As union corrections officers gathered for a protest outside the Connecticut State Capitol on Wednesday, they learned the governor had just issued the veto they were demanding.
Gov. Ned Lamont vetoed a prison reform bill restricting the use of solitary confinement. He writes, "I am not signing this legislation because, as written, it puts the safety of incarcerated persons and correction employees at substantial risk."
The corrections officers had been lobbying for the veto, and they're critical of the lawmakers who passed the bill. "It's very hard to Monday morning quarterback and have people tell you how to do your job that's actually never walked into a correctional facility," said Ginny Ligi, a corrections officer and member of AFSCME Local 387. "Having people at the table that do the job every day was a huge help."
Also on Wednesday, the governor issued an executive order asking the Department of Correction to "institute policies that limit how long an incarcerated person may be held with severely restricted out of cell time."
Critics have long argued that solitary confinement is a form of excessive, cruel punishment.
"We're very disappointed the governor has once again shown a lack of caring for people who are incarcerated," says ACLU of Connecticut Director David McGuire.