The Issue:
In Connecticut, as of November 6, 2020, over 400 Department of Corrections staff, and 1,670 incarcerated people have contracted the coronavirus. There are 9,354 people incarcerated in Connecticut’s jails and prisons. The nonpartisan Marshall Project ranks Connecticut among the worst in the nation in per capita COVID-19 transmission in its correctional facilities. Even as the pandemic slowed in the state, it has continued to rage in its facilities. There is no reliable way to social distance in prison.
That’s why current and former corrections officials, Yale medical and public health faculty, and human rights advocates agree that safely releasing significant portions of the incarcerated population is not only possible, it is the best way to prevent mass infections and deaths among inside those facilities, and the communities to which both personnel and inmates return. Despite this, the DOC continues to fail to comply with court-ordered minimum protections for inmates and staff, even as 56 people at Hartford Correctional Center tested positive in an October outbreak.
To avoid further harm, we are again asking that the Lamont administration release at least the following people and ensure that they are placed in dignified, safe housing and are connected to the supports they need for a safe reintegration to the community:
- youth who do not pose a risk to others
- people near the end of their sentences
- people re-incarcerated for technical parole violations
- those in pretrial detention who are, by definition, legally innocent
Under the state constitution, Governor Lamont has sweeping pardon powers. His authority to govern by executive order during a crisis only amplifies these powers. Human dignity should not be suspended behind bars.
The Action:
To further pressure the governor, the Collaborative Center is participating in a statewide protest action organized by our partners at the Katal Center for Health, Equity, & Justice on November 18, from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., and we invite Voices for Justice Network members to join, as well. There are two ways you can join:
- An in-person, socially distanced protest outside of Hartford Correctional Center at 177 Weston St., Hartford, at 11:00 a.m. Please arrive early, wear a mask, and maintain appropriate distancing practices.
- By engaging your elected officials online. Email Governor Lamont directly by clicking here. Click here to find your state legislators and urge them to advocate for the health and safety of people who are imprisoned.
For more information see this action alert we shared in May. Email Katal Center Lead Organizer Kenyatta Thompson at kthompson@katalcenter.org for more information and to RSVP.