News & Commentary

Even if Lamont and the DOC continue to ignore the people who they should have been listening to all along, they should pay attention to the numbers, which show that the DOC’s reactionary, backward-looking response to COVID-19 is not working.

Under state law, more than 100 different state government agencies – including the Governor and DOC – could take steps right now to reduce the number of people who are sitting in prisons, where they are at risk during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Smart Justice has been speaking out for weeks about the urgent need for Governor Lamont, members of the Connecticut General Assembly, and other decision makers to act. Watch their calls to action in this powerful video series.

During a packed public hearing, Smart Justice leader Ciara Rosati testified in support of S.B. 403, a bill introduced by the Judiciary Committee that would create a strong Clean Slate law in Connecticut.

Fundamentally, Clean Slate is about providing a light at the end of the tunnel for people who are dealing with the collateral consequences of a record – inability to find housing, employment, education, or even insurance or financial products, based solely on a scarlet letter from their past.

Five Smart Justice leaders and organizers spoke truth to power about the need for Connecticut to pass a bill to prevent discrimination against people solely based on their records of arrest or conviction.

The ACLU will be watching closely to make sure the government's response is ​scientifically justified and no more intrusive on civil liberties than absolutely necessary.

The federal court’s ruling was good news for any state hoping to protect residents with net neutrality laws.

Backed by signs with statistics from Smart Justice's recent poll of Connecticut voters' views about Clean Slate, Smart Justice leaders Tracie Bernardi, Marquita Reale, Sean Sellars, and Terri Ricks shared their perspectives on why the opportunity for a fresh start should extend to everyone.