Criminal Justice System

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed the measure known as Clean Slate this week, allowing certain criminal records to be sealed. Republican lawmakers in Suffolk County say the new law is a blow to public safety.

Rep. Steven Stafstrom urged the Connecticut Sentencing Commission to focus on bail reform, suggesting it could be a key policy issue in 2024.

The Connecticut justice system has released findings from a study called "Moving Justice Forward” which has been in the works for two years. The results have helped to produce an action plan to address inequities.

Almost 1% of Connecticut’s population is on probation. That’s 30,000 people — and three times the amount of people incarcerated in the state. It’s also high compared to most other northeastern states.

The Connecticut Supreme Court is on the road Wednesday hearing two real-life cases at Eastern Connecticut State University.

Over 100 criminal justice and progressive groups have written a letter to Governor Kathy Hochul, asking her to appoint a new chief judge who has represented the most vulnerable people in society and looked out for defendants’ rights.

According to data released by the Nassau County Police Department, fewer people are being rearrested while awaiting trial for their first alleged crime. This comes after state data last month showed that rearrests had fallen 5% in the second year of the new bail laws.

WSHU’s Ebong Udoma spoke with CT Mirror’s Kelan Lyons to discuss his article, “New Jersey mostly got rid of cash bail. Why hasn’t Connecticut?“ as part of the collaborative podcast Long Story Short.

Recently released data from New York’s court system shows that in the second year of bail reform, the number of people rearrested while awaiting trial for their first alleged crime edged down 5%.

Fewer people are jailed in Connecticut today than in 2008. But the cash bail system keeps those who can't buy their way out imprisoned.