Newsletter 9/3/21

leeper
September 3, 2021
I hope you and your family are having a great start to the 2021-2022 school year!
 
CAR THEFT UPDATE
I want to share some breaking news: For months, we have been listening to law enforcement and the public about the increase in juvenile crime. While juvenile crime was up around the country in 2020, largely due to the pandemic- with people laid off and kids out of school- it is already trending lower in 2021. Nonetheless, we heard from law enforcement that there were adjustments that needed to be made on the judicial side to help them better do their jobs.

Starting Wednesday, September 1, the CT Judicial Branch will provide police departments with 24/7 access to juvenile arrest records to help curb repeat offenses. This change comes after speaking with police chiefs across the state who told us they didn’t have access to information on a suspect's prior arrests. Police will now have the information they need to secure detention orders for repeat offenders. This gives law enforcement the additional tools they told us they need to help keep both the public and these young people safe.
We have also been working on other fronts to help curb juvenile-related crimes:
  • We created a first-offense juvenile rehabilitation program, which involves first-time juvenile offenders attending 21 classes, working with social workers, and psychologists to determine the psychological and social issues that may have led to them committing a crime. The program helps address those issues to prevent the juvenile from reoffending. 
  • We made it a felony for an adult to entice a minor to commit a crime, including car theft.
  • A bipartisan group of legislators and experts in the field have been meeting regularly to discuss how to effectively address the issue and that work is ongoing. 

This is a complex social and criminal justice challenge, and I am committed to listening to all voices and working hard for short-term and long-term policies that keep our community safe.

The Juvenile Justice Policy and Oversight Committee (JJPOC) has put together a presentation on motor vehicle theft trends in Connecticut. The presentation includes preliminary 2020 data and updates as of July 27, 2021. You can download the presentation here.
 
UPDATE ON AFGHAN REFUGEES' RESETTLEMENT
I want to take a moment to acknowledge the heartbreaking collapse of Afghanistan, the heroic efforts of the men and women serving in our military there, and also, what comes next here in Connecticut. There is no doubt that the scenes from the Kabul airport were gut-wrenching and a tragic end to our nation's longest war. As someone who has had family members and loved ones deployed multiple times to Afghanistan over the past 20 years, I want to recognize all of our service members' contributions and commitment to our country. Your sacrifices not only neutralized a terrorist threat, but also helped the people of Afghanistan live under greater peace than they had known in decades.

Specifically, I want to recognize the service members who were still on the ground over the past several weeks and thank them for their immeasurable selflessness and bravery as they risked their own lives to help so many others. I commend them on the success of helping 120,000 people get out of the country and giving them the possibility for a life of hope and opportunity. There were service members at the Kabul airport from our own Fairfield community and I want to thank them for their service- our nation is eternally grateful to you.

Lastly, Fairfield's own, Alex Plitsas, who served as a Marine in Afghanistan, helped get 40 Afghan nationals out of the country in the past 2 weeks and I just want to thank him personally. Read more about this incredible story here.
What comes next? I am proud that our state has affirmatively said we will welcome these refugees, and help them resettle and make a home here. This will take a tremendous amount of effort. Yesterday, I was honored to join the Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants (CIRI) as they brought together community partners to declare their commitment to this work. If you are interested and able to help, you can learn more about the organizations working directly with these families, here: https://cirict.org/afghanistan-relief-fund/ and https://irisct.org/
 
OVERDOSE AWARENESS
August 31st was International Overdose Awareness Day. The opioid crisis has affected communities in Connecticut and across the country. Together, we can support those struggling with addiction and their families by understanding the disease and reducing the stigma of opioid use disorder. To learn more about opioid use and find resources in your community, visit liveloud.org. 

A special thank you to the wonderful work of Fairfield CARES, who do so much to raise awareness in our community around mental health and substance abuse. They held a vigil in town on Tuesday and if you weren't able to make it, you can watch it here.
 
COMMUNITY THEATER RIBBON CUTTING
It was a joy to participate in the official ribbon cutting of the beautiful new, Sacred Heart Theater in the heart of our downtown. We are so grateful for these community partners. Please learn more about the theater and their programming here.