House Bill 347 Aims to Reform Ohio Civil Asset Forfeiture Law
Carrying a large amount of cash is risky. The fear of theft or losing the money is palpable, but new, unlikely culprits have emerged — culprits with a badge and a gun. In recent years, thousands of people nationwide have forfeited large amounts of cash and other property seized by the police without an arrest,…
Read More »
Driver Not Guilty of Murder for Ramming Two People With His Car in 2013
Montez Hollins pleads not guilty of murder when he was protecting his fiancee and another woman with them from an armed gunman and accomplice by using his vehicle to slam into the two people. After a few hours of deliberation among the jury, Hollins was acquitted in the murder of Jason Barry Sr. and attempted…
Read More »
Annual Permits for Hotels and Motels Proposed to Deter Prostitution and Solicitation Crimes in Columbus
Columbus officials are working to implement a new plan that would create stronger regulations on hotels and motels in the city in an attempt to curb solicitation and prostitution crimes occurring at the businesses, according to a recent article in the Columbus Dispatch. The Columbus City Council plans to hold a hearing on the proposed…
Read More »
Pro-Marijuana Committee Collecting Signatures to Change Expungement Law
A pro-marijuana organization in Ohio plans to begin collecting signatures for a proposed law that would allow certain cannabis crimes to be expunged once the controlled substance becomes legal in The Buckeye State. ResponsibleOhio, a political action committee trying to legalize medical and recreational marijuana in Ohio, has drafted what is referred to as the…
Read More »
Handling Arrests and Weapons Charges After Red, White & Boom! Festival
Each summer thousands of people gather in downtown Columbus for the Red, White & Boom! festival, an annual Independence Day event that includes the largest Fourth of July firework display in Ohio. The festival features a variety of activities each year, including the Independence Parade that kicks off on the corner of Main Street and…
Read More »
Constructing Defenses Against Sexual Assault and Other Sexual Crime Charges
When a person is accused of sexual assault or another sexual offense, he or she often is faced with the challenge of proving his or her innocence long after the charges have been dismissed. This has been true for several college students in recent years. According to a Fox News article, an Amherst College student…
Read More »
Ohio Police Using Backpage and Craigslist for Solicitation and Prostitution Arrests
Law enforcement agencies throughout Franklin County and the surrounding areas in Ohio are cracking down on online advertising for erotic services and changing the way solicitation arrests are made. Within recent years, websites like Backpage and Craigslist have been used to promote erotic services. Men and women are labeled “companions” in the ads, or they…
Read More »
Ohio House Bill to Change Police Requirements and Increase Training
The Ohio House approved a bill this week that would change the requirements to become a law enforcement officer in the state and increase the number of training hours applicants must complete. The bill, introduced by Republican representatives Tim Derickson of Oxford and Nathan Manning of North Ridgeville, was aimed at improving relationships between local police…
Read More »
Proposed Bills Aim to Change Heroin Laws and Decrease Overdoses in Ohio
Lawmakers in Ohio are proposing legislation this session aimed at curbing the use of heroin and the abuse of some medically prescribed drugs with the goal of reducing the number of drug overdoses in the state. One bill directly related to overdoses is the Good Samaritan Bill. The bill, according to Cincinnati.com, would prevent law…
Read More »
Ohio Organizations Pushing for More Comprehensive Juvenile Justice Data
Juvenile justice groups throughout Ohio are advocating for the creation of a more comprehensive statewide juvenile justice data system that would track more than just the number of cases being handled. According to the Columbus Dispatch, each Ohio county has its own method of how it collects data, what it collects and the way it…
Read More »