Criminal justice coverage in the Buckeye State follows the justice system as a whole — courts, sentencing, incarceration, bail, prosecution and reform efforts moving through the legislature and the courts. Reporting runs through Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toledo and Akron.
Transportation grants go to 142 schools for visits to the Moyer Judicial Center in Columbus during the 2026-27 school year.
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November 7, 2026
Coleman Asks Ohio Supreme Court to Reopen AppealA pro se murder-appeal filing and a sanctions appeal over AI-generated errors both reach the state's highest court.
October 29, 2026
Judge Orders New Competency Evaluations for Stephen MarlowThe court requires two new mental health assessments for the defendant accused in a 2022 quadruple homicide.
October 28, 2026
Ohio Appeals Court Denies New Trial for Death Row InmateThe court reinstated the death sentence of David Lee Myers, 61, after a judge previously vacated his 1996 conviction.
October 27, 2026
Mackenzie Shirilla Seeks to Reopen Appeal in OhioDefense attorneys are asking the Ohio Supreme Court to review an appeal regarding a 2022 double-fatal crash.
October 22, 2026
Ohio Gubernatorial Candidates Debate Death Penalty StanceThe candidates for governor offer conflicting views on whether to resume the use of capital punishment in the state.
October 21, 2026
Ohio Expands Electronic Filing Access to Nine PrisonsThe Supreme Court of Ohio and federal courts have increased e-filing capabilities to 22 facilities across the state.
October 19, 2026
Fourth District Court Convenes in Jackson CountyThe appellate court heard a series of legal cases during a session held in the Jackson County Common Pleas Courtroom.
October 7, 2026
Ohio Supreme Court Upheld Parental Rights in Custody CaseJustices ruled that juvenile courts must find a parent unsuitable before granting custody to nonparents.
October 7, 2026
Ohio Will Raise Capital Defense Attorney PayThe Capital Case Attorney Fee Council set a new $165 hourly rate for death penalty defense cases in Ohio.
October 6, 2026
Governor DeWine Signed 323 Expedited PardonsThe Ohio governor granted hundreds of pardons to individuals who have reformed their lives after past convictions.
The reporting tracks court proceedings and outcomes, prison populations and conditions, prosecutorial charging policies, wrongful conviction reviews and the reform legislation that moves through Columbus. Ohio's corrections system is among the larger state systems in the country, and its population levels, staffing and facility conditions generate sustained accountability coverage. Opioid-related prosecutions and the criminal justice questions that intersect with public health concerns have produced a distinctive coverage strand that continues to evolve. Sentencing guidelines and parole rules are subjects of ongoing legislative attention, and any revisions produce implementation coverage that extends across administrations.
