House Republican Press Release

January 23, 2008

Press Office: 860-240-8700

Reps. Caron, Alberts Vote for Criminal Justice Reforms

State Reps. Michael Caron, R-44 and Mike Alberts, R-50, have strongly supported legislation to increase penalties for home invasions, saying the new law closes loopholes in state anti-crime laws.

The state House and Senate, meeting in special session nearly six months to the day after a Cheshire home invasion and triple murder, adopted many of the provisions recommended by a governor’s task force and supported by most legislators.

They include:

• Creating a new crime of home invasion.
• Requiring individuals convicted of second degree burglary or home invasion to serve at least 85 percent of their sentences.
• Revising the makeup, qualification requirements and appointment process for the state Board of Pardons and Paroles, and prohibiting parole hearings from being conducted unless the board’s chairperson certifies that all pertinent information has been provided to the board or is unavailable.
• Making it more difficult for dangerous violent offenders to be released from prison prematurely.
• Requiring global positioning system monitoring of 300 additional parolees.
• Requiring the Judicial Branch to post certain arrest warrant information on the internet, as sex offender information currently is.

However, majority Democrats rejected Republican efforts to enact a “three strikes” law that would have sent repeat violent felony offenders to jail for life.

“We have passed a good bill,” said Rep. Caron. “We pushed for this special session, proposed stronger laws and succeeded in bringing them to a vote.”

“The legislation we approved today gives Connecticut families more protection from violent offenders and eliminates loopholes in our parole system that will prevent many dangerous prisoners from being released after serving only a fraction of their sentences,” said Rep Alberts. “I voted for this measure because its overall effect will be to improve public safety.”

Rep. Caron serves the 44th Assembly District of Killingly, Plainfield and Sterling in the state House of Representatives.

Rep. Alberts represents the 50th Assembly District, which includes Brooklyn, Eastford, Hampton, Pomfret and Woodstock.