In the United States, the criminal justice system often imposes harsh penalties on those who are convicted of crimes. Violent crimes and other serious offenses may result in prison sentences that last for multiple decades. Criminal justice reform advocates have argued that these types of sentences are overly harsh, especially for offenders who committed crimes at a young age. Prior to the age of 25, people's brains are still developing, and they may not fully understand the consequences of their actions. Unfortunately, mistakes made during a person's youth can result in penalties that affect them for the rest of their lifetime.
As advocates look to make changes to how criminal offenses are prosecuted and how people are sentenced, they are also seeking to help people who have served long sentences and taken steps toward rehabilitation. Some public officials have taken action to provide relief for these prisoners and allow them to be released. In Connecticut, commutations have become available for more prisoners. However, these policies have been questioned by the state's lawmakers, and adjustments may be made to how these types of cases will be handled in the future.
Issues With Connecticut's Commutation Policy
Connecticut law allows the Board of Pardons and Paroles to grant commutations to prisoners, allowing those who have served time in prison to be released before serving the full sentence put in place during a criminal case. In 2021, Carleton Giles, the chairman of the Board of Pardons and Paroles, put a new policy in place that expanded the availability of commutations. Prior to this change, around one to two commutations were granted each year. In 2022, 71 prisoners received commutations, and an additional 25 commutations have been granted in 2023.
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