OhioHouse-passed text lists felony penalties for corpse abuse
The House-passed text lists felony penalties for corpse abuse that outrages a community, with higher levels for disfigurement tied to hindering justice.
What it does
The text links unauthorized treatment of a corpse that a person knows would outrage a family to a felony charge. The printed penalty wording is unclear because deleted and replacement text appear together.
The text lists a fourth-degree felony for unauthorized treatment that outrages community sensibilities. Disfiguring a corpse is listed as a third-degree felony, or a second-degree felony when done to conceal a crime or hinder justice.
Argument forMore serious felony levels for disfiguring a corpse could give prosecutors charges that reflect whether someone also tried to conceal a crime or hinder justice.
Argument againstPeople accused of disfiguring a corpse could face more serious felony charges, with the highest level applying when they act to conceal a crime or hinder justice.
More detail
The printed text assigns a felony level to unauthorized treatment of a corpse that knowingly outrages reasonable family sensibilities. This applies to anyone who treats a human corpse in that way. The treatment must be unauthorized by law, and the person must know it would outrage reasonable family sensibilities. The measure is in progress; this House-passed text does not establish that the provision is in effect.
The printed text sets felony levels for unauthorized treatment of a corpse that would outrage reasonable community sensibilities. This applies when treatment of a human corpse would outrage reasonable community sensibilities. Dismembering, mutilating, or intentionally disfiguring a corpse is listed as a third-degree felony. Doing so to conceal a crime, obstruct justice, or impair a criminal investigation or prosecution is listed as a second-degree felony. The measure is in progress; this House-passed text does not establish that these provisions are in effect.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Sep 30Referred to committeeLatest
- Jun 11IntroducedMinor
- Jun 10
- Vote recorded Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Jun 9PassedPassed House
- Jun 3Reported
- Vote recorded Reported. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 4Referred to committeeMinor
- Jan 27IntroducedIntroduced
Criminal Justice