The Connecticut House of Representatives has unanimously passed a bill that would work to overhaul the state’s juvenile justice system.
The first section of the bill stipulates the creation of a committee to study how the state’s juvenile justice system can more effectively provide services to female and transgender minors, especially those who have been involved in sex trafficking. The second section of the bill looks to overhaul the state’s existing reentry program for minors, adding a clause that would mandate minors be connected with mentors and career training programs.
Despite the opposing views maintained by House Republicans and Democrats in regards to the handling of the state’s juvenile justice system, the bill was met with bipartisan support. Both Rep. Steven Stafstrom (D-Bridgeport) and Rep. Craig Fishbein (R-Middlefield) spoke in support of the bill, urging members of their respective party to vote in support.
“Specifically with regard to section two, I do rise in support,” said Fishbein. “The rest of the portions of this bill are OK as well.”
Advocacy organizations and state offices, such as the Offices of the Public Defender and Child Advocate, also submitted testimony in support of the bill. In the Child Advocate’s testimony, Sarah Eagan noted the bill’s proposals aligned with the recommendations she provided after investigating the state’s STAR homes in October 2023. In her investigation, she found that the majority of girls living in STAR homes were victims of sex abuse or trafficking, and were inadequately cared for.
The proposed bill would create a gender responsiveness subcommittee, which would study how the state can provide better care and resources for female and transgender minors. Working in tandem with the Trafficking in Persons Council, it would create a report assessing how the state’s juvenile justice system currently processes female and female-identifying minors to identify gaps in service. It would receive input from youth, families and communities impacted by gender-related service gaps, review current legislation relevant to the topic, and review demographically organized data to assess how crimes committed by youth are processed differently by the juvenile justice system based on their gender.
The committee would also create legislative recommendations for new service and treatment models for victims of child sex trafficking. The committee would base these recommendations by examining successful care models implemented by other states, and by receiving input from sex trafficking and abuse survivors. It would provide recommendations on ways in which the state can improve its access to clinical support for victims of child sex abuse and trafficking, implement specialized treatment in foster homes, and recommend specialized training for treatment providers. It would also look for ways to improve the services and care provided to transgender and developmentally disabled youths who have been processed by the juvenile justice system.
Finally, the committee would be tasked with developing a data collection framework that the state could use to create annual reports on human trafficking. It would have to submit this framework alongside its report and legislative recommendations to the Juvenile Justice Policy and Oversight Committee (JJPOC) by Jan. 1, 2025.
“Instead of continuing to funnel girls through a system that has continuously missed the gap, we can take the next step forward by passing this recommendation and centering resources around supporting young girls statewide,” read the testimony of the Connecticut Justice Alliance.
The second section of the bill would mandate recently released youth offenders be connected with mentors from credible messenger programs and other transitional care providers. Youths would have these mentors for periods lasting up to two years after their release.
“One of the problems we’ve seen is that people are released and it’s like, ‘Good luck, figure it out,’” said Fishbein. “But we don’t put anything in place to try and foster that.”
The second section of the bill would also require the state’s Judicial Department to ensure these youths take career training programs. The Department of Correction (DOC) would also be mandated to work with the Judicial Department and transitional care providers to help youthful offenders seek and secure employment prior to their release. Plans for both the mentorship and career programs would have to be submitted to the JJPOC by Dec. 1, 2024.
The bill passed with a vote of 139-0, with 12 abstentions. It must be passed by the Senate and signed by the governor to be signed into law.
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