OHIO CONTINUES LEADING ROLE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE, PASSES TRANSFORMATIVE SENTENCING REFORMS THROUGH SENATE COMMITTEE

Bipartisan Sentencing Reform Bill Would Safely Reduce OH Prison Population, Encourage Addiction Treatment, Provide Accountability

Senate Bill 3 reclassifies some low-level drug offenses from felonies to misdemeanors, seals certain drug records, and more.

COLUMBUS, OHIO - Today, the state Senate Judiciary Committee passed Senate Bill 3, its most significant bipartisan sentencing reform bill in years. SB 3, sponsored by Senators John Eklund (R-18) and Sean O’Brien (D-32), reduces penalties for some low-level drug possession offenses. The bill also decriminalizes possession of small amounts of marijuana, limits the use of prison for technical violations of community supervision, and seals some drug records. If passed into law, most possession crimes would be reclassified as misdemeanors rather than felonies, allowing individuals to seek treatment, and maintain employment in their communities rather than serve prison time. And as the state grapples with the economic impacts of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic, the bill is estimated to save the state up to $75 million in avoided incarceration costs.

The House has already passed an additional criminal justice reform measure, House Bill 1, focused on record sealing and expanding access to intervention in lieu of incarceration.

“Senate Bill 3 was not written in this moment, but it is the rare bill that is truly meeting the moment,” said Justice Action Network Executive Director Holly Harris. “It will help reduce the prison population, leaving far fewer people at risk during the COVID-19 pandemic. It will save up to $75 million in critical taxpayer dollars as the state deals with a fiscal crisis, and it will eliminate unnecessary interactions with the criminal justice system for minor drug offenses as we work to improve relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve.”

“Ohio has once again shown that it is committed to bipartisan solutions to the state’s greatest problems, serving as an example for the rest of the country. We are grateful to Senators Eklund and O’Brien for working across the aisle on this transformative legislation, to Senate President Obhof for championing this legislation, and our national and local partners, the Buckeye Institute, Alliance for Safety and Justice, AFP-OH, Americans for Tax Reform, FreedomWorks and more, who have worked so hard to advocate for this bill. We urge continued cooperation between the House and the Senate to get the strongest possible criminal justice reform bill to the Governor’s desk.”