In this issue…
Tell Gov. Lamont: Keep CJTS Closed and #CutShutINVEST
#CutShutINVEST Community Conversation
CT Statewide Criminal Justice Reform Call
Tell Gov. Lamont: Keep CJTS Closed and #CutShutINVEST
In March, Governor Ned Lamont proposed re-opening a youth prison with a proven and documented history of abuse in order to “house” unaccompanied children migrating to the U.S. — This should have never happened & wouldn’t have been possible if the prison was closed AND dismantled.
The CT Juvenile Training School (CJTS), closed in 2018, has a notorious history of abuse of young people, ranging from the use of chemical agents, excessive restraint, & solitary confinement. To propose CJTS for young people migrating to the US is reprehensible. This must never happen again, Connecticut should be closing MORE prisons, not re-opening closed prisons to detain people searching for a better life! CJTS must be permanently destroyed – not held in reserve to re-open to jail children from Connecticut, from the border, or from anywhere else.
Rather than finding new ways to use prisons to incarcerate people, Governor Lamontmust move to CUT correctional populations, SHUT down prisons and jails, and INVEST in the communities most harmed by systemic racism and mass incarceration.
Sign Our Petition Now to tell Gov. Lamont: Keep CJTS Closed and #CutShutINVEST!
For more information and get involved in the campaign, please contact our Community Organizer Alycia at alycia@katalcenter.org.
#CutShutINVEST Community Conversation
On May 12, we’re moving forward with our campaign to #CutShutINVEST by holding a focused dialogue about cutting the number of people incarcerated, cutting the number on parole and probation, and more in the State with our second #CutShutINVEST Community Conversation on Wednesday, May 12th from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. RSVP to join us!
This dialogue is a follow up from our Community Conversation and Campaign Kickoff for #CutShutINVEST – our campaign calling on the Governor and Legislature to:
- CUT the number of people incarcerated in jails and prisons, cut the number of people on probation and parole, cut the number of correctional staff, cut down the funding to Department of Corrections
- SHUT prisons down.
- INVEST in the communities most harmed by systemic racism and mass incarceration, into housing, healthcare, education, jobs, and more.
Make sure you RSVP to join us on May 12!
CT Statewide Criminal Justice Reform Call
Join us next Thursday May 6th from 11:00 a.m. – 12 p.m. for our CT Statewide Criminal Justice Reform Call!
The goals of our monthly call are to: highlight issues, campaigns, and projects that groups are working to advance statewide reform; identify ways to align, coordinate, and support each other in the work to end mass incarceration in Connecticut; and strengthen community organizing and advocacy organizations to build movement in CT.
If you’re looking for information about what’s happening on criminal justice reform in CT, or if you’re eager to know more about what’s happening in the state capitol related to criminal justice policy, this call is for you. Register here!
For more information, please contact Kenyatta at kenyatta@katalcenter.org.
Sign up for the Katal New York Update
We announced in March that, after nearly 5 years, we’re ending the Katal Weekly Update, and moving to two separate email updates — one for Connecticut, another for New York. If you’d also like to keep up what we’re doing in New York, click here to sign up for the Katal New York Update!
Keep practicing social distancing, wear your mask, wash your hands, and check in on your neighbors. If you want to get involved, learn more about our work, or just connect, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Katal works to strengthen the people, policies, institutions, and movements that advance health, equity, and justice for everyone. Join us: web, Twitter, Facebook! Email: info@katalcenter.org. Phone: 646.875.8822.
