New Report: Fixing Connecticut’s Probation and Parole Problems
On Tuesday, we released a new groundbreaking report with our partners at the Prison Policy Initiative: Excessive, Unjust, and Expensive: Fixing Connecticut’s Probation and Parole Problems. The report highlights the massive overuse of community corrections in our state and how these systems have become a trap door to incarceration, especially for Black, Brown, and low-income communities. Here are a few highlights from the report:
- Nearly 35,000 people in Connecticut are under probation or parole today – that’s nearly three times as many people as are incarcerated in state prisons and jails. Of that number, more than 30,000 people statewide – almost 1% of the entire population — are on probation in our state.
- Noncriminal “technical” violations of probation and parole — like missing a curfew or testing positive for alcohol or other drug use — drive incarceration in Connecticut, putting hundreds of people in cages every year.
- Incarceration for even a few days, let alone weeks, is catastrophic: People can lose their footing and may lose their jobs, housing, custody of their children, and more.
The report outlines how probation and parole populations can and must be reduced, while steps must be taken to make community supervision more fair, just, and supportive. The report includes recommendations (based off our parole reform campaign in New York) to restrict the use of incarceration for noncriminal “technical” violations, eliminate automatic detention, apply earned time credit to supervision sentences, and bolster due process for those accused of technical violations of probation and parole.
Here are more details and information about the report:
- Report: here is the link to the full report. Please share with your networks.
- Press: here is the press release featuring quotes from the authors, elected officials, community leaders, and impacted people.
- News: see coverage of the report in the CT Insider, CT News Junkie, and WSHU Public Radio.
Now the report is out, let’s take action to fix this overly punitive system. Please take two minutes to complete this action alert which sends Governor Lamont and state lawmakers and a message to implement the recommendations from the report.
Let us know if you have any questions about the report! To get involved in our efforts to fix probation and parole, please email Maribel at maribel@katalcenter.org.
June Connecticut Criminal Justice Statewide Call
We’re a week away from the last CT Statewide Criminal Justice Reform Call before the end of the legislative session. You don’t want to miss this call. We’ll get updates from the capitol about the budget and the rest of the session. We’ll also hear from organizers and advocates about the campaigns they’re running across the state.
Register here to join us on Thursday, June 1 from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
If you would like to present on the Statewide Criminal Justice Reform Call, or you have any questions, please contact Jillian Davey, at jillian@katalcenter.org
Katal Quotes of the Week
These are some of the quotes we’re thinking about this week.
“Solidarity is the enemy of all oppressions.”–Suzanne Pharr, Homophobia: A weapon of sexism
“I tell my students, ‘When you get these jobs that you have been so brilliantly trained for, just remember that your real job is that if you are free, you need to free somebody else. If you have some power, then your job is to empower somebody else. This is not just a grab-bag candy game.”–Toni Morrison
“It is not upon you to finish the work. Neither are you free to desist from it.”–Rabbi Tarfor
For printing and distribution, download the Katal Weekly Update PDF version.
Katal works to strengthen the people, policies, institutions, and movements that advance equity, health, and justice. Join us: web, Twitter, Instagram, & Facebook! Email: info@katalcenter.org Phone: 646.875.8822.
