Governor M. Jodi Rell tonight issued the following statement after the Senate passed the criminal justice reform package she proposed January 8:
“The state was shaken to its core this summer by the horrific tragedy in Cheshire. Now we are taking the necessary steps to restore public confidence in the criminal justice system and ensure such tragedies do not happen in the future. The people of Connecticut deserve to be safe in their homes and they deserve to know that criminals will be punished and put away for a long, long time.
{Gov. Rell and Lt. Gov. Fedele discuss the criminal justice reforms a day after the special session}
Gov. Rell and Lt. Gov. Fedele discuss the criminal
justice reforms a day after the special session
“Violent criminals have no place in our state – except inside a prison cell.
“A tough home invasion law is the linchpin of our real reform. Our reforms will make our state safer – with new laws and tougher penalties that will get criminals off the streets and behind bars.
“These changes are just the beginning of a much-needed, top-to-bottom reform of our entire criminal justice system. With this legislation we are making great strides toward improving the parole system, strengthening the laws on home invasion and burglary and cracking down on repeat offenders. More will need to be done – and we will be taking up those challenges in the regular session that begins just two weeks from now.
“I thank the Legislature for working in a bipartisan manner to pass these reforms.”
