Ohio § 2903.13
Full text of Ohio Ohio Revised Code § 2903.13, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 2903.13.
(A) No person shall knowingly cause or attempt to cause physical harm to another or to
another's unborn. (B) No person shall recklessly cause serious physical harm to another or to another's
unborn. (C)(1) Whoever violates this section is guilty of assault, and the court shall sentence
the offender as provided in this division and divisions (C)(1), (2), (3), (4), (5),
(6), (7), (8), (9), and (10) of this section. Except as otherwise provided in division (C)(2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), or
(9) of this section, assault is a misdemeanor of the first degree. (2) Except as otherwise provided in this division, if the offense is committed by a caretaker
against a person with a functional impairment under the caretaker's care, assault
is a felony of the fourth degree. If the offense is committed by a caretaker against a person with a functional impairment
under the caretaker's care, if the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded
guilty to a violation of this section or section 2903.11 or 2903.16 of the Revised Code , and if in relation to the previous conviction the offender was a caretaker and the
victim was a person with a functional impairment under the offender's care, assault
is a felony of the third degree. (3) If the offense occurs in or on the grounds of a state correctional institution or
an institution of the department of youth services, the victim of the offense is an
employee of the department of rehabilitation and correction or the department of youth
services, and the offense is committed by a person incarcerated in the state correctional
institution or by a person institutionalized in the department of youth services institution
pursuant to a commitment to the department of youth services, assault is a felony
of the third degree. (4) If the offense is committed in any of the following circumstances, assault is a felony
of the fifth degree: (a) The offense occurs in or on the grounds of a local correctional facility, the victim
of the offense is an employee of the local correctional facility or a probation department
or is on the premises of the facility for business purposes or as a visitor, and the
offense is committed by a person who is under custody in the facility subsequent to
the person's arrest for any crime or delinquent act, subsequent to the person's being
charged with or convicted of any crime, or subsequent to the person's being alleged
to be or adjudicated a delinquent child. (b) The offense occurs off the grounds of a state correctional institution and off the
grounds of an institution of the department of youth services, the victim of the offense
is an employee of the department of rehabilitation and correction, the department
of youth services, or a probation department, the offense occurs during the employee's
official work hours and while the employee is engaged in official work responsibilities,
and the offense is committed by a person incarcerated in a state correctional institution
or institutionalized in the department of youth services who temporarily is outside
of the institution for any purpose, by a parolee, by an offender under transitional
control, under a community control sanction, or on an escorted visit, by a person
under post-release control, or by an offender under any other type of supervision
by a government agency. (c) The offense occurs off the grounds of a local correctional facility, the victim of
the offense is an employee of the local correctional facility or a probation department,
the offense occurs during the employee's official work hours and while the employee
is engaged in official work responsibilities, and the offense is committed by a person
who is under custody in the facility subsequent to the person's arrest for any crime
or delinquent act, subsequent to the person being charged with or convicted of any
crime, or subsequent to the person being alleged to be or adjudicated a delinquent
child and who temporarily is outside of the facility for any purpose or by a parolee,
by an offender under transitional control, under a community control sanction, or
on an escorted visit, by a person under post-release control, or by an offender under
any other type of supervision by a government agency. (d) The victim of the offense is a school teacher or administrator or a school bus operator,
and the offense occurs in a school, on school premises, in a school building, on a
school bus, or while the victim is outside of school premises or a school bus and
is engaged in duties or official responsibilities associated with the victim's employment
or position as a school teacher or administrator or a school bus operator, including,
but not limited to, driving, accompanying, or chaperoning students at or on class
or field trips, athletic events, or other school extracurricular activities or functions
outside of school premises. (5) If the assault is committed in any of the following circumstances, assault is a felony
of the fourth degree: (a) The victim of the offense is a peace officer or an investigator of the bureau of
