9.9 Attorney General

The attorney general is the chief legal officer of Ohio and represents the state in legal matters. The office provides legal advice to state agencies and officials, defends the state in court, and enforces both civil and criminal laws. This means the attorney general can take action in cases involving financial or consumer disputes (civil law) as well as cases that involve breaking the law and possible punishment (criminal law).

While the attorney general does not usually prosecute routine criminal cases, the office may step in when asked by a county prosecutor, when there is a conflict of interest, or in specialized cases such as organized crime, public corruption, or environmental violations.

The attorney general also oversees law enforcement initiatives and consumer protection programs, including investigating fraud and protecting Ohioans from unfair business practices. In addition, the office supervises the Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), which supports local law enforcement with forensic science, criminal investigations, and specialized

Reference

Sracic, Paul A. and William C. Binning. 2015. Chapter 4 – The Ohio Executive Branch in Ohio Government and Politics. Washington DC: CQ Press.