Connecticut Commission on Racial and Ethnic Disparity in the Criminal Justice System
Addressing the overrepresentation of racial and ethnic minorities in the state’s criminal justice system and the impact of such disparity on minority communities.
History and Mission
The Commission on Racial and Ethnic Disparity in the Criminal Justice System was created by the Connecticut state legislature in 2000 (Public Act 00-154). During the 2015 legislative session, the Commission’s membership and charge were slightly modified with the passage of Public Act 15-109.
The commission shall:
Sponsor conferences, forums and educational and training programs on the causes, effects and implications of racial and ethnic disparity in the state’s criminal justice system
Collaborate with national, state and local organizations and institutions to identify strategies for reducing racial and ethnic disparity in the state’s criminal justice system
Develop, evaluate and recommend promising and emerging policies and practices, including any legislation to implement such policies and practices
Determine whether any statutory provision negatively impacts the racial and ethnic disparity in the state’s criminal justice system and recommend statutory changes to the Governor and General Assembly to reduce such impact
Make recommendations to the Governor, the General Assembly and state and local agencies and organizations on the implementation of any such strategy, policy, practice or legislative change
Assess the impact of any implementation of such strategies, policies, practices or legislative changes.
Members and Meetings
The Commission benefits from the diversity of its membership and the leadership of its Chair, Justice Lubbie Harper, Jr. Since Justice Harper’s appointment in 2006, the Commission has addressed such topics as juvenile justice and the prevention of juvenile entry into the criminal justice system, implicit bias, youth-police programming, access to justice, and jury instruction, among others.
View current commission members here: link to page: https://redcjs.org/commission-members/
Commission regular scheduled meetings are held the second Monday of every other month from 2:00 – 4:00 pm at Hartford Community Court, 80 Washington Street, Hartford CT, or via teleconference. Please contact Santana Miller, IMPR program assistant, for information about upcoming meetings.
View past meeting minutes and agendas (2008 – present) here: https://redcjs.org/commission-meetings/
Publications
With the passage of Public Act 15-109 during the 2015 legislative session, the Commission is required to report to the Governor and the Connecticut General Assembly on a biennial basis.
View all reports on the IMRP Library