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Ohio Revised Code

Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.22 (2026)

Failure to report a crime or knowledge of a death or burn injury

✓ current as of May 2026
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Effective:
March 21, 2025
Latest Legislation:
Senate Bill 109 - 135th General Assembly
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(A)(1) Except as provided in division (A)(2) of this section, no person, knowing that a felony has been or is being committed, shall knowingly fail to report such information to law enforcement authorities.

(2) No person, knowing that a violation of division (B) of section 2913.04 of the Revised Code has been, or is being committed or that the person has received information derived from such a violation, shall knowingly fail to report the violation to law enforcement authorities.

(B) Except for conditions that are within the scope of division (E) of this section, no person giving aid to a sick or injured person shall negligently fail to report to law enforcement authorities any gunshot or stab wound treated or observed by the person, or any serious physical harm to persons that the person knows or has reasonable cause to believe resulted from an offense of violence.

(C) No person who discovers the body or acquires the first knowledge of the death of a person shall fail to report the death immediately to a physician or advanced practice registered nurse whom the person knows to be treating the deceased for a condition from which death at such time would not be unexpected, or to a law enforcement officer, an ambulance service, an emergency squad, or the coroner in a political subdivision in which the body is discovered, the death is believed to have occurred, or knowledge concerning the death is obtained. For purposes of this division, "advanced practice registered nurse" does not include a certified registered nurse anesthetist.

(D) No person shall fail to provide upon request of the person to whom a report required by division (C) of this section was made, or to any law enforcement officer who has reasonable cause to assert the authority to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death, any facts within the person's knowledge that may have a bearing on the investigation of the death.

(E)(1) As used in this division, "burn injury" means any of the following:

(a) Second or third degree burns;

(b) Any burns to the upper respiratory tract or laryngeal edema due to the inhalation of superheated air;

(c) Any burn injury or wound that may result in death;

(d) Any physical harm to persons caused by or as the result of the use of fireworks, novelties and trick noisemakers, and wire sparklers, as each is defined by section 3743.01 of the Revised Code.

(2) No physician, nurse, physician assistant, or limited practitioner who, outside a hospital, sanitarium, or other medical facility, attends or treats a person who has sustained a burn injury that is inflicted by an explosion or other incendiary device or that shows evidence of having been inflicted in a violent, malicious, or criminal manner shall fail to report the burn injury immediately to the local arson, or fire and explosion investigation, bureau, if there is a bureau of this type in the jurisdiction in which the person is attended or treated, or otherwise to local law enforcement authorities.

(3) No manager, superintendent, or other person in charge of a hospital, sanitarium, or other medical facility in which a person is attended or treated for any burn injury that is inflicted by an explosion or other incendiary device or that shows evidence of having been inflicted in a violent, malicious, or criminal manner shall fail to report the burn injury immediately to the local arson, or fire and explosion investigation, bureau, if there is a bureau of this type in the jurisdiction in which the person is attended or treated, or otherwise to local law enforcement authorities.

(4) No person who is required to report any burn injury under division (E)(2) or (3) of this section shall fail to file, within three working days after attending or treating the victim, a written report of the burn injury with the office of the state fire marshal. The report shall comply with the uniform standard developed by the state fire marshal pursuant to division (A)(15) of section 3737.22 of the Revised Code.

(5) Anyone participating in the making of reports under division (E) of this section or anyone participating in a judicial proceeding resulting from the reports is immune from any civil or criminal liability that otherwise might be incurred or imposed as a result of such actions. Notwithstanding section 4731.22 of the Revised Code, the physician-patient relationship or advanced practice registered nurse-patient relationship is not a ground for excluding evidence regarding a person's burn injury or the cause of the burn injury in any judicial proceeding resulting from a report submitted under division (E) of this section.

(F)(1) No person who knows that a licensed medical professional has committed an offense under Chapter 2907. of the Revised Code, a violation of a municipal ordinance that is substantially equivalent to such offense, or a substantially equivalent criminal offense in another jurisdiction, against a patient of the licensed medical professional shall fail to report such knowledge to law enforcement authorities within thirty days of obtaining the knowledge.

