The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Community-Based Criminal Justice Services in Connecticut

• In Event: Examining the Impact of COVID-19 on Community Corrections

Abstract

The pandemic has created an initial disruption to the work of criminal justice organizations providing community-based services, such as services for the victims of domestic violence, reentry services for formerly incarcerated people, services for at-risk youth, etc. Using semi-structured interviews of managers and surveys of workers at community-based correctional services provider organizations in Connecticut, we have evaluated the impact of the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic versus the ripple effects two years after the pandemic started, key obstacles that the providers are facing, as well as identified some of the factors associated with a high turnover of workers in these organizations and ways to improve the retention of staff and quality of services provided by community-based organizations. This research has important implications for increasing the safety of communities in Connecticut and beyond.

Authors

• Maria Tcherni-Buzzeo, University of New Haven

• Samantha Tosto, University of New Haven

• Baylie Fanning, University of New Haven

• Paul Klee, University of New Haven

• Jamie Hickey, University of New Haven