“I think the biggest problem that we had was that if we were to give any sort of advice, we’d like to be informed,” Board chairman William Wynne said. “And we were never informed.”
Kelan Lyons
Kelan is a Report For America Corps Member who covers the intersection of mental health and criminal justice for CT Mirror. Before joining CT Mirror, Kelan was a staff writer for City Weekly, an alt weekly in Salt Lake City, Utah, and a courts reporter for The Bryan-College Station Eagle, in Texas. He is originally from Philadelphia.
Criminal Justice Commission appoints acting Chief State’s Attorney
John J. Russotto, who has worked for the Division of Criminal Justice for 22 years, will serve as the acting chief state’s attorney after Kevin Kane retires on Nov. 1.
Commissioner Cook talks about changing times at Connecticut’s prisons
“They didn’t hire me because I could think. They didn’t hire me because I was empathetic. They hired me because I had athletic ability, and I had size.”
Public weighs in on Connecticut’s search for its next chief state’s attorney
Advocates view the selection of a new chief state’s attorney as a chance to further Connecticut’s criminal justice reforms and reduce the system’s racial disparities.
Public forum to help determine Connecticut’s next top prosecutor
Those interested in criminal justice can weigh in on the search for the next chief state’s attorney at a forum in the Legislative Office Building this afternoon, from 2 to 5 p.m.
Those with criminal records should help decide their fate, member says
Rep. Robyn Porter, co-chair of the Council on the Collateral Consequences of a Criminal Record, said she is open to the idea: “The people closest to the problems are closest to the solutions. That’s why people closest to the pain need to be closest to the power.”
Casting a ballot from behind bars: No easy process
Former inmate Kennard Ray almost cried the first time he voted. It was a transformative experience he wants other former inmates to share.
Connecticut’s crime rate, arrests, probation and prison populations all down
The number of people admitted to Connecticut prisons declined sharply between 2009 and 2018, and the reason may not be what you think.
Sen. Osten asks Sentencing Commission to study mental illness in CT prisons
Osten believes identifying the number of mentally ill people who are incarcerated, and their treatment needs, will allow the state to keep people out of prison.
Federal court rules ‘prison gerrymandering’ suit can advance
The U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that a lawsuit can advance challenging the way Connecticut assigns prison inmates to legislative districts.
State struggles to find secure housing for troubled youth
More than a year after the Judicial Branch became responsible for housing and treating delinquent children, officials continue to struggle with finding private vendors to open secure facilities for the state’s most troubled youth.
Elicker upsets Harp in New Haven mayoral primary
Justin Elicker won big in New Haven over Toni Harp, but voters were kinder to incumbents in Hartford and Bridgeport.
Tong tackles three immigration issues in four days
Attorney General William Tong has joined several state coalitions objecting to the Trump administration’s treatment of immigrants.
State receives $17 million from feds to address opioid crisis
Connecticut will receive a combined $17 million from two federal agencies to track opioid overdoses and expand access to treatment.
Almost empty: “Monument” to punishment-heavy ’90s sees sharp population decline
Northern Correctional Facility was built to hold up to 584 of “the worst of the worst” inmates in the prison system. Today, there are fewer than 80 men living inside its oppressive walls.