State Reps Discuss Death Penalty Votes

This week, the state House of Representatives voted 86-62 to abolish Connecticut's death penalty.

Both House members representing Vernon, Republican Timothy Ackert and Democrat Claire Janowski, voted against repeal.

Here is what they had to say about the debate.

Ackert: "This is an emotional issue and I took my vote against repeal very seriously.

“Here in Connecticut we use capital punishment very sparingly and only for the most heinous crimes. I think it is a beneficial tool for law enforcement when dealing with these violent criminals.

"S.B. 280: An Act Revising the Penalty for Capital Felonies eliminates the death penalty as a sentencing option for a capital felony thus leaving life imprisonment without the possibility of release as the most severe penalty available. The bill also renames the crime of capital felony as murder with special circumstances. Governor Malloy has stated that he will sign the bill if it reaches his desk, having passed in the Senate last week, it is clear the bill will become law.

"While the bill is written to be prospective and, therefore, have no bearing on the 11 individuals currently on Death Row, I am concerned that upon passage, it will offer an avenue of appeals for those individuals.

"I am also concerned these changes will have unintended consequences and could allow some violent offenders to be placed in the general prison population or remove a strong deterrent to prevent people already in prison from committing violent crimes while they are incarcerated.

"I also supported a number of amendments to the underlying bill that would preserve the death penalty for specific crimes. One amendment would keep the death penalty for those convicted of the murder of police officers.

"Last year, the highly regarded Quinnipiac University Polling Institute stated that 67 percent of Connecticut residents were in favor of the death penalty versus 28 percent opposed.  Those numbers are a steady increase from previous years which demonstrates the majority of Connecticut residents oppose changes to current law."

Janowski: "It was a difficult decision and there were compelling arguments for and against. However, I voted against abolition.

"I do believe that the death penalty can act as a deterrent in some instances. We just don't know for sure and the possibility of sparing even one person from becoming a victim, weighed heavily in my decision.

"I was also informed by the Judicial system that prosecutors often use the death penalty as “leverage” to prosecute accomplices and/or gain information related to victims in an effort to bring some closure to families of loved ones who have been killed.

"Although seldom actually used in Connecticut (Seriel killer Ross during the last 50 years or so), two other major concerns led to my decision. First, that those currently on death row in Connecticut (the Petit killers) will win appeals to stop their death sentences in exchange for  life without parole.

"Second, that a future legislature may be persuaded to change life without parole to include “certain exceptions” to allow parole."
 
The State Senate voted 20-16 in favor of repeal last week. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy has also been in favor of repeal.