Rethinking Jails + Justice

Since 2014, Lucas County has been reimagining the local criminal justice system and advancing a number of strategies to rethink and redesign the system to reduce jail time and increase equity for all while maintaining public safety. Beginning in January 2024, WGTE Public Media, in collaboration with The Board of Lucas County Commissioners and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Safety + Justice Challenge, presents “Rethinking Jails + Justice,” a 10-episode podcast, 5-part radio series, and two community town halls that examine and challenge conventional thinking about over-incarceration that adversely and disproportionately affects racial and ethnic minorities. Learn about the community-wide, multilevel process that was undertaken by stakeholders to improve processes and the solutions that have resulted in reducing the jail population.

Radio Program

Join Jerry Anderson as he discusses the community's most pressing questions and concerns surrounding jail reform, incarceration, the justice system, mental health, police reform, and many more important topics. Our guests will include academics, those advocating for change and those who have been through the system, with the intention of discussing some of the issues that exist in our criminal justice system. 

The themes are:

Life After Jail + Wrongfully Accused - airing on FM 91 on Tuesday, April 30 at 7 p.m.
Youth, Crime + Gangs - airing on FM 91 on Tuesday, May 28 at 7 p.m.
Treating Mental Health + Addiction in Jail - airing on FM 91 on Tuesday, June 25 at 7 p.m.
Police Reform, Gun Violence + DNA Testing - airing on FM 91 on Tuesday, July 30 at 7 p.m. 
Trusting in our Justice System - airing on FM 91 on Tuesday, August 27 at 7 p.m.

Lucas County's Roadmap to Criminal Justice Reform

Funding for Rethinking Jails + Justice is provided by