criminal sentencing

Cincinnati City Council has voted to decriminalize up to 100 grams of marijuana possession for recreational use.  

Columbus City Council has scheduled a public hearing this  evening on its goal of lowering the criminal penalties for possessing small amounts of marijuana. 

A report from the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio says nearly 1 out of 8 bills introduced by state lawmakers either creates a new crime or expands sentences.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio is again pushing for criminal justice reform with a new report on what it calls the "Statehouse to prison pipeline". 

Ohio voters Tuesday rejected state issue one by a 2-1 margin. 

Supporters of state issue one on the November ballot say the constitutional amendment will steer non-violent drug offenders into treatment. 

The state budget office says if voters approve Issue 1 in November, it will cost local communities more money for a variety of reasons. 

Republican Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor is concerned about a constitutional amendment on the fall ballot. 

The Ohio House has passed a bill to reform criminal sentencing and strengthen probation monitoring. 

Groups hoping to reform criminal sentencing laws accuse legislators of being over-reliant on bills that create new penalties and extend sentences.

A new report by the non-profit Annie E. Casey foundation shows 271-thousand Ohio children have at least one incarcerated parent, the fourth-highest number in the nation.

The ACLU of Ohio and the Ohio Justice and Policy Center have released a report detailing recommendations for criminal justice reform.

Policy groups on the right and left say Ohio lawmakers are undermining attempts to reduce the state's prison population by continuing to introduce tough-on-crime bills that put more people behind bars.

A bipartisan coalition including Americans for Tax Reform and the American Civil Liberties Union has launched a new effort to reduce Ohio's prison population and find alternatives to incarceration for nonviolent offenders.