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Ohio Revised Code

Ohio Rev. Code § 2917.31 (2026)

Inducing panic

✓ current as of May 2026
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Effective:
October 3, 2023
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly
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(A) No person shall cause the evacuation of any public place, or otherwise cause serious public inconvenience or alarm, by doing any of the following:

(1) Initiating or circulating a report or warning of an alleged or impending fire, explosion, crime, or other catastrophe, knowing that such report or warning is false;

(2) Threatening to commit any offense of violence;

(3) Committing any offense, with reckless disregard of the likelihood that its commission will cause serious public inconvenience or alarm.

(B) Division (A)(1) of this section does not apply to any person conducting an authorized fire or emergency drill.

(C)(1) Whoever violates this section is guilty of inducing panic.

(2) Except as otherwise provided in division (C)(3), (4), (5), (6), (7), or (8) of this section, inducing panic is a misdemeanor of the first degree.

(3) Except as otherwise provided in division (C)(4), (5), (6), (7), or (8) of this section, if a violation of this section results in physical harm to any person, inducing panic is a felony of the fourth degree.

(4) Except as otherwise provided in division (C)(5), (6), (7), or (8) of this section, if a violation of this section results in economic harm, the penalty shall be determined as follows:

(a) If the violation results in economic harm of one thousand dollars or more but less than seven thousand five hundred dollars and if division (C)(3) of this section does not apply, inducing panic is a felony of the fifth degree.

(b) If the violation results in economic harm of seven thousand five hundred dollars or more but less than one hundred fifty thousand dollars, inducing panic is a felony of the fourth degree.

(c) If the violation results in economic harm of one hundred fifty thousand dollars or more, inducing panic is a felony of the third degree.

(5) If the public place involved in a violation of division (A)(1) of this section is a school or an institution of higher education, inducing panic is a felony of the second degree.

(6) If the violation pertains to a purported, threatened, or actual use of a weapon of mass destruction, and except as otherwise provided in division (C)(5), (7), or (8) of this section, inducing panic is a felony of the fourth degree.

(7) If the violation pertains to a purported, threatened, or actual use of a weapon of mass destruction, and except as otherwise provided in division (C)(5) of this section, if a violation of this section results in physical harm to any person, inducing panic is a felony of the third degree.

(8) If the violation pertains to a purported, threatened, or actual use of a weapon of mass destruction, and except as otherwise provided in division (C)(5) of this section, if a violation of this section results in economic harm of one hundred thousand dollars or more, inducing panic is a felony of the third degree.

(D)(1) It is not a defense to a charge under this section that pertains to a purported or threatened use of a weapon of mass destruction that the offender did not possess or have the ability to use a weapon of mass destruction or that what was represented to be a weapon of mass destruction was not a weapon of mass destruction.

(2) Any act that is a violation of this section and any other section of the Revised Code may be prosecuted under this section, the other section, or both sections.

(E) As used in this section:

(1) "Economic harm" means any of the following:

(a) All direct, incidental, and consequential pecuniary harm suffered by a victim as a result of criminal conduct. "Economic harm" as described in this division includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:

(i) All wages, salaries, or other compensation lost as a result of the criminal conduct;

(ii) The cost of all wages, salaries, or other compensation paid to employees for time those employees are prevented from working as a result of the criminal conduct;

(iii) The overhead costs incurred for the time that a business is shut down as a result of the criminal conduct;

(iv) The loss of value to tangible or intangible property that was damaged as a result of the criminal conduct.

(b) All costs incurred by the state or any political subdivision as a result of, or in making any response to, the criminal conduct that constituted the violation of this section or section 2917.32 of the Revised Code, including, but not limited to, all costs so incurred by any law enforcement officers, firefighters, rescue personnel, or emergency medical services personnel of the state or the political subdivision.

(2) "School" means any school operated by a board of education or any school for which the director of education and workforce prescribes minimum standards under section 3301.07 of the Revised Code, whether or not any instruction, extracurricular activities, or training provided by the school is being conducted at the time a violation of this section is committed.

