I’ll have to give this more thought later on, but the theme coming out of this announcement is that a bipartisan attempt to stem deficiencies in the parole system is gaining momentum. A special session is being planned for the legislature to vote on the reforms. From the Courant:

The Cheshire tragedy, she said, “took away from us our confidence in the criminal justice system” and “exposed the flaws” in the system.

The show of political unity Tuesday was unusual because Democrats and Republicans have been clashing both publicly and behind the scenes over their response to the Petit killings. Republicans were ready to vote as early as August on strengthening crime laws, and they later said there was time to vote in early December before the Christmas break. Democrats countered that lawmakers needed to move carefully, hold public hearings and craft the legislation properly instead of simply rushing to enact new laws.

House Speaker James Amann said Tuesday that “95 percent of what the governor has here, on its face, we can support.”

The Senate Democrats are prepared to support Rell’s plan for a full-time parole board because the idea was first offered in early September by Senate President Pro Tem Donald Williams, the highest-ranking senator. Republican legislators initially scoffed at Williams’ idea, but backed off that criticism after Rell embraced the idea.

All sides also agree that the state needs to drastically upgrade its computers so that police, prosecutors, parole officers and prison officials can make decisions on the release of criminals. Rell says an entirely new system is necessary that would be overseen by the Criminal Justice Information System Governing Board.

There is no excuse, Williams says, for such an antiquated system in the year 2008.

“It’s the 21st century,” Williams said. “It’s the computer age. Come on.”

While Rell and lawmakers were touting bipartisanship at the press conference, three union presidents who represent prison guards had a more ominous response.

“We are disappointed Governor Rell failed to address the growing number of inmates in the state’s correction facilities,” said the union presidents of AFSCME Council 4. “Connecticut’s prisons are bursting at the seams. We need more posts manned inside our facilities to ensure the safety of the public, staff and inmates.”

Although not everyone is happy, Chief State’s Attorney Kevin Kane said the level of cooperation lately at the state Capitol has been unprecedented.

“I have never seen the different components of the criminal justice system and the legislature and the governor’s office and the Office of Policy and Management communicate so well with each other and work so well together to make reforms that are needed to protect the public of the state of Connecticut,” Kane said. “The quick fixes are fairly clear to us right now. That’s to improve the burglary statutes — to recognize the seriousness of residential burglaries. That’s the place where people need to be secure in their homes, whether their home is a big home in a suburb or a small apartment.”

It remained unclear Tuesday whether all sides would agree on a new version of a “three-strikes-and-you’re-out” law. One of the sticking points is determining how much discretion to give judges in imposing sentences on criminals who are guilty of three violent felonies. Currently, prosecutors have wide discretion in deciding which charges will be brought against defendants, and judges have discretion in deciding how many years a criminal will spend in prison.

Among the key components of Rell’s plan are:

•Harsher penalties for burglaries committed at night or with a gun.

•Tougher penalties for career criminals by strengthening the “persistent offender” law.

•Improved access to often-secret juvenile records so that the parole board and prison officials can make decisions on releasing criminals.

•Notifying crime victims before a plea bargain is struck with a criminal.

•Expanding the definition of “victim” to include immediate family members.

source: THe Courant Justice Fixes Bring Accord
By CHRISTOPHER KEATING, January 9, 2008