State Rep. Themis Klarides of Woodbridge, Orange and Derby today condemned a ‘budget bill fix’ H.B. 6650 passed by the Connecticut House of Representatives on Tuesday, May 31st, that contained hidden criminal justice policy to allow violent criminals early release, with a goal to reduce the prison population, decrease recidivism and save money. The bill was a ‘fixed’ piece from last week’s hasty legislation passed earlier last week. The ‘fix’ offered by Democrats makes six crimes ineligible for the early release, or “good time” credits: murder, felony murder, arson murder, capital murder, aggravated sexual assault and home invasion.

“This bill will allow early release for inmates who have been charged and convicted of rape and aggravated assault against a minor. It’s terrible public policy,” Klarides said.

The criminal justice provisions, and others, were secretly inserted into a 300 page “implementer” bill—a type of legislation that powers the governor’s two-year budget plan – a move which Klarides condemns for its lack of transparency and said was done to circumvent the more public committee process. Many concepts included in the implementer bill focus more on state policy rather than the implementation of the state budget, as an “implementer” is supposed to do. Some measures contained in the bill had previously failed in the more public committee process. Read More→