Suspect got early release credits

MERIDEN, Conn. (WTNH) -- As soon as 19-year-old Tythrone Ford became a suspect in the shooting which sent 16-month-old Tramire Miller to the hospital, he was sent back to prison, but Sen. Len Suzio argues Ford never should have been out.

"Supposedly the credits he got were reforming. He wasn't reformed. The program is not working," Sen. Suzio, said.

Sen. Suzio met News 8 outside the Meriden market, where Frankie Resto, another inmate related to the Risk Reduction Earned Credits program is accused of shooting and killing the store owner. Sen. Suzio takes issue with the program which gives inmates credit toward their release.

"Prisoners are getting credit for just getting in line for taking a program," Suzio said.

Undersecretary Mike Lawlor tells News 8 the 13 credits Tythrone Ford received did not affect his release date of August 31. He served fifty percent of his six month sentence which is standard for non-violent offenders. The shooting occurred a month and a half later.

"I say so what. How could the fact that he earned 13 days of credit yet as soon as he's out of jail he's involved in a life of crime again. He should have earned no credits," Suzio said.

Governor Malloy's Senior Advisor says "The facts are this: crime is at a 40 year low, fewer people are being released from prison than at almost any point in the past 7 years, and many of those who are in prison are serving longer sentences than they would've served under the law Sen. Suzio supports." He accused Suzio of playing politics.

"Even though we are now in campaign season it doesn't mean I can't stop advocating for my constituents," Suzio said.