DeSenti says she cannot process losing the home she worked for

Hamden residentStatement date: September 27, 2026

“I still can't wrap my head around losing the thing that I worked for”

Open sourceThey served their time in prison. Then the bills arrived.Full article, including the sections headed "Additional punishment," "The John Gottis of the world," "Blood from a stone," "Calls for repeal," "Collections continue," "A punch in the heart" and "Priority creditor"

Source and context

Reporting

They served their time in prison. Then the bills arrived.Full article, including the sections headed "Additional punishment," "The John Gottis of the world," "Blood from a stone," "Calls for repeal," "Collections continue," "A punch in the heart" and "Priority creditor"

About this source

CT Mirror investigation into Connecticut's cost-of-incarceration collection law, published September 27, 2026. Based on a review of hundreds of probate-court cases filed from 2020 to 2026 and interviews with more than a dozen affected people, state officials, legislators and advocates. Anchors this case's account of the practice's scale, mechanics and the on-record positions of DAS, the Attorney General's office and named advocates and affected individuals.

Archived copy

Before the quotation

The state pursued a lien against Billy DeSenti's estate for $232,733 in incarceration debt after his death in 2023, and Tracy DeSenti had to sell the North Branford home they had renovated together to help satisfy roughly $21,000 of that debt.

After the quotation

She now rents a home in Hamden with her three sons and is studying to become a probation officer.

How this statement is classified

Condemned

Case context: Should Connecticut collect per diem incarceration fees from former inmates' settlements and windfalls?

The label describes this statement’s response within the context above.

Why this label?

DeSenti directly objects to losing her home to satisfy the state's incarceration debt, describing the loss as something she still cannot accept.

Recorded on: September 29, 2026
Published here: September 29, 2026
People and groups discussed: Connecticut Department of Correction, Connecticut Department of Administrative Services