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Older Americans are more able to save than younger ones. Surveys show people younger than 35 have an average of $5,400 saved. Meanwhile, adults 65 to 74 have an average of $13,400 saved up. (Adobe Stock)

America Saves Week: CT groups teach money saving techniques

Today is the beginning of America Saves Week, and Connecticut groups are hosting events all week. Each day is correlated to a different aspect of …

The State of Reentry report finds 93% of people with sentences ending in six months had a substance use problem and 81% had a moderate to serious substance use problem. (Adobe Stock)

Report: CT formerly incarcerated people face reentry challenges

A new report finds Connecticut's recently released prison population is facing reentry challenges. The State of Reentry report found resources and …

Un informe del Instituto Brookings revela que, como parte de una encuesta, el 61% de las personas dijo que votar es tanto un derecho como un deber. Pero el 34% dice que era un derecho y no un deber. (Adobe Stock)

Legislación en CT podría implementar el 'voto universal'

La Asamblea General de Connecticut está preparada para aprobar un proyecto de ley que estudiará el voto universal. Es entonces cuando votar …

A Brookings Institution report finds as part of a survey, 61% of people said voting is both a right and a duty. But, 34% sais it was a right not a duty. (Adobe Stock)

CT legislation could implement ‘universal voting’

Connecticut's General Assembly is poised to take up a bill to study universal voting. This is when voting isn't just a fundamental right, but …

The latest Crime in Connecticut report showed investments for prevention and services for system-involved youth helped bring the crime rate down in 2022. More than $37 million went to prevention and intervention programs along with juvenile review boards. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Crime drops in Connecticut; more work needed

Good news for Connecticut residents: The state saw a 4% overall decrease in crime in 2022. The latest "Crime in Connecticut" annual report shows a 13…

Connecticut had the third-highest number of Black people incarcerated across the country, behind New Jersey and Wisconsin. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Black adults make up majority of CT prison population

A recent report found Black people make up the majority of Connecticut's prison population. The Prison Policy Initiative brief reported Black people …

Former President Donald Trump's federal criminal case wouldn't be the first to have TV cameras present. The trials of Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh and alleged 9/11 co-conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui both were televised. (Adobe Stock)

CT Activist Petitions for Televising Federal Trump Case

A Connecticut activist is petitioning to have Donald Trump's federal trial televised. The change.org petition has garnered more than 17,000 …

The Economic Policy Institute's Family Budget Calculator estimates a two-parent, two-child household in some parts of Connecticut must earn between $87,140 and $113,511 to cover all costs relating to childcare, food, housing, taxes and transportation. (Adobe Stock)

Report: CT's Former Prison Population Needs Workforce Re-Entry Help

A new report found the state of Connecticut needs to do more for its recently released prison population. The Connecticut Voices for Children report …

Rising temperatures and heat waves are having severe effects on incarcerated people's physical and mental health. A Prison Policy Initiative report found suicides increased by 23% in the three days following days of extreme heat. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Extreme Heat Lethal to U.S. Prison Population

A recent report found extreme heat can be lethal for incarcerated people. Connecticut and other Northeastern states experienced a 21% increase in …

According to 2019 data from the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, of the 11 million people incarcerated yearly, about 15% have been homeless. Conversely, around 48,000 people going into homeless shelters each year come, nearly directly, from prisons or jails. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Public-Housing Policies Exclude People with Criminal Records

A new report calls for public housing authorities to change certain policies to prevent excluding people with criminal records. The Prison Policy …

According to the Giffords Law Center, guns are the leading cause of death for Americans under age 18. (Adobe Stock)

A Decade after Sandy Hook, Assault-Weapons Ban Demands Continue

On the ten-year anniversary of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, a local organization is still working to see a national assault-weapons …

Among many other calls to action, the Connecticut Justice Alliance is asking the state to invest in a more equitable education system, as

CT Campaign Addresses Root Causes of Youth 'Criminalization'

