SUBJECT: Sex Offender Supervision | PAGE 1 OF 9 . |
NUMBER: 103-SPS-02 | |
ORC/OAC REFERENCE: ORC 2907(all), 2950.042, 5120.01 | SUPERSEDES: 103-SPS-02 dated 9/01/2024 |
RELATED ACA STANDARDS: | EFFECTIVE DATE: September 22, 2025 |
APPROVED: |
Ohio Revised Code 5120.01 authorizes the Director of the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, as the executive head of the department, to direct the total operations and management of the department by establishing procedures as set forth in this policy.
The purpose of this policy is to establish guidelines and procedures for the supervision of sex offenders.
This policy is intended for all persons employed by the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (DRC), Division of Parole and Community Services (DPCS) and Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (ODMHAS) employees out of an interagency memorandum of understanding (MOU), and persons under their supervision.
The definitions for the terms below can be found at the top of the policies page on the DRC Intranet/Internet.
It is the policy of the DRC to employ risk management practices in the supervision of sex offenders consistent with community safety, to provide supervisees with opportunities to correct and control behaviors that may be harmful to the community, and to facilitate effective reentry. All sex offenders supervised by the APA shall be classified by levels of supervision as determined by a risk assessment tool or as mandated by the court or parole board. A case plan shall be established consistent with the level of risk posed by the supervisee to the community and the needs of the supervisee.
A supervisee shall be identified as a sex offender for the purposes of supervision and resource deployment if the current offense for which they are being supervised is a sexually oriented offense pursuant to ORC or the journal entry identifies them as a sex offender.
Initial assessment/classification of sex offenders shall occur pursuant to this policy. The supervisee’s risk shall be determined by utilizing the ORAS assessment and the sex offender risk assessment (e.g., Static 99R). An ORAS assessment shall be administered using all available information, which may include file review, face-to-face interview, self-report questionnaire, information from prior assessments, PSI, BCI reports, OHLEG, and the Ohio Court Network.
The timeframes and guidelines for completing the ORAS assessment and case plan shall be in accordance with ODRC Policy 100-APA-13, Supervision Reentry Planning, Supervisee Classification, Case Planning, and Contact Standards. Levels of initial supervision for sex offenders shall be decided by the court or the APA utilizing the ORAS and the sex offender risk assessment (e.g., Static 99R) pursuant to this policy, with sex offenders at a minimum being supervised at moderate supervision level for the first year.
Targeted Sex Offender (TSO): Static 99R score of eight (8) or above or otherwise designated through staffing with superintendent.
Very High Risk: CST/ST risk score of very high, and/or the sex offender risk score of high (6 or above on Static 99R).
High Risk: CST/SRT/RT/ST risk score of high and/or the sex offender risk score of moderate-high (4 or 5 on Static 99R).
Moderate Risk: CST/RT/SRT/ST risk score of moderate or sex offender score of low or moderate-low (3 or below on Static 99R). All female sex offenders and non-contact sex offenders shall be placed at moderate unless ORAS risk score indicates a higher risk level. Any supervisee scoring low on the ORAS and sex offender risk assessment shall initially be supervised as a moderate.
Reclassification
All sex offenders shall be required to complete at least one (1) year of supervision prior to being reclassified to a lower level of supervision. Sex offenders may be reduced one (1) supervision level at a time, and the Sex Offender Reclassification Table (Appendix A) defines criteria for progressively reducing supervision levels.
After one (1) year of supervision, TSOs can be reduced to high if they are compliant with the conditions of supervision. Further reductions may be made one supervision level at a time, regardless of the reassessment score.
TSO cases require a case plan to be completed upon finishing one (1) year of supervision if the supervision is reduced from the original TSO level.
Throughout supervision, the supervisee’s case plan shall be updated and reflect their progress, or lack thereof, in the identified dynamic risk factor areas. The updates, including signatures, shall be done pursuant to DRC Policy 100-APA-13, Supervision, Reentry Planning, Supervisee Classification, Case Planning, and Contact Standards.
At the time of reassessment, considerations for a change in supervision level (i.e., higher or lower) shall be staffed and approved by the sex offender specialist (SOS)/designee and supervisor/designee and documented in OCSS in the staffing tab.
Sex offenders may be reclassified to a higher level of supervision if their behavior warrants an increase. Increases shall be staffed with the SOS/designee and the supervisor/designee and documented in the Ohio Community Supervision System (OCSS) in the staffing tab.
