HARTFORD, Conn. — The Connecticut Justice Alliance held its third stop in its Justice and Safety for All vision session tour Tuesday in Hartford.
The sessions bring community members, young people with experience in the justice system, and state lawmakers together to discuss possibilities to address the root causes of crime and criminal justice reform as it relates to juveniles across the state.
During the sessions, attendees hear from young people with first or secondhand experience with the criminal justice system and discuss ways to better support these kids so that they are successful in getting out of the criminal justice system and leading more productive lives.
The alliance also brings state lawmakers into the conversation hoping to spur change through legislation.
“It's important to address the root causes of crime and really put solutions in place and fund the solutions and listen to community members when we're talking about, you know what our next steps in ensuring that kids have their needs met and that looks like funding education funding after school programs, making sure kids have access to jobs,” said Christina Quaranta, Executive Director of the Connecticut Justice Alliance
State lawmakers said these events give them a chance to hear from their constituents so they can better serve their communities.
“I’m looking to take the best ideas from what the individuals have here and combine them with resources that we already have for this population and do something to change the trajectory of what our people are going through,” said Sen. Doug McCrory of Hartford.
The Connecticut Justice Alliance said youth justice reform is a priority that they hope is addressed in the 2024 Legislative Session, saying it begins with these listening sessions and for those with lived experience being involved in the policy-making process.
The alliance's other legislative priorities include removing all children under the age of 18 from adult prisons and banning the use of chemical weapons like pepper spray, and investing to address the root causes of crime, and using money currently used to care for incarcerated young people for things like home-style correction facilities for rehabilitation and deter them from participating in risky behavior.
The Criminal Justice Alliance State of Youth Justice report states that the 17-day stay and juvenile costs the state $80,820 on average and youth prison stays of 185 days cost the state between $249,087 to $281,080, which the alliance believes could be used elsewhere.
“What we plan on doing is getting funding from the state to take these kids out of prisons and put them in alternative centers, like real correction centers and not where they’re in a cell where they’re not learning corrective behaviors,” said Tyrece Edwards, a Justice Advisor with CTJA.
The next listening session event is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 12 in New London with Representative Anthony Nolan from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Shiloh Family Life Center.
Jake Garcia is a multimedia journalist for FOX61 News. He can be reached at jgarcia@fox61.com. Follow him on Facebook, X, and Instagram.
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