Sen. Guglielmo: Connecticut Early Release – These felons forfeited their rights

June 3, 2011

Hartford, CT – Rapists and sexual predators, child pornographers and pedophiles, and a variety of violent, vicious criminals in Connecticut will soon be eligible for early release from prison.

“These felons forfeited their rights,” said Senator Guglielmo. “We have to be careful when we are talking about early release for some of these people. “

Senator Guglielmo speaks on the bill the floor of the state Senate

These violent inmates will be able to reduce their sentences by as many as five days per month for “good behavior.” Felons sentenced to two years in prison could get out of jail in 90 days.

“Maybe it’s a good idea that some of these violent offenders stay in prison. Rehabilitation is a good plan, but let’s be honest, some people are not able to be rehabilitated.”

The following is a list of just SOME of the crimes which would be subject to early release for good behavior:

  • Manslaughter in the first degree (with intent to cause serious injury)
  • Sexual assault in the first degree (sex with someone under the age of 13)
  • Kidnapping in the first degree (intent to inflict physical injury)
  • Arson in the first degree (intent to destroy an inhabited building)
  • Employing a minor in an obscene performance
  • Importing child pornography
  • Contaminating a public water supply or food supply for terrorist purposes
  • Injury or risk of injury to, or impairing morals of, children
  • Abandonment of child under the age of six years
  • Firearms trafficking (knowingly gives someone a firearm – who is barred from owning a firearm )
  • Cruelty to animals (possess an animal for fighting, intentionally kills a police dog)

    • HB 6650, An Act Implementing the Provisions of the Budget Concerning the Judicial Branch, Child Protection, Criminal Justice, Weigh Stations and Certain State Agency Consolidations.

    Under the alternative sentencing plan set out in section 21 of the bill, a person who pleads guilty and is sentenced to a term of imprisonment of two years or less would now qualify for an alternative incarceration plan developed by their probation officer and move to have the sentence “modified” after the person serves 90 days. Some of the consequences include allowing early release for convicts like:

    • An East Haddam mother was convicted of risk of injury in March. She used crack cocaine in the presence of her young daughter, repeatedly left the drugs and paraphernalia in the open, took her daughter along in the car when she went to buy crack, forcing the child to hide under a blanket in the back seat. Worst of all, she allowed an older male friend to touch the girl in a sexual manner. For this she was sentenced to 2 years in jail. Under this bill she could be released after only 90 days.

“This policy isn’t keeping our families safe. It is rewarding violent and reckless people who should be serving the time they were sentenced too,” said Senator Guglielmo.