(A) As used in this section, "building or structure" includes, but is not limited to, a modular unit, building, or structure and a movable unit, building, or structure.

(B)

(1) The board of county commissioners of any county, by resolution, may dedicate and permit the use, as a minimum security jail, of any vacant or abandoned public building or structure owned by the county that has not been dedicated to or is not then in use for any county or other public purpose, or any building or structure rented or leased by the county. The board of county commissioners of any county, by resolution, also may dedicate and permit the use, as a minimum security jail, of any building or structure purchased by or constructed by or for the county. Subject to divisions (B)(3) and (C) of this section, upon the effective date of such a resolution, the specified building or structure shall be used, in accordance with this section, for the confinement of persons who meet one of the following conditions:

(a) The person is sentenced to a term of imprisonment for a traffic violation or a misdemeanor or is sentenced to a residential sanction in the jail for a felony of the fourth or fifth degree pursuant to sections 2929.11 to 2929.19 of the Revised Code, and the jail administrator or the jail administrator's designee has classified the person as a minimal security risk. In determining the person's classification under this division, the administrator or designee shall consider all relevant factors, including, but not limited to, the person's escape risk and propensity for assaultive or violent behavior, based upon the person's prior and current behavior.

(b) The person is charged with a traffic violation, a misdemeanor, or a felony of the fourth or fifth degree and has had bail set and has not been released on bail and is confined in a county or municipal jail pending trial, and the jail administrator or the jail administrator's designee has classified the person as a minimal security risk. In determining the person's classification under this division, the administrator or designee shall consider all relevant factors, including, but not limited to, the person's escape risk and propensity for assaultive or violent behavior, based upon the person's prior and current behavior. Nothing in this division authorizes the operation or management of a minimum security jail by a private entity.

(c) The person is an inmate transferred by order of a judge of the sentencing court upon the request of the sheriff, administrator, jailer, or other person responsible for operating the jail other than a contractor as defined in section 9.06 of the Revised Code, who is named in the request as being suitable for confinement in a minimum security facility.

(2) The board of county commissioners of any county, by resolution, may affiliate with one or more adjacent counties, or with one or more municipal corporations located within the county or within an adjacent county, and dedicate and permit the use, as a minimum security jail, of any vacant or abandoned public building or structure owned by any of the affiliating counties or municipal corporations that has not been dedicated to or is not then in use for any public purpose, or any building or structure rented or leased by any of the affiliating counties or municipal corporations. The board of county commissioners of any county, by resolution, also may affiliate with one or more adjacent counties or with one or more municipal corporations located within the county or within an adjacent county and dedicate and permit the use, as a minimum security jail, of any building or structure purchased by or constructed by or for any of the affiliating counties or municipal corporations. Any counties and municipal corporations that affiliate for purposes of this division shall enter into an agreement that establishes the responsibilities for the operation and for the cost of operation of the minimum security jail. Subject to divisions (B)(3) and (C) of this section, upon the effective date of a resolution adopted under this division, the specified building or structure shall be used, in accordance with this section, for the confinement of persons who meet one of the following conditions:

(a) The person is sentenced to a term of imprisonment for a traffic violation, a misdemeanor, or a violation of an ordinance of any municipal corporation, or is sentenced to a residential sanction in the jail for a felony of the fourth or fifth degree pursuant to sections 2929.11 to 2929.19 of the Revised Code, and the jail administrator or the jail administrator's designee has classified the person as a minimal security risk. In determining the person's classification under this division, the administrator or designee shall consider all relevant factors, including, but not limited to, the person's escape risk and propensity for assaultive or violent behavior, based upon the person's prior and current behavior.

(b) The person is charged with a traffic violation, a misdemeanor, or a felony of the fourth or fifth degree and has had bail set and has not been released on bail and is confined in a county jail pending trial, and the jail administrator or the jail administrator's designee has classified the person as a minimal security risk. In determining the person's classification under this division, the administrator or designee shall consider all relevant factors, including, but not limited to, the person's escape risk and propensity for assaultive or violent behavior, based upon the person's prior and current behavior. Nothing in this division authorizes the operation or management of a minimum security jail by a private entity.

(c) The person is an inmate transferred by order of a judge of the sentencing court upon the request of the sheriff, administrator, jailer, or other person responsible for operating the jail other than a contractor as defined in section 9.06 of the Revised Code, who is named in the request as being suitable for confinement in a minimum security facility.

