Posted on March 23, 2023
HARTFORD- State Rep. Holly Cheeseman (R-37) today testified in front of the Judiciary Committee on a proposal to permit stricter sentence for those who commit murder in the course of a family violence crime.
You can watch the testimony here.
The legislation, HB- 6887, An Act Concerning Additional Legal Protections for Victims of Domestic Violence would permit a sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of release for those who commit murder in the course of a family violence crime, also prohibit the Board of Pardons and Paroles from taking any action in matters involving a conviction for murder with special circumstances.
Additionally, the bill would provide for state-wide expansion of the electronic monitoring program for those who violate restraining orders and protective orders, require the Victim Services Unit of the Department of Correction to provide certain information to enhance the safety of persons protected under court orders, and ensure meaningful participation by the Office of the Victim Advocate on behalf of a victim of domestic violence in court proceedings relating to the acts of domestic violence.
Rep. Cheeseman, who testified on a similar type of proposal last week, said, “This bill would provide for appropriate sanctions for perpetrators, increase protections for victims, and recognize and acknowledge the suffering of victims and their families. In the face of this scourge, it is essential that the state exercise its authority to address it in a serious and resolute fashion.”