Smart Justice Polling Regarding Accountability for State's Attorneys
In 2020, Smart Justice released public policy polling showing broad support among Connecticut voters across the ideological spectrum for commonsense measures to begin holding Connecticut State's Attorneys accountable to the public.
The research, conducted by Benenson Strategy Group between January 30 and February 5, 2020, included 510 telephone and online interviews with registered Connecticut voters across the state who indicated they were likely to vote in the 2020 general election. Thirty-six percent of participants identified as moderate, 32 percent as conservative, and 30 percent as liberal. Respondents were asked about their views on creating data-driven performance evaluations for state's attorneys, diversionary programs and other alternatives to incarceration, creating standard rules for fairness and anti-discrimination for state's attorneys to follow in cases, and general accountability for state's attorneys.
Key findings include:
- 86% of voters, including 91% of Democrats, 83% of Independents, and 81% of Republicans, support making state's attorneys undergo data-driven performance evaluations every two years to ensure there is no discrimination in their charges based on gender, age, race, or ethnicity, and that the same standards are being used state-wide. Nearly half – 48% – strongly support such a measure
Results are below.
Related content
Smart Justice 2024 Legislative Testimony
May 31, 2024![](https://www.acluct.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail_130x110/public/field_image/copy_of_hpd_statement.png?itok=vOo6GTe3)
Reaction to Not Guilty Verdict for State Trooper Brian North
March 15, 2024![](https://www.acluct.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail_130x110/public/field_image/legislative_testimony.png?itok=t3rruLPZ)
S.B. 145: An Act Appropriating Funds for the Homeless Response System
February 28, 2024![](https://www.acluct.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail_130x110/public/field_image/legislative_testimony.png?itok=t3rruLPZ)
S.B. 141: An Act Concerning the Expansion of the Crisis Initiative...
February 28, 2024![](https://www.acluct.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail_130x110/public/field_image/annual_report_banner.png?itok=o7OtuIPd)
Annual Report 2023
February 21, 2024S.B. 138: An Act Concerning The Waiver Of Certain Criminal History...
February 20, 2024![](https://www.acluct.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail_130x110/public/field_image/legislative_testimony.png?itok=t3rruLPZ)
S.B. 143: An Act Concerning Just Cause Evictions
February 20, 2024![](https://www.acluct.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail_130x110/public/field_image/legislative_testimony.png?itok=t3rruLPZ)
H.B. 5127, An Act Requiring a Needs Assessment for the Delivery of...
February 20, 2024![](https://www.acluct.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail_130x110/public/forum.jpg?itok=4Qor0APB)