(3) No person shall be confined in a building or structure dedicated as a minimum security jail under division (B)(1) or (2) of this section unless the judge who sentenced the person to the term of imprisonment for the traffic violation or the misdemeanor specifies that the term of imprisonment is to be served in that jail, and division (B)(1) or (2) of this section permits the confinement of the person in that jail or unless the judge who sentenced the person to the residential sanction for the felony specifies that the residential sanction is to be served in a jail, and division (B)(1) or (2) of this section permits the confinement of the person in that jail. If a rented or leased building or structure is so dedicated, the building or structure may be used as a minimum security jail only during the period that it is rented or leased by the county or by an affiliated county or municipal corporation. If a person convicted of a misdemeanor is confined to a building or structure dedicated as a minimum security jail under division (B)(1) or (2) of this section and the sheriff, administrator, jailer, or other person responsible for operating the jail other than a contractor as defined in section 9.06 of the Revised Code determines that it would be more appropriate for the person so confined to be confined in another jail or workhouse facility, the sheriff, administrator, jailer, or other person may transfer the person so confined to a more appropriate jail or workhouse facility.

(C) All of the following apply to a building or structure that is dedicated pursuant to division (B)(1) or (2) of this section for use as a minimum security jail:

(1) To the extent that the use of the building or structure as a minimum security jail requires a variance from any county, municipal corporation, or township zoning regulations or ordinances, the variance shall be granted.

(2) Except as provided in this section, the building or structure shall not be used to confine any person unless it is in substantial compliance with any applicable housing, fire prevention, sanitation, health, and safety codes, regulations, or standards.

(3) Unless such satisfaction or compliance is required under the standards described in division (C)(4) of this section, and notwithstanding any other provision of state or local law to the contrary, the building or structure need not satisfy or comply with any state or local building standard or code in order to be used to confine a person for the purposes specified in division (B) of this section.

(4) The building or structure shall not be used to confine any person unless it is in compliance with all minimum standards and minimum renovation, modification, and construction criteria for jails that have been proposed by the department of rehabilitation and correction, through its bureau of adult detention, under section 5120.10 of the Revised Code.

(5) The building or structure need not be renovated or modified into a secure detention facility in order to be used solely to confine a person for the purposes specified in divisions (B)(1)(a) or (b) and (B)(2)(a) or (b) of this section.

(6) The building or structure shall be used, equipped, furnished, and staffed in the manner necessary to provide adequate and suitable living, sleeping, food service or preparation, drinking, bathing and toilet, sanitation, and other necessary facilities, furnishings, and equipment.

(D) Except as provided in this section, a minimum security jail dedicated and used under this section shall be considered to be part of the jail, workhouse, or other correctional facilities of the county or the affiliated counties and municipal corporations for all purposes under the law. All persons confined in such a minimum security jail shall be and shall remain, in all respects, under the control of the county authority that has responsibility for the management and operation of the jail, workhouse, or other correctional facilities of the county or, if it is operated by any affiliation of counties or municipal corporations, under the control of the specified county or municipal corporation with that authority, provided that, if the person was convicted of a felony and is serving a residential sanction in the facility, all provisions of law that pertain to persons convicted of a felony that would not by their nature clearly be inapplicable apply regarding the person. A minimum security jail dedicated and used under this section shall be managed and maintained in accordance with policies and procedures adopted by the board of county commissioners or the affiliated counties and municipal corporations governing the safe and healthful operation of the jail, the confinement and supervision of the persons sentenced to it, and their participation in work release or similar rehabilitation programs. In addition to other rules of conduct and discipline, the rights of ingress and egress of persons confined in a minimum security jail dedicated and used under this section shall be subject to reasonable restrictions. Every person confined in a minimum security jail dedicated and used under this section shall be given verbal and written notification, at the time of the person's admission to the jail, that purposely leaving, or purposely failing to return to, the jail without proper authority or permission constitutes the felony offense of escape.

(E) If a person who has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to an offense is sentenced to a term of imprisonment or a residential sanction in a minimum security jail as described in division (B)(1)(a) or (B)(2)(a) of this section, or if a person is an inmate transferred to a minimum security jail by order of a judge of the sentencing court as described in division (B)(1)(c) or (B)(2)(c) of this section, at the time of reception and at other times the person in charge of the operation of the jail determines to be appropriate, the sheriff or other person in charge of the operation of the jail may cause the convicted offender to be examined and tested for tuberculosis, HIV infection, hepatitis, including but not limited to hepatitis A, B, and C, and other contagious diseases. The person in charge of the operation of the jail may cause a convicted offender in the jail who refuses to be tested or treated for tuberculosis, HIV infection, hepatitis, including but not limited to hepatitis A, B, and C, or another contagious disease to be tested and treated involuntarily.

Amended by 133rd General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 166, §101.01, eff. 10/17/2019.

Amended by 131st General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 64, §101.01, eff. 9/29/2015.

Effective Date: 03-17-1998 .