Ohio Revised Code

Ohio Rev. Code § 2151.022 (2026)

Unruly child defined

✓ current as of May 2026
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As used in this chapter, "unruly child" includes any of the following:

(A) Any child who does not submit to the reasonable control of the child's parents, teachers, guardian, or custodian, by reason of being wayward or habitually disobedient;

(B) Any child who is an habitual truant from school;

(C) Any child who behaves in a manner as to injure or endanger the child's own health or morals or the health or morals of others;

(D) Any child who violates a law, other than division (C) of section 2907.39, division (A) of section 2923.211, division (C)(1) or (D) of section 2925.55, or section 2151.87 of the Revised Code, that is applicable only to a child.

The Legislative Service Commission presents the text of this section as a composite of the section as amended by multiple acts of the General Assembly. This presentation recognizes the principle stated in R.C. 1.52(B) that amendments are to be harmonized if reasonably capable of simultaneous operation.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 46 cases (6 in the last 5 years), 1986–2025 · leading case: State v. Lewis, 2017 Ohio 9311 (Ohio Ct. App. 2017).
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State v. Lewis, 2017 Ohio 9311 (Ohio Ct. App. 2017). · cites it 20× “{¶ 14} Citing former R.C. 2151.022, which was in effect at the time of Lewis’ offense, 3 the magistrate noted that an “unruly child” includes “[a]ny child who is an habitual truant from school and who previously has not been adjudicated an unruly child for being an habitual…”
State v. Lukens, 586 N.E.2d 1099 (Ohio Ct. App. 1990). · cites it 11× “080(g) states in relevant part that ”[t]he commitment and placement of a child arid evidence given in the court are not admissible as evidence against the minor in a subsequent case or proceedings in any other court * * 3 The trial court, in instructing the jury on the…”
State v. Garfield, 518 N.E.2d 568 (Ohio Ct. App. 1986). · cites it 3× “” R.C. 2151.022 provides: “As used in sections 2151.”
In Re Felton, 706 N.E.2d 809 (Ohio Ct. App. 1997). · cites it 8× “However, in contrast to other so-called status offenses such as dependency and neglect, the unruliness statute applies to violative conduct in which the juvenile has personally engaged, such as not submitting to the control of authority figures, being habitually truant, acting,…”
Millis Pub. Schs. v. M.P., 89 N.E.3d 1170 (Mass. 2018). · cites it 2× “Code §§ 27-20-02 (19), 27-20-32 ; Ohio Rev. Code Ann. §§ 2151.022 , 2151.354 ; 2017 Okla.”
State v. Stiles, 2019 Ohio 3852 (Ohio Ct. App. 2019). · cites it 6× “to become unruly as defined in R.C. 2151.022 between August 1, 2017 and March 8, 2018.”
In re T.W., 2012 Ohio 2843 (Ohio Ct. App. 2012). · cites it 5× “to non-reporting probation upon being adjudicated an Unruly Child in violation of R.C. 2151.022(A). {¶2} The facts relevant to this appeal are as follows.”
State v. Ellis, 580 N.E.2d 1112 (Ohio Ct. App. 1989). · cites it 9× “Ellis filed a complaint alleging that Ellis had acted in a way tending to cause Nonja Ellis, a minor, to become an “unruly child,” as defined in R.C. 2151.022, or a “delinquent child,” as defined in R.”
In Re Kimble, 682 N.E.2d 1066 (Ohio Ct. App. 1996). · cites it 3× “Defendant-appellant, Nichalas Kimble, appeals from a judgment entered in the Crawford County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division, adjudging him an unruly youth for habitual truancy in violation of R.C. 2151.022 and revoking his parole. The record reveals that on July 9,…”
In re Hamblin, 2014 Ohio 3289 (Ohio Ct. App. 2014). · cites it 7× “] R.C. 2151.022 defines an "unruly child" to include "[a]ny child who behaves in a manner as to injure or endanger the child's own health or morals or the health or morals of others[.”
