Northside Coalition of Jacksonville Urges Jacksonville Residents to Attend JSO Town Halls and Advocate for an Even Better Jacksonville 

Jacksonville, FL — Kelly Frazier of the Northside Coalition of Jacksonville is calling on residents across the city to attend the upcoming JSO Town Halls and make their voices heard in support of a comprehensive, community‑centered strategy to reduce crime and the need for a costly massive new jail.

The Northside Coalition is urging the public to stand behind its Even Better Jacksonville Plan —a blueprint for safety that prioritizes prevention, opportunity, and justice over incarceration.

The Five‑Point Plan for an Even Better Jacksonville

• Adult Civil Citations — Urge the Sheriff to implement an Adult Civil Citation program to keep people out of jail for low‑level, nonviolent offenses. This approach reduces recidivism, saves taxpayer dollars, and keeps families intact.
• Cash Bail Reform — Urge the Sheriff to embrace cash bail reform. The current cash bail system punishes poverty. Bail should be imposed rarely, ensuring that people are not jailed simply because they cannot afford to buy their freedom.
• 24/7 Mental Health Co‑Responders — Urge the Sheriff to have mental health co-responders in every district round‑the‑clock so individuals in crisis receive care—not cuffs. This keeps vulnerable residents out of jail and reduces repeat calls for service.
• Expanded Group Violence Intervention — Urge the Sheriff to maintain and expand Group Violence Intervention programs that prevent shootings, interrupt cycles of retaliation, and connect individuals with positive pathways forward.
• A Marshall Plan for Underserved Communities — Urge the Sheriff to advocate for a historic level of investment in neighborhoods long denied opportunity. That means meaningful work, affordable housing, high‑quality education, and accessible healthcare—so fewer crimes of poverty and desperation occur in the first place.

“Jacksonville doesn’t need a massive new jail. It needs a bigger commitment to justice, opportunity, and prevention. Our Even Better Jacksonville Plan is not radical—it’s responsible. It’s what cities across the country are doing to reduce crime without criminalizing poverty. We need every resident who believes in fairness and safety to show up at these Town Halls and demand solutions that work.”

Call to Action

The Northside Coalition urges residents to:

• Attend the upcoming JSO Town Halls and advocate for its Even Better Jacksonville Plan
• Stand with communities most impacted by over‑policing, under‑investment, and cycles of incarceration