CTJA Responds to Governor Lamont’s News Briefing On Juvenile Crime Issues in Connecticut

BRIDGEPORT, CT (October 29, 2021) - In response to the Lamont Administrations news briefing on juvenile crime issues in Connecticut, CTJA Policy Director Iliana Pujols issues the following statement:

“First, we want to share our deepest condolences to the families that have lost children to crime. We also want to recognize the trauma impacting Black and Brown communities. Increased incarceration is never a solution; we know this from history and generations of impact. We need solutions based on addressing the root issues young people face that lead them into the system to enact meaningful reforms. Since Connecticut started to close prisons, our crime rate has sunk to historic lows. We must continue on that path. 

As our legislators develop a plan of action, we urge them to consider the historical investment disparities in Black and Brown communities. As one of the state's leading organizations working side by side with youth to end the criminalization of children, we encourage the governor to work with community organizations like ours to create a plan that addresses the root issues of crime in our communities, creates space for mentorship opportunities, and provides funds for credible messengers. We can not incarcerate our way out of crime. Calling for investment in our communities while also calling for the mass incarceration of our people is contradictory to the solution. We have to reshape communities, systems, and policies so that they are equitable and intended to create long-term impact. We need to fill in the gaps.”

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ABOUT THE CONNECTICUT JUSTICE ALLIANCE

The Connecticut Justice Alliance (CTJA) is a youth/adult partnership working to end the criminalization of youth. The Alliance works to disrupt and dismantle the pathways that funnel children and youth into the juvenile justice system by using organizing, advocacy, and policy tools to protect the rights, futures, and well-being of potentially, currently, and formerly incarcerated youth, while also ensuring youth who are detained, incarcerated, and involved in the courts and legal systems receive safe, fair, and dignified treatment.  

CTJA was formerly known as the Connecticut Juvenile Justice Alliance.