Table of Contents
Sec. 46b-121. (Formerly Sec. 51-301). *(See end of section for amended version
and effective date.) Definitions.
Sec. 46b-121. (Formerly Sec. 51-302). *(See end of section for amended version and effective date.) "Juvenile matters" defined. Authority of court.
Sec. 46b-121a. Referral of juvenile matters to state referees.
Sec. 46b-121b. Handling of juvenile matters.
Secs. 46b-121c to 46b-121g.
Sec. 46b-121h. Goals of juvenile justice system.
Sec. 46b-121i. Duties and responsibilities of the Judicial Department in providing programs and services to the juvenile justice system.
Sec. 46b-121j. Programs and probation treatment services for juvenile offenders.
Sec. 46b-121k. Programs, services and facilities for juvenile offenders.
Sec. 46b-121l. Early intervention projects for juvenile offenders.
Sec. 46b-121m. Evaluation of the costs and benefits of programs serving juvenile offenders.
Sec. 46b-122. (Formerly Sec. 51-303). Juvenile matters separated from other court business if practicable. Exclusion of persons from hearing.
Sec. 46b-123. (Formerly Sec. 51-304). Appointment of staff for juvenile matters.
Sec. 46b-123a. Transfer of personnel to Division of Criminal Justice.
Sec. 46b-123b. Transfer of juvenile justice centers to Judicial Department.
Sec. 46b-124. (Formerly Sec. 51-305). Confidentiality of records of juvenile matters. Exceptions.
Sec. 46b-125. (Formerly Sec. 51-306). Juvenile probation officers and juvenile matters
investigators. Rights in retirement system. Duties and authority.
Sec. 46b-126. (Formerly Sec. 51-307). Secure facilities for care and treatment of
children.
Sec. 46b-127. (Formerly Sec. 51-308). Transfer of child charged with a felony to the regular criminal docket.
Sec. 46b-128. (Formerly Sec. 51-309). Investigation of delinquency complaint. Nonjudicial
disposition. Petition of delinquency. Summoning of child and parent or guardian.
Sec. 46b-129. (Formerly Sec. 51-310). Commitment of child or youth. Petition for neglected, uncared-for, dependent child or youth. Hearing re temporary custody, order to appear or petition. Review of permanancy plan. Revocation of commitment.
Sec. 46b-129a. Examination by physician. Appointment of counsel and guardian ad litem.
Sec. 46b-130. (Formerly Sec. 51-311). Reimbursement for expense of care and maintenance.
Assignment of right of support to Commissioner of Children and Families.
Sec. 46b-131. (Formerly Sec. 51-312). Custody of alleged delinquent child pending disposition. Bail.
Sec. 46b-132. (Formerly Sec. 51-313). Temporary detention places.
Sec. 46b-132a. Medical care of children in detention centers.
Sec. 46b-133. (Formerly Sec. 51-314). Arrest of child. Release or detention of arrested
child. Alcohol or drug testing or treatment as condition of release. Admission of child to
overpopulated juvenile detention center.
Sec. 46b-133a. Right to trial or dismissal upon nolle prosequi of delinquency charge.
Erasure of records.
Sec. 46b-133b. Suspension of delinquency proceedings for treatment for alcohol or drug
dependency.
Sec. 46b-133c. Serious juvenile repeat offender prosecution. Sentencing.
Sec. 46b-133d. Serious sexual offender prosecution. Sentencing.
Sec. 46b-133e. Suspension of delinquency proceedings for participation in school violence
prevention program.
Sec. 46b-134. (Formerly Sec. 51-315). Investigation by probation officer prior to disposition of delinquency case. Physical, mental and diagnostic examination.
Sec. 46b-135. (Formerly Sec. 51-316). Right to counsel and cross-examination.
Sec. 46b-136. (Formerly Sec. 51-317). Appointment of attorney to represent child or youth
and parent or guardian.
Sec. 46b-137. (Formerly Sec. 51-318). Admissibility of confession or other statement in
juvenile proceedings.
Sec. 46b-138. (Formerly Sec. 51-319). Summoning of witnesses. Conversation privileged.
Sec. 46b-138a. Testimony of accused juvenile, parent or guardian in juvenile proceeding.
Sec. 46b-138b. Statement of victim or victim's representative at delinquency proceeding.
Sec. 46b-139. (Formerly Sec. 51-320). Expert medical witnesses; interpreter.
Sec. 46b-140. (Formerly Sec. 51-321). *(See end of section for amended version and effective date.) Disposition upon conviction of child as delinquent.
Sec. 46b-140a. Modification of conditions of probation or suspended commitment. Violation
of conditions.
Sec. 46b-141. (Formerly Sec. 51-322). Length of commitments. Extensions. Judicial review.
Reopening and termination.
Sec. 46b-141a. Placement of delinquent child in alternative incarceration program.
Sec. 46b-141b. Probation treatment plan.
Sec. 46b-141c. Reimbursement of costs of probation supervision.
Sec. 46b-142. (Formerly Sec. 51-323). Venue of petitions. Appeal to Appellate Court.
Sec. 46b-143. (Formerly Sec. 51-324). Notice of appeal.
Sec. 46b-144. (Formerly Sec. 51-325). Religious faith. Service of commitment process.
Sec. 46b-145. (Formerly Sec. 51-326). Prohibition on prosecution of child before regular
criminal docket. Exceptions.
Sec. 46b-146. (Formerly Sec. 51-327). Erasure of police and court records.
Sec. 46b-147. (Formerly Sec. 51-328). Proceedings inadmissible as evidence in criminal
proceedings.
Sec. 46b-147a. Reports on cases of children charged with serious juvenile offenses.
Sec. 46b-148. (Formerly Sec. 51-329). Violation of valid court order by child of family
with service needs.
Sec. 46b-149. Family with service needs. Complaint. Review by probation officer. Filing
of petition. Hearing. Order.
Sec. 46b-149a. Duties of police officer re child of family with service needs.
Sec. 46b-149b. Immunity of police officer or municipal official from personal liability.
Sec. 46b-149c. Truancy and other family with service needs cases. Duties of judicial
branch.
Sec. 46b-149d. Demonstration project to establish school and community-based truancy prevention initiative. Sites. Grant eligibility. Establishment of truancy or family with service needs docket. Duties of Office of Alternative Sanctions.
Sec. 46b-150. Emancipation of minor. Procedure.
Sec. 46b-150a. Investigation of petition for emancipation. Report. Appointment of counsel. Probate Court may order examination.
Sec. 46b-150b. Order of emancipation.
Sec. 46b-150c. Appeal.
Sec. 46b-150d. Effect of emancipation.
Sec. 46b-150e. Emancipation under common law.