Any disagreement between the SOS and unit supervisor about a potential reclassification shall be staffed with the regional administrator.
All parole sex offenders released from prison shall be supervised at the very high supervision level, regardless of the ORAS assessment for a minimum of one (1) year. This supervision override does not require approval from the unit supervisor or regional administrator. At one
(1) year from the release date, if the supervisee is compliant and addressing the case plan, after staffing with the designated parole board member and SOS, the supervisee may be lowered one (1) supervision level and annually thereafter by completing a reassessment and case plan.
General Requirements
Parole officers shall obtain necessary information related to the case, including PSIs, OBIs, details of criminal offense history, programming summaries, assessments from SORRC, and any other necessary information to develop an appropriate ORAS case plan.
SOSs shall assist parole officers in obtaining necessary information, including acting as a liaison between the institution
and the field.
Pursuant to ORC section 2950.042, the parole officer, duty officer, senior parole officer, or supervisor shall verify a supervisee’s registration status within three (3) calendar days of release with the local sheriff’s office. The verification status shall be documented in OCSS. . If a supervisee has failed to register within the above timeframe, the supervising officer shall follow up accordingly and document in OCSS. Officers shall document any circumstance (i.e., In-Custody, VAL) that prevents a supervisee from complying with the above requirement.
Sex Offender Special Conditions and Sanctions
In addition to DRC Policy 100-APA-09, Conditions of Supervision, when appropriate, special conditions shall be imposed to restrict victim and potential victim access, facilitate program referral(s) designed to aid in the rehabilitation of the supervisee, increase opportunity for successful reentry and to reduce the supervisee’s risk to the community. The special conditions imposed must relate to the supervisee’s offense behavior, criminal history, prior probation, or parole violations, psychological or psychiatric history, programming history and shall be individually applied and narrowly tailored.
Cases shall be staffed with the unit supervisor/designee and the SOS for appropriate utilization of sanctions in response to violation behavior.
The process outlined in DRC Policy 100-APA-09, Conditions of Supervision, for modifications of conditions for sex offenders shall be followed.
No Unsupervised Contact with Minor (The Supervising Adult Must Be Approved by the APA)
This condition is meant to limit potential victim access, enhance public safety, and balance reentry practices. Any disagreements between the unit and SOS shall be sent to the regional administrator for final decision. The supervisee’s presence at the event is preapproved by the supervising unit in consultation with the SOS, which, together, identify a specific adult and/or agency who will supervise the contact during the event. The approval shall be documented in OCSS.
Factors considered by Supervising Unit/SOS when recommending supervised contact:
Static-99R score and other approved risk assessments,
Supervision adjustment,
Relationship to minor/s (biological child, sibling, etc.),
Approval of custodial adult,
Length of community supervision,
Length of contact requested, not to exceed six (6) hours,
Number of expected minors present at requested supervised contact event,
Location of supervised contact,
Type of contact.
Factors that exclude supervised visitation from being approved:
Request to have supervised visitation with victim,
Violation behavior in the last ninety (90) calendar days,
Supervised in the community less than ninety (90) calendar days,
Disapproval from custodial adult of minor,
Overall poor supervision adjustment.
Factors that may receive approval for continued supervised contact (staffed monthly with supervising unit/SOS)
Reunification process has begun with approval of SOS.
The parole officer shall comply with the following minimum contact standards for each level of supervision. Additional contacts may occur to address identified dynamic risk factors in the case plan. A criminal record check shall be completed annually through LEADS, OHLEG, or OCN. Additionally, officers shall verify registered addresses for offenses that require registration and address discrepancies accordingly.
TSO:
A minimum of four (4) positive contacts per month.
Two (2) contacts shall be made in the field.
Very High Supervision Level:
Three (3) positive contacts per month,
One (1) positive community contact every two (2) months,
Two (2) contacts with family/support systems (if identified) every six (6) months.
High Supervision Level:
One (1) positive contact per month,
One (1) positive community contact every two (2) months,
Two (2) contacts with family/support systems (if identified) every six (6) months.
If Three (3) attempted contacts in the community were not successful for very high and high sex offenders, the community requirement may be waived; however, the positive contact must still occur. This waiver may not be utilized on a regular basis or for two (2) consecutive two-month periods
Moderate Supervision Level:
One (1) positive contact per quarter,
One (1) positive community contact every six (6) months.
