A new report in Connecticut shows that diverting people with mental health and substance abuse problems away from prison can save your tax dollars and make the state safer. Tell your elected officials to support diversion efforts!

Take action now.

After leading the nation in prison population reduction in 2003, Connecticut’s prison population reached record high levels this year. Connecticut’s prison system continues to take in thousands of people with mental health and/or substance abuse problems charged with nonviolent offenses who would fare much better in alternative settings that draw on community resources.

Let your legislators know there is a solution.

The brief report offers an overview of the current state of incarceration of people with mental health problems, many with co-occurring substance abuse problems. It identifies effective program models that could be used to ease the state’s prison population pressures and reverse the growth trend. “Downsizing” the prisons could improve prospects for long-term increases in public safety through “justice reinvestment,” making strategic investments of correctional savings to build healthier families and safer communities.

The report, entitled, “Diversion Works: How Connecticut can Downsize Prisons, Improve Public Safety and Save Money with a Comprehensive Mental Health and Substance Abuse Approach,” was authored by national advocacy research organization Justice Strategies and released by the Drug Policy Alliance and Hartford-based A Better Way Foundation.

Tell your legislators about “Diversion Works” so that Connecticut can start creating more effective, more fiscally responsible policies.

Thanks for all you do.

Gabriel Sayegh
Director, State Organizing and Policy Project
Drug Policy Alliance