In the 1990's the state of Connecticut shipped 500 of its prisoners to Wallens Ridge, a private prison in Virginia. The conditions were horrible and the distance from Connecticut placed a significant strain on families. A coalition of organizations and individuals from around the state came together to call for the removal of our inmates from the brutal Wallens Ridge and for their return to Connecticut.
Only after 2 leased-out Connecticut inmates lost their lives, did we win a partial victory. Connecticut cut of its deal with Wallens Ridge and the prisoners were moved to a public Virginia prison with much better conditions.
Since that time however the state continuously tries to ship off more prisoners. Last year they tried to send another 500 to Viriginia and this year they tried to send 500 to Ohio. We must continue to stand up against the transfer of our prisoners.
SLAM stands with People Against Injustice and others in
coalition:
Neither shipping our prisoners to other states, nor
building more prisons is an adequate solution to overcrowding- we must
deal with over crowding by reducing the rates of incarceration, creating
functional alternative to incarceration programs, and working towards
rehabilitation.