Connecticut Suspends Jail Sentence Commutations To Review Policy

CONNECTICUT — The Connecticut Board of Pardons and Paroles has temporarily ceased accepting applications for the commutation of jail terms, following an ongoing uproar over an increase in the reduced sentences.

The spike followed another pause in accepting applications for more than a year, borne of the COVID-19 pandemic. When the application process resumed in 2021, it came back on with new eligibility standards. The lower bar led to 71 commutations granted last year. Only three had been granted between 2017 and 2021.

According to a statement from Senate Republican Leader Kevin Kelly, both his side of the aisle and the Governor's Office were in the dark regarding the most recent commutation policies, and "Decades and decades were shaved off of 44 murderers’ sentences."

Gov. Ned Lamont announced the pause Thursday, following a Wednesday meeting held among proponents of second chances for Connecticut prisoners, and public safety and victims' rights advocates.

"Yesterday’s meeting was the start of a collaborative process in which the leadership of the board committed itself to working with leadership of the legislature’s Judiciary Committee to consider revisions to its policies, including input from all stakeholders," Lamont said in a statement.

Earlier this month, the governor replaced the longtime chairman of the parole board, Carleton Giles, with Jennifer Medina Zaccagnini, a board member since 2008.

The pause in the commutation process is pending an "expeditious review" of its policies and processes, Lamont said. On its website, the board said it expected to resume accepting applications and scheduling hearings within the next few months.

"We continue to push for an open and transparent process where every victim, lawmaker, prosecutor and defense attorney has input on how this commutations policy should be revised," state Sen. Heather Somers said. "We need to decide collectively what that policy is — what is fair, what is just, and what is right. Through engagement and through dialogue, we can make survivors’ voices heard and effect positive change."