Legal Community
Scott Criss
Scott Criss, Assistant Section Chief
Section Chief

Section Phone Number: 614-644-7233
AGO Help Center: 800-282-0515

About the AGO > Service Divisions > Criminal Justice

Criminal Justice

The Criminal Justice Section is composed of three units:

The Capital Crimes Unit works to uphold lawfully imposed death sentences.  This generally includes many years of litigation in the federal courts opposing challenges brought by inmates who claim that their death sentences were improper.  The Unit provides assistance to county prosecutors at the trial level in death penalty cases, when requested, and also participates with the county prosecutor in responding to clemency requests prior to execution.

The Habeas Unit works to keep dangerous criminals in prison by opposing litigation brought by inmates who seek to overturn valid convictions and prison sentences.

The Corrections Unit represents the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction and Department of Youth Services; it defends these departments and their employees against lawsuits brought by inmates.