(3) "Weapon of mass destruction" means any of the following:

(a) Any weapon that is designed or intended to cause death or serious physical harm through the release, dissemination, or impact of toxic or poisonous chemicals, or their precursors;

(b) Any weapon involving a disease organism or biological agent;

(c) Any weapon that is designed to release radiation or radioactivity at a level dangerous to human life;

(d) Any of the following, except to the extent that the item or device in question is expressly excepted from the definition of "destructive device" pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 921(a)(4) and regulations issued under that section:

(i) Any explosive, incendiary, or poison gas bomb, grenade, rocket having a propellant charge of more than four ounces, missile having an explosive or incendiary charge of more than one-quarter ounce, mine, or similar device;

(ii) Any combination of parts either designed or intended for use in converting any item or device into any item or device described in division (E)(3)(d)(i) of this section and from which an item or device described in that division may be readily assembled.

(4) "Biological agent" has the same meaning as in section 2917.33 of the Revised Code.

(5) "Emergency medical services personnel" has the same meaning as in section 2133.21 of the Revised Code.

(6) "Institution of higher education" means any of the following:

(a) A state university or college as defined in division (A)(1) of section 3345.12 of the Revised Code, community college, state community college, university branch, or technical college;

(b) A private, nonprofit college, university or other post-secondary institution located in this state that possesses a certificate of authorization issued by the chancellor of higher education pursuant to Chapter 1713. of the Revised Code;

(c) A post-secondary institution with a certificate of registration issued by the state board of career colleges and schools under Chapter 3332. of the Revised Code.

