The Montgomery County Jail is an infamous site of overcrowding, neglect, abuse, and death.

But the jail isn’t somewhere off the highway, hidden from public view—it’s here, in Downtown Dayton.

The humans harmed inside are our friends, neighbors, and family, and it is our duty to fight for their freedom.

Our Mission

We are committed to reducing the population in the Montgomery County Jail and protecting the dignity of detainees through education, organizing, advocacy, and action. 

Since 2019, we have organized our community behind common sense solutions that center the humanity of all people and focus on the root causes of challenges that drive mass incarceration.

We are an all-volunteer, grassroots coalition of educators, people of faith, advocates, attorneys, counselors, health care professionals, and people impacted by the criminal legal system.

Our Impact

  • Since launching the Coalition, the jail population has dropped by 1/3. In 2019, the daily average hovered between 750-800. Today, about 500 people are housed in the jail.

  • We prevented county officials from building a New Giant Jail. In 2021, a proposal was advanced to double or triple the size of the current facility. Instead, the County opted to renovate the existing building and increase the capacity for medical care.

  • We support families and individuals harmed in the jail by lifting up their experiences and echoing their calls for justice. In 2023, we sounded the alarm about a devastating spike in jail deaths and, in 2024 and 2025, we stood with the families of Isaiah Trammel and Christian Black, both of whom were killed in county custody.

  • We continue to advocate for improve accountability and transparency of jail operations. In 2025, we delivered a petition for civilian oversight singed by over 2000 people.

  • We shape the debate through educational programming and stakeholder engagement.