The measure will head to the state Senate for consideration.

By Hugh McQuaid, CTNewsJunkie.com 

After hours of emotional debate Thursday night, the Connecticut House of Representatives passed a bipartisan bill aimed at reducing youth crime, which drew complaints from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.

The bill passed on a 129 to 17 vote with the unusual distinction of receiving more opposition from the chamber’s majority Democrats than from Republicans who voted in support of the legislation despite complaints it should have gone further. West Hartford Reps. Tammy Exum (D-19th District) and Jillian Gilchrest (D-18th District) voted against the measure, while Kate Farrar (D-20th District) voted in favor of it.

After car thefts and juvenile arrests for car thefts rose during the pandemic, Republicans characterized Democrats as soft on crime and unwilling to address minors who commit violent offenses. But the numbers have begun to decrease, according to preliminary numbers from the Judicial Branch.

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