New Haven opponents of three-strikes legislation that would hand out life sentences to repeat violent offenders met with a sympathetic Cheshire activist to discuss how to seek common ground in the often-unfriendly suburbs.
John Kardaras, an attorney and political activist from Cheshire, met at the main New Haven library branch Monday night with members of People Against Injustice and others who are trying to prevent the passage of what they view as a draconian law in the upcoming legislative session. The so-called three-strikes law would hand out life sentences to repeat violent offenders.
The law was proposed in reaction to a horrific triple murder of three members of the Petit family in July 2007.
Opponents argue the porposal would disproportionately affect people of color living in cities. Connecticut already has a “persistent offender” statute on the books. But in the wake of the Petit murders, legislators and voters began calling for harsher penalties for those who commit multiple violent crimes.
Kardaras (pictured above), said Cheshire had been truly traumatized by the tragedy, more so because one of the two alleged perpetrators grew up in Cheshire.
New Haven activist Sally Joughin (pictured) pointed out that even if there had been a tougher three strikes law in place at the time of the murders, the alleged perpetrators would not be eligible for life in prison without parole. That’s because for both men it was a first violent offense.
Instead, a three-strikes law would increase the prison population with its attendant costs and other social problems. Such laws in other states have been shown not to reduce crime, but would be strictly punitive, Joughin said.. She asked, “What would make people in, for example, Cheshire, come out to learn what they don’t know? What kind of event would work best?”
Kardaras suggested the group contact the newly elected state representative from Cheshire, Elizabeth Esty (Joughin already had). Esty beat Al Adinolfi, the main proponent of the three-strikes law, in November. Karadaras also suggested contacting the pastor of the Methodist church in Cheshire, where the Petit family worshipped (and where the sole surviving family member, Dr. William Petit, still goes). The church has a history of taking progressive stands on issues. Many congregants have opposed the death penalty.
But Kardaras said it’s now difficult to find anyone in town who will speak against the death penalty specifically for the two men charged in these murders, assuming they are convicted. He himself took the anti-death penalty position when interviewed for an upcoming documentary. He said he expects he will not be very popular around town when the documentary airs.
Before departing the meeting, Kardaras said, “I think people in Cheshire would be open to the impact it [three-strikes legislation] would have on the community. I don’t think they want more prisons in Cheshire, nor do they want more people in the [existing three] prisons in Cheshire. They also understand that the impact of three strikes would raise their taxes, and people in Cheshire pay significant taxes. So I think there are ways to find common ground” with three-strikes opponents.
Anne Higgins (pictured), a retired United Church of Christ minister, said she’d like to contact the minister of the UCC church in North Haven, which is also a peace-and-justice minded congregation.
Another newly elected state representative, New Haven’s Gary Holder-Winfield (pictured), reminded those present that they want to reach out to many towns around the state, not just Cheshire.
He suggested that might not be the best town to start with. He proposed instead finding out which towns are represented by members of the Judiciary Committee — since any three-strikes legislation would be taken up there first — and then plan outreach events there
Yale undergrad Nicholas Handler (pictured) said he knows some fellow students from area towns he could speak to, and offered to find out who the current members of the Judiciary Committee are, and what towns they represent.
In the end they decided to pursue all those options, in hopes of setting up at least one meeting as soon as possible, either before the General Assembly convenes in early January or shortly thereafter.