By The Katal Center For Equity, Health and Justice
Last month, Senate Republicans released “A Better Way to A Safer Connecticut,” a blueprint for juvenile justice that is anything but a way to a safer Connecticut. The plan covers three areas: Crime Response, which includes measures like mandatory fingerprinting for any young adult arrested (but not convicted) of a crime; Prevention and Opportunity, which includes workforce development and vocational training programs; and Support Police, which includes the rolling back laws, like qualified immunity, and increasing funding to local police for social media data collection.
This plan represents a dangerous step backwards for Connecticut as young people are going to be criminalized in new, insidious ways. The measures in this plan will inevitably impact poor Black and brown young people and their families the most. For the last 30 years, Connecticut has been a leader in criminal justice reform. The hard work of organizers, activists, advocates and lawmakers led us to major criminal justice victories during the pandemic, including Clean Slate and Police Accountability. Connecticut cannot afford to lose the wins it has gained due to tired, racist, fear-mongering tactics from Republican lawmakers.
To legitimately impact the criminal justice system in positive ways, Connecticut must:
Cut the number of people held in jails and prisons. Cut the number of people on probation and parole. Cut correctional staff. Cut the funding for police departments, prosecutors, and correctional staff.
Shut jails and prisons down.
Invest in the communities most harmed by systemic racism and mass incarceration, securing real community safety through housing, education, health care, and other supports and services.
It’s time to #CutShutINVEST.
