This hour: we sit-down with Connecticut Department of Correction Commissioner Scott Semple. In recent months, Semple’s agency has garnered statewide attention -- specifically with regard to reports involving prison health care and security.
We take a closer look at those issues and talk more broadly about trends within Connecticut's prison system.
Do you have a question or comment for Commissioner Semple? We want to hear from you.
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GUEST:
- Scott Semple - Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Correction
READING LIST:
Hartford Courant: On First Re-Entry Day AT State Capitol, A Call For Criminal Justice Reform - "Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's chief criminal justice adviser, Mike Lawlor, said that the Department of Correction spends a relatively small amount of time on reentry work day to day, but that specialized DOC staff, part of the community reentry unit, is looking into who gets out, and how they are supervised."
"Lawlor said one of the most recent challenges is addressing the opioid crisis, and getting drug-related services to people who need them before they’re released. Lawlor said DOC Commissioner Scott Semple 'is ramping that up' with a 'concerted effort' to get treatment in place."
The Connecticut Mirror: Frustrated auditors appeal to AG on prison officials’ refusal to turn over report - "Semple has said the report contains an expert’s findings on 'some specific cases that were brought to my attention about concerns about the quality of health care for a very small group of people.' Because the report may reveal the department’s legal strategy in future litigation, the report’s entire contents are protected by attorney-client privilege and are exempt from public disclosure, DOC maintains."
WTNH: Connecticut prison population falls below 14,000 inmates - "Correction Commissioner Scott Semple credits a combination of factors for the low offender population, including Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's Second Chance Society initiative, which among other things reclassified some drug crimes from felonies to misdemeanors."
Chion Wolf and Carlos Mejia contributed to this show.