Low Supervision Level:
A contact per quarter
Local Sentences
Supervisees incarcerated in local jails or community based correctional facilities (CBCF) serving a sentence shall have their status/location verified one (1) time per month. This includes TSOs.
Other Residential Facilities/Restricted Movement
Supervisees in nursing homes, group homes, or similar type facilities shall have their status/location verified one (1) time per month.
TSOs in the halfway house require four (4) positive contacts per month.
The following contacts shall occur and be commensurate with the supervisee’s risk to ascertain meaningful information:
Contact with the provider or facilitator of any program/intervention in which the supervisee is actively participating. The contact shall include compliance as well as sharing information that facilitates supervision planning and program progress.
Visits to the supervisee’s residence to observe and monitor the living environment. The supervising officer shall be aware of the types of activities in the home, residents of the home, and general observations concerning the neighborhood.
Collateral verification of the supervisee’s self-reported activities.
Communication with local law enforcement or other criminal justice agencies to assist in monitoring the supervision plan, information sharing that assists in public safety, monitoring law abiding behavior, and verifying the supervisee’s compliance with all registration requirements.
Sex offenders who score low on ORAS and the sex offender risk assessment do not require the completion of a case plan unless they have special conditions and/or the supervisee requests areas be addressed. Female sex offenders who score low on ORAS and non-contact sex offenders who score low on ORAS do not require the completion of a case plan. If the sex offender’s supervision level is increased, a case plan shall be completed.
Programming that provides supervisees with an opportunity to learn how to manage and control criminal behaviors to increase opportunities for successful reentry.
To determine an appropriate level of intervention and/or programming, all cases identified as a sex offender pursuant to this policy shall be referred to the SOS by the supervising unit within thirty (30) calendar days of release or receiving the case for supervision. The referral to the SOS shall be documented. The SOS/designee shall assess the supervisee within thirty (30) calendar days from the date of referral or date of release.
Supervisees who score high or medium high on a sex offender risk instrument shall be considered for sex offender programming/interventions. Staff shall take into consideration programming received in the institution and in the community prior to deciding the type of programming needed.
Supervisees who have successfully completed a comprehensive program in prison shall not be required to attend a sex offender program while under supervision. They may be required to complete individual counseling and/or relapse prevention programming if behavior so
warrants. On rare occasions, a supervisee who successfully completed a comprehensive sex offender program may need to participate in programming again. In these cases, the SOS must document in OCSS all behaviors or issues that would warrant such a referral.
There shall be a continuum of available sex offender services, as well as other reentry approved programs. Services shall be available pursuant to ODRC Policy 103-SPS-03, Supervisee Services Needs and Programming.
The SOS shall maintain a directory of sex offender services in the region and shall provide updated information related to program referral to field staff. The specialist shall also maintain an information system related to program utilization.
Moderate or higher cases that are not referred to programming shall be documented in ORAS program notes as to the reasons for non-participation or not recommended for a sex offender program.
If a higher level of intervention is necessary, the case shall be staffed with the supervisor and the SOS/designee for appropriate intervention. Reasons for requesting a staffing on a sex offender may include the following:
Violations of the special conditions of supervision,
Observed and/or documented high risk behaviors,
Failure to register,
Sex offender requesting intervention and/or treatment.
If the SOS/designee determines programming is necessary, the supervisee’s classification level shall be reviewed for appropriateness. The review and recommendation for treatment and rationale shall be documented by the SOS in OCSS.
Supervisees who refuse to actively participate in programming or who do not cooperate with programming shall be subject to progressive sanctions.
The APA shall make available sex offender interventions where feasible and determined by the regional administrator. Supervisees may be subject to participation fees and financial penalties associated with the APA interventions.
If an APA intervention is not available or the supervisee requests the utilization of a community provider, the SOS/designee, in collaboration with the supervising officer, shall assess the supervisee’s ability to comply with the provider’s financial requirements and assist them in obtaining the necessary services
APA Sex Offender Intervention – For those supervisees participating in an APA sex offender intervention, there shall be a coordinated effort to consistently respond to negative behavior related to missed sessions and inappropriate group behavior.
Pursuant to DRC Policy 100-APA-21, APA Supervisee Transfers, staff shall take into consideration whether the transfer is in the best interest of the supervisee and would improve their opportunity for successful reentry, while at the same time considering the risk to the community, appropriateness to supervision planning, and sex offender program activities. The parole officer shall staff the transfer request with the unit supervisor/designee and SOS for approval.
