News & Commentary

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.

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. 

More than eight in ten Connecticut voters agree, and it is 100 percent true, that a person’s record of arrest or conviction alone does not tell you whether they will be good employees or tenants.

Connecticut’s next Chief State’s Attorney could be one of these people. Here’s how they responded to Smart Justice questions about their views on racial justice and decarceration.

Connecticut’s lack of clear guidelines and rules for prosecutors means that there are essentially 13 different standards for justice across our state.

Smart Justice is calling on everyone applying to become Connecticut’s next Chief State’s Attorney to answer these questions about racial justice and decarceration.

The Chief State’s Attorney could work to create a state where prosecutors’ budgets, policies, and lobbying align to prioritize strong communities and racial justice instead of incarceration and the status quo.

With Connecticut poised to choose a new Chief State's Attorney, the state should appoint someone who will prioritize decarceration, racial justice, and holding police accountable.

Smart Justice is just getting started on its efforts to create prosecutorial transparency and accountability, and our work to reform the CJC will continue.