Ohio Governor John R. Kasich signed into law a bill that makes sweeping changes in the state’s criminal justice system. House Bill 86 received bipartisan support in both the Ohio House and Senate prior to the Governor’s signing on June 26.
According to a release from the Kasich’s office, the bill will break down barriers formerly incarcerated people often face, and will also cut down on the number of individuals who are sentenced to prison. First-time, non-violent offenders will be sent to rehabilitative programs in an all-out effort to divert them from prison. Kasich has been very vocal in his condemnation of first-time offenders being housed with hardened criminals. The Delaware Gazzette quotes Kasich as stating “We stick them in prison next to a mur-derer and a rapist. That’s really made a lot of sense here in Ohio to be doing that, didn’t it?”
The Governor’s office announced the new law:
Diverts first time, non-violent offenders to community-based sanctions with appropriate rehabilitate programming
Equalizes penalties for crack and powder cocaine
Allows inmates to qualify for an eight percent term reduction based on successful completion of educational, vocational and mental health programming. This provision only applies to inmates who enter prison after the law is enacted. All sex offenders are excluded.
Increases felony status for theft related crimes from $500 to $1,000
Permits the Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections to petition for judicial release of inmates who have served 80 percent of their sentence, successfully completed rehabilitative programming and have no incidents of violence while incarcerated. Sex offenders, repeat violent offenders and those incarcerated for gun crimes are excluded
Fully funds community corrections based proper utilization of the Ohio Risk Assessment System available to all sentencing jurisdictions
The new law is seen as a way to reduce corrections costs, as well as making much needed changes in the state’s criminal justice system. While early release will surely contribute to reducing the number of inmates in Ohio prisons, some feel that requiring an inmate to complete 80 percent of his or her sentence before applying for early release is too long, especially for those who under the new law would not have been sent to prison. Still, the new law will literally open prison doors for many inmates, while keeping others from entering.
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