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.
CRED Timeline
Commission Members
COMMISSION CHAIR:
The Honorable Lubbie Harper, Jr., Supreme Court Justice (Ret.), Designee of Chief Court Administrator
| COMMISSION MEMBERS: | APPOINTED MEMBERS: |
| Chairperson of the Board of Parole - Jennifer Zaccagnini, Board of Pardons and Parole | Appointed by the Governor - Preston C. Tisdale, Partner, Koskoff, Koskoff & Bieder, PC |
| Chief Public Defender’s designee - Claud Chong, Senior Assistant Public Defender | Appointee of Majority Leader of the Senate - David McGuire, Legislative and Policy Director, American Civil Liberties Union of CT |
| Chief State’s Attorney’s designee - Gail Hardy, Executive Assistant State’s Attorney, Office of the Chief State’s Attorney | Appointee of Minority Leader of the Senate - Avery Gaddis |
| Child Advocate - Christina Ghio, Acting Child Advocate, Office of the Child Advocate | Appointee of President Pro Tempore of Senate - Cheryl Sharp, Deputy Director, Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities |
| Commissioner of Children and Families’ designee - Monica Rams, Department of Children and Families | Appointee of Majority Leader of the House of Representatives - TBD |
| Commissioner of Correction’s designee - Sharonda Carlos, Interim Commissioner of Correction | Appointee of Minority Leader of the House of Representatives - Brian Fournier, The Fournier Law Firm |
| Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection’s designees - Michael Bloom, Senior Director of External Affairs and Engagement & Hate Crimes Coordinator and Lieutenant Haley Russenberger, Connecticut Hate Crimes Investigative Unit | Appointee of Speaker of the House of Representatives - Malik Ramiz
Representative of the Municipal Police Chiefs - Patrick Ridenhour |
| Victim Advocate’s designee - Hakima Bey-Coon, Staff Attorney, Office of the Victim Advocate | Commission on Women Children Seniors Equity and Opportunity (CWCSEO) Executive Director Designees - Alan Tan, CWCSEO Co-Chairperson; Werner Oyanadel, CWCSEO Latino & Puerto Rican Policy Director, and Denise Drummond, CWCSEO African American Policy Analyst
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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.