Connecticut Juvenile Justice Alliance
2017 Fact Sheet
SB 1025
AN ACT CONCERNING THE CLOSURE OF THE CONNECTICUT JUVENILE TRAINING SCHOOL AND THE TRANSFER OF JUVENILE JUSTICE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TO THE JUDICIAL BRANCH
CLOSING CJTS
1. Governor Malloy has already pledged to close the Connecticut Juvenile Training School. Having the legislature officially endorse CJTS closure is critical. All branches of our government need to work together to achieve this goal.
2. It is important that the legislation include a date certain so that Connecticut residents can hold their government accountable. Governor Malloy’s target was July 1, 2018. This bill proposes July 1, 2017. We would like to know why the timeline has changed and see evidence that involved state agencies are prepared to meet the earlier deadline.
3. CJTS is a dangerous environment for youth; does nothing to protect public safety; and costs taxpayers in excess of $30 million annually. It must close. But we must make sure that alternatives we develop are better: for youth, for public safety and for the budget.
a. We need to make sure that secure confinement is reserved for the rare youth who really needs it. Everyone who plays a role in youth entering the system and being committed delinquent, for example schools and courts, needs to play a role in planning.
b. We need to create other ways to hold youth accountable in programs and settings that promote rehabilitation. The majority of these should be community-based, the setting that has the highest success rate at the lowest price.
c. We need to promote access to things that help young people live successfully in the community, such as jobs and safe housing.
d. All of this work needs to be done publicly with many stakeholders – including youth and families – at the table.
e. In summary, we should not be focused on replacing a building. We should be creating improved systems of care that meet the needs of the young people now incarcerated at CJTS.
Moving Juvenile Justice Services Out of DCF
The Alliance is not taking a position on the movement of juvenile justice services from DCF to the Judicial Branch.