Sec. 46b-150f. Youth in crisis. Petition. Court orders. Violations.
Sec. 46b-150g. Duties of police officer re youth in crisis.
Sec. 46b-151. (Formerly Sec. 17-75). Declaration of policy.
Sec. 46b-151a. (Formerly Sec. 17-76). Compact.
Sec. 46b-151b. (Formerly Sec. 17-76a). Amendment to compact concerning interstate rendition of juveniles alleged to be delinquent.
Sec. 46b-151c. (Formerly Sec. 17-77). Compact administrator.
Sec. 46b-151d. (Formerly Sec. 17-78). Supplementary agreements.
Sec. 46b-151e. (Formerly Sec. 17-79). Payments by state.
Sec. 46b-151f. (Formerly Sec. 17-80). Enforcement of compact.
Sec. 46b-151g. (Formerly Sec. 17-81). Additional procedure for return of juveniles.
Secs. 46b-152 to 46b-159.
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 46b-120. (Formerly Sec. 51-301). *(See end of section for amended version
and effective date.) Definitions. The terms used in this chapter shall, in its interpretation
and in the interpretation of other statutes, be defined as follows: (1) "Child" means any
person under sixteen years of age and, for purposes of delinquency matters, "child"
means any person (A) under sixteen years of age or, (B) sixteen years of age or older
who, prior to attaining sixteen years of age, has violated any federal or state law or
municipal or local ordinance, other than an ordinance regulating behavior of a child in
a family with service needs, and, subsequent to attaining sixteen years of age, violates
any order of the Superior Court or any condition of probation ordered by the Superior
Court with respect to such delinquency proceeding; (2) "youth" means any person sixteen to eighteen years of age; (3) "abused" means that a child or youth (A) has had
physical injury or injuries inflicted upon him other than by accidental means, or (B) has
injuries which are at variance with the history given of them, or (C) is in a condition
which is the result of maltreatment such as, but not limited to, malnutrition, sexual
molestation or exploitation, deprivation of necessities, emotional maltreatment or cruel
punishment; (4) a child may be found "mentally deficient" who, by reason of a deficiency
of intelligence, which has existed from birth or from early age, requires, or will require,
for his protection or for the protection of others, special care, supervision and control;
(5) a child may be convicted as "delinquent" who has violated (A) any federal or state
law or municipal or local ordinance, other than an ordinance regulating behavior of a
child in a family with service needs, (B) any order of the Superior Court or (C) conditions
of probation as ordered by the court; (6) a child or youth may be found "dependent"
whose home is a suitable one for him, save for the financial inability of his parents,
parent, guardian or other person maintaining such home, to provide the specialized care
his condition requires; (7) a "family with service needs" means a family which includes
a child who (A) has without just cause run away from his parental home or other properly
authorized and lawful place of abode; (B) is beyond the control of his parent, parents,
guardian or other custodian; (C) has engaged in indecent or immoral conduct; (D) is a
truant or habitual truant or who, while in school, has been continuously and overtly
defiant of school rules and regulations; or (E) is thirteen years of age or older and has
engaged in sexual intercourse with another person and such other person is thirteen
years of age or older and not more than two years older or younger than such child; (8)
a child or youth may be found "neglected" who (A) has been abandoned or (B) is being
denied proper care and attention, physically, educationally, emotionally or morally or
(C) is being permitted to live under conditions, circumstances or associations injurious
to his well-being or (D) has been abused; (9) a child or youth may be found "uncared
for" who is homeless or whose home cannot provide the specialized care which his
physical, emotional or mental condition requires. For the purposes of this section the
treatment of any child by an accredited Christian Science practitioner in lieu of treatment
by a licensed practitioner of the healing arts, shall not of itself constitute neglect or
maltreatment; (10) "delinquent act" means the violation of any federal or state law or
municipal or local ordinance, other than an ordinance regulating the behavior of a child
in a family with service needs, or the violation of any order of the Superior Court;
(11) "serious juvenile offense" means (A) the violation by a child, including attempt or
conspiracy to violate sections 21a-277, 21a-278, 29-33, 29-34, 29-35, 53-21, 53-80a,
53-202b, 53-202c, 53-390 to 53-392, inclusive, 53a-54a to 53a-57, inclusive, 53a-59 to
53a-60c, inclusive, 53a-70 to 53a-71, inclusive, 53a-72b, 53a-86, 53a-92 to 53a-94a,
inclusive, 53a-95, 53a-101, 53a-102a, 53a-103a, 53a-111 to 53a-113, inclusive, subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section 53a-122, subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of section
53a-123, 53a-134, 53a-135, 53a-136a, 53a-166, 53a-167c, subsection (a) of section 53a-
174, 53a-196a, 53a-211, 53a-212, 53a-216 or 53a-217b, or (B) running away, without
just cause, from any secure placement other than home while referred as a delinquent
child to the Office of Alternative Sanctions or committed as a delinquent child to the
Commissioner of Children and Families for a serious juvenile offense; (12) "serious
juvenile offender" means any child convicted as delinquent for commission of a serious
juvenile offense; (13) "serious juvenile repeat offender" means any child charged with
the commission of any felony if such child has previously been convicted delinquent
at any age for two violations of any provision of title 21a, 29, 53 or 53a which is designated as a felony; (14) "alcohol-dependent child" means any child who has a psychoactive substance dependence on alcohol as that condition is defined in the most recent
edition of the American Psychiatric Association's "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual
of Mental Disorders"; (15) "drug-dependent child" means any child who has a psychoactive substance dependence on drugs as that condition is defined in the most recent edition
of the American Psychiatric Association's "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders". No child shall be classified as drug dependent who is dependent (A) upon
a morphine-type substance as an incident to current medical treatment of a demonstrable
physical disorder other than drug dependence, or (B) upon amphetamine-type, ataractic,
barbiturate-type, hallucinogenic or other stimulant and depressant substances as an incident to current medical treatment of a demonstrable physical or psychological disorder,
or both, other than drug dependence. *Note: On and after July 1, 2001, this section, as amended by section 1 of public act
00-177, is to read as follows: Sec. 46b-121. (Formerly Sec. 51-302). *(See end of section for amended version
and effective date.) "Juvenile matters" defined. Authority of court. (a) Juvenile
matters in the civil session include all proceedings concerning uncared-for, neglected or
dependent children and youth within this state, termination of parental rights of children
committed to a state agency, matters concerning families with service needs, contested
matters involving termination of parental rights or removal of guardian transferred from
the Probate Court and the emancipation of minors, but does not include matters of
guardianship and adoption or matters affecting property rights of any child or youth
over which the Probate Court has jurisdiction, provided appeals from probate concerning
adoption, termination of parental rights and removal of a parent as guardian shall be
included. Juvenile matters in the criminal session include all proceedings concerning
delinquent children in the state and persons sixteen years of age and older who are
under the supervision of a juvenile probation officer while on probation or a suspended
commitment to the Department of Children and Families, for purposes of enforcing any
court orders entered as part of such probation or suspended commitment. *Note: On and after July 1, 2001, this section, as amended by section 33 of public
act 00-170, is further amended by section 2 of public act 00-177, to read as follows: Sec. 46b-121a. Referral of juvenile matters to state referees. The Superior Court
may refer any juvenile matter to a state referee who shall have been a judge of the
Superior Court. Any hearing by such referee shall be conducted as provided in section
52-434. Such referee shall have and exercise the powers of the Superior Court in respect
to trial, judgment and appeal in cases and matters referred pursuant to this section. Sec. 46b-121b. Handling of juvenile matters. (a) The Division of Criminal Justice shall have charge of all proceedings concerning juvenile matters in the criminal
session of the Superior Court and all proceedings concerning families with service needs
in the civil session of the Superior Court. Secs. 46b-121c to 46b-121g. Reserved for future use. Sec. 46b-121h. Goals of juvenile justice system. It is the intent of the General
Assembly that the juvenile justice system provide individualized supervision, care, accountability and treatment in a manner consistent with public safety to those juveniles
who violate the law. The juvenile justice system shall also promote prevention efforts
through the support of programs and services designed to meet the needs of juveniles
charged with the commission of a delinquent act. The goals of the juvenile justice system
shall be to: Sec. 46b-121i. Duties and responsibilities of the Judicial Department in providing programs and services to the juvenile justice system. (a) The Judicial Department shall: Sec. 46b-121j. Programs and probation treatment services for juvenile offenders. (a) The Office of Alternative Sanctions shall design and make available to the
Judicial Department programs and probation treatment services for juvenile offenders.
