Felony Penalties (R.C. 2929.14)
| Degree | Prison term | Max fine |
|---|---|---|
| Felony 1 (F1) | 3–11 years* (indefinite for qualifying offenses) | Up to $20,000 |
| Felony 2 (F2) | 2–8 years* (indefinite for qualifying offenses) | Up to $15,000 |
| Felony 3 (F3) | 9–36 months (certain F3s 12–60 months) | Up to $10,000 |
| Felony 4 (F4) | 6–18 months | Up to $5,000 |
| Felony 5 (F5) | 6–12 months | Up to $2,500 |
* Under the Reagan Tokes Law (effective March 22, 2019), qualifying first- and second-degree felonies are sentenced to an indefinite term: the judge sets a minimum within the range above, and the maximum is up to 50% more than that minimum. Certain offenses also carry mandatory prison time and firearm or repeat-offender specifications that add consecutive years.
Misdemeanor Penalties (R.C. 2929.24)
| Degree | Jail term | Max fine |
|---|---|---|
| Misdemeanor 1 (M1) | Up to 180 days | Up to $1,000 |
| Misdemeanor 2 (M2) | Up to 90 days | Up to $750 |
| Misdemeanor 3 (M3) | Up to 60 days | Up to $500 |
| Misdemeanor 4 (M4) | Up to 30 days | Up to $250 |
| Minor Misdemeanor (MM) | No jail | Up to $150 |
What Drives Your Actual Sentence
The degree of the offense is only the starting point. Ohio sentencing is shaped by your prior record; mandatory-minimum provisions; firearm, major-drug-offender, and repeat-offender specifications; whether the offense is one of “violence”; restitution; and the court’s discretion to impose community-control sanctions instead of prison for many lower-level felonies. A strong defense works on all of these — not just guilt or innocence, but exposure.