Top Republicans on Judiciary Committee Set Date for Public Hearing on Controversial Risk Reduction Earned Credit Program

Hartford, CT – One week after the Democratic chairmen of the Judiciary Committee rejected pleas for a legislative hearing and review of the state’s controversial Risk Reduction Earned Credit (RREC) Program, the ranking Republicans on the committee, State Senator John A. Kissel (R-Enfield) and State Representative John Hetherington (R-New Canaan), today announced that they will host a public hearing of their own.

The informational hearing will be held at the Legislative Office Building on September 18th and the public, as well as all members of the Judiciary Committee, are invited to attend. The ranking Republicans will also request the attendance and testimony of Commissioner of Corrections Leo Arnone, Chair of the Board of Pardons and Parole Erika Tindall, State Victim Advocate Michelle Cruz, and OPM Undersecretary Mike Lawlor.

The RREC program has come under increasing public scrutiny following the arrest of Frankie Resto for the murder of Ibrahim Ghazal at a Meriden EZ Mart last month. Resto, a violent felon, was released from prison in April after being granted 199 days of early release credits under the RREC program.

Please click here for a letter from Sen. Kissel and Rep. Hetherington to their fellow members on the Judiciary Committee.