To the editor,
Connecticut heroes walk among us — we go about our lives taking for granted help is available when needed. Dedicated first responders have skills that keep us safe, addressing all manner of emergencies. The most obvious are police officers and firefighters. However, there is a coordinated support network designed to meet emergency needs, including widespread emergencies like the tragic events in Newtown and major storms in recent years. Efforts were coordinated on a community and statewide level; this takes year-round planning, invisible to the average person but critical to our well-being.
Those who jeopardize our safety must be prosecuted and incarcerated, and they must serve their sentences. Unfortunately, some will commit another crime. One of the first bills I voted for when I was elected was the truth in sentencing law that required violent criminals to serve 85 percent of their sentence before being eligible for parole. In 2008 I submitted three strikes legislation that became part of another major crime bill reforming our parole and criminal justice system.
Early release programs should focus on nonviolent offenders who demonstrate successful rehabilitation. Best practices include releasing inmates eligible under parole where they are monitored by the Department of Corrections; parole officers can return them to prison immediately for any violation of their parole. In 2011, Connecticut adopted early release risk reduction credits. They do not apply to the most serious crimes.
High visibility community policing minimizes criminal activity, building mutual trust and respect with residents in daily contacts. It encourages those with information about criminal activity to come forward and results in victims seeking help.
We must support programs that keep low income children in school, developing skills for success, to create alternative options to criminal activity. Seeing law enforcement as a respected part of the community sends a visible message toward this goal.
To ensure the state and communities have basic resources to manage public safety, reducing criminal activity and expeditiously addressing emergencies, State legislative policy vigilance is essential. Critical to this effort is periodic review of policies and programs and open communication among public officials.
Vickie Nardello
Prospect
The writer is a former state representative and currently the Democrat candidate for the 89th Assembly District representing Bethany, Cheshire and Prospect.