Reducing the number of young people involved in the criminal justice system means working on the root causes which can lead them there. A youth …

Recent data show the number of young people in Connecticut admitted to juvenile-detention centers dropped 87% between 2005 and 2020. (Adobe Stock)

Youth-Justice Advocates Concerned as Crime Bill Heads to Gov's Desk

A youth crime bill passed by the Connecticut General Assembly has been sent to Gov. Ned Lamont's desk, even as some youth-justice advocates view the …

Reforms that advocates say helped lower youth incarceration rates include the state raising the minimum age for which adolescents could be charged with most crimes as an adult to 18 in 2012. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Number of Youth Incarcerated in US Much Higher Than Documented

Young people in the U.S. were incarcerated in juvenile facilities 240,000 times in 2019, according to a new report, and current methods significantly …

Since the law took effect in 1997, Connecticut has gone from charging people $31,755 a year for<br />their incarceration to $90,885, a roughly 280% increase. (Adobe Stock)

ACLU Class-Action Suit Challenges CT Prison Debt Law

The ACLU of Connecticut has sued the governor's and attorney general's offices, saying the state's prison debt law violates the excessive-fines …

CT Advocates: Addressing Social Challenges That Lead to Youth Crime is Key

Connecticut Senate Republicans have released a draft bill aiming to provide more work opportunities while also addressing a rise in crime among young …

Other policy recommendations in the report include mandating that officers complete 40 hours of racial bias and youth-specific training prior to interacting with students. (Adobe Stock)

Report: School Officers Don't Make Students Feel Safer

A new report shows the presence of police officers in school settings contributed to more referrals to law enforcement, particularly for students of …

Over the last 15 years, Connecticut has significantly reduced the number of children referred to the state's juvenile court system. (Adobe Stock)

Amid Car Theft Uptick, CT Advocates Want Youth Voices Heard in Solutions

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Officials are considering ways to handle an increase in car thefts and other crimes in Connecticut. Juvenile-justice advocates …

On average, Black minors in the United States were five times more likely to be incarcerated than their white counterparts in 2015. The rate had fallen to 4.4 times by 2019. (Adobe Stock)

Racial Disparities in CT Juvenile Facilities Higher than US Trends

HARTFORD, Conn. -- While there has been a decline in youth incarceration overall, a report on data gathered just before the pandemic shows …

Between 2009 and 2017, when 'raise the age' laws were implemented, Connecticut saw an 85% decrease in the number of minors housed at its Mason Youth Correctional Institute. (Adobe Stock)

With Fewer CT Youths in Jail, Advocates See Path for More Reforms

HARTFORD, Conn. -- A new report shows Connecticut has been able to decrease the number of young people in its juvenile-justice system since …

A new Gallup survey shows more than 60% of Americans say they know

Juneteenth Declared National Holiday, Amidst Progress, Upheaval

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Juneteenth National Independence Day is now an official holiday, after President Joe Biden signed a bill Thursday, approved by …

According to ACLU Connecticut, around 400,000 people are living with a criminal record in the Nutmeg State. If made law, the Clean Slate bill would expunge the records for more than half. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates: CT Clean-Slate Bill Passage a Start, But More Work is Needed

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Advocates for criminal-justice reform are optimistic about the passage of a Clean Slate bill, which would clear criminal records …

A New London peer-navigator program could aid first responders in mental-health emergencies. Only 30% of New London police officers have crisis-intervention training, according to the city's Human Services Department. (Mario Beauregard/Adobe Stock)

One CT City Makes Emergency Mental-Health Calls a Priority

NEW LONDON, Conn. - A first-in-the-state pilot program could soon offer a different approach to how agencies in Connecticut respond to emergency …

According to ACLU Connecticut, 10 states have ended prison gerrymandering. Connecticut could be among them if Senate Bill 753 passes in the General Assembly this session and is signed into law by Gov. Ned Lamont. (Adobe Stock)

CT Groups Push for Fair Redistricting; End to Prison Gerrymandering

HARTFORD, Conn. -- The League of Women Voters of Connecticut is working to promote greater awareness about the importance of drawing new legislative …

Connecticut will save about $12.6 million a year after closing Northern Correctional Institution in Somers this summer. (Adobe Stock)

Could Prison-Closure Funds Be Used to Expand Re-Entry Services?

