Legislative Criminal Justice Counsel

Legislative Criminal Justice Counsel

The Legislative Criminal Justice Counsel assists the Ohio Criminal Sentencing Commission (OCSC) in researching, developing, and recommending effective strategies relative to sentencing and criminal justice issues. This position assists the director and the commission in its work to revise Ohio's criminal statutes, to prepare summary materials and resources designed to make the law more workable for practitioners, and to assist the commission in responding to routine inquiries.

The Legislative Criminal Justice Counsel serves as liaison on legislative matters to the Ohio General Assembly, executive branch officials, state agencies, governmental entities, and judicial branch associations, monitors legislation, attends committee meetings, discusses initiatives, and drafts testimony for legislative committee hearings.

The following duties are normal for this position. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. Other duties may be required and assigned.

• Assists the director in preparing commission work products and facilitates commission and committee meetings and general duties of the office.
• Serves as liaison to the Ohio General Assembly, executive branch officials, state agencies, regulatory bodies, governmental entities, judicial associations, bar associations, court personnel associations, and other interest groups as designated by the commission director.
• Monitors legislation, handles legislative program activities and public affairs as one of the commission's registered lobbyist, attends legislative committee meetings, discusses initiatives with interested parties, and drafts testimony for legislative committee hearings.
• Prepares and makes presentations on the status of legislation, on legislative activities during the session, and on new laws after adjournment.
• Prepares, drafts, analyzes, and monitors new legislation. Tracks and monitors pending legislation affecting the criminal justice system, informing affected parties of its status, taking appropriate action, and drafting talking points and other communication tools.
• Advises the director, the commission and its committees, interested parties, and justice system partners regarding legislative issues and initiatives and provides updates on the status of legislation that is proposed or pending before the Ohio General Assembly.
• Monitors trends developed through legislation, case law, and promising practices relative to criminal justice issues and disseminates pertinent information to the commission director, the commission and its committees, interested parties and justice system partners.
• Tracks bills in the Ohio Legislature and prepares written and oral updates for the commission.
• Conducts legal and non-legal research. Writes memos and other documents on criminal justice issues for the commission and provides legal advice on commission matters, as needed.
• Makes presentations on the work of the OCSC, its committees, other working committees and criminal justice seminars, judicial and court personnel educational courses, and other meetings and sessions.
• Writes and edits commission documents, including legislative drafting. May provide written and oral testimony at legislative committee hearings. Serves as a staff liaison to committees, boards, task forces, commissions, and work groups. May provide work direction as it relates to specific tasks and/or projects to administrative staff and/or interns placed at the OCSC. Performs other duties as assigned.

Regular, reliable, and punctual attendance is required. This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

At the State of Ohio, we take care of the team that cares for Ohioans. We provide a variety of quality, competitive benefits to eligible full-time and part-time employees*. For a list of all the State of Ohio Benefits, visit our Total Rewards website! Our benefits package includes:
Medical Coverage Free Dental, Vision and Basic Life Insurance premiums after completion of eligibility period Paid time off, including vacation, personal, sick leave and 11 paid holidays per year Childbirth, Adoption, and Foster Care leave Education and Development…