(2) Except for a self-report or participation in the offense or violation being reported, any person who makes a report within the thirty-day period provided in division (F)(1) of this section or any person who participates in a judicial proceeding that results from such report is immune from civil or criminal liability that otherwise might be incurred or imposed as a result of making that report or participating in that proceeding so long as the person is acting in good faith without fraud or malice.

(3) The physician-patient relationship or physician assistant-patient relationship is not a ground for excluding evidence regarding the person's knowledge of a licensed medical professional's commission of an offense or violation reported under division (F)(1) of this section, against that licensed medical professional in any judicial proceeding resulting from a report made under that division.

(4) As used in division (F) of this section, "licensed medical professional" has the same meaning as in section 2907.01 of the Revised Code.

(G)(1) Any doctor of medicine or osteopathic medicine, hospital intern or resident, nurse, psychologist, social worker, independent social worker, social work assistant, licensed professional clinical counselor, licensed professional counselor, independent marriage and family therapist, or marriage and family therapist who knows or has reasonable cause to believe that a patient or client has been the victim of domestic violence, as defined in section 3113.31 of the Revised Code, shall note that knowledge or belief and the basis for it in the patient's or client's records.

(2) Notwithstanding section 4731.22 of the Revised Code, the physician-patient privilege or advanced practice registered nurse-patient privilege shall not be a ground for excluding any information regarding the report containing the knowledge or belief noted under division (G)(1) of this section, and the information may be admitted as evidence in accordance with the Rules of Evidence.

(H) Divisions (A) and (D) of this section do not require disclosure of information, when any of the following applies:

(1) The information is privileged by reason of the relationship between attorney and client; physician and patient; advanced practice registered nurse and patient; licensed psychologist or licensed school psychologist and client; licensed professional clinical counselor, licensed professional counselor, independent social worker, social worker, independent marriage and family therapist, or marriage and family therapist and client; member of the clergy, rabbi, minister, or priest and any person communicating information confidentially to the member of the clergy, rabbi, minister, or priest for a religious counseling purpose of a professional character; husband and wife; or a communications assistant and those who are a party to a telecommunications relay service call.

(2) The information would tend to incriminate a member of the actor's immediate family.

(3) Disclosure of the information would amount to revealing a news source, privileged under section 2739.04 or 2739.12 of the Revised Code.

(4) Disclosure of the information would amount to disclosure by a member of the ordained clergy of an organized religious body of a confidential communication made to that member of the clergy in that member's capacity as a member of the clergy by a person seeking the aid or counsel of that member of the clergy.

(5) Disclosure would amount to revealing information acquired by the actor in the course of the actor's duties in connection with a bona fide program of treatment or services for persons with drug dependencies or persons in danger of drug dependence, which program is maintained or conducted by a hospital, clinic, person, agency, or community addiction services provider whose alcohol and drug addiction services are certified pursuant to section 5119.36 of the Revised Code.

(6) Disclosure would amount to revealing information acquired by the actor in the course of the actor's duties in connection with a bona fide program for providing counseling services to victims of crimes that are violations of section 2907.02 or 2907.05 of the Revised Code or to victims of felonious sexual penetration in violation of former section 2907.12 of the Revised Code. As used in this division, "counseling services" include services provided in an informal setting by a person who, by education or experience, is competent to provide those services.

(I) No disclosure of information pursuant to this section gives rise to any liability or recrimination for a breach of privilege or confidence.

(J) Whoever violates division (A), (B), or (F)(1) of this section is guilty of failure to report a crime. Violation of division (A)(1) or (F)(1) of this section is a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. Violation of division (A)(2) or (B) of this section is a misdemeanor of the second degree.

(K) Whoever violates division (C) or (D) of this section is guilty of failure to report knowledge of a death, a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.

(L)(1) Whoever negligently violates division (E) of this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.

(2) Whoever knowingly violates division (E) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree.

