Pubdate: Thu, 08 Feb 2001
Source: News-Times, The (CT)
Copyright: 2001 The News-Times
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Author: John Christoffersen, Associated Press Writer

GOVERNOR PROPOSES SHIFT IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE, MENTAL HEALTH APPROACHES

HARTFORD, Conn. (Associated Press) -- The state's approach to children, 
criminals and the mentally ill would shift from punishment to prevention 
and treatment under a budget proposed Wednesday by Gov. John G. Rowland. 
The two-year spending plan would fund a $5 million, 500-bed Community 
Justice Center at an undetermined site to treat nonviolent drug offenders. 
While defending the drug crackdown, Rowland endorsed giving judges more 
latitude in sentencing nonviolent drug offenders.

``We need a more enlightened approach,'' the Republican governor declared. 
``Mandatory minimum sentences make sense when we are fighting the (drug 
war's) supply side, but treatment is the best way to fight the war on the 
demand side.''

Rowland also would spend $20 million to build a juvenile justice center for 
girls. That proposal goes along with construction of the Connecticut 
Juvenile Training School in Middletown, which is scheduled to open later 
this year.

Rowland said the state should segregate girls and boys now housed at Long 
Lane School in Middletown to deal with the unique needs of female offenders.

The budget proposes more than $130 million in additional spending to 
improve mental health services for adults and children, Rowland said. Those 
initiatives would pay for rapid respond crisis teams; more residential beds 
to bring mentally ill children home from out of state facilities; better 
residential services; and more prevention programs.

Rowland also proposed creating an Office of Secretary for Children that 
would oversee four divisions of the Department of Children and Families: 
child protection, prevention, juvenile justice and behavioral health.

The goal is to allow officials to focus resources and attention 
consistently on those areas, rather than shift attention and spending as 
crises erupt, Rowland said.

The proposals drew mixed reactions from Democratic lawmakers and advocates.

The shift toward more treatment for nonviolent offenders, which is taking 
place around the country, was welcomed as a way to reduce prison crowding 
and recidivism. It was one of the few moments during Rowland's 40-minute 
speech that appeared to draw more applause from Democrats than Republicans.

``I was very happy to hear it,'' said state Rep. Michael Lawlor, D-East 
Haven, co-chairman of the Legislature's Judiciary Committee. ``It's a very 
significant shift. Many politicians have acquired a new sophisticated view 
of the criminal justice system.''

Increased treatment should reduce Connecticut's soaring prison population, 
which will enable state officials to stop sending inmates to prisons in 
Virginia, said Jelani Lawson, executive director of A Better Way 
Foundation, a nonprofit group in New Haven.

``I think the governor's call for the decriminalizing of addiction is a 
major step in the right direction,'' Lawson said.

The mental health initiatives were met with less enthusiasm. Critics said 
the funding levels were a reallocation rather than new spending and 
expressed concern that other areas would suffer.

``I was a little disappointed that there was not the infusion of cash,'' 
said Shelley Geballe, co-director of Connecticut Voices for Children in New 
Haven.

But Geballe said the new office for children was a good idea because it 
would create more accountability.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens