Columbus and Dayton File First-of-its-Kind Suit Against Ohio Attorney General’s Office Over Failure to Ensure Criminal Convictions Are Entered Into Background Check Databases
City of Columbus, et al. v. Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation, et al.
On February 9, 2021, the cities of Columbus and Dayton filed an amended complaint in a first-of-its kind lawsuit alleging that court intervention is required to remedy massive gaps that have plagued Ohio’s criminal background check databases for years, putting public safety at risk. As a result of these gaps, the case alleges, thousands of people prohibited from possessing firearms because of a criminal conviction can currently pass background checks–including background checks required to buy firearms, obtain an Ohio concealed carry permit and be hired in sensitive positions including working with children.
Following a motion to dismiss by the defendants, the court allowed the cities to proceed on one of their two claims. The parties thereafter reached a favorable settlement that addresses broad systemic information collection issues, including modernizing technology for the collection of fingerprints and other criminal history records, creating a self-service system for reporting agencies to identify and resolve errors or omissions in their submission of criminal history information, improving training for reporting agencies, and publishing compliance by reporting agencies through a publicly available online dashboard.
Case Documents
Press
Press Release
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