The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
GOP strategy: Dems soft on crime
Spurt of youth crime, gun violence creates hot campaign theme for ’22
Bob Stefanowski, the 2018 Republican nominee for governor and a likely candidate next year, fed a longtime conservative narrative this week when he accused Gov. Ned Lamont of supporting the movement to defund the police, resulting in crime that he said was at “all-time highs” in Connecticut.
Stefanowski, in a Twitter post, later pointed to recent reports of car thefts and shootings and questioned whether the state’s residents feel safe under Lamont’s watch.
The comments, combined with ongoing critiques by Republicans of police reforms in recent years, point to an explosive campaign theme for 2022 — and embroil Connecticut in the the age-old partisan battle of how to address a rise in crime.
A recent spate of car thefts by young people that have at times turned deadly has left some Republicans blaming Democrats for being too soft on crime, one year after a police reform bill in the wake of the George Floyd murder led the GOP to accuse Democrats of undercutting law enforcement.
Overall crime is not at an alltime high, and in fact, had been
“Democrats who have controlled our state for decades are out of touch and have allowed problems to fester, especially in our cities.” Senate Republican leader Kevin Kelly,, of Stratford
declining in recent years until the pandemic, which led to increase in violent crime and car thefts across the country.
Still, the state is seeing a jump in car thefts and gun violence. The trend is also happening nationally, but Republicans here argue it’s related to failed criminal justice reforms supported by Democrats. It is a clear presage of the 2022 election.
Homicides in Connecticut were up by 24 percent in the first three months of 2021 compared to last year, and up 49 percent from 2019, statistics compiled by the FBI show. Connecticut’s motor vehicle theft rate hit a historic low in 2019 but increased by 41 percent in 2020.
Reforms in sharp focus
Democrats say the pandemic, which took economic and mental health tolls, is largely to blame and that an overhaul of Connecticut’s current laws and policies would not result in less crime.
“Shootings are up, no question about it. Auto thefts are up, no question about it. Some percentage of auto thefts is attributable to juveniles. Why? It’s not related to Connecticut’s laws or policies because the same exact thing has been happening everywhere else,” said Mike Lawlor, a professor of criminal justice at the University of New Haven who was a top adviser to former Gov. Dannel Malloy and was previously co-chairman of the General Assembly’s judiciary committee.
“Connecticut is at a crossroads when it comes to making our state safer,” Senate Republican leader Kevin Kelly of Stratford said in a written statement this week.
Calling for a public hearing on crime, Kelly added, “Democrats who have controlled our state for decades are out of touch and have allowed problems to fester, especially in our cities.”
Democrats say there’s no evidence the state’s criminal justice reforms, such as the 2018 juvenile justice package that was also supported by a large number of Republicans, are connected to the recent rise in crime.
“This is larger than what’s right in front of our face. This is an issue of the moment we’re in,” said Sen. Gary Winfield, D-New Haven, who co-chairs the legislative judiciary committee.
The pandemic forced kids to stay at home, some in “spaces where they were not really supervised,” Winfield said, and remote learning left many students disconnected or unable to access classes.
“All of that matters and if we’re looking for solutions, the solutions need to be responsive to the actual problem.” he said.
James Rovella, Lamont’s emergency services and public safety commissioner, speaking to Hearst Connecticut Media after an event this week on security at houses of worship, also dismissed any connection between lower criminal penalties for young offenders and the recent jump in crime.
“We’re all for any kind of mental health, drugs, alcohol, reunification, any kind of counseling they can get to come off of our system, but I’m not seeing the relationship to the laws,” Rovella said.
‘Incarceration is not the answer’
The topic of juvenile crime was unavoidable at an event this week in Hartford where Lamont celebrated two pieces of legislation that he said symbolized Connecticut’s national leadership on gun safety. One tightens the state’s “red flag” law that allows authorities to confiscate weapons from people showing signs of dangerous behavior before a crime happens; the other allows Medicaid spending on certified violence prevention workers.
“We’re working really hard when it comes to juveniles. There’s a lot of talk about juveniles and cars,” Lamont said during his remarks at the event.
The governor said he supported early intervention, adding that “incarceration is not the answer.” Instead, “help these kids get a better chance,” he said.
The 2018 law transfered much of the responsiblity for rehabilitation and juvenile services from the Department of Children and Families to the judicial branch and also limited the amount of time youths can be detained to six hours.
Lamont and Rovella later elaborated on the administration’s strategy, saying they are working to make it easier for police departments to share information on juvenile criminal records and pending charges in other jurisdictions, and to ensure youth offenders are connected with proper services so they don’t go out and commit more crimes.
Stefanowski, in his critiques, has focued on Lamont’s support of last year’s police accountability bill, which “will cost cities and towns millions of dollars to comply with.”
“The removal of qualified immunity for officers is expected to cause a tsunami of retirements in 2022 at a time when fewer candidates are stepping up for a career in law enforcement,” Stefanowski said in an emailed statement.
Lamont rebuffs the idea that he ever favored defunding the police. At the Hartford event, Rovella applauded Lamont for his support of the Connecticut State Police, saying 210 state troopers have been added under his administration, and 200 more positions are being funded in the new state budget.
Stefanowski was quick to characterize the Hartford event as “window dressing,” in a post on his Twitter page, and called on Lamont to address the “out of control” violence.
Opposing ideas
After several high-profile incidents including the hit-and-run death of a 53-year-old New Britain man, GOP lawmakers gathered at the state Capitol earlier in July to call for a special legislative session on juvenile justice.
They were joined by two police chiefs who said they were unable to lock up teen offenders, even those who had dozens of prior arrests, because of the state’s failed juvenile justice system.
That same day a bipartisan group of lawmakers, including Democratic House Speaker Matt Ritter and House Republican leader Vincent Candelora, met to discuss the state’s current juvenile justice policies and whether changes were warranted.
They emerged from the afternoon meeting with a concilatory tone, indicating there was common ground to address offenders who commit serious offenses, such as more immediate access for judges and law enforcement to a young offender’s criminal history.
But while conversations continue, so does the partisan divide.
Republican lawmakers have called for several proposals including eliminating the six-hour time limit and requiring offenders to wear a GPS monitoring device after a second time they are convicted a car theft.
Democrats continue push for rehabilitation and more services.
“We’re looking to determine if there are gaps in communication or services that need to be plugged,” said Rep. Steve Stafstrom, a Democrat from Bridgeport who co-chairs the judiciary committee.
About six months ago, the judicial branch launched new pre-trial intervention program to provide services and counseling to youths charged with a firsttime motor vehicle offense.
Stafstrom said lawmakers are looking at the new program to see how effective it has been and whether it has affected recidivism rates “to determine if there are additional components to program that need to be added such as a victim impact panel.”
“The overall smart on crime strategy has been shown to work in Connecticut,” he said. “We have reduced crime rates. We’ve closed prisons. We’ve saved taxpayers money and we have allowed individuals a second chance to become productive members of society.”