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.
Town Halls and Documentary
Rethinking Jails + Justice Documentary
Over ten years ago Lucas County was awarded a grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation seeking to reduce jail populations, to do so safely and to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in local jail populations. It was called the Safety and Justice Challenge. WGTE Public Media investigates the impact the Challenge has had on local communities and whether the 5-million grant dollars invested in the intervention has proven effective.
Rethinking Jails + Justice: Podcast Series
“Rethinking Jails + Justice” explores the grant's impact, the future of reform, and features insights from law enforcement, legal professionals, mental health experts, researchers, and community leaders, plus advice for those concerned about themselves or loved ones.
Episodes include:
- Who is in the Jail and Why?
- First Contact - Law enforcement
- Predicting Behavior Pretrial and an Explanation of the Steps in the Criminal Justice Process
- Saving our Kids
- Opportunities from Behind Bars
- The Intersection of Behavioral Health and Criminal Justice
- Racial Realities
- Community Organizations
- After Release: Reducing Repeat Visitors
- The Future of Criminal Justice Reform
Radio Program
In this 5-part series that aired on WGTE FM 91, Jerry Anderson discussed the community's most pressing questions and concerns surrounding jail reform, incarceration, the justice system, mental health, police reform and many more important topics. Guests included academics, those advocating for change and those who have been through the system, all discussing some of the issues that exist in our criminal justice system.
The themes are:
Life After Jail + Wrongfully Accused - aired on FM 91 on Tuesday, April 30 at 7 p.m.
Youth, Crime + Gangs - aired on FM 91 on Tuesday, May 28 at 7 p.m.
Treating Mental Health + Addiction in Jail - aired on FM 91 on Tuesday, June 25 at 7 p.m.
Police Reform + Gun Violence - aired on FM 91 on Tuesday, July 30 at 7 p.m.
Trusting in our Justice System - aired on FM 91 on Tuesday, August 27 at 7 p.m.
Trusting in our Justice System
Police Reform + Gun Violence
Treating Mental Health + Addiction in Jail
Youth, Crime + Gangs
Life After Jail + Wrongfully Accused
Awards
Broadcast Education Association (BEA) - 2025 Award of Excellence: Rethinking Jails and Justice Podcast - Opportunities from Behind Bars; Jason Hibbs
Town Hall #1 Press Release Funding for Rethinking Jails + Justice is provided by
