Ohio § 2933.53
Full text of Ohio Ohio Revised Code § 2933.53, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 2933.53.
(A) The prosecuting attorney of the county in which an interception is to take place
or in which an interception device is to be installed, or an assistant to the prosecuting
attorney of that county who is specifically designated by the prosecuting attorney
to exercise authority under this section, may authorize an application for an interception
warrant to a judge of the court of common pleas of the county in which the interception
is to take place or in which the interception device is to be installed. If the prosecuting attorney of a county in which an interception is to take place
or in which an interception device is to be installed is the subject of an investigation,
a special prosecutor appointed by a judge of the court of common pleas of the county
served by the prosecuting attorney, without the knowledge of the prosecuting attorney,
may apply the procedures of this section. If the subject of an investigation is employed in the office of the prosecuting
attorney of the county in which an interception is to take place or in which an interception
device is to be installed or the prosecuting attorney of that county believes that
the subject has a conflict of interest, the approval of the prosecuting attorney shall
be obtained before a special prosecutor is appointed to authorize the application
for an interception warrant. (B) Each application for an interception warrant shall be made in writing upon oath or
affirmation to a judge of the court of common pleas of the county in which the interception
is to take place or in which the interception device is to be installed, by a person
who has received training that satisfies the minimum standards established by the
attorney general and the Ohio peace officer training commission under section 2933.64 of the Revised Code . Each application shall contain all of the following: (1) The name and office of the applicant and the name and office of the prosecuting attorney
or assistant prosecuting attorney authorizing the application; (2) The identity of the investigative officers or law enforcement agency that will intercept
the wire, oral, or electronic communications; (3) A full and complete statement of the objective in seeking the warrant, and a full
and complete statement of the facts and circumstances relied on by the applicant to
justify the belief that the warrant should be issued, including, but not limited to
the following: (a) The details regarding the designated offense that has been, is being, or is about
to be committed; (b) The identity of the person, if known, who has committed, is committing, or is about
to commit the designated offense and whose communications are to be intercepted and
the location at which the communications are sought to be intercepted; (c) Except as provided in division (G)(1) of this section, a particular description of
the nature and location of the facilities from which, or the place at which, the communication
is to be intercepted; (d) A particular description of the type of communication sought to be intercepted, and
the basis for believing that evidence relating to a designated offense will be obtained
through the interception. (4) A statement as to whether the applicant, or the prosecuting attorney or assistant
prosecuting attorney authorizing the application for an interception warrant, knows
or has reason to know that the communications sought to be intercepted are privileged
under section 2317.02 of the Revised Code , the nature of any privilege that exists, and the basis of the knowledge of the applicant
or authorizing prosecuting attorney or assistant prosecuting attorney of the privileged
nature of the communications; (5) A statement of the use to which the contents of an intercepted wire, oral, or electronic
communication, or the evidence derived from the communication, will be put; (6) A statement of the period of time for which the interception is required to be maintained,
and, if the nature of the investigation requires that the authorization for interception
not be terminated automatically when the described type of communication first has
been intercepted, a particular description of the facts establishing probable cause
to believe that additional communications of the same type will occur after the first
intercepted communication; (7) A full and complete statement indicating whether other investigative procedures have
been tried and have failed to produce the required evidence or indicating the reason
that other investigative procedures reasonably appear to be unlikely to succeed if
tried or to be too dangerous to employ in order to obtain evidence; (8) A full and complete statement of the particular facts concerning all previous applications
known to the applicant or the prosecuting attorney or assistant prosecuting attorney
authorizing the application for the interception warrant, that have been made to a
judge for authorization to intercept wire, oral, or electronic communications involving
any of the persons, facilities, or places specified in the application, and the action
of the judge with respect to each previous application; (9) Unless the attorney general is a subject of the investigation, a written statement,
signed by the attorney general or an assistant attorney general designated by the
attorney general, that the attorney general or assistant attorney general has reviewed
the application and either agrees or disagrees with the submission of the application
to a judge of the court of common pleas of the county in which the interception is
to take place or in which the interception device is to be installed. A disagreement by the attorney general or assistant attorney general does not preclude
the making or consideration of an application that otherwise complies with divisions