The programs and treatment services shall be based upon the individual or family assessment and evaluation process and case management plan. Sec. 46b-121k. Programs, services and facilities for juvenile offenders. (a) The
Office of Alternative Sanctions shall be charged with the duty of developing constructive
programs for the prevention and reduction of delinquency and crime among juvenile
offenders. To that end, the director shall cooperate with other agencies to encourage the
establishment of new programs and to provide a continuum of services for juvenile
offenders who do not require secure placement. The programs shall be tailored to the
type of juvenile including the juvenile's offense history, age, gender, mental health
and chemical dependency problem, and other characteristics. The Office of Alternative
Sanctions shall develop programs that provide: (1) Intensive general educational programs, with an individual educational plan for each juvenile; (2) specific educational
components in the management of anger and nonviolent conflict resolution; (3) treatment for chemical dependency; (4) mental health screening, assessment and treatment;
and (5) sexual offender treatment. Sec. 46b-121l. Early intervention projects for juvenile offenders. (a) The Office
of Alternative Sanctions shall fund projects for a program of early intervention initiatives
designed for juvenile offenders. The projects may include, but not be limited to, the
following initiatives: Sec. 46b-121m. Evaluation of the costs and benefits of programs serving juvenile offenders. (a) The Chief Court Administrator shall enter into an agreement with
the Connecticut Policy and Economic Council to evaluate the costs and benefits of
programs serving juvenile offenders, whether offered by private providers or state or
municipal agencies, to determine the cost-effectiveness of such programs in reducing
recidivism. Sec. 46b-122. (Formerly Sec. 51-303). Juvenile matters separated from other
court business if practicable. Exclusion of persons from hearing. All matters which
are juvenile matters, as defined in section 46b-121, shall be kept separate and apart from
all other business of the Superior Court as far as is practicable, except matters transferred
under the provisions of section 46b-127, which matters shall be transferred to the regular
criminal docket of said Superior Court. Any judge hearing a juvenile matter shall, during
such hearing, exclude from the room in which such hearing is held any person whose
presence is, in the court's opinion, not necessary, except that in delinquency proceedings
any victim of the delinquent act, the parents or guardian of such victim and any victim
advocate appointed pursuant to section 54-221 shall not be excluded unless the judge
specifically orders otherwise. Sec. 46b-123. (Formerly Sec. 51-304). Appointment of staff for juvenile matters. The judges of the Superior Court, or in the discretion of the Chief Court Administrator, a committee of said judges designated by the Chief Court Administrator, shall appoint such probation officers, probation aides, clerks, detention personnel, clerical
assistants and other personnel, including supervisory staff, as they deem necessary for
the treatment and handling of juvenile matters within the venue districts established
under section 46b-142. The Chief Court Administrator may assign, reassign and modify
the assignments of such personnel and assign such duties within the Superior Court as
he deems necessary for the efficient operation of the courts. Any person serving in any
such capacity in the Juvenile Court on July 1, 1978, shall continue to serve in the Superior
Court at the compensation he was receiving in the Juvenile Court under the compensation
plan established pursuant to section 51-12, for the remainder of any term to which he
was appointed. In no event shall the compensation of any such person be affected solely
as a result of the transfer of jurisdiction in section 51-164s. Any of such appointees may
be discharged by the appointing authority for cause and after hearing. The salaries of
each of such officials shall be fixed by the judges, subject to the provisions of section
51-12. Sec. 46b-123a. Transfer of personnel to Division of Criminal Justice. All persons employed as court advocates, inspectors or investigators, and associated staff, by
the Judicial Department on July 1, 1996, shall be transferred to the Division of Criminal
Justice on said date. Sec. 46b-123b. Transfer of juvenile justice centers to Judicial Department.
