Ohio § 2947.14

§ 2947.14.

(A) If a fine is imposed as a sentence or a part of a sentence, the court or magistrate

that imposed the fine may order that the offender be committed to the jail or workhouse

until the fine is paid or secured to be paid, or the offender is otherwise legally

discharged, if the court or magistrate determines at a hearing that the offender is

able, at that time, to pay the fine but refuses to do so.  The hearing required by this section shall be conducted at the time of sentencing. (B) At the hearing, the offender has the right to be represented by counsel and to testify

and present evidence as to the offender's ability to pay the fine.  If a court or magistrate determines after considering the evidence presented by

an offender, that the offender is able to pay a fine, the determination shall be supported

by findings of fact set forth in a judgment entry that indicate the offender's income,

assets, and debts, as presented by the offender, and the offender's ability to pay. (C) If the court or magistrate has found the offender able to pay a fine at a hearing

conducted in compliance with divisions (A) and (B) of this section, and the offender

fails to pay the fine, a warrant may be issued for the arrest of the offender.  Any offender held in custody pursuant to such an arrest shall be entitled to a hearing

on the first regularly scheduled court day following the date of arrest in order to

inform the court or magistrate of any change of circumstances that has occurred since

the time of sentencing and that affects the offender's ability to pay the fine.  The right to the hearing on any change of circumstances may be waived by the offender. At the hearing to determine any change of circumstances, the offender has the right

to testify and present evidence as to any portion of the offender's income, assets,

or debts that has changed in such a manner as to affect the offender's ability to

pay the fine.  If a court or magistrate determines, after considering any evidence presented by

the offender, that the offender remains able to pay the fine, that determination shall

be supported by a judgment entry that includes findings of fact upon which such a

determination is based. (D) No person shall be ordered to be committed to a jail or workhouse or otherwise be

held in custody in satisfaction of a fine imposed as the whole or a part of a sentence

except as provided in this section.  Any person imprisoned pursuant to this section shall receive credit upon the fine

at the rate of fifty dollars per day or fraction of a day.  If the unpaid fine is less than fifty dollars, the person shall be imprisoned one

day. (E) No commitment pursuant to this section shall exceed six months.