House Approves Controversial Criminal Justice Bill To Establish A New Sentence-Reduction System For Inmates - Capitol Watch

House Approves Controversial Criminal Justice Bill To Establish A New Sentence-Reduction System For Inmates - Capitol Watch


"Democrats in the state House of Representatives outmuscled Republicans Tuesday to give final approval to a hotly contested "budget implementation" bill that would give inmates sentence-reduction credits if they participate in self-improvement programs.

The 90-56 vote came after three hours of debate, and was along party lines except for three Democrats who voted "no" with Republicans - Reps. Steven Mikutel of Griswold, Mary Fritz of Wallingford and Kim Rose of Milford.

The bill now goes to Democratic Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, who intends to sign it, according to the governor's senior adviser, Roy Occhiogrosso. Tuesday's House vote ended a week-long drama that produced some of the 2011 legislative session's most fiery rhetoric.

Before approving the bill, the House first amended it so that it would exclude prison inmates from earning sentence-reduction credits if they have been convicted of any one of six violent crimes ranging from murder to home invasion.

It is the same amendment that Senate Democrats approved on Friday after Republicans opposed it in seven hours of debate."