Juvenile justice centers within the Office of Policy and Management for administrative
purposes shall, on and after July 1, 1996, or upon the cessation of receipt of federal
funds, whichever is later, be within the Judicial Department. Sec. 46b-124. (Formerly Sec. 51-305). Confidentiality of records of juvenile
matters. Exceptions. (a) All records of cases of juvenile matters, as defined in section
46b-121, except delinquency proceedings, or any part thereof, and all records of appeals
from probate brought to the superior court for juvenile matters pursuant to subsection
(b) of section 45a-186, including studies and reports by probation officers, social agencies and clinics, shall be confidential and for the use of the court in juvenile matters,
and open to inspection or disclosure to any third party, including bona fide researchers
commissioned by a state agency, only upon order of the Superior Court, except that (1)
the records concerning any matter transferred from a court of probate pursuant to section
45a-623 or subsection (g) of section 45a-715 or any appeal from probate to the superior
court for juvenile matters pursuant to subsection (b) of section 45a-186 shall be available
to the court of probate from which such matter was transferred or from which such
appeal was taken, (2) such records shall be available to (A) the attorney representing
the child or youth including the Division of Public Defender Services in any proceeding
in which such records are relevant, (B) the parents or guardian of the child or youth
until such time as the child or youth reaches the age of majority or becomes emancipated,
(C) an adult adopted person in accordance with the provisions of sections 45a-736, 45a-
737 and 45a-743 to 45a-757, inclusive, (D) employees of the Division of Criminal Justice
who in the performance of their duties require access to such records, (E) employees
of the judicial branch who in the performance of their duties require access to such
records, (F) another court under the provisions of subsection (d) of section 46b-115j,
(G) the subject of the record, upon submission of satisfactory proof of the subject's
identity, pursuant to guidelines prescribed by the Office of the Chief Court Administrator
and provided the subject has reached the age of majority or has been emancipated, and
(H) the Department of Children and Families. Any record or any part thereof forwarded
by said court or any of its employees to any persons, governmental and private agencies,
and institutions, shall not be disclosed, directly or indirectly, to any third party not
specified in subsection (c) of this section save upon order of said court or except in the
report required under section 54-76d or 54-91a. Sec. 46b-125. (Formerly Sec. 51-306). Juvenile probation officers and juvenile
matters investigators. Rights in retirement system. Duties and authority. (a) All
persons employed as full-time juvenile probation officers in service in this state on
January 1, 1941, and appointed without examination in the first instance juvenile probation officers of this court, shall retain full rights in any pension system or retirement
fund in which they participated or to which they contributed. Sec. 46b-126. (Formerly Sec. 51-307). Secure facilities for care and treatment
of children. There shall be established or designated by the Department of Children and
Families a secure facility or facilities within the state devoted to the care and treatment of
children, which children are under the jurisdiction of the Superior Court. A consideration
for admission to such a facility shall be adjudication for a serious juvenile offense. Sec. 46b-127. (Formerly Sec. 51-308). Transfer of child charged with a felony
to the regular criminal docket. (a) The court shall automatically transfer from the
docket for juvenile matters to the regular criminal docket of the Superior Court the case
of any child charged with the commission of a capital felony, a class A or B felony or
a violation of section 53a-54d, provided such offense was committed after such child
attained the age of fourteen years and counsel has been appointed for such child if such
child is indigent. Such counsel may appear with the child but shall not be permitted to
make any argument or file any motion in opposition to the transfer. The child shall be
arraigned in the regular criminal docket of the Superior Court at the next court date
following such transfer. The file of any case so transferred shall remain sealed until the
end of the tenth working day following such arraignment unless the state's attorney has
filed a motion pursuant to this subsection in which case such file shall remain sealed
until the court makes a decision on the motion. A state's attorney may, not later than
ten working days after such arraignment, file a motion to transfer the case of any child
charged with the commission of a class B felony to the docket for juvenile matters for
proceedings in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. The court sitting for the
regular criminal docket shall, after hearing and not later than ten working days after the
filing of such motion, decide such motion. Sec. 46b-128. (Formerly Sec. 51-309). Investigation of delinquency complaint.
Nonjudicial disposition. Petition of delinquency. Summoning of child and parent
or guardian. (a) Whenever the Superior Court is in receipt of any written complaint
filed by any person, any public or private agency or any federal, state, city or town
department maintaining that a child's conduct constitutes delinquency within the meaning of section 46b-120, it shall make a preliminary investigation to determine whether
the facts, if true, would be sufficient to be a juvenile matter and whether the interests
of the public or the child require that further action be taken. If so, the court may authorize
the filing of a verified petition of alleged delinquency or it may make without such
petition whatever nonjudicial disposition is practicable, including the ordering of such
child to do work of which he is capable in public buildings or on public property, particularly in cases in which the complaint alleges that the conduct of such child resulted in
the wilful destruction of property, provided the facts establishing jurisdiction are admitted and that a competent acceptance of such a disposition has been given by the child and
his parent or guardian. If a nonjudicial disposition is made, the term of any nonjudicial
supervision shall be established by the juvenile probation supervisor provided such
period of supervision shall not exceed one hundred eighty days. Each verified petition
of delinquency filed by the court shall set forth plainly (1) the facts which bring the
child within the jurisdiction of the court, (2) the name, date of birth, sex and residence
of the child, (3) the names and residence of his parent or parents, guardian or other
person having control of the child, and (4) a prayer for appropriate action by the court
in conformity with the provisions of this chapter. Sec. 46b-129. (Formerly Sec. 51-310). Commitment of child or youth. Petition
for neglected, uncared-for, dependent child or youth. Hearing re temporary custody, order to appear or petition. Review of permanancy plan. Revocation of commitment. (a) Any selectman, town manager, or town, city, or borough welfare department, any probation officer, or the Commissioner of Social Services, the Commissioner
of Children and Families or any child-caring institution or agency approved by the
Commissioner of Children and Families, a child or his representative or attorney or a
foster parent of a child, having information that a child or youth is neglected, uncared-
for or dependent, may file with the Superior Court which has venue over such matter a
verified petition plainly stating such facts as bring the child or youth within the jurisdiction of the court as neglected, uncared-for, or dependent, within the meaning of section
46b-120, the name, date of birth, sex, and residence of the child or youth, the name and
residence of his parents or guardian, and praying for appropriate action by the court in
conformity with the provisions of this chapter. Upon the filing of such a petition, except
as otherwise provided in subsection (k) of section 17a-112, the court shall cause a summons to be issued requiring the parent or parents or the guardian of the child or youth
to appear in court at the time and place named, which summons shall be served not less
than fourteen days before the date of the hearing in the manner prescribed by section 46b-
128, and said court shall further give notice to the petitioner and to the Commissioner of
Children and Families of the time and place when the petition is to be heard not less
than fourteen days prior to the hearing in question. Sec. 46b-129a. Examination by physician. Appointment of counsel and guardian ad litem. In proceedings in the Superior Court under section 46b-129: (1) The court
may order the child, the parents, the guardian, or other persons accused by a competent
witness with abusing the child, to be examined by one or more competent physicians,
psychiatrists or psychologists appointed by the court; (2) a child shall be represented
by counsel appointed by the court to represent the child whose fee shall be paid by the
parents or guardian, or the estate of the child, or, if such persons are unable to pay, by
the court. In all cases in which the court deems it appropriate, the court shall also appoint
a person, other than the person appointed to represent the child, as guardian ad litem
for such child to speak on behalf of the best interests of the child, which guardian ad
litem is not required to be an attorney-at-law but shall be knowledgeable about the needs
and protection of children and whose fee, if any, shall be paid by the parents or guardian,
or the estate of the child, or, if such persons are unable to pay, by the court; (3) the
