Such system costs the taxpayer too much, fails at rehabilitation, exacts a life-long toll on offenders and does not yield corresponding societal benefits. Of late, the political left and right have found common ground in advocating for change. This book is the product of a bipartisan coalition here in Connecticut of businesspeople, correctional professionals, legislators, judges, law enforcement professionals, lawyers, ministers and academics.
We believe there are systemic solutions capable of saving money, making us safer, and providing offenders with a pathway toward reformation and reintegration.
The purpose of this book is three-fold: (1) to provide information about the causes and extent of the problems overwhelming the process of criminal justice in Connecticut; (2) to explain why reform is long overdue and in our collective best interest; and (3) to suggest reforms that are supported by empirical evidence from other states.