Presented by the Criminal Justice Section and the Young Lawyers Section and the Legal Aid and Public Defense Committee
About the Program
This program provides an in-depth look at the Connecticut Department of Correction through the work of the Office of the Correction Ombuds. Panelists will examine the statutory authority and investigative role of the Ombuds Office, current conditions of confinement—with a particular focus on access to medical care—and the systemic challenges facing correctional institutions, including staffing shortages and operational strain.
The discussion will integrate legal standards, oversight findings, and lived experience to provide practical guidance for attorneys and families navigating the system, while also offering a candid assessment of what meaningful institutional reform requires. The program will address both prevailing concerns and common misconceptions about incarceration, grounding the discussion in constitutional obligations and real-world outcomes.
You Will Learn
• About the statutory authority and role of the Office of the Correction Ombuds, including its investigative and oversight functions (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 18-81qq).
• To identify the constitutional standards governing medical care in correctional settings under the Eighth Amendment (including deliberate indifference to serious medical needs) and the Fourteenth Amendment as applied to pretrial detainees.
• How to recognize systemic challenges impacting correctional healthcare delivery, including staffing shortages, access barriers, and operational constraints.
• How to apply practical strategies for advising clients and families interacting with the Department of Correction, including navigating complaints, medical concerns, and administrative processes.
• How to evaluate the role of independent oversight, data, and accountability mechanisms in driving institutional reform.
• How to assess competing perspectives on correctional policy and develop informed approaches grounded in law, policy, and lived experience.
Who Should Attend
Criminal defense attorneys, civil rights practitioners, prosecutors, judges, policymakers, law students, and any attorneys or advocates who advise individuals or families impacted by incarceration.
Cost
(Includes snacks, beverages, and electronic materials)
Legal Aid & Public Defense Committee, CJ and YL Section Member $55
Member $75
CLE Pass Holder $0 (you must have purchased the CLE Pass to register as a CLE Pass holder)
Student Member $0
Non-Member $75
Please log into your account to receive CBA member pricing.
Financial hardship information is available upon request.
CT: 2.0 CLE Credits (General)
If the seminar is recorded, all member registrants will receive complimentary access to the recording approximately six weeks after the program.
Please note that refunds will not be granted once course materials have been sent.
Cancellations made less than 2 business days prior to event are non-refundable.
Closed captioning will be available during the seminar presentation for virtual attendees.