Connecticut House Bill HB05728

Connecticut 2019 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/22/19
• Refer: 1/22/19

Caption

An Act Prohibiting The Awarding Of Good Time Credits.

Impact

The enactment of HB 5728 would directly affect existing laws concerning the administration of good time credits, which are reductions in sentences awarded for good behavior while incarcerated. By prohibiting current eligibility for these credits for those sentenced prior to 1993, the bill seeks to prevent potential benefits that could have allowed them to reduce their time in prison. This change could lead to longer incarceration periods for affected individuals, thereby impacting the overall prison population and the workings of the criminal justice system.

Summary

House Bill 5728, titled 'An Act Prohibiting The Awarding Of Good Time Credits,' proposes to amend Chapter 320 of the general statutes regarding the awarding of good time credits for persons sentenced prior to the abolishment of such credits in 1993. The purpose of this legislation is clear; it intends to ensure that individuals who were previously eligible to receive these credits, due to their sentencing before the enactment of the earlier law, will no longer be able to accumulate them going forward. The bill represents a significant shift in how sentences for certain offenders may be managed in relation to their time served.

Contention

While supporters of the bill may argue that it is a necessary step for maintaining strict standards of accountability within the penal system, there may be significant opposition regarding the implications for rehabilitation and justice. Critics could argue that abolishing eligibility for good time credits undermines efforts towards correction and rehabilitation, potentially leading to overcrowding in prisons and a lack of incentives for good behavior. The bill's passage might ignite debates about the balance between punishment and rehabilitation in the justice system.