Connecticut to open prison for 18-25 year olds

WETHERSFIELD, Conn. (AP) – Connecticut officials are planning the nation’s first prison exclusively to house and deal with the issues of inmates between 18 and 25 years old.

Correction commissioner Scott Semple tells the Associated Press that programming at the prison would focus on the brain development of young inmates, who he says tend to commit more impulsive crimes.

He says the prison also would protect those inmates from abuse and manipulation by older prisoners.

Semple says the prison will be based on a model he saw in Germany this summer on a trip with Gov. Dannel P. Malloy.

He says a similar unit will be set up in the York prison for women. He plans to open the prison by January 2017.