September 25, 2012

Carpino Op-Ed: Stop Good Time Credits For Violent Criminals

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In 2011, I voted against an Early Release Program for violent offenders. Now with crime being in the news, I have received questions from concerned citizens about criminals being released into the community early. Here is an explanation of the situation and why I am calling for the suspension of this program.

During a public informational forum last week the State’s Victims Advocate Michelle Cruz testified on behalf of the independent state agency and gave a chilling presentation regarding the recidivism rate the first month of the prisoner releases was over 33%. In the first 9 months of the program, 775 early-release offenders have already been re-released.

Ms. Cruz testified that some of the released prisoners were given the release ‘good time’ credits for just signing up for programs but never attending them. Others were given credit for taking classes that have no relevance to the reason they are in prison.

These statistics havetranslate into real life horror stories. In August, an East Hartford man was killed by an early-release offender. In late June an innocent store clerk was murdered after taking advantage of good time credits. Many of the early release candidates are aggressive and dangerous criminals with multi-incarcerations for assault and other crimes.

Additionally, Ms. Cruz has been denied additional information by the administration. As her position is to protect victims statewide, and this is alarming to me.

Under the legislation, inmates with convictions for all other crimes are eligible to have up to five days per month removed from their sentences. Lawmakers approved the measure 90-56. Which include:

Manslaughter in the first degree,
Assault of an elderly, blind, disabled, pregnant or mentally challenged person in the first degree,
Assault of a pregnant woman resulting in the termination of pregnancy, 6) sexual assault in the first degree,
Aggravated sexual assault of a minor

I have a fundamental disagree with the notion that the state should use early release credits to entice inmates to use various counseling programs, which were available to them prior to this legislation.

The administration’s efforts to cut costs are proving to be dangerous to our citizens and the execution of this program is flawed.