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Residents urge Montgomery County Commissioners to increase jail transparency after multiple in-custody deaths
Summary
Multiple residents and faith leaders addressed the Board calling for a public-facing jail dashboard, independent review of deaths, and bans on restraint chairs after several in-custody deaths they say occurred since 2023.
At the May 5 Montgomery County Board of Commissioners meeting, a large group of residents and clergy urged the Board to press for greater transparency and accountability at the county jail.
Speakers including Geraldine Hartman of the Montgomery County Jail Coalition, Rev. Tom Stricker, Roberta Longfellow, Joel R. Pruce, and Ben Fisher asked the County to adopt a public-facing dashboard with aggregated data on charges, demographics, hospitalizations, use-of-force incidents, restraint-chair usage, and grievances. Joel R. Pruce said the coalition’s proposal is "a local, low-cost, high-impact initiative" and that the jail population has dropped from roughly 750–800 to below 500 in recent years.
Several speakers cited individual deaths following incarceration and asked for independent review and policy changes. Rev. Tom Stricker referenced the death of Christian Black and the 2024 death of Isaiah Trammell and asserted that restraint chairs are antiquated and can violate "Ohio code and manufacturer guidance." Ben Fisher said, "The loss of these lives must not continue," and called for three concrete changes: transparency via a real-time dashboard, life‑protecting policies including limits or bans on dangerous restraints, and accountability through independent review of every death.
Commissioner Carolyn Rice acknowledged the speakers, thanked them for their advocacy, and said the Commissioners "hear and acknowledge the concerns raised," while noting that responsibility for jail operations lies with the Sheriff. Rice encouraged continued communication with the Sheriff and his team and noted that the County is investing in jail renovations.
The meeting record shows residents presented specific data points and named individuals who died in custody; the minutes reflect the public’s demands but do not record any formal Board action or vote on the proposed dashboard, restraint-chair policies, or independent review during this session.
