Ohio Revised Code
Chapter 2967 | Pardon; Parole; Probation
Section 2967.05 | Release as if on Parole of Dying Prisoner.

Effective: September 10, 2012
Latest Legislation: House Bill 487 - 129th General Assembly
(A) As used in this section:
(1) "Imminent danger of death" means that the inmate has a medically diagnosable condition that will cause death to occur within a short period of time.
As used in division (A)(1) of this section, "within a short period of time" means generally within six months.
(2)(a) "Medically incapacitated" means any diagnosable medical condition, including mental dementia and severe, permanent medical or cognitive disability, that prevents the inmate from completing activities of daily living without significant assistance, that incapacitates the inmate to the extent that institutional confinement does not offer additional restrictions, that is likely to continue throughout the entire period of parole, and that is unlikely to improve noticeably.
(b) "Medically incapacitated" does not include conditions related solely to mental illness unless the mental illness is accompanied by injury, disease, or organic defect.
(3)(a) "Terminal illness" means a condition that satisfies all of the following criteria:
(i) The condition is irreversible and incurable and is caused by disease, illness, or injury from which the inmate is unlikely to recover.
(ii) In accordance with reasonable medical standards and a reasonable degree of medical certainty, the condition is likely to cause death to the inmate within twelve months.
(iii) Institutional confinement of the inmate does not offer additional protections for public safety or against the inmate's risk to reoffend.
(b) The department of rehabilitation and correction shall adopt rules pursuant to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to implement the definition of "terminal illness" in division (A)(3)(a) of this section.
(B) Upon the recommendation of the director of rehabilitation and correction, accompanied by a certificate of the attending physician that an inmate is terminally ill, medically incapacitated, or in imminent danger of death, the governor may order the inmate's release as if on parole, reserving the right to return the inmate to the institution pursuant to this section. If, subsequent to the inmate's release, the inmate's health improves so that the inmate is no longer terminally ill, medically incapacitated, or in imminent danger of death, the inmate shall be returned, by order of the governor, to the institution from which the inmate was released. If the inmate violates any rules or conditions applicable to the inmate, the inmate may be returned to an institution under the control of the department of rehabilitation and correction. The governor may direct the adult parole authority to investigate or cause to be investigated the inmate and make a recommendation. An inmate released under this section shall be subject to supervision by the adult parole authority in accordance with any recommendation of the adult parole authority that is approved by the governor. The adult parole authority shall adopt rules pursuant to section 119.03 of the Revised Code to establish the procedure for medical release of an inmate when an inmate is terminally ill, medically incapacitated, or in imminent danger of death.
(C) No inmate is eligible for release under this section if the inmate is serving a death sentence, a sentence of life without parole, a sentence under Chapter 2971. of the Revised Code for a felony of the first or second degree, a sentence for aggravated murder or murder, or a mandatory prison term for an offense of violence or any specification described in Chapter 2941. of the Revised Code.

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