Senator, Victim Advocate Question Risk Reduction Program
by Christine Stuart | Aug 1, 2012 6:16pm
(7) Comments | Commenting has expired
Meriden Sen. Len Suzio and state Victim Advocate Michelle Cruz said there’s something wrong with a system that lets an inmate like Frankie Resto out of prison.
Resto is the man accused of killing 70-year-old Ibrahim Ghazal last month at a Meriden convenience store. Resto earned 199 days of risk reduction credits, according to the Corrections Department.
However, not all of the credits were applied, and unlike most inmates, Resto served 91 percent of his sentence. Typically prisoners serve 85 percent of their sentence before they are released on probation.
Michael P. Lawlor, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s top criminal justice adviser, said Resto would likely have been released earlier, if not for policies the administration has implemented.
Under the old system, Resto would likely have been released last November if there was no specific reason to keep him once he had served 85 percent of his sentence. But the administration focused on identifying violent individuals in the criminal justice system so Resto wasn’t released until he had served 91 percent of his sentence, Lawlor said.
Resto was released in April of this year.
“The idea that you could take a tragedy of what happened in Meriden, this murder, and turn it into some sort of a political football is really outrageous,” Lawlor said. “I think it’s extremely irresponsible to capitalize on a tragedy like this.”
Suzio obviously disagreed. He called Resto the “poster child” for the failure of the risk reduction credit system, which allows inmates to shave five days per month off the end of their sentence if they participate in programs to help with their transition back into society.
Even if the risk reduction credits weren‘t applied, “doesn‘t that demonstrate the failure of the system,” Suzio said at a Capitol press conference. “He received them. Whether he actually used them or not, he earned them.”
It’s unclear if Resto’s behavior in prison merited the credits.
“He actually got drunk in prison at one point in time,” Suzio said. “He set a fire in a prison, yet he still earned 199 days early release credits?”
It’s irrelevant whether any of those credits were applied, Suzio opined.
“The point is he was eligible and he got them. To me that underscores what’s wrong with the system,” Suzio said.
Suzio and Cruz are calling on the Malloy administration to provide them with more information about how the credits are being applied. It’s their understanding the Department of Corrections applies the credits before the case goes to the Board of Pardons and Parole.
The Department of Corrections, according to Cruz, has reported to her that 773 of the 7,589 inmates released through with risk reduction credits have been returned to custody.
However, she said that number does not include those who have been released on bond or have warrants out for their arrest for violating probation.
It’s unlikely the Malloy administration is going to accommodate any sort of hearing on the risk reduction credits, which were approved by the legislature more than a year ago.
Lawlor, a former lawmaker, said if Suzio was serious about getting something done he wouldn’t be holding a press conference because that’s not how public policy is changed.
Click here to read more about the program and the political divide.
Tags: risk reduction credit, Len Suzio, Michelle Cruz, Michael P. Lawlor
(7) Comments
posted by: wmwallace | August 2, 2012 2:33am
This policy should never have been passed. It got a man killed and Mr. Lawler can spin it anyway he wants but a life was lost because of this legislation. Time to repeal it and go back to the drawing board.
posted by: Not that Michael Brown | August 2, 2012 8:28am
Thanks Mike. I like that. “Press Conference Suzio.” Anything to hide that fact that Suzio’s first ever budget vote was preceded by his amendment to DE-FUND Planned Parenthood.
posted by: skyrocket27 | August 2, 2012 10:00am
Lawlor said. “I think it’s extremely irresponsible to capitalize on a tragedy like this.”
Really Mike? Former-Representative Lawlor has made a career out of twisting tragedies for political gain. For him to suggest that a sitting legislator is raising the issue for political gain is at least disingenuous.
posted by: jenand | August 2, 2012 12:56pm
A press conference may not be “how public policy is changed”, but it sure got your attention Mr. Lawlor. When prisons are stuffed to the gills, legislators find sneaky ways to discharge more inmates. CT needs to fund more initiatives to steer young men onto another path, before they are swept into the system.
posted by: Matt W. | August 2, 2012 4:05pm
Great point Michael Brown! I’m sure the Ghazal family will find a restored faith in the system once they learn that Sen. Suzio once voted against PP. Heck, given Suzio’s vote maybe their family member isn’t even dead! I guess there’s nothing to see here and we should all just move along.
posted by: SalRomano | August 2, 2012 8:48pm
If we had a President who was doing his job, we would have established a Civilian Works Program like Pres. Franklin Delano Roosevelt turned into a success during the Depression. Obama hasn’t tried to get our unemployed to work for their stipends. He passes out free benefits to people, leaving them with idle time, “giving them plenty of free time for crime!” What a way to run a country.
Obama must be voted ouit of of office. He is ruining out country with his Socialist giveaways, and has virtually destroyed the work ethic that once made this country great. Thanks to Obama, we are providing criminals—too much time for crime, instead of making them work for a living.
We need to install a new boss in the house—a business leader named Mitt Romney—or WE ALL LOSE!
posted by: CT Jim | August 3, 2012 9:01am
@Salromano, Gee Sal vote republican much lol. Thought this was about a state law but I guess as the president was sneaking back into the country from Kenya he stopped here to screw this up…So your telling me to vote for the guy that won’t release his tax returns for more than the last 18 months yet I have to release at least 3 if not 5 years to get a re-fi on my mortgage?? i’m supposed to vote for a guy that takes a $77,000 tax CREDIT for his wifes dancing horses while hiding his money that he made by closing down factories, gutting pensions and shipping those good paying jobs to China in foreign bank accounts to avoid paying taxes here in the good ol USA??? Really Sal??? Oh my guess I’m off the subject line here gee my bad or should I say your bad Sal? Well anyway the bottom line is Suzio is a nut job that can’t run for re-election on his record because he doesn’t have one so he feels this will carry him over the top…lol. This is the Joe Markly campaign mantra, find one issue stay on it and hopefully your constituents don’t see your incompetant.