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August 21, 2007

I share your horror and sorrow about the tragic home invasion and murders in Cheshire, and your desire to see the General Assembly respond in a meaningful and effective way. You may be aware that the Senate Republican Leadership has called for a special session to strengthen and broaden Connecticut’s persistent offender laws and “three strikes” policy. Also, as you see from the press release I attached, the General Assembly’s Judiciary Committee, has scheduled public hearings.

What happened to the Petit family is a nightmare for all of us. We have a responsibility to assure you that it will not happen again, and that all legal precautions are enforced. There are many facets of our current laws than we must revisit as well as new laws that we may have to craft.  Although I do not serve on the Judiciary Committee, I will closely follow how the committee approaches these issues.

CT-N will carry the hearings live on September 11, 2007.  To find your local CT-N station, please visit the website at http://www.ctn.state.ct.us/

Thank you
.
Judith G. Freedman

LEGISLATURE’S JUDICIARY COMMITTEE ANNOUNCES HEARINGS FOLLOWING CHESHIRE TRAGEDY

Local and National Experts to Testify on Possible Reforms

Judiciary Committee co-chairmen State Senator Andrew J. McDonald (D-Stamford) and State Representative Mike Lawlor (D-East Haven) announced today that the Judiciary Committee will hold its first hearing following the Cheshire tragedy on Tuesday, September 11, at 1PM in the Legislative Office Building in Hartford.

Rep. Lawlor stated, “The purpose of these hearings will be two-fold.  First, we will have a briefing from state criminal justice officials about our sentencing and re-entry process, especially for repeat offenders.  Second, national criminal justice experts will testify regarding models from other states, which could be considered by the Connecticut General Assembly.  We are expected to receive information about the costs of these models and possible sites for new prison facilities.”

He continued, “Following this hearing, we also anticipate that there will be a second hearing to consider specific proposed bills from legislators and other state officials.  Many suggestions have been made in the last few weeks and our committee will consider all of them in preparation for legislative action.”