Panel considering early parole for juveniles

Associated Press

SUSAN HAIGH,Associated Press

Updated: Nov 29, 2012 3:40 PM

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Some ex-offenders are urging Connecticut officials to give juvenile offenders a second chance at life and offer them early parole.

But a Norwich man whose wife and son were murdered by a teenager in 1993 told the Connecticut Sentencing Commission on Thursday that such a proposal would be unfair to the victims

The state Sentencing Commission held a hearing at the Legislative Office Building on a series of proposals it is considering recommending to the General Assembly.

Officials say they have to change state law on parole for people imprisoned for serious crimes they committed when they were under 18, because of U.S. Supreme Court rulings that say juveniles shouldn't be punished as harshly as adults. Current state law makes juvenile offenders ineligible for parole in some cases.

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