Connecticut
Articles
04/30/2008 – The Hartford Courant: “Rell May Veto Crime Bill; Cities Declining Revenue”, by Christopher Keating and Mark Pazniokas
“After months of tough talk and impassioned debate prompted by two deadly home invasions, Gov. M. Jodi Rell stunned lawmakers Tuesday by threatening to veto criminal justice improvements because of one problem — money.”
04/28/2008 – The Hartford Courant: “State Must Budget for tough Times”, by M. Jodi Rell
“Like many of our families, Connecticut’s economy is living on the razor’s edge. Our state economy continues to outperform the nation’s and we are better positioned than many states to weather the economic storm that is building across the country — however, there are many alarm bells we should heed. The economic reality the state and its residents now face — at the gas pumps, in the grocery store, with our home heating bills — must guide our state budget decisions.”
04/22/2008 – The New York Times: “Crime and Punishment in Connecticut“
“Two horrifying crimes have exposed serious weaknesses in Connecticut’s criminal justice system. But a “three strikes and you’re out” law proposed by Gov. M. Jodi Rell and Republicans in the Legislature would do more harm than good.”
03/02/2008 – The Republican-American: “As Prison Population Soars, So Do Costs”, by Paul Hughes
“The Department of Correction is looking at a budget gap of $18.2 million this year, including $3.8 million for staffing and overtime costs associated with supervising an increasing prison population, $6.5 million for food, clothing, bedding and other living supplies, and $6.5 million for medical care.”
02/29/2008 – The Hartford Courant: “1 in 100 Adults in Jail”, by Katie Melone
“The prison population in Connecticut and the nation reached an all-time high in January, reflecting the quandary many states face of maintaining public safety while managing overcrowded prisons in a $50 billion-a-year system.”
02/17/2008 – The Connecticut Post:“Prison System Jammed; Hope Fades”, by Michael P. Mayko
“From 1985 to Feb. 15, 2008, Connecticut’s prison population has soared from 5,422 to 19,690. If the trend continues, the prison population could surpass 25,000 in just four years.”
9/20/2007 – New Haven Register: “Editorial: ‘3 Strikes’ Law is Costly Last Resort”
“Passing a tough, “three strikes” law, such as California’s, would increase the number of state inmates annually by 1,000 and require the construction of new prison cells at a cost of $110 million, according to the legislature’s nonpartisan Office of Fiscal Analysis.”
9/18/2007 – The Hartford Courant: “Editorial: Quick Fixes”
“A nightmare of a crime has exposed grave problems with Connecticut’s parole process. Democratic and Republican legislators agree on some reasonable solutions.”
2/17/2007 – The Hartford Courant: “State Maps Way Out of Prisons Box”, by Stan Simpson
“After spending $1 billion to build 12 new prisons a decade ago, Connecticut realized a building boom couldn’t contain an exploding inmate population. When construction was completed in 1996 and 11,000 beds added, the prisoner-crunch was worse.”
2/15/2007 – The Hartford Courant: “State’s Prison Population Not Expected to Increase”, by Katie Melone
“Once a state with one of the fastest-growing prison populations, Connecticut is now one of three states projected to maintain the same number of inmates through 2011, according to a study released Wednesday by the Pew Charitable Trusts.”
1/14/2007 – The New York Times: “Anything But More Prisons” (Subscription necessary)
“Connecticut’s prison population, at 19,000, is inching up toward record levels, reversing a trend of slight reductions over the last two years. Incarcerating people in overcrowded facilities is inhumane and always expensive: it costs $29,500 a year to imprison each person. This problem did not develop overnight. The prison population rose steadily from the late 1980s until 2003. And the recent increase is not surprising, especially in light of last year’s rising crime rate. But the important thing to remember is that prison is not an answer to crime; bigger prison populations reflect society’s failure to find answers.”
12/26/2006 – Associate Press: “State Prisons Bulging Again, But Rell Says Situation Improving
“State officials say Connecticut’s prison population has again boomed to the level it was three years ago when overcrowding forced the state to ship some prisoners to Virginia.”
11/27/2006 – The Stamford Advocate: “State Sets Up More Supports to Help Mentally Ill Inmates Get Parole”, by Zach Lowe
“The unit, which will start with five parole officers statewide, will begin work early next year, officials said. They will make sure the ex-offenders make all doctor’s appointments, take their medications and ease back into life in their communities, said Randy Braren, director of parole and community services for the state Department of Correction.”
10/25/2006 – Hartford Courant: “Union Lists Prison Safety Issues: Overcrowding Among the Complaints”, by Diane Struzzi
“Prison overcrowding so severe that 900 inmates must sleep on floors is one of several issues Gov. M. Jodi Rell and the state correction commissioner have ignored for months, leaders of the union representing correctional staff said Tuesday.”
12/21/2005 – The Wall Street Journal: “To Cut Prison Bill, States Tweak Laws, Try Early Releases”, by Gary Fields
“When Theresa Lantz took over as Connecticut’s corrections commissioner in early 2003, the state’s prison and jail population had hit a high of 19,320 inmates. Prisons were so crowded that 500 state inmates were being housed in Virginia – at an annual cost of $12 million – and an additional 2,000 were about to be shipped.”
“Less than three years later, the state’s prison and jail population is down 6.2%, and state inmates are all housed in Connecticut. Ms. Lantz credits a state law that promoted the release of less-dangerous offenders—for example, by letting those accused of minor crimes stay home while awaiting trial.”