State v. Hay, 861 N.E.2d 893 (Ohio Ct. App. 2006). · cites it 4× “, Champaign County, Ohio, on or about July 1, 2005, ‘no person including a parent, guardian, or other custodian of a child, shall aid, abet, induce, cause, encourage, or contribute to a child or a ward of the juvenile court to become an unruly child, as defined in section…”
State v. Vunda, 2014 Ohio 3449 (Ohio Ct. App. 2014). “" An "unruly child" includes any child "[w]ho so deports himself as to injure or endanger the health or morals of himself or others.”
Show all 46 citing cases →
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2151.022(A) — 11 cases
In re T.W., 2012 Ohio 2843 (Ohio Ct. App. 2012). “to non-reporting probation upon being adjudicated an Unruly Child in violation of R.C. 2151.022(A). {¶2} The facts relevant to this appeal are as follows.”
State v. Welch, 2011 Ohio 3243 (Ohio Ct. App. 2011).
State v. Thompson, 647 N.E.2d 226 (Ohio Ct. App. 1994).
In re H.D., 2023 Ohio 1849 (Ohio Ct. App. 2023).
In Re Felton, 706 N.E.2d 809 (Ohio Ct. App. 1997). “However, in contrast to other so-called status offenses such as dependency and neglect, the unruliness statute applies to violative conduct in which the juvenile has personally engaged, such as not submitting to the control of authority figures, being habitually truant, acting,…”
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2151.022(B) — 7 cases
State v. Stiles, 2019 Ohio 3852 (Ohio Ct. App. 2019). “to become unruly as defined in R.C. 2151.022 between August 1, 2017 and March 8, 2018.”
State v. Lukens, 586 N.E.2d 1099 (Ohio Ct. App. 1990). “080(g) states in relevant part that ”[t]he commitment and placement of a child arid evidence given in the court are not admissible as evidence against the minor in a subsequent case or proceedings in any other court * * 3 The trial court, in instructing the jury on the…”
State v. Vertrees, 2021 Ohio 1239 (Ohio Ct. App. 2021).
In re E.H., 2016 Ohio 1186 (Ohio Ct. App. 2016).
State v. Middleton, 2013 Ohio 1848 (Ohio Ct. App. 2013).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2151.022(C) — 6 cases
In Re Felton, 706 N.E.2d 809 (Ohio Ct. App. 1997). “However, in contrast to other so-called status offenses such as dependency and neglect, the unruliness statute applies to violative conduct in which the juvenile has personally engaged, such as not submitting to the control of authority figures, being habitually truant, acting,…”
State v. Garfield, 518 N.E.2d 568 (Ohio Ct. App. 1986). “” R.C. 2151.022 provides: “As used in sections 2151.”
State v. Lukens, 586 N.E.2d 1099 (Ohio Ct. App. 1990). “080(g) states in relevant part that ”[t]he commitment and placement of a child arid evidence given in the court are not admissible as evidence against the minor in a subsequent case or proceedings in any other court * * 3 The trial court, in instructing the jury on the…”
In re Hamblin, 2014 Ohio 3289 (Ohio Ct. App. 2014). “] R.C. 2151.022 defines an "unruly child" to include "[a]ny child who behaves in a manner as to injure or endanger the child's own health or morals or the health or morals of others[.”
State v. Aller, 610 N.E.2d 1170 (Ohio Ct. App. 1992).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2151.022(D) — 2 cases
State v. Lukens, 586 N.E.2d 1099 (Ohio Ct. App. 1990). “080(g) states in relevant part that ”[t]he commitment and placement of a child arid evidence given in the court are not admissible as evidence against the minor in a subsequent case or proceedings in any other court * * 3 The trial court, in instructing the jury on the…”
State v. Bare, 792 N.E.2d 732 (Ohio Ct. App. 2003).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2151.022(E) — 1 case
State v. Ellis, 580 N.E.2d 1112 (Ohio Ct. App. 1989). “Ellis filed a complaint alleging that Ellis had acted in a way tending to cause Nonja Ellis, a minor, to become an “unruly child,” as defined in R.C. 2151.022, or a “delinquent child,” as defined in R.”
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