News
Governor Rell announces overhaul of persistent offender law, including ‘3 strikes’ provision
By Governor Rell's office
Apr 21, 2008 - 9:52:10 PM

Following a weekend of deadly violence in New Haven, Stamford and Ansonia, Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that she is proposing a sweeping overhaul of the persistent offender statute that will make it much easier to prosecute repeat criminals of all types while incorporating a “three strikes” provision to send repeat violent offenders to prison for life. The proposal follows a meeting the Governor held earlier this month with Chief State’s Attorney Kevin Kane, the commissioners of the Departments of Public Safety and Correction and representatives of the Judicial Branch.

Governor Rell met with the criminal justice officials on April 3 following a brutal New Britain home invasion that left one woman dead and another severely injured. At that meeting, everyone agreed that the existing persistent offender law is seldom used by prosecutors and judges because it is so complex and convoluted.

“There’s not much point in having a law that no one uses – especially when the law is intended to protect the public from the worst of the worst,” Governor Rell said. “My proposal eliminates the current distinctions between ‘persistent offender,’ ‘persistent serious offender’ and ‘persistent dangerous offender.’ I have simplified the classifications to ‘persistent offender’ and ‘persistent dangerous offender.’

“In both cases, penalties will increase for repeat offenses,” the Governor said. “And in the case of persistent dangerous offenders – those who repeatedly commit the most serious, violent crimes – we are saying, quite simply, that after the third such offense you will spend the rest of your life in prison.

“Make no mistake: We will not simply stand by while unrepentant and incorrigible predators kill people,” Governor Rell said. “These thugs need to be removed from the street – and from society – permanently.

“Sadly, the toll in cities around Connecticut over the weekend provides all-too-ready examples of the violence I am talking about,” the Governor said. “Two people were killed and a third critically injured in an early morning shooting Saturday in New Haven. A Shelton man was stabbed to death outside an Ansonia sports bar early Saturday. A 19-year-old man was shot in the arm and leg in Stamford on Sunday. These acts of violence simply must end. Violence, whether it occurs in our cities or our suburbs, is chilling and reprehensible.”

Separately, the Governor announced a package of additional criminal justice enhancements that will add new prosecutors to follow serious offenders from investigation through sentencing and free up current prosecutors to spend more time on felony cases, increase the number of probation officers and boost the number of detectives on the State Police Major Crimes Squad.

The Governor’s additional criminal justice proposals include hiring five more prosecutors to deal with serious crimes and hiring special deputy assistant state’s attorneys to staff specialized motor vehicle infractions dockets statewide. These special dockets will allow more experienced prosecutors to focus on serious criminal activity while the new prosecutors, hired on a per diem basis, enforce motor vehicle laws (including truck and teen driving violations).

The Governor also proposes adding 10 staff to the Superior Court Criminal Clerk’s offices to expand the Regional Infraction Dockets and improve the flow of information.

Other proposals:

15 new probation officers to improve supervision of sex offenders without permanent residences, prepare additional pre-sentence investigations and expedite the evaluation and assessment of offenders prior to their release

9 new detective positions in the State Police Major Crimes Squad to focus on serious crimes and work with State’s Attorneys Offices and local police

3 new parole officers to assist with better screening of parole candidates

3 new social workers for public defenders to help direct less-serious offenders to diversionary programs

2 additional public defenders to handle increased prosecutions

The Governor will have these proposals presented during budget negotiations with the Legislature.

Governor Rell also called on the Legislature to restore the cuts it made to the criminal justice programs she proposed earlier, including increased funding for GPS monitoring of offenders on probation and parole and DNA testing of prisoners.

“These are much-needed, common-sense steps that will help make our citizens and communities safer,” the Governor said. “I look forward to working with the Legislature in the last weeks of the session to accomplishing our shared goal of improving public safety and achieving greater justice.”

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