During 2013, the Commission developed and submitted three proposals to the General Assembly for consideration at its 2014 session. These included recommendations to:
- Provide that juvenile offenders serving sentences imposed in the adult criminal court would be eligible for parole after serving one-half of a sentence of 60 years or less and after serving 30 years of a sentence exceeding 60 years and eliminate mandatory sentences of life imprisonment without release for juveniles convicted of capital felony or murder with special circumstances.
- Increase the effectiveness of the existing provisional pardon statute by authorizing parole release panels to issue “certificates of rehabilitation” and allow probation officers to issue “certificates of rehabilitation” to probationers whose employment prospects would be enhanced by such a certificate.
- Decrease the “drug-free school zone distances from 1500 feet to 200 feet from the perimeter and codify State v. Lewis to require a specific intent to commit a drug violation within that zone.
| Proposal Subject | Bill Title | Information/Links |
|---|---|---|
| Juvenile Justice | HB-5221 An Act Concerning The Recommendations Of The Connecticut Sentencing Commission Regarding Lengthy Sentences For Crimes Committed By A Child Or Youth And The Sentencing Of A Child Or Youth Convicted Of Certain Felony Offenses. | Proposal Bill Text Bill Status |
| Certificates of Rehabilitation | SB-153 An Act Concerning The Recommendations Of The Connecticut Sentencing Commission With Respect To Certificates Of Rehabilitation. | Proposal Bill Text Bill Status |
| Drug Free School Zones | SB-259 An Act Concerning The Recommendations Of The Connecticut Sentencing Commission Regarding The Enhanced Penalty For The Sale Or Possession Of Drugs Near Schools, Day Care Centers And Public Housing Projects. | Proposal Bill Text Bill Status |