States Act To Reduce Disparity

Colorado passed HB 1119 Reducing racial disparity in criminal justice system (CCJRC priority/support): Requires the Colorado Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice to study and make recommendations for the reduction of racial and ethnic disparity in the criminal and juvenile justice systems.
Governor M. Jodi Rell (R-CT) signed legislation which will require examination of the racial and ethnic impact of new sentencing laws prior to passage. It provides a means for legislators to anticipate any unwarranted disparities and enables them to consider alternative policies to accomplish the goals of legislation without causing undue negative effects on public safety.

"Just as fiscal impact statements help policymakers assess the effects of proposed policies, so will racial impact statements allow us to anticipate any unintended consequences of criminal justice policy,” said Representative Michael Lawlor, chair of the House Judiciary Committee in Connecticut. “By doing so, we will enhance the fairness and credibility of the criminal justice system."

Connecticut has one of the nation's highest rates of racial disparity among its incarcerated population; blacks are confined at 12 times the rate of their white counterparts. The differences in incarceration may signal a failure to address social and economic problems within some communities and can indicate bias within the justice system. The consequences for affected communities are disproportionate rates of voter disenfranchisement, unemployment, and disassociation among its citizens.

The Sentencing Project