Prisoner “Road Map” Set

by Melissa Bailey | March 18, 2008 5:50 PM | | Comments (4)

IMG_1256.JPGThe mayor emerged from a two-hour-plus pow-wow with the governor’s emissary saying the two sides have crafted a “Road Map” for prisoner peace — one that at this point remains as vague as the Middle East peace pact of the same name.

The meeting took place Tuesday afternoon in Mayor John DeStefano, Jr.’s office.

After a fiery exchange of letters between DeStefano and Gov. M. Jodi Rell over the city’s problem with prisoner “dumping,” the governor sent a proxy for the peace pow-wow Tuesday.

State corrections chief Theresa Lantz showed up a bit early for the 2 p.m. confab. She had just gotten a ride down to the mayor’s office after a lunch of wraps at the Whalley Avenue jail (because parking is difficult downtown, she explained).

Before walking into the meeting, a reporter called out to the mayor: Will you be addressing the media afterwards?

“Depends how it goes,” replied DeStefano, as he beckoned his staff into the room.

After two hours and 20 minutes, both sides claimed they got through the meeting on civil terms. They didn’t dive back into the war of words over whether out-of-town prisoners get “dumped” in New Haven. (Rell had claimed they didn’t; a Register expose showed they did.)

“We didn’t get into contentions or any kind of discussion about ‘dumping,’” Lantz explained after the meeting. “It was more: how can we collaborate on reenhancing reentry?” They didn’t discuss the specific point prisoners get let off when they leave jail, the mayor said.

Instead, both sides emerged with a “Road Map” to improve prison reentry. They broke staffers up into four task forces working on these topics: A reentry system in New Haven; the Whalley Avenue Jail; homeless shelters; and city cops and parole.

In the latter category, DeStefano said he’d like to revive a program like “Project One Voice,” a collaboration between parole officers and district managers in the city’s 10 policing districts.

Subgroups are set to report back at a follow-up meeting in three or four weeks, DeStefano said.

Lantz called the meeting “very productive.”

“We do have shared goals,” she said. The commissioner said funding was not discussed at the meeting. Changes may involve policy decisions, or could take funds from various departmental budgets. The state legislature would also be called on to collaborate in any changes that may be made, she said.

IMG_1248.JPGLantz, who was gracious enough to stick around for additional questions from reporters, took her coat from the new mayoral armoire and headed home.







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Comments

Posted by: abg | March 18, 2008 10:45 PM

wow, pretty snarky ending... nice!

Posted by: cedarhillresident [TypeKey Profile Page] | March 19, 2008 8:15 AM

I to want a pic with that closet :)

But the story it self it sad. It looks like yet again we were given the run around on this issue. I am not sure what was said behind those doors...but my guess is that if things are going to remain the same... then nothing to help New Haven directly happened. Now is the time to protest this. Not after the state budget is done. The state works just like our finance committee. If they can make you think your happy long enough for them to vote the budget through. Then it will be to late for you to do a thing till next year!!

As far as them talking about the reform and re-entry.... ok yes I see the bills going through on this.... but the funding that is being put into it on a state wide level just does not seem like much to make that big of a difference.
The other fear is ....hmmmmm could we (New Haven) be the new proud owners of the new housing for these prisoners re-entering the world??? Anyone see were I am going with this??

I hope this is not the end of this. Or at the least I hope we here more about what was talked about behind those doors.... what has New Haven agreed to???

Posted by: Gary Doyens | March 19, 2008 9:51 AM

I love the new view of our $3500 New York purchased, foreign made armoire. It's lovely.

But the real question is, was the mayor on Prozac during this meeting? I thought the whole issue was "dumping" and how we're the victim of the evil empire who stuffs our homeless shelters with sexual predators and waiting to re-offend violence prone street thugs which is why shootings, mayhem and muggings are all on the rise - not the lack of community policing and slots for kids at risk.

In 2.5 hours, "dumping" was never discussed we're told. Or..perhaps somebody was told to tone it down and figure out how to work with the DOC - or you can kiss the state's ass-ets goodbye. When they already pay half the cost of operating the city, I guess that would have been a pretty short conversation but maybe a needed one so there was a setting where an adult conversation could take place.

Posted by: facChek | March 19, 2008 7:17 PM

I take it that DeStefano took two vallium and was able to calmly discuss the issues.

That'll work.......

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