NCJ Number
43832
Journal
Corrections Magazine Volume: 1 Issue: 3 Dated: (JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1975) Pages: 63-72
Date Published
1975
Length
10 pages
Annotation
AN OVERVIEW IS PRESENTED OF THE CONNECTICUT CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM, WITH EMPHASIS ON THE STATE'S COMMUNITY-BASED CORRECTIONAL EFFORTS.
Abstract
IN 1968 THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION ASSUMED AUTHORITY FOR EXISTING STATE PRISONS, WHICH PREVIOUSLY WERE UNDER DECENTRALIZED CONTROL, AND FOR ALL COUNTY JAILS, WHICH PREVIOUSLY WERE OPERATED AUTONOMOUSLY BY LOCAL SHERIFFS. THE DEPARTMENT ALSO TOOK OVER THE ADMINISTRATION OF PAROLE. THE JAILS WERE RENAMED COMMUNITY CORRECTIONAL CENTERS, AND THE STATE SOUGHT TO BRING THE CENTERS INTO CONFORMANCE WITH THE UNITED NATIONS MINIMUM STANDARDS OF IMPRISONMENT. A MAJOR COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS EFFORT IS THE PRIVATE-PUBLIC RESOURCES EXPANSION PROJECT, WHICH INVOLVES APPROXIMATELY 24 GROUPS WORKING TO TRAIN AND REHABILITATE OFFENDERS IN THE COMMUNITY CORRECTIONAL CENTERS AND ELSEWHERE. AN EXTENSIVE COMMUNITY-RELEASE PROGRAM SENDS OFFENDERS AT ALL INSTITUTIONS HOME ON FURLOUGHS AND ALLOWS INMATES AT ALL BUT THE MAXIMUM-SECURITY PRISON TO ATTEND CLASSES AT NEARBY SCHOOLS OR TO WORK AT OUTSIDE JOBS. THE STATE'S PROGRESS IN UPGRADING THE QUALITY, TRAINING, AND PAY OF ITS CORRECTIONAL EMPLOYEES IS DESCRIBED. MAXIMUM-SECURITY AND MINIMUM-SECURITY ADULT INSTITUTIONS, PAROLE POLICIES, AND JUVENILE CORRECTIONS FACILITIES ARE DESCRIBED. THE STATE'S PLANS TO CONDUCT A FOLLOWUP STUDY OF SOME 1,800 PAROLEES AND INMATES RELEASED PREMATURELY AS A RESULT OF A 1974 COURT ORDER ARE NOTED. PHOTOGRAPHS ILLUSTRATE THE ARTICLE.