(M) As used in this section, "nurse" includes an advanced practice registered nurse, registered nurse, and licensed practical nurse.

Last updated January 27, 2025 at 1:55 PM

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 54 cases (10 in the last 5 years), 1983–2025 · leading case: State v. Jones, 2000 Ohio 187 (Ohio 2000).
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State v. Jones, 2000 Ohio 187 (Ohio 2000). · cites it 56× “, a news report), he would have been required to report the injury pursuant to R.C. 2921.22, given his personal suspicions about the nature of the injury.”
Kelly v. Acct. Bd. of Ohio, 624 N.E.2d 292 (Ohio Ct. App. 1993). · cites it 19× “” In its first assignment of error, the board alleges that the trial court erred in reversing the board’s order because the court incorrectly interpreted the term “report” as it is used in R.C. 2921.22; that Kelly breached his duty of confidentiality under Ohio Adm.”
State v. Rydarowicz, 2023 Ohio 916 (Ohio Ct. App. 2023). · cites it 15× “R.C. 2921.22 (I). “No disclosure of information pursuant to this section gives rise to any liability or recrimination for a breach of privilege or confidence.”
Godwin v. Facebook, Inc., 2020 Ohio 4834 (Ohio Ct. App. 2020). · cites it 6× “Godwin asserted five causes of action against Facebook: (1) common law negligence for failing to warn the police of Stephens’s threat; (2) civil recovery for a criminal act in failing to report a terrorist threat made by Stephens; (3) statutory negligence for failing to warn in…”
State v. Webb, 638 N.E.2d 1023 (Ohio 1994). · cites it 3× “22(E)(5) provides that “evidence regarding a person’s burn injury or the cause of the burn injury” is unprivileged “in any judicial proceeding resulting from a report submitted pursuant to” R.C. 2921.22(E). However, the record does not show whether any such report was made, nor…”
State v. Wardlow, 484 N.E.2d 276 (Ohio Ct. App. 1985). · cites it 9× “Appellant’s first four assignments of error, which are set forth below, pertain to the conviction of failure to report a crime on April 21,1984, in violation of R.C. 2921.22: 1 “The judgment of conviction by the trial court is contrary to law since there was insufficient…”
State v. Gonzalez, 796 N.E.2d 12 (Ohio Ct. App. 2003). · cites it 4× “27 And while not listed in the privilege statute as an exception, R.C. 2921.22 waives the doctor-patient privilege and requires a physician to report to law enforcement authorities any gunshot or stab wound treated or observed by the physician, or any serious physical harm to…”
Hite v. Brown, 654 N.E.2d 452 (Ohio Ct. App. 1995). · cites it 5× “421, the child abuse reporting statute, and R.C. 2921.22, the criminal compounding statute.”
Morgan v. Cmty. Health Partners, 2013 Ohio 2259 (Ohio Ct. App. 2013). · cites it 29× “The trial court granted the second motion for summary judgment on the basis of R.C. 2921.22 and dismissed the Morgans’ complaint.”
State v. Marek, 2022 Ohio 2044 (Ohio Ct. App. 2022). · cites it 8× “No Spousal Exception In the third assignment of error, appellant argues that the trial court erred in convicting her of endangering children due to the spousal exception as set forth in R.”
State v. Webb, 1994 Ohio 425 (Ohio 1994). · cites it 3× “22(E)(5) provides that "evidence regarding a person's burn injury or the cause of the burn injury" is unprivileged "in any judicial proceeding resulting from a report submitted pursuant to" R.C. 2921.22(E). However, the record does not show whether any such report was made, nor…”
State ex rel. Zimmerman v. Tompkins, 663 N.E.2d 639 (Ohio 1996). “This remedy is complete, beneficial, and speedy as to Zimmerman’s assertion that Tompkins violated R.C. 2921.22(A) by failing to report the alleged criminal conduct.”
Show all 54 citing cases →
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.22(1) — 1 case
