BRANFORD - The United Way of Greater New Haven and the town of Branford are hosting the 5th annual Touch a Truck event this coming weekend.
Admission is free with a donation of disposable diapers, which will be donated to needy families in the area.

Read more about the event at the United Way's website here.  

 

 

State Sen. Len Suzio, front, speaks to the press outside the Department of Correction office building. Behind Suzio, left to right, Barbara Ruhe, John Barrett, Jan Smolinski, Dawn Luddy, and Liz Barrett. The group is calling for the suspension of the early release program and for the reappointment of State Victim Advocate, Michelle Cruz. Melanie Stengel/Register

 

By Michelle Tuccitto Sullo
Investigations Editor
WETHERSFIELD — State Sen. Len Suzio, R-Meriden, and a group of families of victims called Tuesday for the state to suspend a program that allows for prisoners to be freed early, asserting that some prisoners who have benefitted from the program have gone on to commit violent crimes, including rape and murder.
The group also called for State Victim Advocate Michelle Cruz to be reappointed, and asserted that she is being targeted for removal for her open criticism of the Risk Reduction Earned Credits program.

Read more here.

Living in Safe Alternatives, Inc., a non-profit organizaton which helps abused, abandoned, adjusticated and neglected youths, is looking for adults who can serve as mentors. If you would like to make a difference in a young person's life, read more about the program here.

By Matt DeRienzo
mderienzo@journalregister.com
TORRINGTON - Connecticut’s victim advocate continued her criticism of Gov. Dannel Malloy’s early prisoner release program, and said in a speech to Torrington Rotary Club members that her status as head of the independent state agency is in limbo.
“There’s no way I can tell this story without sounding political,” said Michelle Cruz, who made headlines last week by suggesting that she is being ousted from her position for speaking out.

Read the full story here.

HARTFORD - An online petition has been created in support of current Victim Advocate Michelle Cruz.
Check the petition out here.

Join the conversation - what do you think should happen? Should Cruz stay in the position? What do you think of the job she has done?

Join the conversation - what do you think? 

By The Associated Press (Article published Sept. 27)

HARTFORD — Connecticut Victim Advocate Michelle Cruz is fighting to keep her job after criticizing the early release of state prison inmates under a program backed by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s administration.

Cruz and Republican state legislators who support her are questioning the timing of a new search for candidates for her position that officially began three weeks after she called for a halt to the prison release program on Aug. 1. She cited the case of a convicted robber who was released early under the program and murdered a convenience store owner in Meriden.

Officials in Malloy’s Democratic administration, however, have criticized Cruz’s job performance during the past several years, and the last evaluation of her office in 2010 deemed it ineffective and contained adjectives including “antagonistic,” “combative” and “troubling.”

Read more here.

HARTFORD - A new state law aimed at providing better protection to victims of domestic violence goes into effect today.

The new law, or Public Act 12-114, is based on recommendations of the Domestic Violence Task Force.

“After listening to victim advocates, law enforcement officials, and other experts, we produced and passed aggressive legislation that will help those who are in abusive relationships and need support,” said State Rep. Mae Flexer, D-Killingly, Plainfield and Sterling, who heads the task force, in a press release.

The law gives police new tools for responding to incidents of domestic violence, including a requirement that municipal police departments develop and implement operational guidelines for arrest policies. The law also establishes a Family Violence Model Policy Governing Council to update the model policy going forward and review relevant data.

The law also permits judges to issue restraining orders for up to one year, rather than six months.

The law requires the Office of Statewide Emergency Telecommunications to conduct a study to determine the feasibility of developing a 911 texting system.

It also requires that courts share protective orders with schools that victims attend, upon request of a victim. Current law requires orders to be shared with the police departments in the town where the victim lives and works, and the town where the defendant lives, but it does not require that schools or campus police are notified of an order.

Threatening with a firearm has been a misdemeanor in Connecticut, and this law makes threats that involve the use of a firearm a felony crime.

- From a legislative press release