Breaking:
All Charges Against Janis Mensah dismissed!
Janis’ lawyers at Arch City defenders found that the city counselor’s office failed to enter the trespassing and resisting arrest ordinances into evidence, prompting the judge to fully dismiss the case.
The city can not bring further charges against Janis. Janis did not need to make any kind of bargain and they maintain their right to sue the city for injuries police inflicted during their brutal arrest.
Justice for Janis supporters completely packed the courtroom throughout the trial. Supporters also attempted to speak to the Mayor multiple times at city hall over the last 2 days culminating in disrupting her 100 days press conference after the charges were dismissed. The coalition then held our own press conference in the steps of city hall followed by interviews from multiple news outlets.
Janis thanked supporters and read the names of the 20 individuals that died at the CJC since 2020, directing sobering attention to the fact that although the charges against Janis are dropped, the material conditions at the jail have not changed. We still have work to do!
A huge thank you to every member of the Justice for Janis coalition and to every individual that joined this fight. You’ve helped bring a tremendous amount of attention to the conditions at the city jail through Janis’ case. The coalitions work will continue!
Background: In 2023, Janis Mensah (they/them) was the Vice-Chair of the Detention Facilities for Oversight Board, a civilian board established to advise the Mayor, Corrections, and Public Safety on jail conditions, operations, and policies.
On August 31st, 2023 Janis went to the city jail to perform an oversight visit after detainee Terrance Smith died in custody that morning. Janis was waiting in the lobby, during open hours, when Former Commissioner of Corrections Jennifer Clemons-Abdullah called police to “get [Janis] out.” Responding officers were caught on jail security cameras throwing Janis to the ground before punching Janis multiple times. Following the assault, Janis regained consciousness in the hospital, injured and confused. Janis learned of the official charges of trespassing and resisting arrest the following day when they found the citation placed in their bag by police officers. The charges were filed by Mayor Jones' administration and were continued under Mayor Spencer's administration.
The Justice for Janis Coalition was formed to stand with Janis in demanding real oversight and to spread awareness of the jail's inhumane conditions and move toward abolition. The CJC is one of the deadliest jails in the country and 20 people have now died there since 2020.
32 organizations joined the Justice for Janis Coalition and over 600 people signed the petition to drop the charges. President of the Board of Alders Megan Green, as well as Alderman Rasheen Aldridge signed our open letter and Alderwoman Alisha Sonnier wrote her own. State Rep Kimberly-Ann Collins attended the trial as well as multiple reporters. Community Members completely packed the court. After charges were dismissed, supporters disrupted the Mayor's 100 days press conference, forcing her to confront the city's disinterest in providing real jail oversight, as demonstrated by their prosecution of a member of their appointed oversight board for peacefully attempting to perform that oversight.
On July 24, 2025 the judge completely dropped both charges against Janis. Arch City Defenders were able to prove the city prosecution hadn't fulfilled their requirments to prosecute . This same day, new allegations of excessive force at the jail were published. While Janis is now free of charges, people continue to suffer daily at the CJC. The coalition's work will continue.