Mayor Bill Finch pledged his support to Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s “Second Chance Society” initiatives.
“This is smart public policy,” said Mayor Bill Finch. “In Bridgeport, we’re a city that believes when you commit a crime, there must be consequences. We are also a city that believes in second chances. We can support people and help them make good choices or we can stand idly by and watch history repeat itself.”
Gov. Malloy spoke on Tuesday at Yale Law School in New Haven, where he unveiled a series of “Second Chance Society” initiatives designed to continue the progress being made in reducing the state’s dropping crime rate. On Thursday, Gov. Malloy visited East End Baptist Church in Bridgeport to further discuss his "Second Chance Society."
“Mayor Finch has always strongly supported re-entry for those who have committed crimes to come back into our community in a productive way. That’s why he sponsored legislation, which became law, aimed at giving those convicted of felony offenses – after serving their time and paying their debts to society – to once again to be active in their community,” said Brett Broesder, the city spokesman and communications director. “Mayor Finch also put in a ban-the-box policy for the city upon taking office. And, he’s a champion for Project Longevity, The Workplace, and other agencies that provide support that help people succeed in life after serving time.
In Bridgeport, crime is at its lowest levels in more than 40 years, and preliminary statistics show another significant decrease in 2014.