Restorative Action Alliance supports CT Bill for Just Enforcement of Address Verifications

The "Bill for Just Enforcement of Address Verifications", initiated by One Standard of Justice (OSJ) addresses the stringent requirements imposed on individuals on Connecticut’s sex offense registry, who must confirm their address every three months via a letter from the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP). Failure to return this letter within 10 days results in a strict liability Class ‘D’ felony, even if the individual is living at the registered address but faces issues like lost mail or personal circumstances.

Learn more about the OSJ campaign on their website.

Restorative Action Alliance supports this campaign, because this enforcement creates significant harm, leading to unnecessary felony convictions, lost employment opportunities, and increased court burdens, particularly affecting vulnerable populations like the homeless. The proposed changes aim to maintain felony charges only for cases linked to other criminal acts, reclassify non-compliance as an infraction, and allow individuals without an address to confirm their location by phone, thereby promoting fairness and reducing the punitive impact of the law.

How Should it Change?

• Preserve a Class “D” felony charge in instances where the failure to verify address was in furtherance of another criminal act.
• Otherwise, classify the offense as an infraction, resulting fine at the judge’s discretion
• Decriminalize homelessness, by allowing those without an address to call-in to Public Safety to confirm their location.