privilege against the disclosure of communications between husband and wife shall be
inapplicable and either may testify as to any relevant matter; and (4) evidence that the
child has been abused or has sustained a nonaccidental injury shall constitute prima
facie evidence that shall be sufficient to support an adjudication that such child is uncared
for or neglected. Sec. 46b-130. (Formerly Sec. 51-311). Reimbursement for expense of care and
maintenance. Assignment of right of support to Commissioner of Children and
Families. The parents of a minor child for whom care or support of any kind has been
provided under the provisions of this chapter, shall be liable to reimburse the state for
such care or support to the same extent, and under the same terms and conditions as are
the parents of recipients of public assistance. Upon receipt of foster care maintenance
payments under Title IV-E of the Social Security Act by a minor child, the right of
support, present, past, and future from a parent of such child shall, by this section, be
assigned to the Commissioner of Children and Families. Referral by the commissioner
shall promptly be made to the Child Support Enforcement Unit of the Department of
Social Services for pursuit of support for said minor child in accordance with the provisions of section 17b-179. Any child who reimburses the state under the provisions of
subsection (k) of section 46b-129 for any care or support he received shall have a right
of action to recover such payments from his parents. Sec. 46b-131. (Formerly Sec. 51-312). Custody of alleged delinquent child
pending disposition. Bail. Section 46b-131 is repealed. Sec. 46b-132. (Formerly Sec. 51-313). Temporary detention places. Where accommodations for the temporary detention of children in state-operated detention homes
are unavailable, the Chief Court Administrator or his designee shall arrange with some
agency or person for the use of suitable accommodations to serve as a temporary detention place as may be required. The court may allow such agency or person reasonable
compensation for the expenses and services incident to such detention. The Chief Court
Administrator or his designee may employ any other suitable method or arrangement
for detention. Each child while detained as herein provided shall be under the orders,
direction and supervision of the court. Sec. 46b-132a. Medical care of children in detention centers. When deemed in
the best interests of a child placed in a juvenile detention center, the administrator of
such detention center may authorize, under policies promulgated by the Chief Court
Administrator, such medical assessment and treatment and dentistry as is necessary to
ensure the continued good health or life of the child. The administrator of the detention
center shall make reasonable efforts to inform the child's parents or guardian prior to
taking such action, and in all cases shall send notice to the parents or guardian by letter
to their last-known address informing them of the actions taken and of the outcome,
provided failure to notify shall not affect the validity of the authorization. Sec. 46b-133. (Formerly Sec. 51-314). Arrest of child. Release or detention of
arrested child. Alcohol or drug testing or treatment as condition of release. Admission of child to overpopulated juvenile detention center. (a) Nothing in this part shall
be construed as preventing the arrest of a child, with or without a warrant, as may be
provided by law, or as preventing the issuance of warrants by judges in the manner
provided by section 54-2a, except that no child shall be taken into custody on such
process except on apprehension in the act, or on speedy information, or in other cases
when the use of such process appears imperative. Whenever a child is arrested and
charged with a crime, such child may be required to submit to the taking of his photograph, physical description and fingerprints. Notwithstanding the provisions of section
46b-124, the name, photograph and custody status of any child arrested for the commission of a capital felony or class A felony may be disclosed to the public. Sec. 46b-133a. Right to trial or dismissal upon nolle prosequi of delinquency
charge. Erasure of records. (a) A nolle prosequi may not be entered as to any count
of delinquency if the juvenile objects to the nolle prosequi and demands either a trial
or dismissal, except with respect to prosecutions in which a nolle prosequi is entered
upon a representation to the court by the juvenile prosecutor that a material witness has
died, disappeared or become disabled or that material evidence has disappeared or has
been destroyed and that a further investigation is therefore necessary. Sec. 46b-133b. Suspension of delinquency proceedings for treatment for alcohol or drug dependency. (a) The court, on motion of a child charged with a delinquency
offense, but not yet convicted, may order that such child be examined to determine
whether the child is alcohol-dependent or drug-dependent as defined in section 46b-
120. Such motion shall be filed with the court within ten days after a plea is entered,
except if waived by the court or pursuant to an agreement by the parties. The results of any
examination ordered pursuant to this subsection shall be utilized only for the purposes
of determining whether the delinquency proceeding should be suspended under this
section. Sec. 46b-133c. Serious juvenile repeat offender prosecution. Sentencing. (a)
Whenever a child is referred for the commission of a felony committed after such child
attained the age of fourteen years and such child is a serious juvenile repeat offender,
as defined in section 46b-120, the juvenile prosecutor may request the court to designate
the proceeding as a serious juvenile repeat offender prosecution. Sec. 46b-133d. Serious sexual offender prosecution. Sentencing. (a) For the
purposes of this section, "special juvenile probation" means a period of probation imposed by the superior court for juvenile matters upon a child in a proceeding designated
as a serious sexual offender prosecution during which the child is supervised by a juvenile probation officer prior to such child attaining eighteen years of age and by an adult
probation officer after such child attains eighteen years of age. Sec. 46b-133e. Suspension of delinquency proceedings for participation in
school violence prevention program. (a) The court, upon motion of a child charged
with an offense involving the use or threatened use of physical violence in or on the
real property comprising a public or private elementary or secondary school or at a
school-sponsored activity as defined in subsection (h) of section 10-233a, may order
the suspension of the delinquency proceedings for a period of one year and order the child
to participate in a school violence prevention program during the period of suspension if
the court, after consideration of information before it, finds that (1) the child presently
needs and is likely to benefit from participation in a school violence prevention program,
and (2) the suspension of the delinquency proceedings will advance the interests of
justice. Sec. 46b-134. (Formerly Sec. 51-315). Investigation by probation officer prior
to disposition of delinquency case. Physical, mental and diagnostic examination.
Prior to the disposition of the case of any child convicted of a delinquent act, investigation
shall be made of the facts as herein specified by the probation officer, and until such
investigation has been completed and the results thereof placed before the judge, no
disposition of the child's case shall be made. Such investigation shall consist of an
examination of the parentage and surroundings of the child, his age, habits and history,
and shall include also an inquiry into the home conditions, habits and character of his
parents or guardians. Such investigation shall include an inquiry into the circumstances
of the offense, the attitude of the complainant or victim, the criminal record, the present
condition of the child and any damages suffered by the victim including medical expenses, loss of earnings and property loss. Where a child is or legally should be in
attendance at school, it shall further contain a report of the child's school attendance,
adjustment and behavior and any recommendations from school officials on conditions
of probation if the child is placed on probation pursuant to section 46b-140, which shall
be furnished by the school officials to the court upon its request. The court shall, when
it is found necessary to the disposition, cause a complete physical or mental examination,
or both, to be made of the child by persons professionally qualified to do so. Such
examination may include testing to determine whether the child is alcohol-dependent
or drug-dependent as defined in section 46b-120. Where the court causes a complete
physical or mental examination, or both, to be made of a child whose parents, guardian
or custodian is found able to pay in whole or in part the cost thereof, it shall assess as
costs against such parents, guardian or custodian, including any agency vested with the
legal custody of the child, the expense so incurred and paid for by the court in having
such examination performed, to the extent of their financial ability to do so. Prior to the
disposition of the case of any child convicted of a delinquent act, the court may cause
a complete diagnostic examination to be made, unless such information is otherwise
available. Such information shall include physical and psychological diagnoses and may
include medical, psychiatric, neurological, learning disability diagnoses and such other
diagnoses as the court deems necessary. If such child is committed to the Department
of Children and Families, such information shall be shared with the Department of
Children and Families. Sec. 46b-135. (Formerly Sec. 51-316). Right to counsel and cross-examination.
