Oh the irony of this Bruce Morris statement; “My challenge whenever we talk about criminal justice reform is that we need to understand that it’s very likely that these people were undereducated or uneducated and, at the time of their offense, they were either unemployed or underemployed.” Morris, who does not hold a college degree, was speaking about why he voted against the criminal reform bill that focused on home-invasions and burglaries.
From the Hour:
“There are a number of proposals in this bill that I know that, long term, will help to keep our state safe and that will work toward a more efficient government,” said state Sen. Bob Duff, D-25, majority whip.
The measures also call for technology to foster increased communication among law enforcement departments and better technology to track parolees.Rell hailed the passage of the reforms, which go into effect on March 1, as a step toward making the state safer.
“Violent criminals have no place in our state — except inside a prison cell,” she said in a statement.
The reforms come six months after two parolees allegedly murdered and raped three members of the Petit family in Cheshire last year. Legislators said the reforms were authored as a response to these murders.
State Rep. Lawrence Cafero, R-142, minority leader, and Duff applauded the tougher home-invasion law and tightened burglary sentencing.
Morris voted against the bill and said the legislature did not follow the recommendation of the House and Senate sentencing task forces in passing the tougher burglary law. He said those committees warned of the economic strains that could come from passing tougher burglary laws.
Around 700 people were arrested for first-degree burglary last year, and their imprisonment would cost the state around $27 million, according to Morris.
“$27 million to incarcerate 700 people, when there is no proof provided at any point in time that this will discourage anyone from committing the burglaries, is a waste,” he said.
What is Morris suggesting, that burglars should not be arrested, convicted and sent to prison? Of all the things one can criminally do to land in prison, burglary, that is the theft of property, is a very good one. A pretty old one too, as a minister he might be somewhat familiar with the commandment, “thou shall not steal.”
“We cannot continue to try and incarcerate our way to public safety,” Morris concluded. Morris sure has an odd world view. Is this really the best person Norwalk can find to arbitrate student/school relations? If a student at any Norwalk school steals from another student, is Morris advocating on behalf of the victim of the theft or the thief?
And what of the many college graduates that burgle? Does Morris think that they might need more education in order to stop stealing? Does he think burglaries don’t happen at MIT or Harvard?
But let’s not digress into the ridiculousness of Morris’ statements. Here’s the definition of 1st Degree burglary in Connecticut.
‘A person is guilty of burglary in the first degree when he [unlawfully enters] [unlawfully remains in]1 a building with intent to commit a crime therein and: (1) He is armed with explosives or a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument, or (2) in the course of committing the offense, he intentionally, knowingly or recklessly inflicts or attempts to inflict bodily injury on anyone.”
The part about being armed with a deadly weapon or dangerous weapon, and that the burglar used that weapon on a victim or attempted too is what separates the hard core criminals from the rest, now doesn’t it? Morris believes that these people shouldn’t be incarcerated? Makes you wonder what kind of education Morris needs, doesn’t it?
source: The Hour, Officials: Justice reforms still need work, January 24, 2008
