Ryan Mears
When Criminal Justice Reform Meets Public Safety Leadership
Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears approached us during his re-election campaign, needing content that captured his unique approach to prosecution that focuses resources on violent crime while addressing systemic inequities. With 18 years of experience in the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office and over 100 jury trials, Mears has pioneered innovative reforms including Indiana’s first Conviction Integrity Unit and the decision to stop prosecuting low-level marijuana possession to redirect resources toward serious crimes.
We developed compelling video pieces that showcased Mears commitment to building a criminal justice system worthy of community trust. Our public service storytelling approach emphasized his balanced philosophy of holding violent offenders accountable while creating second chances for non-violent offenders, helping Indianapolis voters understand how his progressive reforms actually strengthen public safety and community trust in law enforcement.
Ryan Mears
When Criminal Justice Reform Meets Public Safety Leadership
Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears approached us during his re-election campaign, needing content that captured his unique approach to prosecution that focuses resources on violent crime while addressing systemic inequities. With 18 years of experience in the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office and over 100 jury trials, Mears has pioneered innovative reforms including Indiana’s first Conviction Integrity Unit and the decision to stop prosecuting low-level marijuana possession to redirect resources toward serious crimes.
We developed compelling video pieces that showcased Mears commitment to building a criminal justice system worthy of community trust. Our public service storytelling approach emphasized his balanced philosophy of holding violent offenders accountable while creating second chances for non-violent offenders, helping Indianapolis voters understand how his progressive reforms actually strengthen public safety and community trust in law enforcement.
Capturing Courtroom Leadership
Our primary video centered on Mears in the Marion County courthouse, filming during trial preparation where his extensive litigation experience becomes evident. We captured him reviewing case files with deputy prosecutors, with afternoon light filtering through courthouse windows as he discussed strategies for prosecuting violent crime. The setting reinforced his prosecutorial credentials : this wasn’t political theater, but genuine legal expertise in action. We kept our approach professional: natural lighting, unobtrusive camera work, letting Mears explain how reallocating resources from marijuana prosecutions allows his office to focus on the murders, domestic violence cases, and serious crimes that truly threaten Indianapolis neighborhoods.
Demonstrating Reform In Action
The second video required balancing Mears tough-on-violent-crime approach with his innovative reform initiatives like Second Chance Workshops and the Good Faith Initiative. We filmed at a driver’s license reinstatement clinic where his office helps people overcome barriers to employment and housing. The challenge was showing how progressive prosecution policies strengthen rather than weaken public safety without losing the authentic conviction that drives his reform agenda. We focused on genuine moments: Mears reviewing expungement cases that help people rebuild their lives, his natural ability to explain how criminal justice reform creates safer communities, the personal commitment evident when he discusses treating everyone with dignity while ensuring violent offenders face consequences.
