Ohio § 2967.132

§ 2967.132.

(A) As used in this section: (1) “ Aggravated homicide offense ” means any of the following that involved the purposeful killing of three or more

persons, when the offender is the principal offender in each offense: (a) Aggravated murder; (b) Any other offense or combination of offenses that involved the purposeful killing

of three or more persons. (2) “ Homicide offense ” means a violation of section 2903.02 , 2903.03 , 2903.04 , or 2903.041 of the Revised Code or a violation of section 2903.01 of the Revised Code that is not an aggravated homicide offense. (B) This section applies to any prisoner serving a prison sentence for one or more offenses

committed when the prisoner was under eighteen years of age.  Regardless of whether the prisoner's stated prison term includes mandatory time,

this section shall apply automatically and cannot be limited by the sentencing court. (C) Notwithstanding any provision of the Revised Code to the contrary, and regardless

of when the offense or offenses were committed and when the sentence was imposed,

a prisoner who is serving a prison sentence for an offense other than an aggravated

homicide offense and who was under eighteen years of age at the time of the offense,

or who is serving consecutive prison sentences for multiple offenses none of which

is an aggravated homicide offense and who was under eighteen years of age at the time

of the offenses, is eligible for parole as follows: (1) Except as provided in division (C)(2) or (3) of this section, the prisoner is eligible

for parole after serving eighteen years in prison. (2) Except as provided in division (C)(3) or (4) of this section, if the prisoner is

serving a sentence for one or more homicide offenses, none of which are an aggravated

homicide offense, the prisoner is eligible for parole after serving twenty-five years

in prison. (3) Except as provided in division (C)(4) of this section, if the prisoner is serving

a sentence for two or more homicide offenses, none of which are an aggravated homicide

offense, and the offender was the principal offender in two or more of those offenses,

the prisoner is eligible for parole after serving thirty years in prison. (4) If the prisoner is serving a sentence for one or more offenses and the sentence permits

parole earlier than the parole eligibility date specified in division (C)(1), (2),

or (3) of this section, the prisoner is eligible for parole after serving the period

of time in prison that is specified in the sentence. (D) If the prisoner is serving a sentence for an aggravated homicide offense, or for

a violation of section 2909.24 of the Revised Code when the most serious underlying specified offense the defendant committed in the

violation was aggravated murder or murder, the prisoner is not eligible for parole

review other than in accordance with the sentence imposed for the offense. (E)(1) Once a prisoner is eligible for parole pursuant to division (C) or (D) of this section,

the parole board, within a reasonable time after the prisoner becomes eligible, shall

conduct a hearing to consider the prisoner's release on parole under parole supervision.  The board shall conduct the hearing in accordance with Chapters 2930., 2967., and

5149. of the Revised Code and in accordance with the board's policies and procedures.  Those policies and procedures must permit the prisoner's privately retained counsel

or the state public defender to appear at the prisoner's hearing to make a statement

in support of the prisoner's release. (2) The parole board shall ensure that the review process provides the prisoner a meaningful

opportunity to obtain release.  In addition to any other factors the board is required or authorized to consider

by rule or statute, the board shall consider the following factors as mitigating factors: (a) The chronological age of the prisoner at the time of the offense and that age's hallmark

features, including intellectual capacity, immaturity, impetuosity, and a failure

to appreciate risks and consequences; (b) The family and home environment of the prisoner at the time of the offense, the prisoner's

inability to control the prisoner's surroundings, a history of trauma regarding the

prisoner, and the prisoner's school and special education history; (c) The circumstances of the offense, including the extent of the prisoner's participation

in the conduct and the way familial and peer pressures may have impacted the prisoner's

conduct; (d) Whether the prisoner might have been charged and convicted of a lesser offense if

not for the incompetencies associated with youth such as the prisoner's inability

to deal with police officers and prosecutors during the prisoner's interrogation or

possible plea agreement, or the prisoner's inability to assist the prisoner's own

attorney; (e) Examples of the prisoner's rehabilitation, including any subsequent growth or increase

in maturity during imprisonment. (F) In accordance with section 2967.131 of the Revised Code , the parole board shall impose appropriate terms and conditions of release upon each

prisoner granted a parole under this section. (G) If the parole board denies release on parole pursuant to this section, the board

shall set a time for a subsequent release review and hearing in accordance with rules

adopted by the department of rehabilitation and correction in effect at the time of

the denial. (H) In addition to any notice required by rule or statute, the parole board shall notify

the state public defender, the victim, and the appropriate prosecuting attorney of

a prisoner's eligibility for review under this section at least sixty days before

the board begins any review or proceedings involving that prisoner under this section. (I)(1) This section shall apply to determine the parole eligibility of all prisoners described

in this section who committed an offense prior to, on, or after April 12, 2021, regardless

of when the prisoner committed or was sentenced for the offense and, for purposes

of this section, a prisoner is “ serving ” a prison sentence for an offense if on or after April 12, 2021, the prisoner is

serving a prison sentence for that offense, regardless of when the sentence was imposed

or the offense was committed. (2) The provisions of this section do not apply to an offender who is paroled on an offense

committed when the offender was under eighteen years of age who subsequently returns

to prison for a violation of parole committed as an adult or for a new felony conviction

committed as an adult.