Democrats and Republicans are voicing support for Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy's proposal to give nonviolent criminal offenders more opportunities to reintegrate into society.
State Senator John Kissel, the leading Republican senator on the General Assembly's Judiciary Committee, said the state is being "smart on crime" by focusing more attention on violent criminals, while sending fewer non-violent individuals to prison.
Malloy's so-called "second chance society" plan was the subject of a Judiciary Committee public hearing on Friday.
The bill eliminates mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent drug offenses, and reduces the penalty for possession of drugs from a felony to a misdemeanor.
Some lawmakers do have some concerns with the bill, however. Several questioned whether adequate treatment is available for these offenders and whether drug-addicted offenders are truly non-violent.
