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ACLU-CT NEEDS YOUR HELP. The Governor and some legislators are once again proposing "Three Strikes And You Are Out" legislation -- automatic life sentences for third felonies. The legislation is expected to be offered in the form of amendments to other bills. It is an understandable response to the horrific home invasion and murder of a woman in New Britain a few weeks ago. But such a measure would not have affected the suspect in the New Britain crime and would eliminate judicial discretion. It would also, as it has in other states, lead to increased racial disparity and prison overcrowding. Connecticut rates number one in the nation in racial disparity in our prisons. For every 100,000 people incarcerated in CT, 211 are white; 2,532 black and 1,401 are Hispanic. Three strikes legislation will make this horrible situation worse.
Eliminating judicial discretion leads to situations such as in California, where there have been three strikes prosecutions for minor crimes such as theft of a beer or a few packs of batteries. The overcrowding situation in Connecticut prisons is serious and unconstitutional. Inmates are sleeping in hallways, gyms and visitation rooms. In one facility, 70 inmates are sleeping on a gym floor. The Office of Fiscal Analysis says implementation of Three Strikes legislation could cost up to $500 million in prison construction. Please contact your legislator now. Then e-mail four people who you know care about criminal justice, and urge them to come to this website to act. It's easy to contact your legislator: just click on the pencil point. We will identify your legislators. You may send a standard letter, or edit our letter. You can even send your letter to yourself first to see how it looks. Writing your legislators will take only a few minutes, and will make a difference. Please click on the pencil point!
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