Dovell v. the Guernsey Bank, 373 B.R. 533 (S.D. Ohio 2007).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.22(A) — 18 cases
State ex rel. Zimmerman v. Tompkins, 663 N.E.2d 639 (Ohio 1996). “This remedy is complete, beneficial, and speedy as to Zimmerman’s assertion that Tompkins violated R.C. 2921.22(A) by failing to report the alleged criminal conduct.”
Kelly v. Acct. Bd. of Ohio, 624 N.E.2d 292 (Ohio Ct. App. 1993). “” In its first assignment of error, the board alleges that the trial court erred in reversing the board’s order because the court incorrectly interpreted the term “report” as it is used in R.C. 2921.22; that Kelly breached his duty of confidentiality under Ohio Adm.”
Phung v. Waste Mgmt., Inc., 491 N.E.2d 1114 (Ohio 1986).
Garrett v. Fisher Titus Hosp., 318 F. Supp. 2d 562 (N.D. Ohio 2004).
State v. Klofta, 2020 Ohio 5032 (Ohio Ct. App. 2020).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.22(A)(1) — 4 cases
State v. Rybak, 2020 Ohio 5367 (Ohio Ct. App. 2020).
State v. King, 2018 Ohio 3232 (Ohio Ct. App. 2018).
Stewart v. Gentile, 2025 Ohio 5012 (Ohio Ct. App. 2025).
Harris (S.D. Ohio 2025).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.22(B) — 7 cases
State v. Jones, 2000 Ohio 187 (Ohio 2000). “, a news report), he would have been required to report the injury pursuant to R.C. 2921.22, given his personal suspicions about the nature of the injury.”
State v. Rydarowicz, 2023 Ohio 916 (Ohio Ct. App. 2023). “R.C. 2921.22 (I). “No disclosure of information pursuant to this section gives rise to any liability or recrimination for a breach of privilege or confidence.”
Fair v. St. Elizabeth Med. Ctr., 737 N.E.2d 106 (Ohio Ct. App. 2000).
Turk v. Oiler, 732 F. Supp. 2d 758 (N.D. Ohio 2010).
Morgan v. Cmty. Health Partners, 2013 Ohio 2259 (Ohio Ct. App. 2013). “The trial court granted the second motion for summary judgment on the basis of R.C. 2921.22 and dismissed the Morgans’ complaint.”
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.22(C) — 3 cases
State v. Warfel, 2017 Ohio 5766 (Ohio Ct. App. 2017).
State v. Hopfer, 679 N.E.2d 321 (Ohio Ct. App. 1996).
State v. Shepard, 2019 Ohio 3995 (Ohio Ct. App. 2019).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.22(E) — 4 cases
State v. Jones, 2000 Ohio 187 (Ohio 2000). “, a news report), he would have been required to report the injury pursuant to R.C. 2921.22, given his personal suspicions about the nature of the injury.”
State v. Webb, 638 N.E.2d 1023 (Ohio 1994). “22(E)(5) provides that “evidence regarding a person’s burn injury or the cause of the burn injury” is unprivileged “in any judicial proceeding resulting from a report submitted pursuant to” R.C. 2921.22(E). However, the record does not show whether any such report was made, nor…”
State v. Webb, 1994 Ohio 425 (Ohio 1994). “22(E)(5) provides that "evidence regarding a person's burn injury or the cause of the burn injury" is unprivileged "in any judicial proceeding resulting from a report submitted pursuant to" R.C. 2921.22(E). However, the record does not show whether any such report was made, nor…”
State v. Jones, 2000 Ohio 187 (Ohio 2000).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.22(E)(3) — 2 cases
State v. Webb, 638 N.E.2d 1023 (Ohio 1994). “22(E)(5) provides that “evidence regarding a person’s burn injury or the cause of the burn injury” is unprivileged “in any judicial proceeding resulting from a report submitted pursuant to” R.C. 2921.22(E). However, the record does not show whether any such report was made, nor…”
State v. Webb, 1994 Ohio 425 (Ohio 1994). “22(E)(5) provides that "evidence regarding a person's burn injury or the cause of the burn injury" is unprivileged "in any judicial proceeding resulting from a report submitted pursuant to" R.C. 2921.22(E). However, the record does not show whether any such report was made, nor…”
