Editorial: Local Juvenile Shelter Becomes Home to Crime

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

How would you respond to a constituent call that reported incidents of theft, sex trafficking, sexual assault, and violence at a shelter for at-risk girls? Sadly, I have received multiple calls just this month concerning the shocking media report that highlighted the disastrous conditions and events occurring at Harwinton’s Short-Term Assessment & Respite (STAR) Home.

The STAR Home was established by Connecticut’s Department of Children and Families (DCF) and the Bridge Family Center non-profit as an emergency shelter for juvenile girls who have been removed from their families or are facing mental or behavioral health issues. According to a report catalogued by Resident State Trooper Gregory Kenny, to Harwinton’s First Selectman, Michael Criss, state troopers and local EMS were called to respond hundreds of times to the STAR Home, hijacking the town’s resources and leading to countless arrests at the home.

In the report, cases of physical and sexual assault on teenagers and law enforcement officers, vehicle theft, damaged property, and even alleged attempts of residents escaping the home create a nauseating and infuriating image for any reader. That’s why as a mother and your state representative, I am joining House and Senate Republicans in demanding answers from DCF concerning these allegations.

In a letter to the DCF Commissioner and the legislative Committee on Children, who oversees DCF, I am requesting to hold an informational hearing on what has transpired at the STAR Home as well as what processes were used to secure vendors, such as Bridge Family Center. It’s critical that we hear from local officials whose public safety has since been threatened by the alleged activity at the STAR Home.

The Bottom Line: Something is broken in the process of providing help to these children and it’s unfair to our residents and law enforcement to suffer the consequences.

One aspect in the report that is essential to acknowledge is that the vendor may have instructed staff to throttle calls made to law enforcement. We must get to the bottom of what transpired, including why, as police indicated, DCF continued to place juveniles in a setting where staff could not provide the level of care needed, including those on probation and with ankle monitoring bracelets. We must make certain that these facilities are operated and monitored properly by DCF to ensure a safer community for all residents, families, and first responders.

I hope that through this hearing, both the vendor and DCF will open their eyes to the misconduct after letting down young girls who are seeking the resources for a better life. The solution requires more oversight, more transparency, and a sincere prioritization of these at-risk children’s needs moving forward.

Please be on the lookout for more updates on the STAR House investigation and our proposed informational hearing so that together, we can support these juveniles and replace chaos with care. For any questions about this or any state issue, please contact me at Lezlye.Zupkus@housegop.ct.gov or at 860-240-8700.