“Two months after the terrifying home invasion and murders in Cheshire, people are afraid to leave their homes, and they are afraid to be in their homes. They understand that the laws and policies we now have are not enough to adequately protect the public safety and they, rightfully, expect the General Assembly to do something about it. More importantly, they want us to act sooner rather than later,” said Senator Freedman.

“Considering that we are already in special session to act on the bond package that should have been completed during the regular session, and that we today expanded the call of our special session to consider contracting legislation that also should have been completed during the regular session, there is no good reason for telling people that they’re just going to have to wait for the legislature to get around to passing criminal justice reforms. That’s just not right,” said Senator Freedman.

“As soon as the General Assembly comes back into regular session in February, legislators will be bombarded by the need to address many important issues. I would like to think that the need to make changes to our criminal justice laws and policies won’t fall through the cracks, but I know that it could. We have the time to take up criminal justice reforms now. The public is afraid and is looking to us for help. Calling a special session now is the right thing to do,” said Senator Freedman.

Senate Republicans today called for expanding an existing special session to consider criminal justice reforms. Their amendment was defeated along a mostly party line vote.