In the wake of the brutal home invasion and triple homicide that destroyed a Cheshire family and exposed a litany of weaknesses in Connecticut’s criminal justice system, Senate Republicans repeatedly called for a special session to reform Connecticut’s criminal sentencing laws.  On January 22nd, the General Assembly convened and passed laws that will strengthen our parole processes and establish severe mandatory minimum prison sentences for the crimes of nighttime burglary and home invasion. 
 
Highlights of our new law include:

• Home Invasion – Creates a new crime of “home invasion” when a person breaks into an occupied dwelling with a weapon, or assaults a person in the home.  A conviction carries a 10 year mandatory minimum prison sentence.

• Nighttime Burglary – The crime of burglarizing a dwelling at night was increased to a Class B felony, and will now carry a mandatory minimum 5 year prison sentence.

• Parole Process – The crime bill establishes a full-time professional Parole Board and a new system for sharing information about potential parolees between law enforcement agencies.  It eliminates the practice of “administrative parole” and ensures that parole hearings are no longer conducted unless the chair of the Board of Pardons and Parole certifies all pertinent information has been obtained.

The Fight to Enact a Strong Three Strikes Law Continues

In addition to the crime reforms outlined above, Senate Republicans offered an amendment to establish a three strikes law requiring life imprisonment for a third serious conviction for violent crimes including manslaughter, arson, home invasion, sexual assault and kidnapping.  While the amendment failed largely along party lines, Senate Republicans are pleased to have Governor Rell’s support for this legislation which will be debated again in the regular session.

As Governor Rell said, "If you have committed rape, which is a horrific, violent crime, twice before and have gone to prison for that, upon a third conviction, the best place for you is prison, forever.”  Senate Republicans agree.

According to the nonpartisan Office of Fiscal Analysis, over the past 5 years, an average of 103 inmates a year had been convicted of a dangerous felony and had two prior convictions for dangerous felonies.  On average, these three-time repeat offenders received prison sentences of only 8-years.  This is unacceptable.

The Republican three strikes proposal would give 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.  We will continue to fight on behalf of our constituents to enact this important law.