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The purpose of the Connecticut Juvenile Justice Alliance is to promote a safe, effective, and equitable continuum of care for children and adolescents in, or at risk of involvement in, the juvenile justice system.
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| Juvenile Justice Facilities Connecticut currently operates three state-run juvenile detention centers, two juvenile correctional facilities, and numerous Residential Treatment Centers for juvenile delinquents. Unfortunately, studies conducted by the Office of Policy and Management, Bridgeport Juvenile Justice Task Force, and University of Connecticut School of Social Work reveal that the state is often detaining and incarcerating the wrong population. Family With Service Needs, Youth In Crisis, youth with mental health problems, and a disproportionate number of African-American and Latino/a children are locked-up in detention and correctional facilities across the state. The Connecticut Juvenile Justice Alliance is interested in reforming these inequities and working to promote prevention and community-based programs that will serve as alternatives to handcuffs, prison uniforms, jail cells, and unhealthy living conditions for youngsters. Contact the Connecticut Juvenile Justice Alliance at (203) 579 - 2727 ext. 307 or e-mail here to request hard copies of any reports mentioned below. Correctional Facilities The Department of Children and Families is responsible for the operation of the two juvenile correctional facilities: Located in Middletown, The Connecticut Juvenile Training School for boys and Long Lane School for girls, have received criticism from recent internal and external evaluations. Long Lane School Connecticut's prison for girls under the age of 16 has been plagued by leadership turnover, staff dissatisfaction, and unsafe program procedures over the past couple of years. DCF will be losing its lease for the Long Lane School property in December 2003. For this reason, DCF prepared and released a report on April 7, 2002 addressing the specialized services and gender-specific programming needed for Connecticut's female juvenile justice population and general recommendations for what to do with the girls once Long Lane closes its doors. The report may be viewed here at DCF GIRLS REPORT4/7/02 or on the DCF webpage. Connecticut Juvenile Training School (CJTS) A new facility that opened its doors in July 2001, CJTS is a $57 million prison for boys. New leadership is attempting to restructure the facility as a rehabilitative treatment program, equipped with specialized mental health care and positive reinforcements. While Connecticut leadership is planning and a considering alternative programming for girls, the same emphasis on gender-specific programming has been neglected for boys in the juvenile justice system. The DCF Internal Evaluation of CJTS released on June 10, 2002 may be viewed on the DCF website Connecticut Child Advocate Jeanne Milstein and Attorney General Richard Blumenthal released a report on CJTS on September 19, 2002. You may view the report on this web site. Please contact the Connecticut Juvenile Justice Alliance if you have difficulty accessing these reports and we will be happy to send you hard copies. Detention According to Concent Decree, the state has been operating with 96 secure facility detention center beds for several years. Now, with approved bonding of nearly $46 million to expand the Hartford Detention Center and construct a new Bridgeport Detention Center, the state is creating an additional 118 secure detention beds without a proven need for those extra placements. The Annie E. Casey Foundation sponsored the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative and published a series called 'Pathways to Juvenile Detention Reform.' For more information about the Pathways series or the Juvenile detention Alternatives Initiative contact: 701 St. Paul Street, Baltimore, MD 21202 Tel: (410) 547 - 6600 -- website: www.aecf.org Also, contact the CT Juvenile Justice Alliance for an ADVOCACSEY publication article, 'Juvenile Jailhouse Rocked - Reforming Detention in Chicago, Portland, and Sacramento,' by Bill Rust, Fall 1999/Winter 2000, Volume One, Number Twelve. |
Current Juvenile Detention Beds Statewide
Court Support Services Division, Consent Decree
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