COLUMBUS, Ohio - Law enforcement agencies across Ohio are now prohibited from mandating quotas for arrests or citations under a new state law.

Senate Bill 114, enacted by the 136th General Assembly, bans formal and informal plans that use a specific number of arrests or tickets as the basis for evaluating, promoting, compensating, transferring, or disciplining local and state police officers. The measure also prevents agencies from suggesting that an officer is required to meet a quota, which the act defines as a finite number of actions that must be completed within a specific time frame.

The legislation applies to a wide range of state and local entities, including county sheriffs, municipal police departments, township police districts, and the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

The act details specific oversight requirements for the attorney general’s office. The office is required to establish a way in which officers can report alleged violations. Upon receiving a report, including those submitted anonymously, the attorney general must investigate the use of illegal quotas within one year.

If an investigation finds that an agency is in violation, the attorney general is authorized to issue a cease and desist order. The law clarifies that agencies are still permitted to collect, analyze, and apply data on the number of arrests and citations to ensure that officers meet their legal obligations and to assess the proportions of enforcement activity.

The move marks a policy shift aimed at separating officer performance reviews from the volume of enforcement actions taken.