criminal identification and investigation, a firefighter, or a person performing emergency
medical service, while in the performance of the officer's, investigator's, firefighter's,
or person's official duties. (b) The victim of the offense is an emergency service responder, the offender knows or
reasonably should know that the victim is an emergency service responder, and it is
the offender's specific purpose to commit the offense against an emergency service
responder. (c) The victim of the offense is a family or household member or co-worker of a person
who is an emergency service responder, the offender knows or reasonably should know
that the victim is a family or household member or co-worker of an emergency service
responder, and it is the offender's specific purpose to commit the offense against
a family or household member or co-worker of an emergency service responder. (6) If the offense is a felony of the fourth degree under division (C)(5)(a) of this
section, if the victim of the offense is a peace officer or an investigator of the
bureau of criminal identification and investigation, and if the victim suffered serious
physical harm as a result of the commission of the offense, the court, pursuant to division (F) of section 2929.13 of the Revised Code , shall impose as a mandatory prison term one of the prison terms prescribed for a
felony of the fourth degree that is at least twelve months in duration. (7) If the victim of the offense is an officer or employee of a public children services
agency or a private child placing agency and the offense relates to the officer's
or employee's performance or anticipated performance of official responsibilities
or duties, assault is either a felony of the fifth degree or, if the offender previously
has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to an offense of violence, the victim of that
prior offense was an officer or employee of a public children services agency or private
child placing agency, and that prior offense related to the officer's or employee's
performance or anticipated performance of official responsibilities or duties, a felony
of the fourth degree. (8) If the victim of the offense is a health care professional of a hospital, a health
care worker of a hospital, or a security officer of a hospital whom the offender knows
or has reasonable cause to know is a health care professional of a hospital, a health
care worker of a hospital, or a security officer of a hospital, if the victim is engaged
in the performance of the victim's duties, and if the hospital offers de-escalation
or crisis intervention training for such professionals, workers, or officers, assault
is one of the following: (a) Except as otherwise provided in division (C)(8)(b) of this section, assault committed
in the specified circumstances is a misdemeanor of the first degree. Notwithstanding the fine specified in division (A)(2)(a) of section 2929.28 of the Revised Code for a misdemeanor of the first degree, in sentencing the offender under this division
and if the court decides to impose a fine, the court may impose upon the offender
a fine of not more than five thousand dollars. (b) If the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to one or more
assault or homicide offenses committed against hospital personnel, assault committed
in the specified circumstances is a felony of the fifth degree. (9) If the victim of the offense is a judge, magistrate, prosecutor, or court official
or employee whom the offender knows or has reasonable cause to know is a judge, magistrate,
prosecutor, or court official or employee, and if the victim is engaged in the performance
of the victim's duties, assault is one of the following: (a) Except as otherwise provided in division (C)(9)(b) of this section, assault committed
in the specified circumstances is a misdemeanor of the first degree. In sentencing the offender under this division, if the court decides to impose a
fine, notwithstanding the fine specified in division (A)(2)(a) of section 2929.28 of the Revised Code for a misdemeanor of the first degree, the court may impose upon the offender a fine
of not more than five thousand dollars. (b) If the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to one or more
assault or homicide offenses committed against justice system personnel, assault committed
in the specified circumstances is a felony of the fifth degree. (10) If an offender who is convicted of or pleads guilty to assault when it is a misdemeanor
also is convicted of or pleads guilty to a specification as described in section 2941.1423 of the Revised Code that was included in the indictment, count in the indictment, or information charging
the offense, the court shall sentence the offender to a mandatory jail term as provided
in division (F) of section 2929.24 of the Revised Code . If an offender who is convicted of or pleads guilty to assault when it is a felony
also is convicted of or pleads guilty to a specification as described in section 2941.1423 of the Revised Code that was included in the indictment, count in the indictment, or information charging
