Families That Matter Ohio is a statewide organizing project focusing on the voice of the families of death row inmates. This project stresses strengthening self-advocacy and developing leadership. FTM Ohio values the assets of all death row family members and enables those assets to become part of the larger abolitionist effort in Ohio.

IJPC has worked against the death penalty and supported families during times of execution since 1999. Four years ago death row families approached IJPC asking us to provide support for them as they attempted to organize clemency campaigns for their loved ones. We began a local organizing project for families of death row inmates from Hamilton County. After several years of local organizing, families from across Ohio, especially from the Cleveland and Akron area, were approaching us. Last year we began to organize at the statewide level. The expansion and success has been unimaginable. We are committed to the inmates, the families and their need to be better trained and organized in order to have their voice heard, give support to each other and use their experience to work toward the abolition of the death penalty in Ohio.

FTM Ohio’s ultimate goal is systemic institutional change within the legislative and penal systems. Moreover, the leadership training and the support in self-advocacy for the FTM families changes the status quo and offers a prophetic vision of justice. Including the voices of the directly oppressed is the only way to bring about true institutional change as opposed to band-aiding systems.

Our advisory committee includes family members and other loved ones of death row inmates. We are in touch with 84 of the 197 inmates on Ohio’s death row – three of whom are “inside consultants”. A woman whose brother was executed in 2002 created the entire concept of FTM. A woman whose uncle received clemency in 2003 formed the structure. And the need to go statewide was identified by a mother with a son currently on death row. This is the families’ work in process. FTM has an 11 person Advisory Board that includes family members and loved ones of current and former death row inmates. The FTM statewide membership is exclusive, meaning a safe space reserved only for those who have or had loved ones on Ohio’s death row.