Sen. Kissel Objects to Inmate Bussing to Asnuntuck

Sen. John A. Kissel (R-Enfield) today expressed strong objections regarding the State of Connecticut’s decision to bus 12 Connecticut correctional facilities inmates to Asnuntuck Community College in Enfield to take college courses.

Kissel, the Ranking Member on the legislature’s Judiciary Committee, said the Department of Correction’s decision to bus the inmates to ACC beginning next week raises several safety, security and public policy concerns, including:

• There will be just one parole officer with the 12 inmates in the ACC campus.
• No corrections officers will accompany the inmates to ACC.
• Classes at ACC’s Manufacturing Center will put inmates in direct contact with tools and instruments which could lead to security risks.
• Due to ongoing construction at ACC, machinery and materials are present throughout the campus, which could lead to security risks.
• Resources are being directed toward 12 inmates which could have been directed to 12 law-abiding citizens or 12 dislocated workers trying to start a new career path.

“The state’s decision to bus inmates to ACC raises a slew of questions,” Sen. Kissel said. “The safety of staff and students must be paramount. Asnuntuck has an open campus where people come and go all the time. So many things could go wrong with this decision. All it takes is one bad event. I support inmate re-integration efforts in general, but I cannot support this decision. I don’t think it was properly thought through. I strongly urge state officials to reconsider this decision immediately.”