Senator Sam Caligiuri (R-16) today helped secure Senate passage of criminal justice reform legislation that he believes will help make Connecticut families safer.

“Though I had hoped that the Senate would pass responsible three strikes legislation today, I believe we did good work in passing this criminal justice reform bill. Creating the new crime of home invasion and making substantive, much-needed, changes in the way the Board of Pardons and Paroles operates will help to make Connecticut families safer,” said Senator Caligiuri.

Senator Caligiuri was the first legislator to question whether the Board of Pardons and Paroles acted properly when they granted parole to the men charged following this summer’s home invasion and murders in Cheshire. He began urging majority legislative leadership to call a special criminal justice reform session shortly after the crime.

 Senator Caligiuri said today he is gratified that the General Assembly did meet to consider criminal justice reforms before the 2008 Legislative Session convenes on February 6th – though disappointed at the defeat of the Republican amendment to expand the reforms to include three strikes.

“Our three strikes amendment would have given prosecutors a valuable, additional tool in charging those who have been convicted of two serious, violent felonies and are now accused of committing a third. Being convicted of a third, serious, felony under our three strikes proposal would result in a mandatory life sentence,” said Senator Caligiuri, adding that he will continue to work for three strikes legislation during the upcoming regular 2008 session.

“I will introduce three strikes legislation every year until we pass it, for as long as I am a State Senator,” said Senator Caligiuri.

Among other things, the criminal justice reform legislation passed by the Senate today creates the new crime of home invasion and increases the penalty for burglary of a dwelling at night; makes those convicted of second degree burglary or home invasion ineligible for parole until serving at least 85 percent of the sentence imposed; makes several changes to the parole process; updates the crime victim notification law; requires GPS monitoring of 300 more parolees, and creates a diversionary program for people with psychiatric disorders who have been accused of less serious crimes.