(A) Upon the filing of an affidavit or complaint as provided by section 2935.09 of the Revised Code, if it charges the commission of a felony, such judge, clerk, or magistrate, unless the judge, clerk, or magistrate has reason to believe that it was not filed in good faith, or the claim is not meritorious, shall forthwith issue a warrant for the arrest of the person charged in the affidavit, and directed to a peace officer; otherwise the judge, clerk, or magistrate shall forthwith refer the matter to the prosecuting attorney or other attorney charged by law with prosecution for investigation prior to the issuance of warrant.

Terms Used In Ohio Code 2935.10

  • Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
  • Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
  • Bail: Security given for the release of a criminal defendant or witness from legal custody (usually in the form of money) to secure his/her appearance on the day and time appointed.
  • Bailiff: a court officer who enforces the rules of behavior in courtrooms.
  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Discovery: Lawyers' examination, before trial, of facts and documents in possession of the opponents to help the lawyers prepare for trial.
  • Dismissal: The dropping of a case by the judge without further consideration or hearing. Source:
  • Extradition: The formal process of delivering an accused or convicted person from authorities in one state to authorities in another state.
  • Peace officer: includes , except as provided in section 2935. See Ohio Code 2935.01
  • Person: includes an individual, corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, and association. See Ohio Code 1.59
  • state: means the state of Ohio. See Ohio Code 1.59
  • Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system.
  • Tier one offense: means a violation of section 2903. See Ohio Code 2935.01

(B) If the offense charged is a misdemeanor or violation of a municipal ordinance, such judge, clerk, or magistrate may:

(1) Issue a warrant for the arrest of such person, directed to any officer named in section 2935.03 of the Revised Code but in cases of ordinance violation only to a police officer or marshal or deputy marshal of the municipal corporation;

(2) Issue summons, to be served by a peace officer, bailiff, or court constable, commanding the person against whom the affidavit or complaint was filed to appear forthwith, or at a fixed time in the future, before such court or magistrate. Such summons shall be served in the same manner as in civil cases.

(C) If the affidavit is filed by, or the complaint is filed pursuant to an affidavit executed by, a peace officer who has, at the officer’s discretion, at the time of commission of the alleged offense, notified the person to appear before the court or magistrate at a specific time set by such officer, no process need be issued unless the defendant fails to appear at the scheduled time.

(D) Any person charged with a misdemeanor or violation of a municipal ordinance may give bail as provided in sections 2937.22 to 2937.46 of the Revised Code, for the person’s appearance, regardless of whether a warrant, summons, or notice to appear has been issued.

(E) Any warrant, summons, or any notice issued by the peace officer shall state the substance of the charge against the person arrested or directed to appear.

(F) When the offense charged is a misdemeanor, and the warrant or summons issued pursuant to this section is not served within two years of the date of issue, a judge or magistrate may order such warrant or summons withdrawn and the case closed, when it does not appear that the ends of justice require keeping the case open.

(G)(1) Any warrant issued for a tier one offense shall be entered, by the law enforcement agency requesting the warrant and within forty-eight hours of receipt of the warrant, into the law enforcement automated data system created by section 5503.10 of the Revised Code, and known as LEADS, and the appropriate database of the national crime information center (NCIC) maintained by the federal bureau of investigation.

(2) All warrants issued for tier one offenses shall be entered, by the law enforcement agency that receives the warrant with a nationwide extradition radius, into the law enforcement automated data system created by section 5503.10 of the Revised Code, and known as LEADS.

(3) If a law enforcement agency discovers that a warrant entered pursuant to section (G)(1) of this section into the law enforcement automated data system and the appropriate database of the national crime information center (NCIC) maintained by the federal bureau of investigation was entered in error, the law enforcement agency shall remove the warrant from the law enforcement automated data system and the appropriate database of the national crime information center (NCIC) maintained by the federal bureau of investigation within forty-eight hours following the discovery of the error.

(4) A law enforcement agency shall remove a warrant from the law enforcement automated data system and the national crime information center (NCIC) maintained by the federal bureau of investigation within forty-eight hours of warrant service or dismissal or recall by the issuing court.

Last updated March 8, 2023 at 11:35 AM