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| Conn. Democrats To Oppose Plan For Inmates |
| By Hartford Courant |
| Published: 03/24/2003 |
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Democratic state lawmakers say they would oppose the governor's effort to send more inmates out of state, instead proposing a variety of initiatives they say will more cost-effectively address crowding in the state prison system. The Democratic proposals probably will include changes in the state's drug laws, increasing the number of probation officers, allowing some inmates to be released after serving 95 percent of their sentence and giving prison officials the authority to release pre-trial offenders to community supervision programs. State Rep. Michael Lawlor, D-East Haven, said shortsighted criminal statutes and cuts in drug treatment and mental health programs may be causing the state to lock up too many residents. He said the state needs to make systemic changes. 'The quick fixes like sending people out of state is just avoiding the inevitable,' said Lawlor, co-chairman of the legislature's judiciary committee, which is expected to begin its review of those proposals later this month. Gov. John G. Rowland wants to send 1,000 additional inmates out of state. The move would save the state $1.6 million in direct inmate costs in its first year and $9.2 million over a two-year period. Connecticut houses about 500 inmates in Virginia. Christopher Cooper, the governor's spokesman, said that sending inmates out of state was proposed because it is cheaper than building prisons. 'If [Democrats] oppose it then they should be ready to indicate an alternative,' Cooper said. 'The governor has said his plan is a blueprint and he expects it to be debated and adjusted.' Lawlor said he believes the governor, among other things, should be increasing funding to hire more probation officers. Lawlor said the fastest growing segment of the state's prison population is individuals who are returned to prison for technical violation of probation - missing an appointment or failing a drug screening, for example. Lawlor said that because probation officers in Connecticut have among the heaviest caseloads in the country they are too quick to return offenders to prison even for minor violations. Connecticut probation officers each handle about 180 cases. 'I'm not saying that they don't deserve to be in jail,' Lawlor said. 'I'm just saying they don't need to be there.' It costs about $27,000 each year to house an inmate in Connecticut. Lawlor also said he would support a measure to allow community supervision for some pre-trial inmates, especially those being held in lieu of low bail. Correction officials have 70 inmates being held with bail set at $1,000 or less. Typically, an inmate needs to come up with 10 percent of the amount to be released on a bond. Lawlor said the state would be using its money more wisely by finding beds in homeless shelters or halfway houses for those offenders. |
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