Senator Kunze Announces Senate Passage of Major Criminal Justice Reforms Legislation
Provides Pathways to Second Chances and Strengthens Penalties for Domestic Violence
November 30, 2022
Stephanie Kunze News
COLUMBUS—State Senator Stephanie Kunze (R-Hilliard) today announced the Ohio Senate passed Senate Bill 288, providing meaningful criminal justice reforms that provide pathways to second chances, modifies Ohio's drug offense law, and strengthens penalties for domestic violence offenders.
Senate Bill 288 includes an amendment offered by Senator Kunze to help ensure justice for victims of strangulation or suffocation by changing the crime from a misdemeanor to a felony domestic violence conviction.
"I am grateful for the Senate's work in Senate Bill 288 to help provide meaningful reforms for our criminal justice system. By changing strangulation from a misdemeanor to a felony we are creating a cooling off period between a first incident and the possibility of a second,” Kunze said. “This cooling off period would allow victims to seek legal or medical assistance that could ensure these women are survivors and not victims and are connected to valuable resources to help them.”
Senate Bill 288 includes key reforms to:
This legislation builds on other major criminal justice reforms the Senate has passed over the last several years to help Ohioans find support as they fight to beat the cycle of addiction; provide local courts with flexibility, and reform Ohio’s sentencing laws, including intervention in lieu of conviction and a presumption against prison time for many low-level, non-violent offenders.
The legislation now moves to the Ohio House for further consideration.
Senate Bill 288 includes an amendment offered by Senator Kunze to help ensure justice for victims of strangulation or suffocation by changing the crime from a misdemeanor to a felony domestic violence conviction.
"I am grateful for the Senate's work in Senate Bill 288 to help provide meaningful reforms for our criminal justice system. By changing strangulation from a misdemeanor to a felony we are creating a cooling off period between a first incident and the possibility of a second,” Kunze said. “This cooling off period would allow victims to seek legal or medical assistance that could ensure these women are survivors and not victims and are connected to valuable resources to help them.”
Senate Bill 288 includes key reforms to:
- Increase credit eligibility from current 8% to 15% in reduction of prison term for active participation or completion of constructive programs, helping accelerate an eligible offenders success after release.
- Modify the current "Good Samaritan" law by expanding immunity from prosecution for minor drug possession offenses.
- Strengthen penalties for domestic violent offenders by increasing the penalties from strangulation or suffocation to a felony domestic violence conviction.
This legislation builds on other major criminal justice reforms the Senate has passed over the last several years to help Ohioans find support as they fight to beat the cycle of addiction; provide local courts with flexibility, and reform Ohio’s sentencing laws, including intervention in lieu of conviction and a presumption against prison time for many low-level, non-violent offenders.
The legislation now moves to the Ohio House for further consideration.