Criminal Justice
One of the most violent and unjust systems in our society is our punitive and discriminatory criminal legal system. Rather than repair harm, this system focuses on punishment and is driven by retribution and profit. Nearly 2 million people are incarcerated in the U.S. and our country has one of the highest recidivism rates in the world. Ignite Peace supports systems that center restoration through accountability and prevention.
Death Penalty Abolition
Grounded in relationships with people on death row, Ignite Peace works to abolish the death penalty in Ohio through legislative campaigns, grassroots organizing and mobilizing and community education. Ignite Peace is a leader in the No Death Penalty Ohio Coalition, advocating to repeal Ohio’s death penalty.
Pen Pals for Death Row
Ignite Peace manages a pen pal program for people on death row. Reach out today to learn more about the process and to get connected with a pen pal.
Criminal Justice 101
Ignite Peace offers dynamic and interactive presentations to explain the criminal justice system and to explore systems of accountability and creating community safety. Criminal Justice 101 explores mass incarceration data, utilizes group activities to explore what safety means, and looks at current policy initiatives to reform systems.
Request a presentation.
Policy and Coalition Work
Ohio Police Reform Policy Table – Ignite Peace is part of a policy table bringing together directly impacted people, policy experts, community service networks and allied organizations to drive solutions for safer communities.
Ohio Connecting Families Campaign – Ignite Peace is part of the movement to bring free jail and prison communications to families across Ohio.
Ohio Jail Coalition – A group of organizations and activists working together to end the harm of the carceral system.
Learn More
Read our 2020 report, At All Costs: The High Cost of the Death Penalty in Hamilton County and the Extreme Disparities it Drives.
Read Death Penalty Information Center’s report: Broken Promises: How a History of Racial Violence and Bias Shaped Ohio’s Death Penalty
Read the Prison Policy Initiative’s report Mass Incarceration: The Whole Pie 2024