Ohio Code § 2929.21
Ohio Code § 2929.21. Reproduced from the official Ohio Revised Code, with a citation summary, verification link, and related provisions.
§ 2929.21.
(A) A court that sentences an offender for a misdemeanor or minor misdemeanor violation
of any provision of the Revised Code, or of any municipal ordinance that is substantially
similar to a misdemeanor or minor misdemeanor violation of a provision of the 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 offender, and making restitution to the victim of the offense, the public, or
the victim and the public. (B) A sentence imposed for a misdemeanor or minor misdemeanor violation of a Revised
Code provision or for a violation of a municipal ordinance that is subject to division
(A) of this section shall be reasonably calculated to achieve the two overriding purposes
of misdemeanor sentencing set forth in division (A) 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. (C) A court that imposes a sentence upon an offender for a misdemeanor or minor misdemeanor
violation of a Revised Code provision or for a violation of a municipal ordinance
that is subject to division (A) of this section shall not base the sentence upon the
race, ethnic background, gender, or religion of the offender. (D) Divisions (A) and (B) 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 Revised Code that is
a minor misdemeanor and that is disposed of without a court appearance. Divisions (A) to (C) of this section do not affect any penalties established by
a municipal corporation for a violation of its ordinances.
Source: official Ohio text · Last verified 2026-08-27
At a glance
- Citation: Ohio Revised Code § 2929.21
- Jurisdiction: Ohio
- Code: Ohio Revised Code
- Text: transcribed from the official source (verify below)
Verify the text
Statute text is transcribed from the official Ohio Revised Code. Confirm it against the primary source before relying on it:
Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed Ohio attorney.
Common questions
What is the source of Ohio Revised Code § 2929.21?
The text above is transcribed from the Ohio Revised Code, the codified statutes of Ohio. The official publisher link appears under "Verify the text" on this page.
What subject does Ohio Revised Code § 2929.21 address?
It addresses the rule set out in the section text. Read the section together with the surrounding provisions listed under "Nearby provisions" for the full picture.
Is Ohio Revised Code § 2929.21 still in force?
Statutes are amended, repealed, and renumbered every session. Confirm the current version at the official Ohio source before relying on this text.
Can this page be used as legal advice?
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