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    Lezlye Zupkus
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    Connecticut House GOP

    State Representative

    Lezlye Zupkus
    Connecticut House Republicans

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    March 21, 2017

    Rep. Zupkus Asks Judiciary Committee to Hold Inmates Accountable

    Rep. Zupkus Asks Judiciary Committee to Hold Inmates Accountable
    This article was archived from the previous WordPress site. Formatting and media should be close, but may not match the original post perfectly.

    HARTFORD- State Representative Lezlye Zupkus testified on behalf of the House Republican Caucus on Monday regarding House Bill 5992, An Act Concerning Accountability for the Earned Risk Reduction Credit Program, which is currently before the Judiciary Committee.

    The House Republican proposal looks to require that inmates fully adhere to their inmate offender accountability plan. This measure also adds that inmates shall lose all of their credits if they test positive on a drug test while incarcerated.

    “In 2011, the Risk Reeducation Credit Program was created to award eligible inmates, who are participating in educational programming and are compliant with their offender accountability plan, with credits toward a reduction in their sentences. It has come to our attention that inmates are earning credits without having to actively participate in programs or activities. This is unacceptable,” said Rep. Lezlye Zupkus.

    In 2014, it came to light that an inmate was earning credits for participating in rehabilitation programs, despite having failed several drug tests in prison and committing other violations. After this inmate was released from prison, he went on to murder an infant.

    Rep. Zupkus continue to state, “This program is intended to rehabilitate inmates and to prepare them for their return to society.  Yet, the state allows prisoners to collect credits even after testing positive for drugs or if they have committed a crime while in prison. In allowing these inmates to continue collecting credits, we are doing both them and the public an extreme disservice. Inmates that break the law while serving time in prison should lose all of their credits. We need to make a change to this program that holds all inmates accountable for their actions.”

    Under the current program, if an inmate assaults a Department of Corrections (DOC) employee, commits arson, escapes from a DOC facility, takes hostage a DOC employee or riots, the inmate only loses a minimum of 60 days.

    The bill now awaits a vote from the Judiciary Committee, which has until April 7th to take action on the bill.

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