House Bill 277 Passes the House Floor

COLUMBUS – The Ohio House passed House Bill 277, which will require audio or audiovisual recordings of custodial interrogation for most major felonies, announced State Representative Adam Holmes (R-Nashport).

This bipartisan legislation aims to decrease risk of wrongful conviction and increase public confidence in the professionalism and integrity of law enforcement.

“Confidence in our criminal justice system is an absolute necessity. The transparency this bill provides will guard against wrongful convictions and enhance trust in our law enforcement agencies,” said Representative Holmes.

Also under this legislation, the failure of law enforcement to record a statement during the interrogation of specified criminal offenses allows a court to suppress or exclude the statement completely.

House Bill 277 protects those vulnerable to the risk of false confession and law enforcement from false claims of misconduct, coercion, and brutality.

-30- 

For more information, contact Rep. Holmes’ office at 614-644-6014 or Rep97@ohiohouse.gov.