Ohio Attorney General's Office: A Comprehensive Overview

The Ohio Attorney General's Office (OAGO) is the chief legal officer of the state of Ohio. The Attorney General is responsible for representing the state in all legal matters, providing legal advice to state agencies, and enforcing state laws. The OAGO also has a number of other responsibilities, including:

• Prosecuting criminal cases
• Defending the state in civil lawsuits
• Providing legal assistance to local governments
• Issuing legal opinions
• Conducting investigations
• Enforcing consumer protection laws
• Protecting the environment

The Attorney General is elected by the people of Ohio to a four-year term. The current Attorney General is Dave Yost.

History of the Ohio Attorney General's Office

The Ohio Attorney General's Office was created in 1851. The first Attorney General was Henry Stanbery. Stanbery served as Attorney General from 1851 to 1853.

Over the years, the OAGO has undergone a number of changes. In 1903, the OAGO was given the authority to prosecute criminal cases. In 1913, the OAGO was given the authority to defend the state in civil lawsuits. In 1972, the OAGO was given the authority to issue legal opinions.

Today, the OAGO is a large and complex organization with over 500 employees. The OAGO is divided into a number of divisions, each of which is responsible for a specific area of law.

Responsibilities of the Ohio Attorney General

The Ohio Attorney General has a number of responsibilities, including:

Representing the state in all legal matters
The Attorney General is the chief legal officer of the state of Ohio. As such, the Attorney General is responsible for representing the state in all legal matters. This includes representing the state in court, providing legal advice to state agencies, and defending the state against lawsuits.

Providing legal advice to state agencies
The Attorney General is the chief legal advisor to state agencies. The Attorney General provides legal advice on a wide range of issues, including constitutional law, contracts, and employment law.

Enforcing state laws
The Attorney General is responsible for enforcing state laws. This includes prosecuting criminal cases, defending the state in civil lawsuits, and enforcing consumer protection laws.

Other responsibilities
In addition to the responsibilities listed above, the Attorney General also has a number of other responsibilities, including:

• Issuing legal opinions
• Conducting investigations
• Providing legal assistance to local governments
• Protecting the environment

Organization of the Ohio Attorney General's Office

The Ohio Attorney General's Office is divided into a number of divisions, each of which is responsible for a specific area of law. The divisions of the OAGO include:

• Antitrust Section
• Civil Rights Section
• Consumer Protection Section
• Criminal Justice Section
• Education Section
• Environment Section
• Financial Services Section
• Health Care Section
• Labor Section
• Public Utilities Section
• Tax Section
• Transportation Section

Ohio Attorney General's Office by the Numbers

The Ohio Attorney General's Office is a large and complex organization. Here are some key statistics about the OAGO:

• Number of employees: Over 500
• Number of divisions: 13
• Number of cases prosecuted in 2021: Over 10,000
• Number of legal opinions issued in 2021: Over 1,000
• Number of investigations conducted in 2021: Over 500

Effective Strategies for the Ohio Attorney General's Office

The Ohio Attorney General's Office has a number of effective strategies for carrying out its mission. These strategies include:

• Collaboration: The OAGO collaborates with other law enforcement agencies, state agencies, and local governments to enforce state laws and protect the public.
• Innovation: The OAGO uses innovative approaches to law enforcement and legal advocacy. For example, the OAGO has created a number of specialized units to address emerging issues, such as the Cybercrime Unit and the Human Trafficking Unit.
• Prevention: The OAGO focuses on preventing crime and protecting the public through education and outreach programs. For example, the OAGO has created a number of resources to help businesses and consumers avoid scams and fraud.

How to Contact the Ohio Attorney General's Office

The Ohio Attorney General's Office can be contacted by phone, email, or mail.

Phone: 1-800-282-0515
Email: info@ohioattorneygeneral.gov
Mail:

Ohio Attorney General's Office
30 E. Broad St., 15th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215

Call to Action

The Ohio Attorney General's Office is committed to protecting the people of Ohio. If you have any questions or concerns about state law, please contact the OAGO.

Additional Resources

• Ohio Attorney General's Office website
• Ohio Revised Code
• Ohio Supreme Court

Tables

Table 1: Number of Cases Prosecuted by the Ohio Attorney General's Office

Table 2: Number of Legal Opinions Issued by the Ohio Attorney General's Office

Table 3: Number of Investigations Conducted by the Ohio Attorney General's Office