Supporting House Resolution 7 and Senate Resolution 5, Resolution Approving the Settlement Agreement in Robert Barfield, et al. v. Angel Quiros, in His Official Capacity as Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Correction

While supporting these resolutions is necessary, it is not enough. Merely adopting the settlement agreement, which is in effect until March of 2022, does not go far enough to protect incarcerated people’s lives and safety. We are still in the midst of a pandemic, and every elected official must be mindful of how important health is to all people. Making permanent guarantees of treatment for Hepatitis C, providing adequate health care including timely vaccines for COVID-19, and otherwise guaranteeing incarcerated people appropriate physical and mental healthcare is what is required of the legislature in this moment.