Representatives Steve Stafstrom and Anthony Nolan, Connecticut Justice Alliance, and Stop Solitary CT Call on Legislature to Pass a Strong JJPOC Bill to Advance Youth Justice

Bridgeport, CT (May 27, 2021) – The Connecticut Justice Alliance, Judiciary co-chair Representative Steve Stafstrom, JJPOC member Representative Anthony Nolan, Stop Solitary CT and other youth justice advocates today called for the passage of a strong JJPOC bill (HB 6667) to advance youth justice in Connecticut.

The bill contains numerous components that would positively impact the education, decarceration, and treatment of children in the juvenile system. If passed, the current bill would ban the use of chemical agents on young people under 18 years old, raise the minimum age of arrest from 7- to 10-years old, and allow for the automatic erasure of all police and court records pertaining to children under 18. At today’s conference, advocates called on the Legislature and Governor Lamont to immediately prioritize and pass the JJPOC bill while outlining components of the bill that can be strengthened to further support children and youth.

“The JJPOC bill has the potential to create opportunities of success for our young people,” said Alona Scott, a Justice Advisor with the Connecticut Justice Alliance. “However, it’s critical that we further the bill to make it stronger and inclusive of the people it's intended to serve.”

“It’s important to make sure directly impacted young people are part of the decision-making process. They know first-hand what does and does not work for them,” said Iliana Pujols, Policy Director at CTJA. “We need to make sure that young people are in positions of power -- not prison. We can’t do anything about them without them.”

“Today is a huge day for criminal justice reform, juvenile justice reform, and the concept of justice here in the state of Connecticut,” said Representative Stafstrom. “...When kids make mistakes they should not be subject to the criminal justice system. We know the minute a kid gets into the criminal justice system they are exponentially more likely to again and again and again end up in the criminal justice system. We must keep them out at all costs.”

“We are way overdue for corrective measures as in JJPOC BILL. I am in full support of improving juvenile justice programs, and educational services in juvenile justice facilities,” said Representative Nolan. “Making the needed changes with minimum age, decriminalization, promoting community-based diversion will give youth a better opportunity to be successful and help reduce trauma and recidivism.”

Connecticut is currently one of only a handful of states that permits the use of chemical agents in juvenile facilities. The use of chemical restraints, like mechanical restraints, can traumatize youth and undermine their rehabilitative efforts. The ban on the use of chemical agents included in the bill would bring Connecticut up to a standard set by the majority of states across the country.

“The children are our future. Let’s take care of them and stop criminalizing and stigmatizing them. Let’s also stop the poverty to prison pipeline,” said Leighton Johnson, Public Education Coordinator, Stop Solitary CT.

In addition to the passage of the bill, advocates urged legislators to strengthen the bill by raising the minimum age of arrest to 12. Historically, the vast majority of cases involving children 12 and under involve misdemeanors. More often than not, the charges are either dismissed or discharged without prosecution. This wastes time and resources, and involvement with the police and courts inflicts unnecessary trauma on young children. Research shows that involvement with courts makes them more, not less likely to become court-involved in the future.

“It doesn’t stop here. We have to keep the momentum going and push to advance youth justice in Connecticut,” said Sage Grady, a Justice Advisor with the Connecticut Justice Alliance. “We must invest in the success, not arrests, of the young people across our state and the first step is to ensure the strongest JJPOC bill possible gets passed.”

Representative Jillian Gilchrest, Representative Chris Rosario, and Representative Antonio Felipe also attended the press conference to show their support for HB 6667. The JJPOC bill has passed out of both the Judiciary and Appropriations Committees and now awaits action on the Senate and House floor.