(a) At the commencement of any proceeding concerning the alleged delinquency of a
child, the parent or parents or guardian and the child shall have the right to counsel and
be so informed by the judge, and that if they are unable to afford counsel that counsel
will be provided for them. Such counsel and such parent or parents or guardian or child
shall have the rights of confrontation and cross-examination. Sec. 46b-136. (Formerly Sec. 51-317). Appointment of attorney to represent
child or youth and parent or guardian. In any proceeding on a juvenile matter the
judge before whom such proceeding is pending shall, even in the absence of a request
to do so, provide an attorney to represent the child or youth, his parent or parents,
guardian or other person having control of the child or youth, if such judge determines
that the interests of justice so require, and in any proceeding in which the custody of a
child is at issue, such judge shall provide an attorney to represent the child and may
authorize such attorney or appoint another attorney to represent such child or youth,
parent, guardian or other person on an appeal from a decision in such proceeding. Where,
under the provisions of this section, the court so appoints counsel for any such party
who is found able to pay, in whole or in part the cost thereof, it shall assess as costs
against such parents, guardian, or custodian, including any agency vested with the legal
custody of the child or youth, the expense so incurred and paid for by the court in
providing such counsel, to the extent of their financial ability to do so. Sec. 46b-137. (Formerly Sec. 51-318). Admissibility of confession or other
statement in juvenile proceedings. (a) Any admission, confession or statement, written
or oral, made by a child to a police officer or Juvenile Court official shall be inadmissible
in any proceeding concerning the alleged delinquency of the child making such admission, confession or statement unless made by such child in the presence of his parent
or parents or guardian and after the parent or parents or guardian and child have been
advised (1) of the child's right to retain counsel, or if unable to afford counsel, to have
counsel appointed on the child's behalf, (2) of the child's right to refuse to make any
statements and (3) that any statements he makes may be introduced into evidence
against him. Sec. 46b-138. (Formerly Sec. 51-319). Summoning of witnesses. Conversation
privileged. For the purpose of hearing any juvenile matter, the court may summon
witnesses and compel their attendance. The conversations of the judge with a child or
youth whose case is before the court shall be privileged. Sec. 46b-138a. Testimony of accused juvenile, parent or guardian in juvenile
proceeding. In any juvenile proceeding in the Superior Court, the accused child shall
be a competent witness, and at his or her option may testify or refuse to testify in such
proceedings. The parent or guardian of such child shall be a competent witness but may
elect or refuse to testify for or against the accused child except that a parent or guardian
who has received personal violence from the child may, upon the child's trial for offenses
arising from such personal violence, be compelled to testify in the same manner as any
other witness. No unfavorable inferences shall be drawn by the court from the accused
child's silence. Sec. 46b-138b. Statement of victim or victim's representative at delinquency
proceeding. In any proceeding concerning the alleged delinquency of a child, any victim
of the alleged delinquent conduct, the parents or guardian of such victim, an advocate
for such victim, appointed under section 54-221, or such victim's counsel shall have
the right to appear before the court for the purpose of making a statement to the court
concerning the disposition of the case. Sec. 46b-139. (Formerly Sec. 51-320). Expert medical witnesses; interpreter.
(a) When any licensed physician or certified or licensed psychologist is summoned to
give expert testimony in any juvenile matter, the court shall determine a reasonable fee
to be paid to such physician or psychologist in lieu of all other witness fees payable to
such physician or psychologist. Sec. 46b-140. (Formerly Sec. 51-321). *(See end of section for amended version
and effective date.) Disposition upon conviction of child as delinquent. (a) In determining the appropriate disposition of a child convicted as delinquent, the court shall
consider: (1) The seriousness of the offense, including the existence of any aggravating
factors such as the use of a firearm in the commission of the offense and the impact of the
offense on any victim; (2) the child's record of delinquency; (3) the child's willingness to
participate in available programs; (4) the existence of other mitigating factors; and (5)
the culpability of the child in committing the offense including the level of the child's
participation in the planning and carrying out of the offense. *Note: Upon the filing with the Governor and the General Assembly of written certification by the Commissioner of Children and Families that the new Connecticut Juvenile
Training School is operational, this section is to read as follows: Sec. 46b-140a. Modification of conditions of probation or suspended commitment. Violation of conditions. (a) At any time during the period of probation or suspended commitment, after hearing and for good cause shown, the court may modify or
enlarge the conditions, whether originally imposed by the court under this section or
otherwise, and may extend the period as deemed appropriate by the court. The court
shall cause a copy of any such order to be delivered to the child or youth and to such
child or youth's parent or guardian and probation officer. Sec. 46b-141. (Formerly Sec. 51-322). Length of commitments. Extensions.
Judicial review. Reopening and termination. (a) Except as otherwise limited by subsection (i) of section 46b-140, commitment of children convicted as delinquent by the
Superior Court to the Department of Children and Families shall be for (1) an indeterminate time up to a maximum of eighteen months, or (2) when so convicted for a serious
juvenile offense, up to a maximum of four years at the discretion of the court, unless
extended as hereinafter provided. Sec. 46b-141a. Placement of delinquent child in alternative incarceration program. (a) Whenever a child is convicted as delinquent, the court, in lieu of committing
such child to the Department of Children and Families or to a juvenile detention center,
may, in its discretion, order an assessment for placement in an alternative incarceration
program to be conducted by the juvenile probation unit of the Superior Court. If the
juvenile probation unit of the Superior Court recommends placement in an alternative
incarceration program, it shall also submit to the court a proposed alternative incarceration plan. Upon completion of the assessment, the court shall determine whether such
child shall be ordered to participate in such program as an alternative to commitment.
