitutes a criminal offense against the City unless it is defined as an offense in this General Offenses Code.

   (b)   An offense is defined when one or more sections of this General Offenses Code state a positive prohibition or enjoin a specific duty and provide a penalty for violation of such prohibition or failure to meet such duty.

   (c)   This section does not affect the power of a court to punish for contempt or to employ any sanction authorized by law to enforce an order, civil judgment or decree.

(ORC 2901.03)

§ 606.04 RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.

   (a)   Except as otherwise provided in divisions (c) or (d) of this section, sections of this General Offenses Code defining offenses or penalties shall be strictly construed against the City and liberally construed in favor of the accused.

   (b)   Rules of criminal procedure and sections of this General Offenses Code providing for criminal procedure shall be construed so as to affect the fair, impartial, speedy and sure administration of justice.

   (c)   Any provision of a section of this General Offenses Code that refers to a previous conviction of or plea of guilty to a violation of a section of this General Offenses Code, the Ohio Revised Code or a division of a section of this General Offenses Code or the Ohio Revised Code shall be construed to also refer to a previous conviction of or plea of guilty to a substantially equivalent offense under an existing or former law of this City, State, another state, or the United States or under an existing or former municipal ordinance.

   (d)   Any provision of this General Offenses Code that refers to a section, or to a division or subsection of a section, of this Code that defines or specifies a criminal offense shall be construed to also refer to an existing or former law of this State, another state, or the United States, to an existing or former municipal ordinance, or to an existing or former division or subsection of any such existing or former law or ordinance that defines or specifies, or that defined or specified, a substantially equivalent offense.

(ORC 2901.04)