Amend HB 338 – Now
Protect Reentry Services and Education Pathways in Ohio Prisons
HB 338 is pending legislation that could fundamentally reshape reentry preparation and reintegration for thousands of incarcerated Ohioans and their families. Without critical amendments, this bill risks creating sweeping and harmful changes to Ohio's prison education and reentry systems. We are calling on advocates, families, clergy, educators, and reentry professionals to learn what's at stake — and use your voice now.
Who Will Be Impacted
The term "high security facility" appears throughout the bill but lacks consistent definition, creating significant ambiguity about who is affected. According to the October 2025 ODRC Population Counts:
Level 4 & Higher
5% of all incarcerated individuals in Ohio
Level 3 & Higher
25% of all incarcerated individuals affected by provisions
ORC 5120.012: Education Elimination
Eliminates all higher education programs at high security institutions.
ORC 5120.491: New Public Registry
Creates a publicly accessible registry of incarcerated people who violate rules related to sexual offenses, lasting 10 years post-sentence.
ORC 5120.012: Tablet Restrictions
Bans personal tablet assignment for incarcerated people at high security institutions.
ORC 5120.012: Contact Visit Elimination
Removes contact visitation at all Level 3 and 4 institutions.
Reentry Focused Amendments We Want to See Changed in the Bill:
Protect Higher Education Access
Remove limitations on higher education in Level 3 and 4 facilities and maintain current eligibility policies
Eliminate New Registry
Reverse course on creating another registry in ALL institutions and invest in practices that create accountability without collateral consequences
Preserve Communication Tools
Ensure personal communication devices remain as accessible as the current practice
Maintain Contact Visitation
Maintain visitation as is for high security prisons. This is important for maintaining family and support, also critical for parents with kids.
The Genesis of Andy's Law
Introduced June 5, 2025, HB 338 honors Correction Officer Andrew "Andy" Lansing, who died following a violent assault on Christmas morning 2024 at Ross Correctional Institution. The bill aims to restore order and deter violence in Ohio prisons through sweeping reforms — but many of its provisions, including eliminating higher education access, contact visits, personal tablets, and creating a public registry for anyone accused of violating institutional rules, risk serious unintended consequences for incarcerated people and their families.
