Ohio NCII Law Overview

Applicable statute: Ohio Revised Code § 2917.211 (Nonconsensual Dissemination of Private Sexual Images)

Criminal penalty: Misdemeanor of the first degree (first offense); fifth-degree felony for subsequent offenses or when the victim is a minor

Civil remedies: injunctive relief, actual damages, and statutory damages up to $10,000 in appropriate cases

Ohio's NCII statute at § 2917.211 provides both criminal and civil remedies for victims. The escalating penalty structure, first offense as a misdemeanor, subsequent offenses as a felony, and specific provisions for minor victims, creates a framework that can be used for both isolated and repeat offenders.

Ohio also provides civil injunctive relief, which is particularly valuable for stopping ongoing distribution before a criminal case concludes. Ohio courts have shown willingness to grant emergency temporary restraining orders in NCII cases, allowing swift intervention while the civil or criminal process proceeds.

Your Rights in Ohio

How to File in Ohio

File a police report with local law enforcement. The Ohio Attorney General's Crime Victim Services section handles NCII cases. Civil actions are filed in Common Pleas Court in the county where the plaintiff resides.

Local Support Resources

Federal Rights Under the TAKE IT DOWN Act

In addition to Ohio state law, the federal TAKE IT DOWN Act (47 U.S.C. 223a) gives you a direct right to demand removal from any covered platform within 48 hours. Covered platforms, those with 10 million or more monthly US active users, face FTC enforcement with civil penalties up to $50,000 per violation per day if they do not comply. ScanErase's biometric scan finds every platform hosting your images, so you can file the formal notice yourself.