Senators Host Discussion on Juvenile Justice Reform in Stamford

Three U.S. senators met with Stamford teens on Saturday for a roundtable discussion on problems with the juvenile justice system.

Connecticut's Senators Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal and U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) met with the teens who have firsthand experience with the juvenile justice system and advocates to learn about the problems of juvenile confinement, and roundtable participants discuss strategies to prevent youths from entering the juvenile justice system. The discussion also focused on reforms to reduce school-based arrests.

Murphy, Blumenthal, and Booker also gave an update on their legislative proposals to reduce rates of juvenile incarceration and reform the nation's juvenile justice system during the meeting held at Domus Foundation.

"Connecticut has made great strides toward a system that better protects our young men and women in the juvenile justice system. Over the course of a decade, we've diverted kids away from prison and have cut our rate of juvenile incarceration by 60 percent," Murphy said in a statement. "But there's still more work to be done. The young men and women we heard from this afternoon made it clear that unnecessarily harsh disciplinary methods are ineffective and that community services, rehabilitation strategies, and other alternatives actually give young people the help they need to be successful at home, at school, and in their communities."

Blumenthal said, "‎Simply put, the juvenile justice system is not working. Incarceration of youth for low-level infractions and offenses deprives them of what they need the most - strong family support, education and access to community services that address, not merely punish, the root causes of their behavior."

Blumenthal added, "Our current system is failing not only the children it incarcerate - particularly youth of color - but the families, schools and communities to which they return, most often no better equipped or supported to succeed."

The senators recently introduced several pieces of legislation that aim to protect youth and prevent the incarceration of young men and women. Murphy and Booker have introduced the Better Options for Kids Act – legislation that incentivizes states to replace overly harsh school disciplinary actions and juvenile court punishment with bipartisan, evidence-based solutions that save money, enhance public safety, and improve youth outcomes, Murphy also has called on leaders of Connecticut's General Assembly to adopt legislation that places reasonable limits on the use of shackles in Connecticut's juvenile courts.

Contributed photo: U.S. Senators Chris Murphy an Corey Booker, third and fourth from left, with local teens on Saturday.