Last updated September 15, 2023 at 1:55 PM

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 107 cases (40 in the last 5 years), 1984–2026 · leading case: State v. Croghan, 2019 Ohio 3970 (Ohio Ct. App. 2019).
Sort: Relevance Newest Treatment
State v. Croghan, 2019 Ohio 3970 (Ohio Ct. App. 2019). · cites it 8× “]” R.C. 2917.31(A)(1). To the extent that Ms.”
State v. Pleban, 2011 Ohio 3254 (Ohio Ct. App. 2011). · cites it 8× “The State, however, did not charge Pleban with inducing panic in violation of R.C. 2917.31(A)(2), which requires that serious public inconvenience or alarm be premised on the threat to commit any offense of violence.”
State v. Geary, 2016 Ohio 7001 (Ohio Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 9× “551, which amended R.C. 2917.31. The comment provides that “the overall goal of the offense of inducing panic was primarily to avoid the harm which may result from the panic.”
In re J.C., 2013 Ohio 1292 (Ohio Ct. App. 2013). · cites it 9× “{¶29} Moreover, R.C. 2917.31 “does not limit the offense of Inducing Panic to situations in which a single factor is the cause of the panic or alarm.”
State v. Wetherby, 2013 Ohio 3442 (Ohio Ct. App. 2013). · cites it 12× “{¶32} R.C. 2917.31 Inducing Panic, provides, (A) No person shall cause the evacuation of any public place, or otherwise cause serious public inconvenience or alarm, by doing any of the following: (1) Initiating or circulating a report or warning of an alleged or impending fire,…”
State v. Thomas, 2024 Ohio 1534 (Ohio Ct. App. 2024). · cites it 6× “25(A) and (D)(3); and Count 5 – Inducing Panic, a fourth-degree felony in violation of R.C. 2917.31(A)(2) and (C)(3). Counts 1, 2, and 3 each also contained a Repeat Violent Offender specification pursuant to R.”
State v. Dorsey, 2021 Ohio 76 (Ohio Ct. App. 2021). “Dorsey’s PSI report established that he had a 2012 felony conviction in -10- Greene County for inducing panic in violation of R.C. 2917.31, which is defined as an offense of violence under R.”
State v. Smith, 2016 Ohio 7278 (Ohio Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 9× “31 governs the crime of inducing panic and provides that “[n]o person shall cause * * * serious public inconvenience or alarm, by * * * [c]ommitting any offense, with reckless disregard of the likelihood that its commission will cause serious public inconvenience or alarm.”
In re P.T., 2013 Ohio 3881 (Ohio Ct. App. 2013). · cites it 6× “The Eleventh District found the student's arguments unpersuasive, stating that "the absence of an evacuation does not negate a finding of serious public inconvenience or alarm under [R.C. 2917.31(A)]" and affirming the student's adjudication.”
In re C.I.R., 2019 Ohio 335 (Ohio Ct. App. 2019). · cites it 27× “, who was then just 14 years old, was a delinquent child for having committed an act that if charged as an adult could constitute inducing panic in violation of R.C. 2917.31(A)(1). 1 As alleged in the complaint, this was a crime that if committed by an adult would constitute a…”
State v. Dulaney, 906 N.E.2d 1147 (Ohio Ct. App. 2009). · cites it 6× “511, which amended R.C. 2917.31, the overall goal of the offense “inducing panic” was stated as follows: The gist of an offense under this section is causing a public place to be evacuated or otherwise causing serious public inconvenience or alarm, and the section is designed…”
In re C.W., 2019 Ohio 5262 (Ohio Ct. App. 2019). · cites it 3× “21(B)(1), and inducing panic, under R.C. 2917.31(A)(3). For the following reasons, we reverse the juvenile court’s judgments.”
Show all 107 citing cases →
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2917.31(A) — 8 cases
State v. Wetherby, 2013 Ohio 3442 (Ohio Ct. App. 2013). “{¶32} R.C. 2917.31 Inducing Panic, provides, (A) No person shall cause the evacuation of any public place, or otherwise cause serious public inconvenience or alarm, by doing any of the following: (1) Initiating or circulating a report or warning of an alleged or impending fire,…”
State v. Campbell, 2011 Ohio 3458 (Ohio Ct. App. 2011).
In re J.C., 2013 Ohio 1292 (Ohio Ct. App. 2013). “{¶29} Moreover, R.C. 2917.31 “does not limit the offense of Inducing Panic to situations in which a single factor is the cause of the panic or alarm.”
Disciplinary Couns. v. Howard, 2009 Ohio 4173 (Ohio 2009).
