People, Not Prisons Rally in New Haven

Join Smart Justice for a rally to demand that Connecticut invests in people, not prisons. Rally to show that Connecticut must end mass incarceration and eliminate racial disparities in the justice system.

LOCATION DETAILS: Meet us on the New Haven Green at the corner of College and Chapel Streets. Together, we'll walk down College Street to rally across from the Shubert Theater, located at 247 College Street. 

QUESTIONS? Email act@acluct.org 

Incarceration is a brutal, expensive, ineffective response to crime. It tears families apart, hurts local economies, and doesn't guarantee justice. Connecticut has made progress toward ending mass incarceration, but we have work to do.

Every day, incarceration hurts families, communities, and economies in our state. Connecticut imprisons 334% more people than it did in 1968, an increase that far outpaces population growth and crime. Too often, fair treatment in the justice system still depends on how much money you have or the color of your skin — racial disparities in Connecticut's prisons and jails are among the worst in the country. Formerly incarcerated people have difficulty securing employment, housing, and occupational licenses and face a multitude of other obstacles to reentering society long after they have served their sentences.

ACLU Smart Justice Connecticut is led by a cohort of people who have been directly impacted by the criminal justice system. Together, we're working for policies to usher in a new era of justice, where families are thriving because our state has chosen to invest in people, not incarceration, and where every person, from every background, is treated fairly by the justice system. Together, we can cut Connecticut's prison and jail populations by 50% and end racial inequality in our justice system.