Ohio Sentencing Data Platform
Ohio Criminal Sentencing Commission
In September 2019, Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor asked the Ohio Criminal Sentencing Commission (Commission) to convene a Uniform Sentencing Entry Ad Hoc Committee. This mission of the committee was to develop a model, uniform felony sentencing entry to prescribe the most clear and concise minimum language required to comply with Criminal Rule 32 and existing case law and to establish standardized, common data essential for identifying relationships and trends common to all felony courts in Ohio.
After approximately one year of work and collaboration with the Ohio Common Pleas Judges Association, the Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association, the Supreme Court of Ohio, the Ohio Judicial Conference, felony Court Administrators, the county Clerk of Courts Association and the Chief Probation Officers Association, among others, the following “package” of documents for felony sentencing was endorsed: a Uniform Sentencing Entry; Disposition Forms; and Good Civics forms and notices. Find the most current forms on the Implement the USE page.
The package of felony sentencing documents is the first step to begin standardized, aggregate felony sentencing data collection in Ohio – the Ohio Sentencing Data Platform (OSDP). The OSDP not only achieves the goal of a model, uniform felony sentencing but also begins to bridge the data disconnect of adult criminal justice data in Ohio.
Ohio Sentencing Data Platform
The OSDP is designed to help judges implement the Uniform Sentencing Entry and Disposition Forms entries and empower courts with accessible and reliable information. The OSDP will achieve goals that include: using data to inform decision-making; improving transparency; and, making data accessible for the public, practitioners, and research.
The collection of sentencing data in a comprehensive and searchable database will inform decision-making and give judges the tools and information needed to impose sentences in accordance with the purposes and principles of felony sentencing. Further, it is a necessary and substantial step toward a more understandable, transparent, and fair criminal justice system. The existence of sentencing information is useful to all practitioners. For more information, please see the OSDP Goals and Uses publication. To see the history of the OSDP development, please see the OSDP Timeline publication. If you are interested in using the OSDP, please learn more on the Explore the OSDP page.
Rules of Superintendence Public Comment Update
The proposed amendments to Sup.R. 44 and new Sup.R. 38.01 (see Appendix A of the Memo) posted for public comment in May 2022 would enact new provisions that allow the Criminal Sentencing Commission (Commission) to establish, operate, and maintain the Ohio sentencing data platform pilot project. During the public comment period fourteen comments were received – from associations, individuals and one on behalf of ten organizations. After the comment period closed, one additional letter was received. On July 22, 2022 the Governance Board for the Ohio Sentencing Data Platform met to discuss the public comments and recommended action. The link below allows you to download and view the memo from the Ohio Criminal Sentencing Commission on the Rules of Superintendence regarding the Uniform Sentencing Entry and the Ohio Sentencing Data Platform posted for public comment in May 2022. The Commission on the Rules of Practice and Procedure will consider the rule revisions in November 2022.