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Tackling Juvenile Crime
After a legislative session with no substantial policy changes to curb juvenile crime, residents statewide are clamoring for immediate action. Vehicles stolen with children inside, shots fired, property ransacked, police officers assaulted...citizens are terrified if not frustrated, and they want reforms to a juvenile justice system that lacks accountability. We've petitioned for a special session .

OUR PLAN FOR REFORM

The continuing flow of alarming crimes committed by teenagers, from shots fired at property owners to stealing vehicles with children inside, prompted House Republican leaders, flanked by caucus members Tuesday, to unveil proposed statutory and policy changes aimed at curbing a crisis that has residents throughout Connecticut clamoring for reforms to the state’s juvenile justice system.

  1. Make mandatory fingerprinting of juveniles arrested for a felony, a Class A Misdemeanor, a charge resulting from loss of life or serious physical injury, a sexual assault, a serious juvenile offense, or an offense involving use of a firearm.

  2. Allow law enforcement access to all juvenile records to ensure an officer has complete information to use in seeking a post-arrest detention order.
  1. Create an exception to the 6-hour time limit to permit an arresting officer who in good faith is trying to get an order to detain, but has not yet received a response.
  2. Amend CGS Sec. 46b-133(c)(3)(B) to change "appropriate" alternative to an alternative that the court finds "reasonably likely to be effective" under the circumstances. This statutory change tied to post arrest detention would allow the court to find that releasing the juvenile offender to parents/guardians who have no control over the child is not reasonably likely to be effective.
  1. In the case of the denial of a police officer's request to detain order sought under 46b-133(c)(3), within 24 hours after the denial, the Judge shall articulate, in writing, the reason for the denial. While 2021's AAC Concerning Court Operations (PA-21-104) requires Judicial Branch to collect statistics on detention requests, requiring judges to provide reasons for denial will help us assess how the system is working.
  2. Expedited arraignment (next day court is open) for juveniles arrested for a felony, a Class A Misdemeanor, a charge resulting from loss of life or serious physical injury, a sexual assault, a serious juvenile offense, or an offense involving use of a firearm.
  1. Make mandatory fingerprinting of juveniles arrested for a felony, a Class A Misdemeanor, a charge resulting from loss of life or serious physical injury, a sexual assault, a serious juvenile offense, or an offense involving use of a firearm.

  2. Allow law enforcement access to all juvenile records to ensure an officer has complete information to use in seeking a post-arrest detention order.

ACT NOW TO FIX THE SYSTEM!

CALL Senate Democrats: 860-240-8600
CALL House Democrats:  860-240-8500
CALL Governor Lamont:   800-406-1527

 

Email your state representative!

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