Senate Democrats Get Testy with Middletown Insider Blog Over Early Release Posts

I just had a couple of questions and a fact check on this recent blog entry:

http://www.middletowninsider.com/2013/08/suzio-to-gov-malloy-stop-prematurely.html

I'm not sure which bill you are referring to when you say Sen. Bartolomeo voted to extend the risk reduction program.  I'd love to know the bill number?  In fact, she voted with the Republicans on Sen Markley's amendment to more or less end the program.

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2013/AMD/S/2013SB-01160-R00SE-AMD.htm (Amendment Text)

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2013/VOTE/S/2013SV-00087-R00SB01160-SV.htm (Amendment vote tally)

If you could point me in the direction to the bill in question it would be much appreciated.  If not I assume you will edit the post to reflect the facts.

Also, for what it's worth, House Bill 6521 is a Public Health Bill regarding end of life medical treatment.

http://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=6521&which_year=2013&SUBMIT1=Submit

Regards,

Adam

Adam Joseph
Director of Communications
Senate Democrats
860-240-8641 (office)
@CTSenateDems

http://www.senatedems.ct.gov/

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Dear Adam Joseph,

Our apologies Adam, we got the number of the Bill wrong. The bill in questioned  to continue to extend the privilege of early release of violent offenders is Bill 6581 (not 6521 as we did cite originally and have corrected) regarding those sentenced while still under 18 of violent crimes. 

However, we were correct in our opinion Bartolomeo has supported the continued release of some violent criminals.

http://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=6581&which_year=2013&SUBMIT1.x=13&SUBMIT1.y=12

Bill 6581:" AN ACT CONCERNING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CONNECTICUT SENTENCING COMMISSION REGARDING LENGTHY SENTENCES FOR CRIMES COMMITTED BY A CHILD OR YOUTH AND THE SENTENCING OF A CHILD OR YOUTH CONVICTED OF CERTAIN FELONY OFFENSES." 

Bill 6581 when on to become SB 1062. While in the legislature, Middletown representatives Rep. Paul Doyle (D) voted against the measure, Rep. Joe Serra (D) and Rep. Matt Lesser (D) for the measure.  SB 1062 was subject of public hearings this past session, and was tabled.

Also Adam, in Bartolomeo's own words taken from Senate testimony :"With regards to the two relevant bills before you today, I would like to register my opposition to Committee Bill 123, “An Act Repealing the Risk Reduction Credit Program.” While this bill would accomplish the goal of keeping dangerous criminals from participating, it simply goes too far." 

http://meriden.patch.com/groups/politics-and-elections/p/bartolomeo-testifies-against-early-release-program

To her credit, while she FALSELY tries to paint a picture of herself as the first public official to testify against the Risk Reduction Program when in fact her predecessor Senator Len Suzio first took up this fight, Senator Bartolomeo does provide some suggestions to the program, however does not  call for the ending of the program that releases violent criminals with good behavior.

Either vote to end giving these privileges to all violent convicts or not, it is not a "more or less end the program" issue as you state. If one is not against something, then logic says they are for or indifferent to it.  When SB 1062, which was tabled in May comes back for a final vote. Where does Senator Dante Bartolomeo stand after testify her in opposition  of Bill 123, which would stop early release of violent convicts all together?

If she does not call for the repeal of the Risk Reduction program for violent offenders, she in fact only offers amendments to the program.

Senator Joe Markley has gone on record as being opposed to the Risk Reduction program being available to ALL violent criminals, whether convicted before the age of 18 or not.

The article about Rep. Matt Lesser (D) supporting the early release of some violent criminals by voting in favor of Bill 6581, which then went onto become SB 1062, was pulled from the Middletown Patch shortly after its front page appearance on May 30th, 2013 but can still be seen on the East Hampton Patch pages:

http://easthampton-ct.patch.com/groups/politics-and-elections/p/connecticut-considering-early-prison-release-for-some-violent-criminals

We maintain our original opinions.

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Suzio to Gov. Malloy : Stop Prematurely Releasing Violent Criminals before Another Tragedy

Len Suzio calling for suspension of 
early release for violent offenders

The following is a letter sent to the Middletown Insider by former State Sen. Len Suzio. Representatives for Middletown  Rep. Matt Lesser (D), and Representative Joe Serra (D), voted in favor of an extension of the state's early release program to include the early release of violent criminals and sex offenders who earn credits for good behavior. Recently, Lesser voted in favor of House Bill 6581*  which allows murders, rapists, kidnappers and other violent criminals convicted before the age of 18 to be released after only having served 60% of their sentences.The latter representatives voted in favor. The bill will go on to the state senate it will become law. Rep. Paul Doyle (D) was the only Middletown representative to not vote against the measure.

Editor's note 8/14/2013: Senator Dante Bartolomeo, representing Middletown, spoke against the repeal of the Risk reduction program and spoke against Bill 123 which would repeal the program to allow the early release of violent felons based on good behavior credits. Bartolomeo called for amendments, but went on record at the senate hearings saying repeal of the program "goes to far."SB 1062, based on parts of  Bill 6581, was tabled on May 30th and could  be brought back for a vote in the next session.

The Senate GOP has been fighting aspects of this law since the Risk Reduction Program it took effect under Gov. Malloy in 2011. Currently, prisoners who have committed rape, strangulation, arson, assault on a pregnant woman, disabled person, or elderly individual, kidnapping, molestation, statutory rape or a variety of other crimes not classified by the state as "violent" can earn credits for good behavior and be released early. Those convicted on drug charges, DUI's, or types of theft or robbery cannot because those convictions carry mandatory  sentences by state statute. Some of the above crimes, including DUI,  cannot be released to half way homes, home incarceration or rehabilitation services outside of prisons because of those mandatory sentences.  

Middletown Rep. Joe Serra voted for continued early release of some violent criminals

Middletown Reps. Lesser & Bartolomeo supported the continued early release of some violent criminals

Gov. Malloy and Rep. Michael Lawlor (D) have praised the "Risk Reduction Program" that release violent criminals early as a cost savings to the state. Recently, despite the program being in place since 2011, Forbes magazine published a piece by contributor Jim Powell on August 1, 2013 asking: How did Rich Connecticut Morph into one of the Worse Economies in History? 

Click to enlarge the DOC memo

  Suzio was recently interviewed by WTNH regarding a memo by the Department of Corrections seeking to alleviate prison over crowding and save money by releasing more prisoners early. Suzio wants to make sure none of those scheduled for release committed violent crimes.
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In light of the new scandalous revelation by a whistle blower at the Department of Corrections I am calling on the governor to halt this dangerous policy of the premature release of violent criminals without the treatment or rehabilitation ordered by the Board of Pardons and Paroles. We cannot wait for another innocent victim to be sexually assaulted or murdered before acting.

The Early Release Program already has been implicated with murder, rape and mayhem and now we have another scandalous revelation that the DOC has a plan to ignore the directives of the Board of Pardons and Paroles, releasing violent criminals without necessary treatment. These allegations, if true, reveal a DOC plan that will exacerbate an already dangerous program.

The number one priority of government must be public safety, but the Malloy Administration is hell bent on spending money on everything but public safety! It seems the Administration had not learned from the terrible murders in Cheshire - the criminals convicted of those horrific murders were released from prison without proper rehabilitation. Now it seems that the Malloy Administration is destined to repeat the same mistakes and recklessly jeopardize the safety of innocent civilians. I say to the Malloy Administration, "stop the spending on boondoggles like the bus way and put the money where it belongs - protecting the public from violent criminals".

Len Suzio
Member: State Office of Victim Advocate Advisory Board