Ohio House Oks plan to expand drug treatment options rather than convictions

The Ohio House voted 90-6 this week in favor of a criminal justice reform bill that would expand options for drug treatment rather than a conviction for offenders struggling with addiction (Source: “Ohio House votes to expand drug treatment options for offenders,” Dayton Daily News, June 19, 2019).

The Ohio prison system incarcerates about 2,600 people for drug possession, including 1,600 for low-level amounts. The idea behind House Bill 1, which is sponsored by Reps. Paula Hudson Hicks, D-Toledo and Rep. Phil Plummer, R-Dayton, is to help people deal with their addictions that drive criminal behavior.

Courts would still have discretion over which offenders would be given treatment in lieu of conviction and the option would not be available for more serious, violent or sexual crimes.

If the bill becomes law, it would also expand options for sealing criminal records: letting people ask courts to do so earlier and allowing people with misdemeanors or low-level felonies to close off their records, regardless of how many convictions they have. Advocates say this will make it easier for people with records to get jobs.