HARTFORD, Conn. - Connecticut health workers and their allies are pushing for greater equity and investment in health services. They're backing …

According to Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, seven of the ten states with the strongest gun laws have background checks for all gun purchases, and the lowest rates of firearm deaths. (Adobe Stock)

State, Congress Feel New Urgency for Stronger Gun Laws

Correction: the Connecticut Lottery mass shooting occurred in 1998. An earlier version of this article incorrectly said that the event happened in 199…

Star Trek actor Ren� Auberjonois used California's medical-aid-in-dying law to end his suffering from lung cancer in December 2019. (Diane Krauss/Wikimedia Commons)

Aid-in-Dying Advocates Praise New CT Bill

HARTFORD, Conn. - A bill to allow medical aid-in-dying has just been introduced in the Connecticut Legislature. House Bill 6425 would permit a …

In the wake of George Floyd's death, Connecticut has joined other states passing police reform. (Lisa Jacobs/Flickr)

CT Lawmakers Pass Sweeping Police Reform Bill

HARTFORD, Conn. -- The Connecticut Legislature has passed sweeping reforms of policing in the state. The special session bill touches many aspects …

Behind the scenes at St. John's Episcopal Church, which was sprayed with graffiti over the weekend and saw an unannounced visit by President Donald Trump on Monday. (St. John's Church/Facebook)

New England Episcopal Bishops: Trump Church Visit "Disgraceful"

HARTFORD, Conn. -- New England's Episcopal bishops unanimously are calling out President Donald Trump's appearance in front of St. John's Episcopal …

The number of young people entering secure detention across the U.S. dropped by almost one-quarter in March 2020, and by 45% in Connecticut. (Chatiyanon/Adobe Stock)

CT Sees Major Drop in Youth Detention During Pandemic

HARTFORD, Ct. -- A new survey shows that across the country, the number of young people held in juvenile detention centers dropped by 24% in March …

The U.S. Census Bureau only will invite people to participate in the 2020 census questionnaire via mail in mid-March. (USDAgov/Creative Commons)

AARP Survey: Most CT Adults Unsure How Census Will Contact Them

HARTFORD, Conn. - AARP recently conducted a survey about impostor scams in part to gauge adults' vulnerabilities ahead of the census - and in …

Despite so-called ban-the-box legislation, people with a past criminal history still face job discrimination. (Pichsakul/Adobe Stock)

Connecticut Voters Support Clean Slate Proposal

HARTFORD, Conn. -- A majority of Connecticut voters say people who have been convicted of a crime should have a fair chance to get their lives back …

Critics say ICE courthouse arrests make immigrants who either are witnesses or victims of crime reluctant to appear in court. (K. Gardner, U.S. ICE)

Connecticut AG Joins Fight Against ICE Courthouse Arrests

HARTFORD, Conn. - Immigrants' rights advocates are praising Connecticut Attorney General William Tong's efforts to stop courthouse immigration …

Reform advocates hope the next chief state�s attorney will support closing Connecticut's supermax prison, the Northern Correctional Institution in Somers. (aquatarkus/Adobe Stock)

Key Questions for CT's Next Chief State’s Attorney

HARTFORD, Conn. – Connecticut needs a new chief state's attorney, and criminal justice reform advocates want to know where the candidates for …

A study of untested rape kits in Ohio found more than half were connected to serial offenders. (AungMyo/Adobe Stock)

Connecticut Achieves Milestone in Rape-Kit Testing Reform

HARTFORD, Conn. – Connecticut has enacted reforms that significantly have reduced the state's backlog of untested rape kits and will ensure the …

