IF AND WHEN

Last week the legislature approved a resolution authorizing a special session to enact criminal justice reforms in reaction to last summer's Cheshire home invasion murders. That goal has been discussed for months. Yet despite last week's resolution, many lawmakers—especially Republicans—question if and when the legislature will actually meet and vote.

There is no date certain for the special session on justice reform, just the notion that it will happen in January because the 2008 regular session opens in February. Many lawmakers believe acting on justice reforms in a January special session would be worthwhile because they could focus on one issue. If justice reform bills are held until the regular session, they'd have to go through the lengthy committee and hearing process with hundreds of measures on other topics that will be introduced.

State House Minority Leader Lawrence Cafero (R-Norwalk) suggests procrastination is just what Democrats want. He claims Democrats don't want sweeping changes in the justice system. "They are very much in favor of eliminating mandatory minimums (in sentencing) for various crimes," Cafero said. "The Cheshire murders and the public reaction made them very leery about saying that in public, so they confused the issue with things like prison overcrowding and (higher) costs," he explained.

Democrats, including House Speaker James Amann (D-Milford), said it's the Republicans who are playing games with this very serious issue. He accused Cafero of "pathetic grandstanding" in demanding a date certain for a special session. "Everybody knows we're coming back when the legislation is (ready)," said Amann. "We're going to work on a bipartisan basis and we're going to pass a great piece of legislation."

Democratic leaders have suggested crafting one omnibus piece of legislation that incorporates a host of justice reforms including: making home invasion a new crime with tough penalties, streamlining and modernizing the data transfer process among all elements of the criminal justice system, and doing something meaningful to keep repeat offenders off the streets. Democratic leaders claim that can be secured through bipartisan cooperation, avoiding contentious debate over amendments.

Cafero sees the "one big bill" strategy as another political tactic. His view is that such an all-encompassing bill may be impossible to achieve. He said complex omnibus bills "fail by their own weight."

So will lawmakers come in during January to respond to the Cheshire tragedy and pass justice reforms? "We're going to make sure we have a package that will work, and we'll have the resources to back it up, and we'll do it before the regular session begins in February," said State Rep. Michael Lawlor (D-East Haven), co-chair of the legislature's Judiciary Committee. That panel has jurisdiction over all criminal justice issues.

However, Cafero's co-chair, State Sen. Andrew McDonald (D-Stamford) sees things a bit differently. "There is no promise that it will actually be completed in January, but there is a promise that we're going to make every effort," he said.

Perhaps the most likely scenario is that lawmakers will vote in January on whatever items they can agree on to save face, leaving more controversial justice measures for the 2008 regular session.
 

Posted 12/10/07

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