Senator Sam Caligiuri, R-16, said that with House Speaker James Amann now publicly committed to calling a special session to consider enacting a “three-strikes” law, along with other much-needed criminal justice reforms, it is time for legislative leadership to set a date.   

            “I was gratified when Speaker Amann, in response to my urging during the debate, agreed that, yes, the General Assembly will have a special session to consider passing a strong, but responsible, three-strikes law. I, along, with Republican leaders in the Senate and the House, have been calling for such a special session since shortly after this summer’s tragic home invasion and murders in Cheshire. I worked with Republican leadership to put together a workable three-strikes bill as part of a comprehensive package of reform legislation that we can act on immediately. Now that Speaker Amann is on board, all we need is a commitment from Senate President Don Williams to set a date – the sooner, the better,” said Senator Caligiuri.

            Speaker Amann agreed to call a special session regarding criminal justice reform Tuesday during the final minutes of radio station WDRC’s live 2007 State Of Connecticut Debate. Republican legislative leaders wrote letters in July and August asking the Democrat majority call a special session. And, Democrats in both the House and Senate last month rejected Republican efforts to amend the call of an existing special session to include considering criminal justice reforms.

            “Of course, I would have preferred that the General Assembly meet in special session much earlier than this to debate and pass a three-strikes law, along with other necessary criminal justice reforms. However, I am gratified that the Speaker now agrees with us that making this important change now is right for the people of Connecticut. I sincerely hope that Senator Williams will agree with Speaker Amann and the Republican leadership,” said Senator Caligiuri.

            Reforms proposed by Republican leaders include: enacting a strong three-strikes law that mandates life imprisonment for a third serious felony conviction;  reclassifying home invasion as a violent crime; and strengthening Connecticut’s persistent offender laws to improve public safety and correct the flaws in the existing law identified by the state Supreme Court.