Dozens of formerly incarcerated people and experts urge Connecticut to expand parole eligibility for offenses under age 26

Summary

At an eight‑plus‑hour Judiciary Committee hearing, survivors, advocates, academics and many formerly incarcerated witnesses urged lawmakers to pass SB503 to remove an arbitrary 2005 parole cutoff and extend early‑parole review to people who committed offenses before age 26. DOC officials warned of operational impacts for some related reforms.

Hartford — A long slate of witnesses and experts pressed Connecticut’s Judiciary Committee on March 18 to expand parole eligibility for people who committed crimes as young adults, arguing the state’s justice system should reflect modern neuroscience and the lived experience of long‑term incarcerated people.

Dozens of formerly incarcerated witnesses, family members and higher‑education partners testified in support of SB503, the emerging‑adult parole proposal that would eliminate an October 1, 2005 cutoff and allow people who committed offenses before age 26 to seek early parole review after serving a substantial portion of a sentence. Many read statements written by people still in custody who described decades of education, mentorship and rehabilitation while urging lawmakers to let parole boards evaluate who a person is today rather than fixate on their teenage years.

"This bill does…

Dozens of formerly incarcerated people and experts urge Connecticut to expand parole eligibility for offenses under age 26

Summary

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