John A. Kissel is a Republican member of the Connecticut State Senate representing the 7th district, which includes Enfield and surrounding towns. He has served in the Senate since 1993 and is the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee.
Case
Connecticut charges incarcerated people up to $347 a day and can collect the debt for 20 years after release, including from settlements and inheritances. A 2026 investigation found the state collected about $21 million this way since 2020.
Role at the time: Connecticut state senator (R-Enfield); co-sponsor of the 1995 law
Statement summary
Kissel, a co-sponsor of the 1995 law who remains the top Senate Republican on the Judiciary Committee, said taxpayers covered the cost of a person's incarceration and that requiring repayment on a reasonable schedule is a reasonable policy.
“The taxpayers footed the bill. They didn’t do anything wrong. And knowing that one has to pay the state back a reasonable sum on a regular basis is not a bad policy”
Kissel argues the underlying practice of requiring repayment is justified because taxpayers funded the incarceration and did nothing wrong.
Statement dates: August 27, 2022
