2006 Ohio Revised Code - 2921.45. Interfering with civil rights.

§ 2921.45. Interfering with civil rights.
 

(A)  No public servant, under color of his office, employment, or authority, shall knowingly deprive, or conspire or attempt to deprive any person of a constitutional or statutory right. 

(B)  Whoever violates this section is guilty of interfering with civil rights, a misdemeanor of the first degree. 
 

HISTORY: 134 v H 511. Eff 1-1-74.

 

19xx Committee Report or Comment.

1974 Committee Comment to H 511

This section retains a former prohibition against public officials using the power of their office to unlawfully deprive or deny any person his rights, under the guise of acting within the authority of his position. The section's requirement that a public official act knowingly in depriving another of a constitutional or statutory right is designed to protect public officials who act in the honest belief that their actions are authorized or required by law, but whose conduct is later determined not to have been authorized or required. 

Interfering with civil rights is a misdemeanor of the first degree.