In re P.T., 2013 Ohio 3881 (Ohio Ct. App. 2013). “The Eleventh District found the student's arguments unpersuasive, stating that "the absence of an evacuation does not negate a finding of serious public inconvenience or alarm under [R.C. 2917.31(A)]" and affirming the student's adjudication.”
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2917.31(A)(1) — 20 cases
State v. Croghan, 2019 Ohio 3970 (Ohio Ct. App. 2019). “]” R.C. 2917.31(A)(1). To the extent that Ms.”
In re J.C., 2013 Ohio 1292 (Ohio Ct. App. 2013). “{¶29} Moreover, R.C. 2917.31 “does not limit the offense of Inducing Panic to situations in which a single factor is the cause of the panic or alarm.”
State v. Abdus-Salaam, 2024 Ohio 2773 (Ohio Ct. App. 2024).
State v. Edwards, 2017 Ohio 7231 (Ohio Ct. App. 2017).
In re C.I.R., 2019 Ohio 335 (Ohio Ct. App. 2019). “, who was then just 14 years old, was a delinquent child for having committed an act that if charged as an adult could constitute inducing panic in violation of R.C. 2917.31(A)(1). 1 As alleged in the complaint, this was a crime that if committed by an adult would constitute a…”
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2917.31(A)(1)(C)(5) — 1 case
State v. Wise, 2017 Ohio 7502 (Ohio Ct. App. 2017).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2917.31(A)(1)(C)(6) — 1 case
State v. Eisele, 2014 Ohio 662 (Ohio Ct. App. 2014).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2917.31(A)(2) — 14 cases
State v. Thomas, 2024 Ohio 1534 (Ohio Ct. App. 2024). “25(A) and (D)(3); and Count 5 – Inducing Panic, a fourth-degree felony in violation of R.C. 2917.31(A)(2) and (C)(3). Counts 1, 2, and 3 each also contained a Repeat Violent Offender specification pursuant to R.”
State v. Dulaney, 906 N.E.2d 1147 (Ohio Ct. App. 2009). “511, which amended R.C. 2917.31, the overall goal of the offense “inducing panic” was stated as follows: The gist of an offense under this section is causing a public place to be evacuated or otherwise causing serious public inconvenience or alarm, and the section is designed…”
State v. Pleban, 2011 Ohio 3254 (Ohio Ct. App. 2011). “The State, however, did not charge Pleban with inducing panic in violation of R.C. 2917.31(A)(2), which requires that serious public inconvenience or alarm be premised on the threat to commit any offense of violence.”
State v. Bene, 2020 Ohio 1560 (Ohio Ct. App. 2020).
State v. Herman, 2024 Ohio 541 (Ohio Ct. App. 2024).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2917.31(A)(3) — 46 cases
State v. Geary, 2016 Ohio 7001 (Ohio Ct. App. 2016). “551, which amended R.C. 2917.31. The comment provides that “the overall goal of the offense of inducing panic was primarily to avoid the harm which may result from the panic.”
State v. Croghan, 2019 Ohio 3970 (Ohio Ct. App. 2019). “]” R.C. 2917.31(A)(1). To the extent that Ms.”
State v. Pleban, 2011 Ohio 3254 (Ohio Ct. App. 2011). “The State, however, did not charge Pleban with inducing panic in violation of R.C. 2917.31(A)(2), which requires that serious public inconvenience or alarm be premised on the threat to commit any offense of violence.”
In re C.W., 2019 Ohio 5262 (Ohio Ct. App. 2019). “21(B)(1), and inducing panic, under R.C. 2917.31(A)(3). For the following reasons, we reverse the juvenile court’s judgments.”
In re P.T., 2013 Ohio 3881 (Ohio Ct. App. 2013). “The Eleventh District found the student's arguments unpersuasive, stating that "the absence of an evacuation does not negate a finding of serious public inconvenience or alarm under [R.C. 2917.31(A)]" and affirming the student's adjudication.”
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2917.31(A)(3)(4) — 1 case
State v. Wetherby, 2013 Ohio 3442 (Ohio Ct. App. 2013). “{¶32} R.C. 2917.31 Inducing Panic, provides, (A) No person shall cause the evacuation of any public place, or otherwise cause serious public inconvenience or alarm, by doing any of the following: (1) Initiating or circulating a report or warning of an alleged or impending fire,…”
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2917.31(A)(3)(C)(3) — 2 cases
Erie Ins. Exch. v. Cotten, 2017 Ohio 9 (Ohio Ct. App. 2017).
State v. Cotten, 2015 Ohio 5405 (Ohio Ct. App. 2015).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2917.31(A)(3)(C)(4) — 2 cases
State v. Caulton, 2011 Ohio 6636 (Ohio Ct. App. 2011).
State v. Patterson, 2025 Ohio 4933 (Ohio Ct. App. 2025).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2917.31(A)(3)(c) — 1 case
State v. Miller, 2021 Ohio 162 (Ohio Ct. App. 2021).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2917.31(A)(5) — 1 case
