Connecticut Governor Rell Lifts Ban on Paroles

Criminal Justice Reforms, New Policies and Procedures Now in Place to Safeguard Public Safety

January 27, 2008 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that she has directed the Board of Pardons and Paroles to begin processing appropriate violent offenders’ applications for parole, now that reforms of the criminal justice system have been put in place as well as new procedures for the Board of Pardons and Paroles (BPP) regarding reviews of parole applicants’ files and new Department of Correction (DOC) policies regarding community supervision of parolees.

The Governor said the moratorium on parole for violent offenders provided the BPP and the DOC with the opportunity to establish new procedures to safeguard the community. In September 2007, Governor Rell suspended approval of future parole for any inmate serving a sentence involving a violent offense.

“I indicated that the policy would remain in place until reforms of the parole process were complete,” Governor Rell said. “With the new procedures in place and important components of the criminal justice reform bill effective upon passage, I believe we have instituted important new safeguards that allow us to resume carefully monitored community release programs.

“Community release programs that are conducted under strict guidelines and conditions enhance public safety because offenders who re-enter society under parole supervision are far less likely to re-offend than those who are released without the benefit of a supervised release,” the Governor noted. “With strong safeguards in place, it is now appropriate to resume these programs.”

The new procedures, policies and improvements include:

· a requirement that no parole hearing may be conducted without all pertinent information on the applicant being obtained – including police reports, court transcripts and pre-sentencing reports

· additional staff at the BPP to assist with the new document requirements

· the completion of file reviews by BPP of all cases being considered for parole

· the hiring of thirteen new parole officers to ensure close monitoring of ex-offenders in the community

· requiring global positioning monitoring (GPS) of an additional 300 parolees

· risk assessment of offenders to determine appropriate levels of supervision of parolees and needs that can be addressed through intervention

· enhanced community support services including supportive housing, substance abuse treatment and employment assistance

· a requirement that all violent offenders remain on weekly contact with parole officers and submit to weekly urinalysis

· a requirement that offenders who do not comply with supervision standards be immediately remanded to custody

“I instituted the parole ban because security and public safety come first,” Governor Rell said. “Parole is a privilege, not a right and those who do not comply with these tough new standards will find themselves back in prison.

“While the majority of people on parole conduct themselves properly and follow the rules, there should be no misunderstandings about what will happen to those who abuse the privilege.”

On Friday, January 25th Governor Rell signed into law a package of comprehensive criminal justice reforms that establishes a new felony offense of home invasion and significantly strengthens the state’s system for dealing with paroles.

The legislative package also provides a wide range of reforms and improvements in the way the state deals with paroles. The law changes the makeup of the Board of Pardons and Paroles so that after July 1 the Board will have a chairman and five full-time, professional members augmented by 12 part-time members. All 18 members must be qualified by education, experience, or training in administering community corrections, parole or pardons; criminal justice; criminology; evaluation or supervision of offenders; or providing mental health services to offenders. The Board will also have a staff psychologist with expertise in risk assessment and recidivism of criminal offenders.

Under the bill, the Board will be granted access to an offender’s records from juvenile court, which had previously been held confidential. This access will be limited to the purposes of risk and needs assessment for an incarcerated offender, a parole or pardon decision, or a decision on monitoring and treatment needs while an offender is on parole or some other form of supervised release.

The law also bars the Board from acting on a case unless it has all of the relevant records before it, and requires the state to hasten the creation of an integrated, interagency computer system that will allow prosecutors, law enforcement agencies, parole and probation authorities and others to share information.

Victims of crime also receive new rights under the bill, including the right to have family members speak before the Board of Pardons and Paroles during hearings. Previously, family members could speak only if the victim was deceased.

Source: Connecticut Governor

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