A new Connecticut law will target the state’s motor vehicle theft issue, providing updated structure and procedure for law enforcement officials.
Public Act 22-115, which was approved on a bipartisan basis by the Connecticut General Assembly, takes aim at juveniles with a record of repeated theft attempts.
According to Governor Ned Lamont, the legislation will allow law enforcement agencies and the court system to address the issue effectively.
“These updates to Connecticut’s criminal justice statutes make juvenile arrest and delinquency proceedings swifter with more information for courts to review, provide more intensive responses to the small number of juveniles with serious and repeated charges, and restructure motor vehicle theft laws to focus on people with prior offenses,” Governor Lamont said. “This bipartisan legislation shows the good that comes when policymakers on both sides of the aisle seek common ground to develop solutions together. Connecticut is a safe state, and keeping it safe requires continuous policy improvements and investments in needed areas.”
Some provisions of the law:
- Makes juvenile arrest and delinquency proceedings swifter and more effective
- Provides more intensive responses to the small number of juveniles with serious, repeated charges
- Focuses motor vehicle theft penalties on people with prior offenses
The law accomplishes these goals by setting a timeline for youth to appear before a judge when they are arrested and increasing the time law enforcement agencies can detain a juvenile while waiting for a court decision. Furthermore, penalties will be increased for repeat offenders.
The issue has remained a contentious debate in the state. Republicans have repeatedly called on Lamont and Democrats to address the rise in crime in Connecticut in recent years. In 2020, there were more than 7,000 car thefts. The numbers slightly declined in 2021, according to data.
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Cooper Moran is a reporter for The Connecticut Star and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Ned Lamont” by Ned Lamont.