If the court determines that the child shall participate in such program, the court shall
suspend any commitment to the Department of Children and Families or to a juvenile
detention center and shall make participation in the alternative incarceration program
a condition of probation. Sec. 46b-141b. Probation treatment plan. (a) When a juvenile is referred to juvenile probation, the juvenile probation unit shall conduct an intake risk assessment and
make a case classification evaluation. If the juvenile probation unit deems it appropriate,
the proposed probation plan may be submitted to a professional evaluation team. Such
team shall be composed of a juvenile probation officer, a representative of the Office
of Alternative Sanctions or a representative from a contracted agency, and, where applicable, a school employee and any other interested parties in the discretion of the court.
The evaluation team shall develop a probation treatment plan for each juvenile within
fifteen days of the date of the referral of the case to the professional evaluation team,
unless the court orders otherwise. The probation treatment plan shall include the following components: (1) Type of residential or nonresidential placement; (2) projected length
of placement for the juvenile and the projected cost; (3) type of services needed by the
juvenile and the projected cost. Sec. 46b-141c. Reimbursement of costs of probation supervision. The Judicial
Department may require the parent or parents or guardian of any child who receives
probation supervision to fully or partially reimburse the department for the costs of such
child's supervision and may assess such person a monthly supervision fee for such
purpose. If the department finds that the parents or guardian are indigent and unable to
pay a probation supervision fee, it shall waive such fee.
(1949 Rev., S. 2802; 1959, P.A. 28, S. 52; 1967, P.A. 630, S. 1; 1969, P.A. 794, S. 1; 1971, P.A. 72, S. 14; P.A. 75-
602, S. 1, 13; P.A. 76-436, S. 668, 681; P.A. 77-577, S. 4; P.A. 79-567, S. 1, 7; 79-581, S. 1; P.A. 80-401, S. 4; P.A. 85-
226, S. 1; P.A. 87-373, S. 13; P.A. 90-161, S. 1, 6; 90-240, S. 2, 6; 90-325, S. 19, 32; P.A. 91-303, S. 11, 22; June Sp. Sess.
P.A. 92-1, S. 2; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-3; P.A. 93-91, S. 1, 2; 93-340, S. 16; P.A. 95-225, S. 9; P.A. 97-319, S. 18, 22; P.A.
98-256, S. 1.)
"Sec. 46b-120. (Formerly Sec. 51-301). Definitions. The terms used in this chapter shall, in its interpretation and in the interpretation of other statutes, be defined as
follows: (1) "Child" means any person under sixteen years of age and, for purposes of
delinquency matters, "child" means any person (A) under sixteen years of age or, (B)
sixteen years of age or older who, prior to attaining sixteen years of age, has violated any
federal or state law or municipal or local ordinance, other than an ordinance regulating
behavior of a child in a family with service needs, and, subsequent to attaining sixteen
years of age, violates any order of the Superior Court or any condition of probation
ordered by the Superior Court with respect to such delinquency proceeding; (2) "youth"
means any person sixteen to eighteen years of age; (3) "youth in crisis" means any person
sixteen to seventeen years of age who, within the last two years, (A) has without just
cause run away from the parental home or other properly authorized and lawful place
of abode; (B) is beyond the control of parents, guardian or other custodian; or (C) has
four unexcused absences from school in any one month or ten unexcused absences in
any school year; (4) "abused" means that a child or youth (A) has been inflicted with
physical injury or injuries other than by accidental means, or (B) has injuries which are
at variance with the history given of them, or (C) is in a condition which is the result of
maltreatment such as, but not limited to, malnutrition, sexual molestation or exploitation,
deprivation of necessities, emotional maltreatment or cruel punishment; (5) a child may
be found "mentally deficient" who, by reason of a deficiency of intelligence, which has
existed from birth or from early age, requires, or will require, for his protection or for the
protection of others, special care, supervision and control; (6) a child may be convicted as
"delinquent" who has violated (A) any federal or state law or municipal or local ordinance, other than an ordinance regulating behavior of a child in a family with service
needs, (B) any order of the Superior Court, or (C) conditions of probation as ordered by
the court; (7) a child or youth may be found "dependent" whose home is a suitable one
for the child or youth, save for the financial inability of parents, parent, guardian or other
person maintaining such home, to provide the specialized care the condition of the child
or youth requires; (8) a "family with service needs" means a family which includes a
child who (A) has without just cause run away from the parental home or other properly
authorized and lawful place of abode; (B) is beyond the control of parent, parents, guardian or other custodian; (C) has engaged in indecent or immoral conduct; (D) is a truant
or habitual truant or who, while in school, has been continuously and overtly defiant of
school rules and regulations; or (E) is thirteen years of age or older and has engaged in
sexual intercourse with another person and such other person is thirteen years of age or
older and not more than two years older or younger than such child; (9) a child or youth
may be found "neglected" who (A) has been abandoned or (B) is being denied proper
care and attention, physically, educationally, emotionally or morally or (C) is being
permitted to live under conditions, circumstances or associations injurious to the well-
being of the child or youth or (D) has been abused; (10) a child or youth may be found
"uncared for" who is homeless or whose home cannot provide the specialized care which
the physical, emotional or mental condition of the child requires. For the purposes of
this section the treatment of any child by an accredited Christian Science practitioner in
lieu of treatment by a licensed practitioner of the healing arts, shall not of itself constitute
neglect or maltreatment; (11) "delinquent act" means the violation of any federal or state
law or municipal or local ordinance, other than an ordinance regulating the behavior of
a child in a family with service needs, or the violation of any order of the Superior Court;
(12) "serious juvenile offense" means (A) the violation by a child, including attempt or
conspiracy to violate sections 21a-277, 21a-278, 29-33, 29-34, 29-35, 53-21, 53-80a,
53-202b, 53-202c, 53-390 to 53-392, inclusive, 53a-54a to 53a-57, inclusive, 53a-59 to
53a-60c, inclusive, 53a-70 to 53a-71, inclusive, 53a-72b, 53a-86, 53a-92 to 53a-94a,
inclusive, 53a-95, 53a-101, 53a-102a, 53a-103a, 53a-111 to 53a-113, inclusive, subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section 53a-122, subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of section
53a-123, 53a-134, 53a-135, 53a-136a, 53a-166, 53a-167c, subsection (a) of section 53a-
174, 53a-196a, 53a-211, 53a-212, 53a-216 or 53a-217b, or (B) running away, without
just cause, from any secure placement other than home while referred as a delinquent
child to the Office of Alternative Sanctions or committed as a delinquent child to the
Commissioner of Children and Families for a serious juvenile offense; (13) "serious
juvenile offender" means any child convicted as delinquent for commission of a serious
juvenile offense; (14) "serious juvenile repeat offender" means any child charged with
the commission of any felony if such child has previously been convicted delinquent at
any age for two violations of any provision of title 21a, 29, 53 or 53a which is designated
as a felony; (15) "alcohol-dependent child" means any child who has a psychoactive
substance dependence on alcohol as that condition is defined in the most recent edition
of the American Psychiatric Association's "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders"; (16) "drug-dependent child" means any child who has a psychoactive substance dependence on drugs as that condition is defined in the most recent edition of
the American Psychiatric Association's "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders". No child shall be classified as drug dependent who is dependent (A) upon
a morphine-type substance as an incident to current medical treatment of a demonstrable
physical disorder other than drug dependence, or (B) upon amphetamine-type, ataractic,
barbiturate-type, hallucinogenic or other stimulant and depressant substances as an incident to current medical treatment of a demonstrable physical or psychological disorder,
or both, other than drug dependence."
