HARTFORD – On Wednesday afternoon, Governor Dannel Malloy held a bill signing ceremony in Hartford.
He signed several pieces of legislation enacting major reforms to the state’s criminal justice system, including a significant reform to the state’s bail system, in order to continue efforts in reducing the state’s historically low crime rates.
Malloy was joined by Mayor Luke Bronin, Department of Correction Commissioner Scott Semple, representatives of the ACLU of Connecticut and the Yankee Institute for Public Policy, legislators, and other advocates.
The bills signed included:
- Public Act 17-145 – An Act Concerning Pretrial Justice Reform
- Public Act 17-112 – An Act Concerning the Licensing of Barbers and Hairdressers
- Public Act 17-205 – An Act Establishing a Pilot Program to Provide Enhanced Community Services to Those in the Criminal Justice System
- Public Act 17-57 – An Act Expediting Child Support Modification Orders for Incarcerated Or Institutionalized Obligors
- Public Act 17-106 – An Act Concerning State Identification for Inmates Upon Reentry
- Public Act 17-239 – An Act Concerning Isolated Confinement and Correctional Staff Training and Wellness
- Public Act 17-242 – An Act Concerning Educational and Environmental Issues Relating to Manufacturing
- Public Act 17-193 – An Act Requiring a Criminal Conviction for Certain Offenses Before Assets Seized in a Lawful Arrest of Lawful Search May be Forfeited in a Civil Proceeding
- Special Act 17-15 – An Act Concerning Community Reentry by Persons Who Were Incarcerated
“The idea that our fellow citizens are sitting in jail as a result of their inability to make bond was terrible, unfair, and had a disproportionate impact,” said Malloy during the ceremony. “I’m sure when somebody takes a plea to get out of jail, it’s life changing to get out of jail, but the reality is that taking a plea that should not have been taken to begin with, is damaging for the rest of that person’s life.”