In re Willcox, 2011 Ohio 3896 (Ohio Ct. App. 2011).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2917.31(C)(2) — 6 cases
State v. Phillips, 2012 Ohio 473 (Ohio Ct. App. 2012).
State v. Pleban, 2011 Ohio 3254 (Ohio Ct. App. 2011). “The State, however, did not charge Pleban with inducing panic in violation of R.C. 2917.31(A)(2), which requires that serious public inconvenience or alarm be premised on the threat to commit any offense of violence.”
In re C.I.R., 2019 Ohio 335 (Ohio Ct. App. 2019). “, who was then just 14 years old, was a delinquent child for having committed an act that if charged as an adult could constitute inducing panic in violation of R.C. 2917.31(A)(1). 1 As alleged in the complaint, this was a crime that if committed by an adult would constitute a…”
State v. Thomas, 2024 Ohio 1534 (Ohio Ct. App. 2024). “25(A) and (D)(3); and Count 5 – Inducing Panic, a fourth-degree felony in violation of R.C. 2917.31(A)(2) and (C)(3). Counts 1, 2, and 3 each also contained a Repeat Violent Offender specification pursuant to R.”
In re J.C., 2013 Ohio 1292 (Ohio Ct. App. 2013). “{¶29} Moreover, R.C. 2917.31 “does not limit the offense of Inducing Panic to situations in which a single factor is the cause of the panic or alarm.”
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2917.31(C)(3) — 2 cases
State v. Thomas, 2024 Ohio 1534 (Ohio Ct. App. 2024). “25(A) and (D)(3); and Count 5 – Inducing Panic, a fourth-degree felony in violation of R.C. 2917.31(A)(2) and (C)(3). Counts 1, 2, and 3 each also contained a Repeat Violent Offender specification pursuant to R.”
State v. Thomas, 2025 Ohio 603 (Ohio Ct. App. 2025).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2917.31(C)(4) — 1 case
State v. Wetherby, 2013 Ohio 3442 (Ohio Ct. App. 2013). “{¶32} R.C. 2917.31 Inducing Panic, provides, (A) No person shall cause the evacuation of any public place, or otherwise cause serious public inconvenience or alarm, by doing any of the following: (1) Initiating or circulating a report or warning of an alleged or impending fire,…”
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2917.31(C)(4)(a) — 3 cases
In re J.C., 2013 Ohio 1292 (Ohio Ct. App. 2013). “{¶29} Moreover, R.C. 2917.31 “does not limit the offense of Inducing Panic to situations in which a single factor is the cause of the panic or alarm.”
State v. McKenzie, 2021 Ohio 536 (Ohio Ct. App. 2021).
State v. Juniel, 2013 Ohio 5459 (Ohio Ct. App. 2013).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2917.31(C)(4)(b) — 2 cases
State v. Pleban, 2011 Ohio 3254 (Ohio Ct. App. 2011). “The State, however, did not charge Pleban with inducing panic in violation of R.C. 2917.31(A)(2), which requires that serious public inconvenience or alarm be premised on the threat to commit any offense of violence.”
State v. Wills, 2013 Ohio 4507 (Ohio Ct. App. 2013).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2917.31(C)(5) — 3 cases
In re J.C., 2013 Ohio 1292 (Ohio Ct. App. 2013). “{¶29} Moreover, R.C. 2917.31 “does not limit the offense of Inducing Panic to situations in which a single factor is the cause of the panic or alarm.”
In re C.I.R., 2019 Ohio 335 (Ohio Ct. App. 2019). “, who was then just 14 years old, was a delinquent child for having committed an act that if charged as an adult could constitute inducing panic in violation of R.C. 2917.31(A)(1). 1 As alleged in the complaint, this was a crime that if committed by an adult would constitute a…”
State v. Huffman, 2026 Ohio 1618 (Ohio Ct. App. 2026).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2917.31(E)(1)(b) — 5 cases
State v. Pleban, 2011 Ohio 3254 (Ohio Ct. App. 2011). “The State, however, did not charge Pleban with inducing panic in violation of R.C. 2917.31(A)(2), which requires that serious public inconvenience or alarm be premised on the threat to commit any offense of violence.”
State v. Christian, 2014 Ohio 2672 (Ohio Ct. App. 2014).
State v. Wetherby, 2013 Ohio 3442 (Ohio Ct. App. 2013). “{¶32} R.C. 2917.31 Inducing Panic, provides, (A) No person shall cause the evacuation of any public place, or otherwise cause serious public inconvenience or alarm, by doing any of the following: (1) Initiating or circulating a report or warning of an alleged or impending fire,…”
State v. Wills, 2013 Ohio 4507 (Ohio Ct. App. 2013).
State v. Juniel, 2013 Ohio 5459 (Ohio Ct. App. 2013).
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