State Rep. Kathy Kennedy (R-119) signed a petition today calling for a special legislative session to focus on juvenile crime.
Calling for immediate legislative action, State Reps. Kathy Kennedy (R-119) and Charles Ferraro (R-117) today joined a petition effort to bring all state lawmakers into session to implement reforms on recent juvenile crimes that have affected communities throughout the state.
“Our residents deserve to be protected and shouldn’t be made to fear for their lives or loss of property,” Kennedy said. “We need stricter consequences for these repeat juvenile offenders and more flexibility for our law enforcement officers to do their job and detain offenders in the best interest of public safety before more people are hurt or God forbid killed.”
“My job as a legislator is to ensure the people of Milford, Orange and West Haven can feel safe in their own homes,” Ferraro said. “The judicial slap-on-the-wrist given to juvenile car thieves only emboldens them to commit more of these crimes and to become more dangerous. Repeat offenders need to face real-life consequences from the criminal justice system.”
The House Republican caucus along with chief elected officials and top law enforcement officials from New Britain and Wolcott – the sites of crimes last week that intensified the spotlight on the state’s juvenile justice system. The crime in New Britain, where a 53-year-old pedestrian was killed when he was struck by a stolen vehicle, raised alarm statewide when it was revealed that a 17-year-old charged in connection with the crime had been arrested 13 times in less than four years.
Addressing motor vehicle thefts by juveniles was a top priority for House Republicans during the legislative session this year.
In their call for action Wednesday, the Milford lawmakers say the General Assembly must enact legislation concerning juveniles who are repeat felony offenders. Among the concepts they say should be considered are allowing courts to order investigations of family circumstances of repeat offenders, authorizing post-arrest detention if such juveniles are deemed to be risks to public safety; eliminating the six-hour limit on detaining such juveniles without a court order; and requiring courts to electronically monitor juveniles charged with stealing a car while they are awaiting trial for car theft until criminal proceedings are resolved.
The governor can call members of the General Assembly into a special legislative session. While lawmakers can call themselves back to Hartford by petition, a majority of the membership in each the House and Senate must file petitions with the office of the Secretary of the State.