Ohio Juvenile Delinquency Penalties
Following the adjudicatory hearing, the juvenile judge will hold a dispositional hearing to determine the appropriate sentence for the juvenile offender.
overview of penalties for juvenile crime
Juveniles could receive several different sentences, such as:
- Community service
- Suspension of driver’s license
- Confinement in temporary or permanent custody
- Placement in a detention facility
- Drug or alcohol treatment or counseling
- Medical or psychological treatment or counseling
- Imprisonment if charged as an adult
- Probation House arrest
- Required to obtain a high school diploma
- Fines and costs of court
- Curfew Drug and alcohol use monitoring
For a delinquent child convicted of a felony, the most severe sanction is to be sent to the Ohio Department of Youth Services. For a delinquent child convicted of a misdemeanor, the most severe punishment is to be sent to a local detention facility for up to ninety days. For a delinquent child convicted of a felony, the most severe sanction is to be sent to the Ohio Department of Youth Services. A Serious Youth Offender (SYO) sentence combines a sentence typically given to a juvenile offender with a sentence typically given to an adult convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor.
An SYO sentence cannot be given to any child under 10 years of age. Enhanced Factors are used to determine the appropriate sentence for a juvenile. If any of the following “enhanced factors” are present, then the court may decide to impose a harsher sentence:
- Offense of violence if committed by an adult
- Juvenile had a firearm
- Prior conviction of serious crime
Penalties for juvenile delinquency
The following penalties could apply for juveniles found delinquent for an act that would be a felony or misdemeanor if committed by an adult, but who was not bound over to adult court:
Aggravated Murder or Murder
- The child could be committed to the Department of Youth Services until they reach the age of 21
- The child was 14-15 y.o. – Mandatory SYO sentence
- The child was 10-13 y.o. – Discretionary SYO sentence
- The child was under 10 y.o – Up to 90 days detention facility
- Maximum fine $2,000
Attempted Aggravated Murder or Attempted Murder
- The child could be committed for a minimum of 6-7 years, or until he/she reaches the age of 21
- The child was 14-15 y.o. – Mandatory SYO sentence
- The child was 10-13 y.o. – Discretionary SYO sentence
- The child was under 10 y.o – Up to 90 days detention facility
- Maximum fine $2,000
First Degree Felony (F1)
- The child could be committed for a minimum of 1 year or until he/she reaches age of 21
- The child was 16-17 years old: Mandatory SYO if enhanced factors present – Discretionary SYO if no enhanced factors
- The child was 14-15 years old: Discretionary SYO
- The child was 12-13 years old: Discretionary SYO if enhanced factors present
- The child was 10-11 years old: Discretionary SYO if enhanced factors present
- Child under 10 years old: Up to 90 days detention facility
- Maximum fine $1,500
Second Degree Felony (F2)
- The child could be committed for a minimum of 1 year or until he/she reaches age of 21
- The child was 14-17 years old: Discretionary SYO
- The child was 12-13 years old: Discretionary SYO if enhanced factors present
- Child under 12 years old: Up to 90 days detention facility
- Maximum fine $1,000
Third Degree Felony (F3)
- The child could be committed for a minimum period of 6 months or until he/she reaches the age of 21
- The child was 16-17 years old: Discretionary SYO
- The child was 14-15 years old: Discretionary SYO if enhanced factors present
- Child under 14 years old: Up to 90 days detention facility
- Maximum fine $750
Fourth Degree Felony (F4)
- The child could be committed for a minimum period of 6 months or until he/she reaches the age of 21
- The child was 16-17 years old: Discretionary SYO if enhanced factors present
- Child under 16 years old: Up to 90 days detention facility
- Maximum fine $400
Fifth Degree Felony (F5)
- The child could be committed for a minimum period of 6 months or until he/she reaches the age of 21
- The child was 16-17 years old: Discretionary SYO if enhanced factors present
- Child under 16 years old: Up to 90 days detention facility
- Maximum fine $300
First Degree Misdemeanor (M1)
- Up to 90 days detention facility
- Maximum fine $250
Second Degree Misdemeanor (M2)
- Up to 90 days detention facility
- Maximum fine $200
Third Degree Misdemeanor (M3)
- Up to 90 days detention facility
- Maximum fine $150
Fourth Degree Misdemeanor (M4)
- Up to 90 days detention facility
- Maximum fine $100
Minor Misdemeanor (MM)
- Maximum fine $50