the offense, except as otherwise provided in division (C)(6) of this section, the
court shall sentence the offender to a mandatory prison term as provided in division (B)(8) of section 2929.14 of the Revised Code . (D) A prosecution for a violation of this section does not preclude a prosecution of
a violation of any other section of the Revised Code. One or more acts, a series of acts, or a course of behavior that can be prosecuted
under this section or any other section of the Revised Code may be prosecuted under
this section, the other section of the Revised Code, or both sections. However, if an offender is convicted of or pleads guilty to a violation of this
section and also is convicted of or pleads guilty to a violation of section 2903.22 of the Revised Code based on the same conduct involving the same victim that was the basis of the violation
of this section, the two offenses are allied offenses of similar import under section 2941.25 of the Revised Code . (E) As used in this section: (1) “Peace officer” has the same meaning as in section 2935.01 of the Revised Code . (2) “ Firefighter ” means any person who is a firefighter as defined in section 3937.41 of the Revised Code and, for purposes of division (E)(21) of this section, also includes a member of
a fire department as defined in section 742.01 of the Revised Code . (3) “Emergency medical service” has the same meaning as in section 4765.01 of the Revised Code . (4) “ Local correctional facility ” means a county, multicounty, municipal, municipal-county, or multicounty-municipal
jail or workhouse, a minimum security jail established under section 341.23 or 753.21 of the Revised Code , or another county, multicounty, municipal, municipal-county, or multicounty-municipal
facility used for the custody of persons arrested for any crime or delinquent act,
persons charged with or convicted of any crime, or persons alleged to be or adjudicated
a delinquent child. (5) “ Employee of a local correctional facility ” means a person who is an employee of the political subdivision or of one or more
of the affiliated political subdivisions that operates the local correctional facility
and who operates or assists in the operation of the facility. (6) “ School teacher or administrator ” means either of the following: (a) A person who is employed in the public schools of the state under a contract described
in section 3311.77 or 3319.08 of the Revised Code in a position in which the person is required to have a certificate issued pursuant
to sections 3319.22 to 3319.311 of the Revised Code . (b) A person who is employed by a nonpublic school for which the director of education
and workforce prescribes minimum standards under section 3301.07 of the Revised Code and who is certificated in accordance with section 3301.071 of the Revised Code . (7) “Community control sanction” has the same meaning as in section 2929.01 of the Revised Code . (8) “ Escorted visit ” means an escorted visit granted under section 2967.27 of the Revised Code . (9) “Post-release control” and “transitional control” have the same meanings as in section 2967.01 of the Revised Code . (10) “Investigator of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation” has the
same meaning as in section 2903.11 of the Revised Code . (11) “Health care professional” and “health care worker” have the same meanings as in section 2305.234 of the Revised Code . (12) “ Assault or homicide offense committed against hospital personnel ” means a violation of this section or of section 2903.01 , 2903.02 , 2903.03 , 2903.04 , 2903.041 , 2903.11 , 2903.12 , or 2903.14 of the Revised Code committed in circumstances in which all of the following apply: (a) The victim of the offense was a health care professional of a hospital, a health
care worker of a hospital, or a security officer of a hospital. (b) The offender knew or had reasonable cause to know that the victim was a health care
professional of a hospital, a health care worker of a hospital, or a security officer
of a hospital. (c) The victim was engaged in the performance of the victim's duties. (d) The hospital offered de-escalation or crisis intervention training for such professionals,
workers, or officers. (13) “ De-escalation or crisis intervention training ” means de-escalation or crisis intervention training for health care professionals
of a hospital, health care workers of a hospital, and security officers of a hospital
to facilitate interaction with patients, members of a patient's family, and visitors,
including those with mental impairments. (14) “ Assault or homicide offense committed against justice system personnel ” means a violation of this section or of section 2903.01 , 2903.02 , 2903.03 , 2903.04 , 2903.041 , 2903.11 , 2903.12 , or 2903.14 of the Revised Code committed in circumstances in which the victim of the offense was a judge, magistrate,
prosecutor, or court official or employee whom the offender knew or had reasonable
cause to know was a judge, magistrate, prosecutor, or court official or employee,
and the victim was engaged in the performance of the victim's duties. (15) “ Court official or employee ” means any official or employee of a court created under the constitution or statutes
