Ohio § 2929.71
Full text of Ohio Ohio Revised Code § 2929.71, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 2929.71.
(A) As used in this section: (1) “ Agency ” means any law enforcement agency, other public agency, or public official involved
in the investigation or prosecution of the offender or in the investigation of the
fire or explosion in an aggravated arson, arson, or criminal damaging or endangering
case. An “ agency ” includes, but is not limited to, a sheriff's office, a municipal corporation, township,
or township or joint police district police department, the office of a prosecuting
attorney, city director of law, village solicitor, or similar chief legal officer
of a municipal corporation, the fire marshal's office, a municipal corporation, township,
or township fire district fire department, the office of a fire prevention officer,
and any state, county, or municipal corporation crime laboratory. (2) “ Assets ” includes all forms of real or personal property. (3) “ Itemized statement ” means the statement of costs described in division (B) of this section. (4) “ Offender ” means the person who has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to committing, attempting
to commit, or complicity in committing a violation of section 2909.02 or 2909.03 of the Revised Code , or, when the means used are fire or explosion, division (A)(2) of section 2909.06 of the Revised Code . (5) “ Costs ” means the reasonable value of the time spent by an officer or employee of an agency
on the aggravated arson, arson, or criminal damaging or endangering case, any moneys
spent by the agency on that case, and the reasonable fair market value of resources
used or expended by the agency on that case. (B) Prior to the sentencing of an offender, the court shall enter an order that directs
agencies that wish to be reimbursed by the offender for the costs they incurred in
the investigation or prosecution of the offender or in the investigation of the fire
or explosion involved in the case, to file with the court within a specified time
an itemized statement of those costs. The order also shall require that a copy of the itemized statement be given to the
offender or offender's attorney within the specified time. Only itemized statements so filed and given shall be considered at the hearing described
in division (C) of this section. (C) The court shall set a date for a hearing on all the itemized statements filed with
it and given to the offender or the offender's attorney in accordance with division
(B) of this section. The hearing shall be held prior to the sentencing of the offender, but may be held
on the same day as the sentencing. Notice of the hearing date shall be given to the offender or the offender's attorney
and to the agencies whose itemized statements are involved. At the hearing, each agency has the burden of establishing by a preponderance of
the evidence that the costs set forth in its itemized statement were incurred in the
investigation or prosecution of the offender or in the investigation of the fire or
explosion involved in the case, and of establishing by a preponderance of the evidence
that the offender has assets available for the reimbursement of all or a portion of
the costs. The offender may cross-examine all witnesses and examine all documentation presented
by the agencies at the hearing, and the offender may present at the hearing witnesses
and documentation the offender has obtained without a subpoena or a subpoena duces
tecum or, in the case of documentation, that belongs to the offender. The offender also may issue subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum for, and present
and examine at the hearing, witnesses and documentation, subject to the following
applying to the witnesses or documentation subpoenaed: (1) The testimony of witnesses subpoenaed or documentation subpoenaed is material to
the preparation or presentation by the offender of the offender's defense to the claims
of the agencies for a reimbursement of costs; (2) If witnesses to be subpoenaed are personnel of an agency or documentation to be subpoenaed
belongs to an agency, the personnel or documentation may be subpoenaed only if the
agency involved has indicated, pursuant to this division, that it intends to present
the personnel as witnesses or use the documentation at the hearing. The offender shall submit, in writing, a request to an agency as described in this
division to ascertain whether the agency intends to present various personnel as witnesses
or to use particular documentation. The request shall indicate that the offender is considering issuing subpoenas to
personnel of the agency who are specifically named or identified by title or position,
or for documentation of the agency that is specifically described or generally identified,
and shall request the agency to indicate, in writing, whether it intends to present
such personnel as witnesses or to use such documentation at the hearing. The agency shall promptly reply to the request of the offender. An agency is prohibited from presenting personnel as witnesses or from using documentation
at the hearing if it indicates to the offender it does not intend to do so in response
to a request of the offender under this division, or if it fails to reply or promptly
reply to such a request. (D) Following the hearing, the court shall determine which of the agencies established
by a preponderance of the evidence that costs set forth in their itemized statements
were incurred as described in division (C) of this section and that the offender has
assets available for reimbursement purposes. The court also shall determine whether the offender has assets available to reimburse
all such agencies, in whole or in part, for their established costs, and if it determines
that the assets are available, it shall order the offender, as part of the offender's
sentence, to reimburse the agencies from the offender's assets for all or a specified
portion of their established costs.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ohio § 2929.71
What does Ohio Revised Code § 2929.71 cover?
Section 2929.71 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 § 2929.71?
A common citation format is "Ohio Revised Code § 2929.71" (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 § 2929.71 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.