Suzio to Gov. Malloy: Suspend Early Release Law

Sen. Len Suzio has written to Gov. Dannel P. Malloy urging the governor to suspend state's new Risk Reduction Earned Credit program which enables violent felons to be released early from prison.

The controversial program, based on a new law passed by the state legislature, has been the subject of debate in the wake of a .  Inmate in connection with the the killing of Ibrahim Ghazal in Ghazal’s Meriden EZ Mart store. If Resto had been required to serve the full 75-month sentence for two previous armed robbery convictions, he would have been in prison until October of this year. He was released in April after receiving 199 days of Risk Reduction Earned Credits.

Resto is scheduled to appear in Meriden Superior Court tomorrow.

“In this case, the victim is dead and his family left with a lifetime of suffering,” Suzio wrote in his letter to Malloy.  “I urge you to suspend the state's new Risk Reduction Earned Credit program and to order Department of Correction Commissioner Leo Arnone to withhold all early release credits given to inmates with a history of violent crime pending a review of how the program has been implemented and the public safety protected.”

Suzio said that according to Commissioner Arnone, the Risk Reduction Earned Credit program is being administered without the requirement for an updated psychiatric examination.

“This raises serious questions of public safety as more and more violent Connecticut inmates are getting time taken off their sentences,” Suzio wrote. “How can criminals with a history of violent crimes such as rape, arson, and child molestation be allowed early release into the public without the requirement for a current psychiatric examination?”

“I am seeking to prevent future tragedies like the one we have seen in my hometown of Meriden,” Suzio added. “Thousands of violent criminals held in Connecticut prisons may be released without psychiatric examination.  I am calling on you to suspend this flawed program so that the issue of psychiatric evaluations can be addressed and public safety protected. We must learn a lesson from the murder in Meriden before thousands of other violent criminals are prematurely released into the population.”

(Suzio’s letter is attached.)

The Honorable Dannel P. Malloy 
Governor, State of Connecticut 
State Capitol, Room 202, 210 Capitol Avenue 
Hartford, CT 06106

Governor Malloy,

On June 27 an innocent Meriden store owner was murdered in cold blood. An inmate let out of prison under the "Early Release" law has been charged with the crime. All too often violent criminals are out of jail before their victims leave the hospital. In this case, the victim is dead and his family left with a lifetime of suffering.   I urge you to suspend the state's new Risk Reduction Earned Credit program and to order Commissioner Arnone to withhold all early release credits given to inmates with a history of violent crime pending a review of how the program has been implemented and the public safety protected.

The Risk Reduction Earned Credit program enables violent felons to be released early from prison. According to Commissioner Arnone, the program is being administered without the requirement for an updated psychiatric examination. This raises serious questions of public safety as more and more violent Connecticut inmates are getting time taken off their sentences. How can criminals with a history of violent crimes such as rape, arson, and child molestation be allowed early release into the public without the requirement for a current psychiatric examination?

Inmate Frankie Resto, of Meriden, faces murder charges in connection with the June 27 killing of Ibrahim Ghazal in Ghazal’sMeriden EZ Mart store. If Resto had been required to serve the full 75-month sentence for two previous armed robbery convictions, he would have been in prison until October of this year. He was released in April after receiving 199 days of Risk Reduction Earned Credits.

I am seeking to prevent future tragedies like the one we have seen in my hometown of Meriden. Thousands of violent criminals held in Connecticut prisons may be released without psychiatric examination.  I am calling on you to suspend this flawed program so that the issue of psychiatric evaluations can be addressed and public safety protected. We must learn a lesson from the murder in Meriden before thousands of other violent criminals are prematurely released into the population.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. I know you share my feeling that public safety must be our number one priority.

Sincerely,

Len Suzio 
State Senator

Submitted press release