(B)(1) to (8) of this section. (C) If an application for an interception warrant is for an extension of a warrant, the
application shall include, in addition to the information and statements specified
in division (B) of this section, a statement setting forth the results thus far obtained
from the interceptions of wire, oral, or electronic communications, or a reasonable
explanation of the failure to obtain results from the interceptions. (D) An applicant may submit affidavits of persons other than the applicant in conjunction
with the application if the affidavits support a fact or conclusion in the application. The accompanying affidavits shall be based on personal knowledge of the affiant
or shall be based on information and belief and specify the source of the information
and the reason for the belief. If the applicant or an affiant personally knows of the facts contained in the application
or affidavit, the application or affidavit shall state the personal knowledge. If the application or affidavit states the facts based upon information and belief,
the application or affidavit shall state that reliance upon information and belief
and shall set forth fully the facts supporting the information and belief. If the facts contained in the application or affidavits are derived in whole or
in part from the statement of a person other than the applicant or affiant, the application
or affidavits shall disclose or describe the sources of the facts and shall contain
facts establishing the existence and reliability of the other person or the reliability
of the information supplied by the other person. The application also shall state, so far as possible, the basis of the other person's
knowledge or belief. If the application or affidavit relies on hearsay to support a fact alleged on information
and belief, the application or affidavit shall contain the underlying facts that establish
the basis for the conclusions of the source of the hearsay and the factual basis upon
which the applicant or the affiant concludes that the source of the hearsay is credible
or reliable. (E) A judge of a court of common pleas to whom an application is made under this section
may require the applicant to furnish additional sworn testimony or documentary evidence
in support of the application. All sworn testimony furnished shall be recorded and transcribed and shall be made
part of the application. (F) An interception warrant is not required for any of the following: (1) A pen register used in accordance with federal or state law; (2) The interception of a wire, oral, or electronic communication by a law enforcement
officer if the officer is a party to the communication or if one of the parties to
the communication has given prior consent to the interception by the officer; (3) The interception of a wire, oral, or electronic communication by a person who is
not a law enforcement officer if the person is a party to the communication or if
one of the parties to the communication has given the person prior consent to the
interception, and if the communication is not intercepted for the purpose of committing
a criminal offense or tortious act in violation of the laws or constitution of the
United States or this state or for the purpose of committing another injurious act. (4) A trap and trace device used in accordance with federal or state law. (G)(1) The requirements of division (B)(3)(c) of this section and of division (A)(5) of section 2933.54 of the Revised Code that relate to the specification of facilities from which or the place at which the
communication is to be intercepted do not apply if either of the following applies: (a) In the case of an application with respect to the interception of an oral communication,
the application contains a full and complete statement indicating the reason that
the specification is not practical and identifies the person committing the designated
offense and whose communications are to be intercepted, and the judge of a court of
common pleas to whom the application is made finds that the specification is not practical. (b) In the case of an application with respect to a wire or electronic communication,
the application identifies the person believed to be committing the designated offense
and whose communications are to be intercepted, the applicant makes a showing of purpose
on the part of that person to thwart interception by changing facilities, and the
judge of a court of common pleas to whom the application is made finds that that purpose
adequately has been shown. (2) An interception of a communication under an interception warrant with respect to
which the requirements of division (B)(3)(c) of this section and division (A)(5) of section 2933.54 of the Revised Code do not apply, due to the application of division (G)(1) of this section, shall not
begin until the facilities from which or the place at which the communication is to
be intercepted is ascertained by the person implementing the interception warrant. A provider of wire or electronic communication service that has received an interception
warrant that does not specify the facilities from which or the place at which the
communication is to be intercepted, due to the application of division (G)(1)(b) of
this section, may file a motion with the court requesting the court to modify or quash
the interception warrant on the ground that the provider's assistance with respect
to the interception cannot be performed in a timely or reasonable manner. The court, upon notice to the applicant for the interception warrant, shall decide
the motion expeditiously.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ohio § 2933.53
What does Ohio Revised Code § 2933.53 cover?
Section 2933.53 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 § 2933.53?
A common citation format is "Ohio Revised Code § 2933.53" (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 § 2933.53 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.