On January 18, 2011 New Haven, Connecticut Mayor John DeStefano announced his legislative agenda, an agenda the nine-term mayor believes would also help Connecticut’s other big cities, Hartford and Bridgeport. One of the key components that the mayor would like to see become law is the Gun Offenders Registration Act (GORA).
Recognizing that guns are responsible for most murders in New Haven, DeStefano’s focus is to keep guns out of the city, and to track those who have been convicted of a crime involving a gun. This idea is not new, as New York, Baltimore, Washington, D.C. and Utica have also enacted GORA, with success.
Under GORA, a person who used a gun during the commission of a crime, or was in illegal possession of a firearm, would be mandated to register with the police for a period of two years. This time frame is crucial because studies have shown that those convicted on a gun charge are more likely to commit another crime during their first two years of release from incarceration.
A person who is mandated to register must do so upon release from custody. Providing his or her name, home address, work or school address every six months allows the police to keep a more accurate tracking record of the individual, and contributes to public safety. Failure to register can result in a new misdemeanor charge, which can result in a one year sentence, a $1,000 fine, or both. The names of those who register would not be made public (as is the case with registered sex offenders) and would be removed from the list at the completion of the designated time period.
Not only would the police officers of New Haven have a better way to track those who register, but service providers would also be connected with formerly incarcerated persons. Lack of employment, unsafe or unstable housing, and lack of access to mental health and substance abuse programs are all areas those returning to their communities face, and those issues play a major role in recidivism. DeStefano’s plan includes providing the names to city and state agencies which would then link offenders with agencies or organizations that can provide needed services.
Concerns were raised that GORA is just another way to stigmatize those who were arrested and served their sentences, but others see it as a way for ex-offenders to take responsibility for their past crimes, and to be accountable for their future actions. With gun violence plaguing the nation’s cities, GORA has the potential to play a part in reducing senseless murders, and DeStefano would like to see other municipalities put GORA on their own agendas.
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