(photos/video) “Shocking.” Republicans, Victims’ Families Blast Spike in Commutations of Violent Offenders’ Prison Sentences

For Immediate Release
March 7, 2023

Senate Republicans, Victims’ Families Raise Serious Concerns About
Drastic Increase in Commutations of Violent Offenders’ Prison Sentences

Call on Gov. Lamont to Halt Commutations Until Spike is Explained

Watch the Press Conference Video

Connecticut Senate Republican leaders today joined with families of victims of violent crime to express serious concerns over the state Board of Pardons and Paroles’ drastic increase in the commutations of violent felons’ prison sentences and called on Gov. Ned Lamont to immediately halt all commutations until the spike has been explained.

“The numbers are shocking,” Senate Republican Leader Kevin Kelly (R-Stratford) said. “In 2021, the board granted one commutation. In 2022, it commuted 95 sentences for 71 felons. These are violent offenders. These are murderers. They are getting decades and decades lopped off of their prison sentences. Why is this happening? What is going on? That’s what victims’ families are asking, and so are we. We are calling on the governor to ask those same questions. The governor should suspend commutations until the administration can explain the reason for the astounding increase in commutations, especially since the courts ability to modify sentences has been expanded.”

Republicans highlighted how in 2021, 18 inmates applied to have their sentences commuted.

In 2022, 431 inmates applied to have their sentences commuted.

“Victims’ families who have been devastated by violent crime brought this issue to our attention,” said Sen. Heather Somers (R-Mystic). “They cannot understand why this rapid rise in commutations is happening. They want to know where the oversight is for this board. They want to know if the public is being put at risk. They deserve those answers, and we will stand with them until those answers are provided.”

“This is an alarming trend – a huge sea change which is undermining public confidence in our justice system,” said Sen. John A. Kissel (R- Enfield), the Ranking Senator of the Judiciary Committee. “Judges already struggle with sentencing, but now we are seeing these sentences being reduced by 15 years on average. With our legitimate concerns in mind, we hope the governor will agree with our recommendation to act immediately.”

Photo 1:
Standing before silhouettes of 71 violent offenders who have had their prison sentences commuted over the past year, Sen. Kevin Kelly holds up a stack of paper to depict the spike in applications for commutations. From left to right: Leslie Carlson Schlachter (sister of murder victim Elizabeth Carlson), Sen. John A. Kissel, Kelly, and Sen. Heather Somers.

Photo 2:
Audrey Carlson, the mother of murder victim Elizabeth Carlson, speaks at the Mar. 7 press conference. From left to right: Leslie Carlson Schlachter (sister of murder victim Elizabeth Carlson), Sen. John A. Kissel, Sen. Heather Somers, and Senate Republican Leader Kevin Kelly.