Younger people with chronic medical conditions feel left behind by the governor’s new vaccine plan, which prioritizes by age.
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.
Three weeks into COVID-19 vaccinations, DOC has vaccinated 10% of inmates, 40% of staff
Fewer than 850 incarcerated people had been vaccinated as of Feb. 22.
Judiciary Committee hears testimony on changes to last summer’s police accountably bill
One police chief said they need more time to train officers on new use-of-force rules.
State to close three prisons as advocates call for reinvestment in marginalized communities
Gov. Ned Lamont has proposed ‘right-sizing’ Connecticut’s correctional system due to a decade-long decline in the prison population.
State to close only ‘supermax’ prison, Northern Correctional Institution
Northern’s dwindling population and extreme “supermax” model made it a natural choice for closure.
Lawsuit seeks to keep prisoners with mental illness out of Northern Correctional
Claim: Solitary confinement and in-cell shackling amounts to discrimination against prisoners with mental illnesses
In confirmation hearing, nominated DOC chief says prison staff and oldest inmates will get COVID vaccines in February
But only about 45% of 4,300 staff surveyed indicated they would get the vaccine. Around 15% were undecided.
Michael Ferrigon had asthma and diabetes. The state transferred him to the prison with the most COVID deaths.
Many who died of COVID in prison were serving life sentences. But none of them was sentenced to death.
Man jailed on $155k bond dies of COVID-19
This is the sixth incarcerated person to die from the virus this month.
Police task force seeks wider applicant pool for watchdog role
The task force sent four recommendations — and two that didn’t get unanimous approval— to lawmakers for the 2021 session.
Advocates call for closure of Northern Correctional, reinvestment in community supports
The coalition says the $19 million spent annually to run the prison can help provide housing services and employment.
Judge approves shorter sentence for convicted murderer turned prison mentor
The DOC could start screening Clyde Meikle in July for discharge to a halfway house.
After killing his cousin, Clyde Meikle found purpose in prison through service. Now he’s asking to go home.
Clyde Meikle is a “poster boy candidate” for release from prison. If he can’t get a sentence modification, who can?
Lamont appoints reformers, disability advocates to Police Officer Standards and Training Council
The appointments are a requirement of the police accountability bill passed over the summer in a special session.
COVID lawsuit against CVH and Whiting hospitals dismissed
With vaccines for patients on the horizon, plaintiffs agreed to the case’s dismissal.