Governor Dannel Malloy said he thinks the Connecticut Juvenile Training School should close by July 1, 2018.
In an editorial meeting with WNPR, Malloy said more work needs to be done to figure out alternatives after the locked facility for boys closes.
“We’ve taken it from 147 people housed to 67, so we are making substantial progress,” Malloy said. “I think it’s the wrong facility, and have thought it’s the wrong facility. Finding the appropriate other facilities, whether they are regionally based, or a central location, is not going to be easy, but I think we have to put our minds to it and get it done.”
Malloy said a smaller facility for youth makes sense.
“And not designed as a high security prison is probably a better way to go,” Malloy said. “What I made very clear to Republicans and Democrats is that we will not transfer the youth to Manson which is the place where we house younger prisoners. Because some people have advocated that and I do not support that.”
Legislative leadership had discussed whether to include a process to close CJTS in its budget bill during the special session on Tuesday. Democratic lawmakers decided to keep that out of the final bill.
It costs the state $53 million year to operate locked facility for boys in Middletown.
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