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.22(E)(5) — 5 cases
State v. Jones, 2000 Ohio 187 (Ohio 2000). “, a news report), he would have been required to report the injury pursuant to R.C. 2921.22, given his personal suspicions about the nature of the injury.”
State v. Webb, 638 N.E.2d 1023 (Ohio 1994). “22(E)(5) provides that “evidence regarding a person’s burn injury or the cause of the burn injury” is unprivileged “in any judicial proceeding resulting from a report submitted pursuant to” R.C. 2921.22(E). However, the record does not show whether any such report was made, nor…”
State v. Gonzalez, 796 N.E.2d 12 (Ohio Ct. App. 2003). “27 And while not listed in the privilege statute as an exception, R.C. 2921.22 waives the doctor-patient privilege and requires a physician to report to law enforcement authorities any gunshot or stab wound treated or observed by the physician, or any serious physical harm to…”
State v. Webb, 1994 Ohio 425 (Ohio 1994). “22(E)(5) provides that "evidence regarding a person's burn injury or the cause of the burn injury" is unprivileged "in any judicial proceeding resulting from a report submitted pursuant to" R.C. 2921.22(E). However, the record does not show whether any such report was made, nor…”
State v. Jones, 2000 Ohio 187 (Ohio 2000).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.22(F)(1) — 2 cases
State v. Jones, 2000 Ohio 187 (Ohio 2000). “, a news report), he would have been required to report the injury pursuant to R.C. 2921.22, given his personal suspicions about the nature of the injury.”
State v. Jones, 2000 Ohio 187 (Ohio 2000).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.22(F)(2) — 2 cases
State v. Jones, 2000 Ohio 187 (Ohio 2000). “, a news report), he would have been required to report the injury pursuant to R.C. 2921.22, given his personal suspicions about the nature of the injury.”
State v. Jones, 2000 Ohio 187 (Ohio 2000).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.22(G) — 3 cases
Kelly v. Acct. Bd. of Ohio, 624 N.E.2d 292 (Ohio Ct. App. 1993). “” In its first assignment of error, the board alleges that the trial court erred in reversing the board’s order because the court incorrectly interpreted the term “report” as it is used in R.C. 2921.22; that Kelly breached his duty of confidentiality under Ohio Adm.”
State v. Billman, 2013 Ohio 5774 (Ohio Ct. App. 2013).
State v. Rybak, 2020 Ohio 5367 (Ohio Ct. App. 2020).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.22(G)(1) — 3 cases
State v. Rydarowicz, 2023 Ohio 916 (Ohio Ct. App. 2023). “R.C. 2921.22 (I). “No disclosure of information pursuant to this section gives rise to any liability or recrimination for a breach of privilege or confidence.”
State v. Marek, 2022 Ohio 2044 (Ohio Ct. App. 2022). “No Spousal Exception In the third assignment of error, appellant argues that the trial court erred in convicting her of endangering children due to the spousal exception as set forth in R.”
State v. Rybak, 2020 Ohio 5367 (Ohio Ct. App. 2020).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.22(G)(2) — 1 case
M.S. v. Harvey, 2014 Ohio 4236 (Ohio Ct. App. 2014).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.22(H) — 4 cases
State v. Rydarowicz, 2023 Ohio 916 (Ohio Ct. App. 2023). “R.C. 2921.22 (I). “No disclosure of information pursuant to this section gives rise to any liability or recrimination for a breach of privilege or confidence.”
Morgan v. Cmty. Health Partners, 2013 Ohio 2259 (Ohio Ct. App. 2013). “The trial court granted the second motion for summary judgment on the basis of R.C. 2921.22 and dismissed the Morgans’ complaint.”
Garrett v. Fisher Titus Hosp., 318 F. Supp. 2d 562 (N.D. Ohio 2004).
Stewart v. Gentile, 2025 Ohio 5012 (Ohio Ct. App. 2025).
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