OH SB138

Amends Ohio Revised Code Section 2933.32 to authorize corrections officers to cause body cavity searches to be conducted, with body cavity searches requiring a search warrant (unless medical emergency or legitimate medical reason exists) and conducted only by physicians or registered/licensed practical nurses.

Establishes separate rules for strip searches conducted in local detention facilities, allowing administrators to require strip searches of persons after booking or at any time while housed in general population to identify contraband, weapons, or evidence.

Permits strip searches to be conducted by law enforcement or corrections officers of the same sex as the person being searched, except in exigent circumstances, with allowance for gender identity considerations when the subject states their gender differs from birth gender.

Requires written reports documenting all body cavity and strip searches, including authorization obtained, persons conducting search, items recovered, and factual basis for probable cause; copies kept on file and provided to searched person.

Limits civil liability and lawsuits for violations to persons not yet sentenced to imprisonment; prohibits civil actions against searches of persons already sentenced and serving terms in local detention facilities.