of this state or of a United States court located in this state. (16) “ Judge ” means a judge of a court created under the constitution or statutes of this state
or of a United States court located in this state. (17) “ Magistrate ” means an individual who is appointed by a court of record of this state and who
has the powers and may perform the functions specified in Civil Rule 53 , Criminal Rule 19 , or Juvenile Rule 40 , or an individual who is appointed by a United States court located in this state
who has similar powers and functions. (18) “Prosecutor” has the same meaning as in section 2935.01 of the Revised Code . (19)(a) “ Hospital ” means, subject to division (E)(19)(b) of this section, an institution classified
as a hospital under section 3701.01 of the Revised Code in which are provided to patients diagnostic, medical, surgical, obstetrical, psychiatric,
or rehabilitation care or a hospital operated by a health maintenance organization. (b) “Hospital” does not include any of the following: (i) A facility licensed under Chapter 3721. of the Revised Code, a health care facility
operated by the department of mental health and addiction services or the department
of developmental disabilities, a health maintenance organization that does not operate
a hospital, or the office of any private, licensed health care professional, whether
organized for individual or group practice; (ii) An institution for the sick that is operated exclusively for patients who use spiritual
means for healing and for whom the acceptance of medical care is inconsistent with
their religious beliefs, accredited by a national accrediting organization, exempt
from federal income taxation under section 501 of the “Internal Revenue Code of 1986,”
100 Stat. 2085, 26 U.S.C. 1 , as amended, and providing twenty-four-hour nursing care pursuant to the exemption
in division (E) of section 4723.32 of the Revised Code from the licensing requirements of Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code. (20) “Health maintenance organization” has the same meaning as in section 3727.01 of the Revised Code . (21) “ Emergency service responder ” means any law enforcement officer, first responder, emergency medical technician-basic,
emergency medical technician-intermediate, emergency medical technician-paramedic,
firefighter, or volunteer firefighter. (22) “ Family or household member ” means any of the following: (a) Any of the following who is residing or has resided with a person who is employed
as an emergency service responder: (i) A spouse, a person living as a spouse, or a former spouse of a person who is employed
as an emergency service responder; (ii) A parent, a foster parent, or a child of a person who is employed as an emergency
service responder, or another person related by consanguinity or affinity to a person
who is employed as an emergency service responder; (iii) A parent or a child of a spouse, person living as a spouse, or former spouse of a
person who is employed as an emergency service responder, or another person related
by consanguinity or affinity to a spouse, person living as a spouse, or former spouse
of a person who is employed as an emergency service responder. (b) The natural parent of any child of whom a person who is employed as an emergency
service responder is the other natural parent or is the putative other natural parent. (23) “First responder,” “emergency medical technician-basic,” “emergency medical technician-intermediate,”
and “emergency medical technician-paramedic” have the same meanings as in section 4765.01 of the Revised Code . (24) “Volunteer firefighter” has the same meaning as in section 146.01 of the Revised Code . (25) “ Person living as a spouse ” means a person who is living or has lived with a person who is employed as an emergency
service responder in a common law marital relationship, who otherwise is cohabiting
with a person who is employed as an emergency service responder, or who otherwise
has cohabited with a person who is employed as an emergency service responder within
five years prior to the date of the alleged commission of the act in question. (26) “ Co-worker ” means a person who is employed by the organization or entity that is served by a
person who is employed as an emergency service responder.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ohio § 2903.13
What does Ohio Revised Code § 2903.13 cover?
Section 2903.13 is part of the Ohio Revised Code, the codified statutory law of Ohio. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.
How do I cite Ohio § 2903.13?
A common citation format is "Ohio Revised Code § 2903.13" (Ohio). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.
Is this the official text of Ohio law?
No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Ohio official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Ohio attorney.
How does Ohio § 2903.13 apply to my situation?
Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Ohio can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.
Sources & Verification
Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in Ohio.