A local lawmaker is touting a bill he says is aimed at taking steps to fight the rise in car thefts.  Bethel Representative Raghib Allie-Brennan says the measure, signed by the Governor last week, makes it a crime to entice a minor into committing a crime.  He says this was included in an overall law enforcement bill as lawmakers heard that adults are recruiting minors to steal cars for them.

Allie-Brennan says another bill sent to the Governor for his signature requires the Judicial Branch to study ways to decrease time between a child’s arrest and court appearance, as well as ways to reduce juvenile recidivism.  He says it's essential to make sure minors face consequences, or are given the necessary services, in order to reduce these types of crime. 

The bill also orders the Judicial Branch to collect data on juvenile detentions and report to the General Assembly so legislators can get at the root of the problem and end these crimes.