News & Commentary

People living with a record have already earned the right to be part of our communities. But in many cases, a record of arrest or conviction can become a permanent, life-long sentence.

The bill is a direct result of the ACLU of Connecticut’s Smart Justice leaders, who are directly impacted by the justice system, calling for change, and it is part of a longer-term Smart Justice effort to create meaningful prosecutorial accountability.

S.B. 880, An Act Increasing Fairness and Transparency in the Criminal Justice System, is now Connecticut law. Passing a law, however, is just a first step toward creating transparency about prosecutors’ actions and using that information to end mass incarceration and racism in the justice system.

Connecticut voters have spoken, and they want transparency about what prosecutors do. A new statewide public opinion poll of Connecticut voters shows strong support across the political spectrum for legislation to increase transparency about prosecutors’ actions. 

Transparency is critical for our democracy, and no part of the government should be exempt from sunlight. If our state is going to create a smarter justice system, all of us need numbers on what prosecutors are doing.

This year, I moved from one city in Connecticut to a new one. On top of the usual stress of trying to find an affordable, comfortable place to live, I was burdened with extra anxiety.

I’ve often heard people say “don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time.” What people fail to realize is that “the time” never really ends.

As a justice-impacted person, I know Connecticut needs fair housing practices that allow people living with a criminal record to have a fair chance at finding a place to live. As a former landlord, I also know that someone’s record doesn’t tell you whether they will be a safe, responsible tenant.

The Connecticut General Assembly’s 2019 legislative session began on January 9, and the ACLU of Connecticut is pushing for the legislature to pass bills to advance smarter justice policies, immigrants’ rights, police transparency, and more. Here are just some of the issues we’ll be working on.