Wayzaro Walton, center, with her wife and daughter, both of whom are U.S. citizens. (Hartford Deportation Defense)

Hartford Residents Rally for ICE Detainee

HARTFORD, Conn. - Hartford-area residents are rallying outside an ICE detention center near Boston today to demand the release of a woman detained …

The arrest rate for Latino students was six times higher at schools with School Resource Officers. (gerasimov174/adobestock)

Report Finds Little Academic or Safety Benefit from Police in Schools

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – A new report says the presence of police officers in schools does not appear to enhance safety or improve academic …

Criminal-justice advocates say discrimination based on a person's past criminal record extends punishment long after release. (@skywardkick/Twenty20)

"Smart Justice" Bill Gets a Hearing

HARTFORD, Conn. - State legislators held a hearing Tuesday on a bill that would expand Connecticut's civil rights laws to prohibit discrimination …

In 2018, Connecticut reported the lowest crime rate in 50 years. (ErikaWittlieb/Pixabay)

Advancing Criminal Justice Reform in CT

HARTFORD, Conn. – Bills to end discrimination against people who've been arrested and to promote transparency in prosecutors' offices are top …

More that 750,000 people with disabilities are incarcerated in the United States. (USA-Reiseblogger/pixabay)

Criminal Justice Reform Benefits People with Disabilities

HARTFORD, Conn. – The criminal justice reform bill making its way through Congress will help thousands of people with disabilities re-enter …

Connecticut has the third highest cost of incarceration in the nation. (TayebMEZAHDIA/pixabay)

Formerly Incarcerated Need Jobs, Opportunities

HARTFORD, Conn. – People who've spent time in Connecticut jails and prisons are asking the state to invest in opportunities for all instead of …

DNA from sexual-assault evidence kits can link to suspects in the DNA database. (James Tourtellotte/CBP [Public domain])

Rape-Kit Reform Bill Clears CT Legislature

HARTFORD, Conn. – Legislation to improve the tracking of sexual-assault evidence kits is on its way to Gov. Danell Malloy's desk. After a 2015…

One of four people surveyed had received fraudulent calls claiming to be from the IRS. (sabinevanerp/Pixabay)

Scam Alert: The IRS Doesn’t Take Gift Cards

HARTFORD, Conn. – During tax season, phone calls from criminals posing as IRS agents are on the rise – but help is available to avoid …

SB 13 would ensure incarcerated women�s access to support before, during and after childbirth. (TryJimmy/Pixabay)

Bill Promotes Fair Treatment for Incarcerated Women

HARTFORD, Conn. – After a woman gave birth in her Connecticut prison cell, civil rights advocates want legislation to ensure respect for …

The study finds no relationship between the rates of drug imprisonment and the rate of overdose deaths. (bbran19/Pixabay)

Report: Overdose Deaths Unaffected by Tougher Drug Laws

HARTFORD, Conn. — A new, 50-state study finds that putting more people in jail for drug offenses doesn't reduce drug use or overdose deaths…

Other New England states are ahead of Connecticut in restoring voting rights to people in the criminal justice system. (landrachuk/Pixabay)

Bill Would Restore Voting Rights to Parolees, Pre-Trial Detainees

HARTFORD, Conn. – A bill to restore the vote to thousands of Connecticut residents is getting a hearing Thursday in the General Assembly…

Advocates for people in prison say the quality of health care in Connecticut prisons is a long-standing issue. (Andrea Sears)

Prison Birth Sparks Calls for CT Legislation

HARTFORD, Conn. — Prisoners’ rights advocates are calling for new legislation to protect inmates’ health, safety and human rights…

After 1978, the number of women in prison nationwide increased at twice the rate of men. (jodylehigh/Pixabay)

CT Succeeding in Reducing Incarceration Rates for Women

HARTFORD, Conn. – The rate of incarceration for women in Connecticut is falling faster than the rate for men, but a new study finds that's not …

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CT: Criminal Justice