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Letter from Rell to DeStefano
Mar. 1st, 2008 07:51 pmFebruary 29, 2008
Mayor DeStefano:
I am deeply disappointed by the comments you made following the most recent shootings in your city Monday that suggest the State of Connecticut is somehow not doing enough to prevent - or worse yet, somehow bears responsibility for - the plague of violence and crime in your city.
Your statements Tuesday that "our probation system is failing to take [released prisoners] off the streets" and "we cannot keep dumping people back out here" demonstrate a frankly shocking unfamiliarity with the true nature of the problem.
Of the three shootings that occurred Monday, none involved individuals under the supervision of the Department of Correction. Moreover, the Department of Correction does not "dump" released prisoners in New Haven or in any other city. What it does do is return former prisoners to their home towns.
You are apparently unaware that of the number of inmates incarcerated today, a total of 12 percent report a New Haven residence. (Indeed, if I were in an ironic frame of mind, perhaps I might complain about the City of New Haven "dumping" its problems with drugs, violence, theft and other crimes on the State of Connecticut.)
You also appear to be unaware that nearly $5.5 million was spent in 2007 on residential and non-residential services for former prisoners in New Haven, or that the Office of Parole and Community Services, operated by the Department of Correction, has 23 parole officers, two substance abuse counselors and two case managers dedicated to New Haven.
You are apparently unaware that in conjunction with the Connecticut Intelligence Center the New Haven Police Department is provided a weekly list of all releases prior to discharge, or that information on all gang members and offenders who served time for weapons charges is also provided prior to discharge.
Nor do you seem to be aware that a full-time DOC staff member works with your police department on the Safe Streets gun task force, or that Parole and Community Services staff have an active and on-going relationship with the police department.
And nowhere have you acknowledged the extraordinary assistance - almost entirely at state taxpayer expense - that the Connecticut State Police have provided to the City of New Haven because of the appalling corruption uncovered by a federal investigation into the narcotics unit of the New Haven Police Department. This is all the more tragic in a city where so much of the crime and gang violence is fueled by the narcotics trade.
Moreover, this assistance from the State Police comes on the heels of many years of narcotics, auto theft and other investigation assistance provided to New Haven police by state troopers. In fact, no other Connecticut community has received the degree of support from state police that has been given to New Haven.
Finally, I would also direct your attention to the numerous proposals contained in my mid-term budget adjustments that focus on criminal justice, particularly my calls to add $566,000 in funding for the Connecticut Offender Re-entry Program in the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, which helps inmates with serious psychiatric disabilities, and $100,000 for a DMHAS pilot program that targets people in New Haven, Bridgeport and Hartford who tend to cycle between prison and homelessness.
Doubtless you will also want to support my proposal to add $500,000 in funding for Urban Youth Violence Prevention programs, as well as funding for the Department of Social Services so it can determine eligibility for State-Administered General Assistance benefits for former inmates with health needs.
I have every confidence that the members of the Appropriations Committee would welcome your testimony should you wish to come to Hartford and speak in favor of these proposals.
There is no question that the City of New Haven faces many difficult issues. It is also clear that resolving these difficulties will require genuine leadership. Key to that leadership is an honest appraisal of the problem and a willingness to work constructively with the other stakeholders. I trust you will adopt a more productive tack in the future.
Sincerely,
M. Jodi Rell
Governor
Mayor DeStefano:
I am deeply disappointed by the comments you made following the most recent shootings in your city Monday that suggest the State of Connecticut is somehow not doing enough to prevent - or worse yet, somehow bears responsibility for - the plague of violence and crime in your city.
Your statements Tuesday that "our probation system is failing to take [released prisoners] off the streets" and "we cannot keep dumping people back out here" demonstrate a frankly shocking unfamiliarity with the true nature of the problem.
Of the three shootings that occurred Monday, none involved individuals under the supervision of the Department of Correction. Moreover, the Department of Correction does not "dump" released prisoners in New Haven or in any other city. What it does do is return former prisoners to their home towns.
You are apparently unaware that of the number of inmates incarcerated today, a total of 12 percent report a New Haven residence. (Indeed, if I were in an ironic frame of mind, perhaps I might complain about the City of New Haven "dumping" its problems with drugs, violence, theft and other crimes on the State of Connecticut.)
You also appear to be unaware that nearly $5.5 million was spent in 2007 on residential and non-residential services for former prisoners in New Haven, or that the Office of Parole and Community Services, operated by the Department of Correction, has 23 parole officers, two substance abuse counselors and two case managers dedicated to New Haven.
You are apparently unaware that in conjunction with the Connecticut Intelligence Center the New Haven Police Department is provided a weekly list of all releases prior to discharge, or that information on all gang members and offenders who served time for weapons charges is also provided prior to discharge.
Nor do you seem to be aware that a full-time DOC staff member works with your police department on the Safe Streets gun task force, or that Parole and Community Services staff have an active and on-going relationship with the police department.
And nowhere have you acknowledged the extraordinary assistance - almost entirely at state taxpayer expense - that the Connecticut State Police have provided to the City of New Haven because of the appalling corruption uncovered by a federal investigation into the narcotics unit of the New Haven Police Department. This is all the more tragic in a city where so much of the crime and gang violence is fueled by the narcotics trade.
Moreover, this assistance from the State Police comes on the heels of many years of narcotics, auto theft and other investigation assistance provided to New Haven police by state troopers. In fact, no other Connecticut community has received the degree of support from state police that has been given to New Haven.
Finally, I would also direct your attention to the numerous proposals contained in my mid-term budget adjustments that focus on criminal justice, particularly my calls to add $566,000 in funding for the Connecticut Offender Re-entry Program in the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, which helps inmates with serious psychiatric disabilities, and $100,000 for a DMHAS pilot program that targets people in New Haven, Bridgeport and Hartford who tend to cycle between prison and homelessness.
Doubtless you will also want to support my proposal to add $500,000 in funding for Urban Youth Violence Prevention programs, as well as funding for the Department of Social Services so it can determine eligibility for State-Administered General Assistance benefits for former inmates with health needs.
I have every confidence that the members of the Appropriations Committee would welcome your testimony should you wish to come to Hartford and speak in favor of these proposals.
There is no question that the City of New Haven faces many difficult issues. It is also clear that resolving these difficulties will require genuine leadership. Key to that leadership is an honest appraisal of the problem and a willingness to work constructively with the other stakeholders. I trust you will adopt a more productive tack in the future.
Sincerely,
M. Jodi Rell
Governor
