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“Criminal justice is evolving, and Connecticut should be at the forefront of implementing cutting-edge strategies," said Malloy. "These proposals would help break new ground. If we want to tackle the cycle of crime and poverty, if we want to continue to drive crime down even lower, then we must change our approach to criminal justice with long-term solutions. We cannot take a one-size-fits-all attitude to corrections and expect further gains – and we cannot treat a low-risk young adult the same way we treat a career criminal. The world is changing, and our approach to corrections should change with it."
Malloy's Second Chance Society Reforms were adopted last year to reduce the state's crime rate and ensure that nonviolent offenders are integrated into society successfully.
“Our prisons cannot serve as crime schools," said Malloy. "If we are to truly be about corrections, and if we are to truly work towards ensuring that those housed in our prisons never return, then we need to be a Second Chance Society that invests in permanent improvement and reformation instead of permanent punishment. Crime is down to almost half-century lows, dropping faster here than in almost any other state. Recidivism is down. Our prison population is down. From our bail bonding system to our correctional strategy for young people, we need to change our criminal justice system so we can continue making Connecticut safer.”
“These are important initiatives that build on work already underway to make our communities safer, refocus at-risk youth, and put the systems in place to protect these and so many other gains," said Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman. "Connecticut’s leadership on crime reduction and justice is significant, and so are the partnerships we continue to build with local government, advocates, and young people. We are shaping a stronger future for all of our residents.”
The Connecticut legislature opens on Wednesday.
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