If you have been charged with a felony offense, you probably have many questions about what comes next, what happens if you are found guilty, and what the punishment may be. The Ohio Felony Sentencing Reference Guide below can help answer many of your questions about potential sentences you may face.
Ohio felonies are divided into five degrees under O.R.C. § 2929.14, with prison terms ranging from 6, 12 months for a fifth-degree felony up to 3, 11 years for a first-degree felony, and fines reaching up to $20,000 depending on the offense. Judges weigh statutory ranges alongside seriousness and recidivism factors under O.R.C. § 2929.12, and certain violent or drug offenses carry mandatory prison terms that remove judicial discretion. For qualifying first- and second-degree felonies, Ohio’s indefinite sentencing framework also requires courts to impose both a minimum and a calculated maximum term under O.R.C. § 2929.144. Because sentencing law is updated regularly, the Supreme Court of Ohio’s Felony Sentencing Reference Guide was last revised in March 2026, contact the attorneys at Yonas and Phillabaum LLC for current guidance specific to your situation.
