Conn. Gen. Stat. § 4-68m: Criminal Justice Policy and Planning Division. Duties. Collaboration with other agencies. Access to information and data. Availability of reports and presentations.

(a) There is established a Criminal Justice Policy and Planning Division within the Office of Policy and Management. The division shall be under the direction of an undersecretary.

(b) The division shall promote a more effective and cohesive state criminal justice system by:

(1) Conducting an in-depth analysis of the criminal justice system;

(2) Determining the long-range needs of the criminal justice system and recommending policy priorities for the system;

(3) Identifying critical problems in the criminal justice system and recommending strategies to solve those problems;

(4) Assessing the cost-effectiveness of the use of state and local funds in the criminal justice system;

(5) Recommending means to improve the deterrent and rehabilitative capabilities of the criminal justice system;

(6) Advising and assisting the General Assembly in developing plans, programs and proposed legislation for improving the effectiveness of the criminal justice system;

(7) Making computations of daily costs and comparing interagency costs on services provided by agencies that are a part of the criminal justice system;

(8) Making population computations for use in planning for the long-range needs of the criminal justice system;

(9) Determining long-range information needs of the criminal justice system and acquiring that information;

(10) Cooperating with the Office of the Victim Advocate by providing information and assistance to the office relating to the improvement of crime victims' services;

(11) Serving as the liaison for the state to the United States Department of Justice on criminal justice issues of interest to the state and federal government relating to data, information systems and research;

(12) Measuring the success of community-based services and programs in reducing recidivism;

(13) Developing and implementing a comprehensive reentry strategy as provided in section 18-81w;

(14) Engaging in other activities consistent with the responsibilities of the division; and

(15) Developing and implementing policies for the state-wide delivery of postsecondary educational programs in correctional facilities, including, but not limited to, policies pertaining to federal Pell grants and prison education programs.

(c) In addition to the division's other duties under this section, the division may perform any function described in subsection (b) of this section to promote an effective and cohesive juvenile justice system.

(d) In the performance of its duties under this section, the division shall collaborate with the Department of Correction, the Board of Pardons and Paroles, the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection and consult with the Chief Court Administrator, the executive director of the Court Support Services Division of the Judicial Branch, the Chief State's Attorney and the Chief Public Defender.

(e) (1) At the request of the division, the Department of Correction, the Board of Pardons and Paroles, the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, the Chief Court Administrator, the executive director of the Court Support Services Division of the Judicial Branch, the Chief State's Attorney, the Chief Public Defender and, in a manner that complies with the requirements of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, 20 USC 1232g, as amended from time to time, each public institution of higher education, as defined in section 10a-57h, shall provide the division with information and data needed by the division to perform its duties under subsection (b) of this section.

(2) The division shall have access to individualized records maintained by the Judicial Branch and the agencies specified in subdivision (1) of this subsection as needed for research purposes. The division, in collaboration with the Judicial Branch and the agencies specified in subdivision (1) of this subsection, shall develop protocols to protect the privacy of such individualized records consistent with state and federal law. The division shall use such individualized records for statistical analyses only and shall not use such records in any other manner that would disclose the identity of individuals to whom the records pertain.

(3) Any information or data provided to the division pursuant to this subsection that is confidential in accordance with state or federal law shall remain confidential while in the custody of the division and shall not be disclosed.

(f) The Office of Policy and Management shall make any report or presentation by the division publicly available on the office's Internet web site, including those required pursuant to sections 4-68n, 4-68o and 4-68p.