Rethinking Jails + Justice Radio Program

WGTE PUBLIC MEDIA LAUNCHES RETHINKING JAILS + JUSTICE RADIO SERIES ON FM 91

The “Rethinking Jails + Justice” project is in collaboration with The Board of Lucas County Commissioners and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Safety + Justice Challenge

TOLEDO, OHIO – April 26, 2024 – WGTE Public Media’s “Rethinking Jails + Justice”, in collaboration with The Board of Lucas County Commissioners and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Safety + Justice Challenge, is set to launch the latest phase of the project on Tuesday, April 30th at 7 p.m. This 5-part radio series hosted by Jerry Anderson discusses the community's most pressing questions from the Rethinking Jails + Justice live Town Hall event held in January 2024. Each episode will launch on the last Tuesday of each month, April through August. These episodes will be available online following the broadcasts at www.wgte.org/rjj

Radio Series Episode Topics and Airdates:

• Life After Jail + Wrongfully Accused - Tuesday, April 30 at 7 p.m.
• Youth, Crime + Gangs - Tuesday, May 28 at 7 p.m.
• Treating Mental Health + Addiction in Jail - Tuesday, June 25 at 7 p.m.
• Police Reform, Gun Violence + DNA Testing - Tuesday, July 30 at 7 p.m.
• Trusting in our Justice System - Tuesday, August 27 at 7 p.m.

The “Rethinking Jails + Justice” project launched in January 2024 to examine and challenge conventional thinking about over-incarceration that adversely and disproportionately affects racial and ethnic minorities.

It kicked off with a live, public town hall event at the downtown Main Branch Library where over 100 community members attended to listen and contribute to the conversation. Audience and viewer questions were collected during the discussion and those that were not able to be answered that evening are catalysts for the chosen radio series topics. A recording of the livestreamed town hall event is available at wgte.org/rjj.

Jerry Anderson also emceed the town hall event and guided the following panels through the conversation:

System Change vs. Community Change?

• Sean McNulty, Chief Public Defender: Toledo Legal Aid Society
• Scott Sylak, Executive Director:  Mental Health and Recovery Services Board
• Holly Matthews, Executive Director: Toledo-Lucas County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council
• Carol Contrada, Former Lucas County Commissioner
• Malcolm Cunningham, Director: Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement
• Commissioner Pete Gerken, Lucas County Board of County Commissioners

Reform vs. Safety

• Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz, City of Toledo
• Chief Michael Troendle, Toledo Police Department
• Judge Gene Zmuda, Sixth District Court of Appeals and Former Lucas County Common Pleas Judge
• Judge Tim Kuhlman, Toledo Municipal Court
• Commissioner Lisa Sobecki, Lucas County Board of County Commissioners
• Bud Hite, Executive Director: Lucas County Correctional Treatment Facility

Visit www.wgte.org/rjj for more information on WGTE’s “Rethinking Jails + Justice.”

For more information on the Lucas County Safety + Justice Challenge, visit www.lucascountycjcc.org/SJC

Project and event video promo: youtu.be/mGF38JkOWYw

Rethinking Jails + Justice Town Hall Livestream: www.wgte.org/rjj