News & Commentary

Should some people profit off others’ misfortune? At the ACLU of Ohio, we believe the answer is a resounding no. Sadly, we know profit comes into play at many levels of our criminal legal system, but the most notable is within the prison industry itself.

With the recent Executive Order, President Joe Biden has publicly declared the ending of private prison contracts with the federal government, in efforts to decrease mass incarceration rates. But, states still use private prisons and the order failed to include people without documentation.

The way our elected officials, our institutions, and our citizens treat the mental and physical health of previously and currently incarcerated individuals is a direct reflection on our society’s attitude towards overall public health.

The Montgomery County Jail Coalition circulated a questionnaire for a variety of public officials surrounding plans for new jail construction. The survey was created to assess the views of sitting elected officials as well as candidates for office with respect to Montgomery County's plans for the County Jail, which was built to house 443 people but whose capacity regularly runs near 800. With its documented history of overcrowding and inhumane conditions, the County is undergoing a process to decide how to move forward with a suitable facility.The survey was sent to 13 individuals, the coalition received six responses. The coalition did not hear back from Matt Joseph, Jeffrey Mims, Chris Shaw, Stcey-Benson Taylor, Jordan Wortham, Valerie Duncan, or Rennes Bowers.The answers to those who completed the survey are as follows:Are you committed to implementing the following options to reduce jail populations: end use of cash bail, drug treatment diversion programs, mental health diversion programs, use of cite and release for low-level incidents?Darryl Fairchild: : YesJared Grandy: YesGary Leitzell: YesScott: Sliver: YesShenise Turner-Sloss: YesNan Whaley: YesShould local municipalities and Montgomery County pursue alternatives to incarceration to reduce the need for a larger jail?Darryl Fairchild: : YesJared Grandy: YesGary Leitzell: YesScott: Sliver: YesShenise Turner-Sloss: YesNan Whaley: YesDo you believe Montgomery County Needs to build a larger jail?Darryl Fairchild: NoJared Grandy: NoGary Leitzell: NoScott: Sliver: NoShenise Turner-Sloss: NoNan Whaley: NoDo you believe there should be public input on the plans for the jail before any decisions are finalized?Darryl Fairchild: : YesJared Grandy: YesGary Leitzell: YesScott: Sliver: YesShenise Turner-Sloss: YesNan Whaley: Yes

House Bill 101 establishes new processes for funding the construction, acquisition, improvement, operation, and maintenance of jail facilities.

We must not allow the criminal “justice” system to continue devastating families and individual lives with this injustice and flagrant punishment of poor communities

Whil

http://www.aclu.org/blog/prisoners-rights/eighteen-months-sometimes-deadly-screw-ups-ohio-must-get-out-profit-prison

On April 4, 2013, the ACLU sent letters to Ohio Courts: