Skip to main content

Ohio Criminal Sentencing Commission

The Criminal Sentencing Commission is an independent entity, legislatively established within the Supreme Court.

Overview

The Ohio Criminal Sentencing Commission was established by the 118th General Assembly with the enactment of Senate Bill 258 in 1990. Under R.C. §181.23 through R.C. §181.25 the commission is charged with recommending and assisting the general assembly with developing, evaluating, implementing, and reviewing existing sentencing guidelines, processes, and procedures to create a sentencing structure and policy for Ohio that is designed to achieve fairness in sentencing and to enhance public safety by attaining certainty in sentencing, deterrence, and a reasonable use of correctional facilities, programs, and services.

Chaired by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Ohio, the Commission is a multi-disciplinary body that brings together experts from and provides resources to all three branches of government. The Commission reviews proposed legislation, conducts research on sentencing structures in Ohio, and drafts biennial reports analyzing the impact of sentencing policies on communities, correctional facilities, and the justice system. The Commission is committed to advancing a just and fiscally responsible criminal justice system that meets the needs of Ohioans.

Roster

Date Meeting Location Materials
2025
 
Thursday, March 6

Full Commission
Teams meeting
Meeting ID: 287 478 754 222
Passcode: K8Qw7Cx7

 Ohio Judicial Center
Room 281

Meeting Materials

Audio | Minutes
Thursday, May 8 Full Commission Ohio Judicial Center
Room 101
Thursday, Sept. 25 Full Commission Ohio Judicial Center
Room 101
Thursday, Dec. 18 Full Commission Ohio Judicial Center
Room 101
Archive

Ohio Revised Code §§181.21 - 181.27 govern the Sentencing Commission. In 1990, the Governor signed legislation creating a 17-member Commission (S.B. 258, 118th General Assembly). The Commission began meeting in February of 1991. In 1992, the General Assembly (G.A.) gave the Commission one year to submit recommendations to legislatively modify Ohio’s felony sentencing structure (S.B. 273, 119th G.A.) In 1993, the G.A. placed the Commission within the Supreme Court (H.B. 152, 120th G.A.) In 1994, the G.A. expanded the Commission to 24 members with an eye toward adding misdemeanor sentencing expertise (H.B. 21, 120th G.A.) In 1996, the G.A. instructed the Commission to study criminal forfeiture statutes and to specifically monitor the impact of the Commission’s recommended and newly enacted felony laws on local government and appellate courts (S.B. 2, 121st G.A.) In 1996, as part of a reorganization of boards and commissions, the G.A. formally renamed the Commission the "Sentencing Council" (H.B. 670, 121st G.A.) Effective in 1997, the G.A. expanded the Commission to 31 members and instructed it to study juvenile dispositions (H.B. 591, 122nd G.A.) In 1998, the G.A. gave the Commission until October of 1999 to submit a plan for juvenile sentencing (H.B. 484, 122nd G.A.) Effective in 2000, the G.A. restored "Sentencing Commission" as the group's formal name (S.B. 107, 123rd G.A.) With the enactment of House Bill 1 in 2020, the 133rd G.A. designated the Commission a criminal justice agency and instructed the Commission to commence a study of the impact of changes to the Ohio Revised Code. The results of these studies are reported to the G.A. biennially. In October of 2024, the 135th G.A. reinstituted a statutorily mandated Juvenile Committee, with instructions to review Ohio’s juvenile sentencing policy and recommend necessary changes.

§181.21
§181.23
§181.24
§181.25
§181.26
§181.27

Publications & Information

Contact Information

Ohio Criminal Sentencing Commission
Supreme Court of Ohio
65 South Front Street, 2nd Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-3431

Chairman:
Chief Justice Sharon L. Kennedy,
ex officio

Director: Melissa A. Knopp, Esq.

Please note: The Sentencing Commission does not have information regarding inmates and/or access to case specific sentencing information. If you have a question about an inmate, please email drc.publicinfo@odrc.state.oh.us or call 614.387.0588 and/or visit the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction website https://drc.ohio.gov.

Please note: Commission staff are not permitted to render legal advice or counsel on any matter.

Word files may be viewed for free with Office Online.
PDF Files may be viewed, printed, and searched using the Free Acrobat® Reader. Acrobat Reader is a trademark of Adobe Inc.