Posted on March 21, 2024
Rep. Howard Working to Protect Victims
Video of victim testimony & Rep. Howard’s Questions
HARTFORD- State Rep. Greg Howard (R-43) strongly supported the testimony of medically retired Hartford Police Officer Jill Kidik who in 2018 was a victim of attempted murder in downtown Hartford and had her protective order against the attacker dismissed due to their mental defect without the victim’s knowledge.
The legislation, HB 5415: An Act Concerning the Issuance of a Standing Criminal Protective Order When a Person is Found Not Guilty by Reason of Lack of Capacity Due to Mental Disease or Defect received a public hearing in the Judiciary Committee on Wednesday March 20.
“I want to thank Officer Kidik for her moving testimony as a victim who still fears for her life and is imploring the legislature to help,” said, Rep. Howard. “Victims deserve our protection from the criminals, and I unequivocally support this proposal. No victim of an attack should be forgotten or ignored by the judicial system.”
Kidik is asking the Judiciary Committee to permit a court to issue a standing criminal protective order when a person is found not guilty by reason of lack of capacity due to mental disease or defect.
Kidik testified that she is ‘fighting so that victims of insanity/mental disease cases after me don’t have to go through what I have. I did not deserve what happened to be on May 17, 2018. I really could do without the endless fight to protect myself from everything that has happened since that day. But if I am the person who needed to be the victim so that I can make a change to better the lives of other victims who are not at strong willed, then I am here, until I die, to fight for what is right.’
The Victim Advocate for the State of Connecticut testified that, ‘This will prevent further harm or trauma to the victim by ensuring their safety and providing them with a sense of security.’
Also supporting HB-5415 was the Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice because the proposal will close a gap in existing law to allow a court to issue a standing criminal protective order in favor of a victim of crime whose perpetrator has been deemed an “acquitee.”