>>Today we have a number of people coming here to have discussions
about criminal justice reform from legislators,
you have the governor coming in, you have people from
non-profit organizations,
you have people who have been formerly incarcerated,
faculty and staff. All are interested in criminal justice reform.
When we think about the new strategic plan
that we have under President Olian,
one of the things that she talks about is using the university
and the education as a public good.
And so, part of doing outreach in the communities is using education
as a tool to bring about positive social change.
So, I think that’s why it resonates with folks here at Quinnipiac.
>>There’s a lot of great people who made bad decisions
when they were young.
How can you turn your life around, if when you come out of prison,
you can’t get an apartment?
You can’t get a student loan? You can’t get a job?
When people are on parole and probation,
that’s a time to really step in and help them.
And so the REFORM Alliance, where I work, we’re really passionate about
making sure that people on parole and probation get help
and don’t get into a revolving door going back to the system.
>>I think you’ll find the recidivism and people who go back is way down
when you give people just a little more opportunity.
>>When you have a governor who is willing to sit down at the same table
with people who are formerly incarcerated, law enforcement,
to come up with real solutions, that gives hope to everybody.
