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"There is an emerging consensus that the juvenile justice system should not remain the default behavioral health service system," says a preliminary report the oversight committee is expected to discuss this afternoon at the state Capitol complex. "Detaining youth for behaviors resulting from unmet needs is not only unjust, but also exacerbates existing conditions by putting youth at greater risk of self-harm, mixing youth with negative peers, and disconnecting students from school, family and the community." Youngsters are currently being incarcerated in Connecticut not because they pose a risk to the public, but because there is nowhere else to house them or because the health services they require are not always available in the community, the report says. To reverse this reality, the panel is expected to vote Jan. 28 to recommend that the state overhaul its juvenile justice system, beginning with closing the controversial state-run jail for youth and funneling millions more into community-based programs and smaller secure- and non-secure therapeutic centers. Read article<http://ctmirror.org/2016/01/21/closing-cts-juvenile-jail-opportunities-and-obstacles-ahead/> Bonnie Berk Communications Director [cid:[log in to unmask]]<http://www.kidscounsel.org/> 2074 Park Street, Hartford, CT 06106 (860)570-5327 211 State Street, Bridgeport, CT 06604 (203)335-0719 Mailing address: 65 Elizabeth Street, Hartford, CT 06105