The nation is shocked that Connecticut’s Department of Children and Families has sent an abused girl in its care – a girl facing no criminal charges – to an adult prison. I wish that I could be shocked, too. However, this move is another egregious example of a clear pattern of bad decisions regarding girls in state care. It not only points up the need for immediate action to get this girl into a more appropriate setting but also illustrates the crying need for the state to develop an appropriate plan for girls in the juvenile justice system. Isn’t it time that the legislature calls for a plan informed by national experts on girls in the juvenile justice system and a timeline of clear action steps so that the department can be held accountable?

For more on this story, visit: Op-ed: One girl’s tragedy reveals flaws in state care | The CT Mirror.