RI Senate Passes Raptakis Murder-Parole Bill

The Rhode Island Senate approved legislation Tuesday requiring individuals convicted of first- or second-degree murder to serve as least 50 percent of a sentence prior to being eligible for parole.

Sen. Leonidas P. Raptakis (D-Dist. 33, Coventry, East Greenwich, West Greenwich), who sponsored the legislation, said it was drafted in response to recent reports of murderers released on parole without serving large portions of their sentences.

 “Individuals who commit first- and second-degree murder should be expected to serve at least a majority of their sentences and really, I think, they should be serving their full sentences for such a heinous crime,” said Raptakis. “At the very least, they should serve no less than half of their term, which has been the case in some instances.”

The most recent and local example is the release of thrill-killer Alfred Brissette, convicted of killing Jeanette Descoteaux of Woonsocket, pleading "no contest" to killing her for the thrill. He'll be on parole at an undetermined date this year after serving just 13 years of a 35-year sentence for the 1999 murder of a Woonsocket woman.

The law, 2013-S 0361, will apply a 50 percent sentence requirement to individuals convicted of first- or second-degree murder who have not been sentenced to life in prison. Sen. Marc A. Cote (D-dist. 24, North Smithfield, Woonsocket) is a co-sponsor of the bill.

Raptakis said although he has introduced similar legislation in previous years, there is renewed urgency for enacting the law this year in light of Brissette's parole. (Brissette was originally sentenced to 60 years, but required to serve 35 years. The parole board applied the 1/3 eligibility rule to the 35 years, rather than the 60.)

 “The case of Alfred Brissette is just one example of a convicted murderer being released prior to serving even half of the imposed sentence,” Raptakis said. “This bill is about proper justice and truth in sentencing. The public expects that those convicted of such a violent crime as murder should do their time.”

In his testimony about the bill before the Senate Committee on Judiciary last week, Raptakis also cited the case of Andrew Jett, who was freed on parole after serving less than half of a 40-year sentence he received for the 1992 killing of his girlfriend. Jett served only 18 years of the 40-year sentence and in August, 2012, he was arrested on charges that he murdered his new girlfriend.

The senator's legislation now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration. Co-sponsors include Sen. William A. Walaska (D-Dist. 30, Warwick), Sen. Frank S. Lombardi (D-Dist. 26, Cranston), Sen. Catherine Cool Rumsey (D-Dist. 34, Charlestown, Exeter, Hopkinton, Richmond,West Greenwich) and Cote.

An identical House bill, 2013-H 5145, by Rep. Patricia A. Serpa (D-Dist. 27, West Warwick, Coventry, Warwick), is currently before the House Committee on Judiciary.