Ohio law permits defendants to choose whether a court or jury determines the sexually violent predator designation in sex offense cases.
Ohio law allows a defendant in certain sex offense cases to choose whether a court or jury determines the sexually violent predator (SVP) designation. If the defendant opts for the court to decide, the court conducts the SVP determination after a guilty verdict. Otherwise, the jury makes the SVP decision following the guilty verdict on the offense and related sexual motivation specifications.
Yes, if a sexually violent predator specification is included, the defendant can elect to have the court or the jury decide the SVP status.
If the defendant does not choose, the jury will determine the SVP designation after the verdict on the underlying offense.
The SVP determination occurs after a guilty verdict on the offense, either by the court or jury, depending on the defendant's election.
Yes, if the court is to decide, it conducts a proceeding to determine whether the defendant qualifies as a sexually violent predator after conviction.
Side-by-side with Westlaw and LexisNexis
| Feature | FlawFinder | Westlaw | LexisNexis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $19 - $99 | $133 - $646 | $153 - $399 |
| Contract | None | 1-3 year min | 1-6 year min |
| Hidden fees | $0, always | Up to $469/search | $25/mo + per-doc |
| Police SOPs | ✓ 310+ departments | ✗ | ✗ |
| Zero-hallucination AI | ✓ CitationGuard | ✗ | ✗ |
| Cancel | One click | Termination fees | No option to cancel |
In simple terms: Ohio law permits defendants to choose whether a court or jury determines the sexually violent predator designation in sex offense cases.. This means people must follow this rule, and breaking it can lead to criminal penalties.