What can felons not do in Ohio?

Asked by: Hipolito Bauch  |  Last update: September 14, 2025
Score: 4.4/5 (10 votes)

Generally speaking, a convicted felon does not have the right to bear arms in Ohio unless they have their gun rights restored. In other words, most people with felony convictions in Ohio cannot possess firearms. If they get caught with a gun, they can be prosecuted for illegal possession of a firearm.

What rights do Ohio felons lose?

A.

A person convicted of a felony loses the right to vote, serve as a juror and hold “an office of honor, trust, or profit.” Ohio Rev. Code § 2961.01(A)(1). The right to vote is restored upon release from confinement, so that a person may vote while on probation or parole. § 2961.01(A)(2).

Is Ohio a felon-friendly state?

State law provides that certain positions of employment within the State of Ohio are unavailable to individuals who have pled guilty and/or been convicted of criminal conduct, based on the nature of the criminal violation and/or the type of position being sought.

What are you not allowed to do as a felon?

The rights most often curtailed include the right to vote and hold public office, employment rights, domestic rights, and financial and contractual rights. State statutes and local ordinances are the traditional means for abridging the rights of convicted criminals.

What kind of weapons can a felon have in Ohio?

Felons
  • Federal Law forbids persons with felony convictions to buy, own, use or possess firearms, ammunition or explosives. ...
  • Even after supervision expires, you will not be permitted to buy, own, use or possess any firearm without specific written authorization from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

Ohio Prison - Documentary

32 related questions found

Can a felon get their gun rights back in Ohio?

If you've lost your right to own and bear arms under the 2nd Amendment because of a felony conviction, there is a mechanism under Ohio law to restore those rights. A person must NOT have had any new convictions since the conviction that led to the loss of their gun rights.

Can a felon in Ohio own a crossbow?

Yes, a felon is prohibited from possessing any type of firearm which expels a projectile by an explosive reaction, but that restriction does not apply to stringed weapons like bows or crossbows.

What are the cons of being a felon?

Let's take a look at some of the hard-to-believe ways that felons continue to be punished even after they've done their time.
  • You can't travel, but you also can't find a home. ...
  • You can't vote. ...
  • You can't serve on a jury. ...
  • You can't get public benefits. ...
  • You can't get a job.

Do felonies go away after 7 years?

Dismissed felony charges can usually be sealed or expunged right away. In California, a felony conviction stays on your record forever if you do not get it expunged. You may be eligible for an expungement if you did not serve time in state prison.

What rights are felons denied?

  • What is the New Law for Felons in California?
  • Loss of Voting Rights During Incarceration or On Parole.
  • Lifetime Ban on Owning, Possessing, or Purchasing Firearms in California.
  • Lifetime Ban on Serving on Juries After a Felony Conviction.
  • Can Convicted Felons Hold Public Office in California?

Can a felon live in a house with a gun in Ohio?

Under Ohio Revised Code §2923.13, individuals who are under indictment or have been convicted for any violent offense are prohibited from acquiring, having, carrying, or using any firearm.

Can you hunt in Ohio if you have a felony?

Both state law and federal law prohibit gun ownership by most people convicted of a felony offense for the rest of their lives. These restrictions have two effects. First, you cannot own a gun for any reason, including hunting or self-defense, if you fall into this category.

How long does a felony stay on your record in the state of Ohio?

To seal a fourth- or fifth-degree felony, you must wait 12 months; to seal a third-degree felony, you must wait 36 months if it is the only one on your criminal record. To expunge felonies of these degrees, you must wait 120 months (10 years) after the record is successfully sealed.

Can a felons wife have a gun in Ohio?

To be clear, there are no rules that prohibit the spouse of a convicted felon from owning a firearm. Being married to someone who committed a crime does not mean you should or can be punished by the law for doing so.

What privileges do you lose as a felon?

The good news is that California does not restrict the constitutional rights of felons nearly as much as other states. Unfortunately, the state still does have many restrictions on what felons are not able to do after a conviction —for example, they can no longer possess a firearm or serve on a jury.

What crimes cannot be pardoned in Ohio?

To be eligible to apply for an expedited pardon, you must have: No new felony and misdemeanor criminal convictions in the last ten years. No convictions for prohibited offenses including murder, attempted murder, rape, kidnapping, and domestic violence. Read the full list of prohibited offenses here.

Does a felony stay with you for life?

A felony will stay on your record forever in California unless you choose to take action and get the conviction removed. This is called the “expungement process” and generally requires the help of a legal representative to get underway.

Can you get a passport with a felony?

Most convicted felons in the US can obtain a passport after completing their sentence. That said, certain felony convictions can still disqualify you from getting a passport. Other reasons for being denied a US passport include failing to pay child support or having significant outstanding federal tax debts.

Do I have to disclose a felony after 7 years in Ohio?

The FCRA contains a seven-year lookback provision that prohibits CRAs from reporting certain information that is seven or more years old. CRAs are not allowed to report arrests not resulting in convictions, liens, collections, civil judgments, or bankruptcies that are at least seven years old.

What can't you do with a felon?

Throughout the United States, some of the general rights convicted felons lose are as follows, varying state by state:
  1. Voting.
  2. Traveling abroad.
  3. The right to bear arms or own guns.
  4. Jury service.
  5. Employment in certain fields.
  6. Public social benefits and housing.
  7. Parental benefits.

What is the best job a felon can get?

12 highest-paying jobs for felons
  1. Digital marketer. ...
  2. Freelance copywriter. ...
  3. Freelance designer. ...
  4. Painter. ...
  5. Maintenance worker. ...
  6. CNC machinist. ...
  7. Car sales executive. ...
  8. Entrepreneur.

Does Amazon hire felons?

Yes, Amazon does hire felons. Your eligibility for employment will depend on the type of felony, time since you have fulfilled your sentence and corrective actions you have completed.

What guns can felons own?

Under federal law, those convicted of a felony are forbidden from purchasing or possessing firearms and explosives.

Can a felon own a BB gun in Ohio?

Greetings; BB guns, Air Soft, and Pellet Guns are not covered under federal regulations and felons can buy these and also Black Powder Guns without check or waiting lists.

Can a felon still hunt?

If I am convicted of a Federal crime, am I permitted to hunt? An individual convicted of a felony offense is prohibited from possessing a firearm under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1), but is not prohibited from hunting consistent with state regulations.