An I-Team investigation into criminals escaping ankle monitors is prompting calls for action at the state level.

As we first told you Thursday, dozens of violent offenders are getting out of their ankle bracelets and going on the run.

One lawmaker tells the I-Team, the state needs to step in and do something.

“It’s bringing light to a situation that we’ve been talking about.”

Senator Paul Cicarella is reacting to the I-Team’s discovery that since 2021: 44 people, who were assigned ankle monitors while out on bond or on probation, were able to successfully remove their bracelets and go on the run.

Those 44 include Mekhi Thompson.

Thompson cut off his ankle bracelet after a shooting in East Hartford that killed a man.

East Hartford Police say he’s still a suspect in that case.

Thompson had been wearing one after violating probation on an earlier assault charge.

After cutting off that bracelet and while on the run, Hartford Police say Thompson killed a man in a road rage murder.

“Something has to happen. We cannot allow individuals to commit crimes over and over again and then go back on the street, it’s a huge problem,” says Senator Cicarella.

A bill that’s currently on the senate calendar would direct the judicial branch to review all probation violations in the last 5 years, looking at which people re-offend, how often and how the court responds.

Taking off an ankle monitor without permission is a probation violation.

“Once we analyze that data, then we can take action. I don’t think we should do something without understanding all of the facts, but we need those,” says Senator Cicarella.

In all 44 tamper cases we found, warrants for either arrest or violation of probation were issued.

Five offenders still remain on the run.

“Accountability, it’s accountability. I’m not saying someone makes a mistake, lock them up and throw away the key. But there needs to be a corrective action,” says Senator Cicarella. “I appreciate you bringing this back in front of everyone to take a look at so we can revisit how we have to address this.”

It is not clear whether this bill will be voted on before the end of the legislative session on May 8th.

The bill that would allow the judicial branch to collect data also has other proposals attached to it.

Having various proposals in one bill can often make it harder for everyone to agree on.

Senate democrats told the I-Team they had no comment.