The parole officer shall submit the Transfer Investigation Request (DRC3464) to the unit supervisor/designee that covers the geographic area where the supervisee plans to locate prior to relocation.
The SOS/designee from the sending region shall contact the SOS/designee in the receiving region and discuss the case.
The parole officer shall notify the supervisee that the jurisdiction to which they are transferring may have registration requirements and they shall verify registration requirements with local law enforcement so that compliance is achieved.
For travel requests, pursuant to DRC Policy 100-APA-07, Supervisee Travel Permits, staff shall take into consideration whether the travel is in the best interest of the supervisee and would improve their opportunity for successful reentry, while at the same time considering the risk to the community, appropriateness to supervision planning, and sex offender program activities.
The parole officer shall notify the supervisee that the jurisdiction of travel may have registration requirements, and the supervisee shall verify registration requirements with local law enforcement so that compliance is achieved.
The following shall be considered when disclosing information:
Disclosure of information shall be limited to public information as described in DRC Policy 07-ORD-02, Public Records, and staffed with the unit supervisor/designee.
The parole officer may require the supervisee to disclose information when there is a direct relationship between the disclosure and the offense history. The parole officer may disclose information as it pertains to employment, residence, and other activities when it is necessary to monitor conditions of supervision, special condition(s) and/or sanction(s).
Supervisees designated by the court as a sexually violent predator, if released from incarceration by the courts, shall be considered a conditional release.
Sexually violent predators shall be supervised in accordance with all standards identified above, including classifications and reclassifications. However, final termination of supervision shall only be made by the controlling court.
Unless the prison term is otherwise terminated by the court, the sexually violent predator shall be supervised by the APA under the jurisdiction of the court for life.
The court may revoke the supervision status and return the supervisee to the custody of the DRC, specifically a correctional facility, for a period the court determines up to life.
The appointing authority/designee and the controlling court shall be immediately made aware of any unusual events or situations that occur with the sexually violent predator supervisee, to include at a minimum a known or suspected violation of a term or condition of supervision or a belief that there is a substantial likelihood that the supervisee has committed or is about to commit a sexual offense.
The APA shall comply with all requests for progress made by the controlling courts.
Sexually violent predators shall be required to be supervised by Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) monitoring while under supervision with the APA.
Sex offenders who have been restricted from family contact due to the nature of their offenses may have those restrictions reviewed and, under certain circumstances, revised. If no contact or no unsupervised contact with minors (supervising adults must be approved by the APA) is a parole board special condition, the no contact or no unsupervised contact special conditions cannot be removed without the Parole Board’s approval. Approval from the Parole Board to remove special conditions may be sought after all the following conditions are satisfied:
The supervisee successfully completes sex offender programming (if required),
The supervisee’s family is willing to proceed with revised restrictions,
The supervisee has been on supervision for at least one (1) year,
The supervisee’s risk score is moderate-low or lower on the Static-99R,
There has been no violation behavior involving high risk sexual activity within the past twelve
(12) months.
Removal of the condition has been staffed with the SOS.
There has been consultation with the Office of Victim Services (OVS) to obtain any additional information that shall be considered prior to approving revised restrictions.
Appendix A Sex Offender Reclassification Table
07-ORD-02 Public Records
100-APA-07 Supervisee Travel Permits 100-APA-09 Conditions of Supervision
100-APA-13 Supervision Reentry Planning, Supervisee Classification, Case Planning, and Contact Standards 100-APA-21 APA Supervisee Transfers
103-SPS-03 Supervisee Services Needs and Programming
Transfer Investigation Request DRC3464
Supervisee Name: CCIS #:
Incarcerated Person
#: Date of Review:
SEX OFFENDER RECLASSIFICATION TABLE
CRITERIA FOR RECLASSIFYING TO A LOWER LEVEL OF SUPERVISION
POSITIVE BEHAVIORS | YES | NO |
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NEGATIVE BEHAVIORS | YES | NO |
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Any “YES” in the negative boxes (sections 7-11) shall automatically disqualify a supervisee from a lower supervision level – look back period is a minimum of 90 days. Staff may take behaviors
that occurred greater than 90 days into consideration as well.
In addition to the above, the supervisee must score “YES” on at least four (4) positive criteria (sections 1-6).
If supervisee has several negative behaviors, they may be reclassified to a higher supervision level or more contacts.
If a supervisee is reclassified to a higher level, the supervisee may be considered for a reduction in supervision after six (6) months at that level, following the above grid and with staffing with the Sex Offender Specialist.
