about 4 years ago - 2 comments
Say two thirds of those polled in this latest Quinnipiac University poll. There you go legislators. Only 35 percent of voters support a so-called “third strike” law where a person convicted of three violent felonies automatically is sentenced to life in prison, while 63 percent say sentences should be decided on a case-by-case basis. Oh…
about 4 years ago - 1 comment
The Courant has this article today, seeking to make much of the under-utilized persistent felony statutes in Connecticut. All it does, instead, is underline the need for more rehabilitation programs. Meet Richard D. Halapin Jr., a small-time career burglar and thief who earlier this year broke into his sister’s home and stole the family’s jewelry…
about 4 years ago - 2 comments
In light of yesterday’s prison tour, Judiciary Committee co-chair Mike Lawlor has issued a statement asking Gov. Rell to provide more resources to the DOC. He renews his disbelief over Comm’r Lantz’s assertions before the judiciary committee that they have the prison population under control. Yesterday I toured the Willard-Cybulski Correctional Institution in Enfield at…
about 4 years ago - 2 comments
This Sunday, Ted Koppel presents Breaking Point, a documentary on California’s prison overcrowding problem. It will air on the Discovery Channel at 9pm. From the highlights: What does the California prison system have in common with Harvard University? It costs precisely as much to house, feed and guard one prisoner for one year in a…
about 4 years ago - 2 comments
The title of my post last evening was slightly off. By all accounts, Comm’r Lantz seems to believe that there is no such thing as an overcrowded prison. With the state’s prison population at a record high after Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s recent restrictions on parole, legislators futilely pressed Monday to learn how many more…
about 4 years ago - 1 comment
Very little has been reported thus far on today’s emergency judiciary committee meeting on the parole ban. The only thing out there is this meager story by Channel 3. From what I can gather, Commissioner Lantz doesn’t seem to think there’s a problem. The state’s prisons commissioner said she doesn’t need more staff or new…
about 4 years ago - 1 comment
Forgotten in this Cheshire mess is the sentencing commission that started work in May, which was charged with looking at how to change the state’s sentencing laws for the better. Ah, back in May, when Komisarjevsky was still on GPS monitoring and the Petit women were alive. Glad to hear that someone thought to ask…
about 4 years ago - 8 comments
With much being said of Governor Rell’s ban on parole in the last few days (and most of it favorable), it must be pointed out what the impact of such a ban shall be. Here’s a story on just that. The highlights: The Board of Pardons and Paroles is reviewing the cases of 400 to…
about 4 years ago - No comments
The Judiciary Committee has announced speakers for its upcoming hearing on parole and sentencing laws in Connecticut in the aftermath of the Cheshire killings. I was sent the press release earlier today, which provides the following information: “We will hear from state officials who will update the committee on recent administrative and procedural changes in…
about 4 years ago - No comments
Rhode Island’s legislature voted to remove mandatory-minimums. The General Assembly has approved legislation that rolls back mandatory minimum sentences for drug crimes, a move that proponents hope will cut costs, ease overcrowding at the state prison and give judges more discretion in meting out punishment. The vote, in the waning hours of the legislative session…
