House Republican Press Release

April 17, 2008

Press Office: 860-240-8700

Kalinowski: Three Strikes Defeated Again

HARTFORD- State Representative Ray Kalinowski (R-100) expressed disappointment today that House Democrats once again defeated a Three Strikes measure which would require mandatory life in prison upon conviction of a third violent felony.  Republicans offered the amendment on the floor of the State House of Representatives this afternoon.

“Seems to me there’s a pattern here,” said Kalinowski. “This was the Democrats’ third strike on three strikes.  Their first strike was in the January special session, and their second strike was last month before the Judiciary Committee.  Today they didn’t connect with the ball either, and they have left the state without strong criminal justice reform once again.”

Following the introduction of the measure, Democrats quickly moved to pass the bill temporarily, a procedural maneuver removing the underlying bill from consideration.

“They apparently didn’t even want to talk about it,” added Kalinowski.

The chief argument advanced by legislative Democrats against Three Strikes is that the measure takes away judicial discretion, said Kalinowski. “Judicial review has been removed concerning a number of things through a number of acts by this General Assembly.  Sometimes that isn’t a bad thing.  When you have criminals appear before judges three times on violent offenses, I’m sure it’s no secret that judicial review has failed in that instance.  The time to enact tougher measures is now, and the people of Connecticut are tired of waiting and tired of the games.”

Kalinowski added that he intended to bring Three Strikes up again before the conclusion of the session.

The 2008 session of the Connecticut General Assembly is scheduled to adjourn at midnight on Wednesday, May 7^th.