Civil Liberties Group To Probe Inmate Suicides

NEW HAVEN (AP) — The Connecticut Civil Liberties Union is investigating recent suicides at the state’s prisons.

The CCLU is “incredibly concerned” that suicides have been occurring “at such a rapid pace” in the prisons over the last few months, Executive Director Teresa Younger said.

Five inmates have taken their lives in the prisons since April, compared with an average of four or five a year over the last several years.

“We are investigating and monitoring what’s happening in the state prison system,” Ms Younger said. “The suicides that are taking place are of concern to us.”

Ms Younger said the civil liberties union’s concern is “why they’re happening, how they’re happening and what steps are being taken to prevent this in the future.”

Stacy Smith, a spokeswoman for the Department of Correction, said June 25 the department continues to investigate the suicides and will soon establish new rules regarding how suicidal prisoners are handled.

Some state prisons have recently banned shoelaces, but the department is required to let inmates have bed sheets, she said.