(1949 Rev., S. 2802; 1959, P.A. 28, S. 52; 1967, P.A. 630, S. 1; 1969, P.A. 794, S. 1; 1971, P.A. 72, S. 14; P.A. 75-
602, S. 1, 13; P.A. 76-436, S. 668, 681; P.A. 77-577, S. 4; P.A. 79-567, S. 1, 7; 79-581, S. 1; P.A. 80-401, S. 4; P.A. 85-
226, S. 1; P.A. 87-373, S. 13; P.A. 90-161, S. 1, 6; 90-240, S. 2, 6; 90-325, S. 19, 32; P.A. 91-303, S. 11, 22; June Sp. Sess.
P.A. 92-1, S. 2; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-3; P.A. 93-91, S. 1, 2; 93-340, S. 16; P.A. 95-225, S. 9; P.A. 97-319, S. 18, 22; P.A.
98-256, S. 1; P.A. 00-177, S. 1, 5.)
History: 1959 act amended definition of child and substituted circuit court for town, city, police or borough courts;
1967 act changed definition of dependent child's home from "poverty" to "financial instability" for "specialized care"
and redefined child; 1969 act redefined "delinquent" child, substituted "financial inability" for "financial instability" in
definition of "dependent" child, substituted educational and emotional deprivation for mental neglect in definition of
"neglected" child and deleted reference to living under evil associations of home conditions and redefined "uncared for"
child to delete reference to child whose home is unsuitable or who cannot support himself legally or without subjecting
himself to conditions prejudicial to normal development; 1971 act redefined "child" to omit those between sixteen and
eighteen years old who have been transferred from circuit court to superior court jurisdiction; P.A. 75-602 defined "youth",
added reference to "neglected" youths and "uncared for" youths and redefined "uncared for" to include reference to home
which cannot perform specialized care needed and to specify that treatment by Christian Science practitioner does not
constitute neglect or maltreatment; P.A. 76-436 replaced reference to juvenile court with reference to superior court,
effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 77-577 defined "abused" and added reference to abused child in definition of "neglected"
child; P.A. 79-567 defined "family with service needs" and amended definition of "delinquent" child accordingly; P.A.
79-581 defined "serious juvenile offense" and "serious juvenile offender"; Sec. 17-53 temporarily renumbered as Sec. 51-
301 and ultimately transferred to Sec. 46b-120 in 1979, see note to Sec. 17-53; P.A. 80-401 changed effective date of P.A.
79-567 from July 1, 1980 to July 1, 1981; P.A. 85-226 amended definition of "delinquent" by deleting exception for order
entered in matter relating to a family with service needs; P.A. 87-373 redefined "serious juvenile offense" to include a
violation of Sec. 21a-277 or 21a-278; P.A. 90-161 added definitions re "alcohol-dependent child" and "drug-dependent
child"; P.A. 90-240 substituted "mentally deficient" for "defective", deleted the phrase "defect of intelligence" and substituted "truant or habitual truant", as defined, for "habitually truant"; P.A. 90-325 changed effective date of P.A. 90-240
from July 1, 1990, to July 1, 1991; P.A. 91-303 removed a cite to Sec. 10-198a for the definition of truant and habitual
truant; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-1 amended definition of "serious juvenile offense" to include a violation of Sec. 53a-217b;
June Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-3 amended definition of "serious juvenile offense" to include violations of Secs. 29-35, 53a-94a,
53a-102a, 53a-103a, 53a-212 and 53a-216; P.A. 93-91 substituted commissioner and department of children and families
for commissioner and department of children and youth services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 93-340 amended definition
of "family with service needs" to add Subdiv. (E) re a child who is thirteen years of age or older and has engaged in sexual
intercourse with another person within a certain age range; P.A. 95-225 inserted Subdiv. indicators, revising Subpara.
indicators accordingly for statutory consistency, added definition of "delinquent act", amended the definition of "serious
juvenile offense" to include violations of Secs. 29-33, 29-34, 53-21, 53-202b and 53-202c and include running away from
any secure placement other than home while "referred as a delinquent child to the Office of Alternative Sanctions", amended
the definition of "serious juvenile offender" to replace "adjudicated a delinquent child" with "convicted as delinquent"
and added definition of "serious juvenile repeat offender"; P.A. 97-319 redefined "abused" to include exploitation of a
child or youth, effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 98-256 amended the definition of "child" in Subdiv. (1) to add definition of
child for purposes of delinquency matters, amended the definition of a child found "delinquent" in Subdiv. (5) to replace
"found" with "convicted as" and to include a child who has violated conditions of probation ordered by the court and
amended the definition of "serious juvenile offense" in Subdiv. (11) to include a violation of Sec. 53a-136a; P.A. 00-177
added new Subdiv. (3) defining "youth in crisis", renumbered Subdivs. (3) to (15), inclusive, as (4) to (16), and made
changes throughout section for purposes of gender neutrality, effective July 1, 2001.
Annotations to former section 17-53:
Cited. 154 C. 644, 648; 158 C. 439.
"Uncared for" is not limited to "uncared for by each living biological parent," but can include being cared for by close
relative with the consent of biological parent. 33 CS 100.
Annotations to present section:
Cited. 187 C. 431, 434. Cited. 189 C. 276, 282. Cited. 195 C. 303, 304. Cited. Id., 344, 349. Cited. 199 C. 693, 695,
714, 716. Cited. 204 C. 630, 631, 634−636, 638. Cited. 206 C. 323, 324. Cited. Id., 346, 347, 357. Cited. 207 C. 270, 273.
Cited. Id., 725, 726, 733. Cited. 211 C. 151, 153, 154, 157, 162. Cited. Id., 289, 290. Cited. 214 C. 454, 457. Cited. 215
C. 277, 278. Cited. Id., 739, 746, 748, 749. Cited. 221 C. 903. Cited. 223 C. 492, 498, 515. Cited. 229 C. 691, 694, 699,
701. Cited. 237 C. 364, 368. Cited. 240 C. 743.
Cited. 1 CA 378, 379. Cited. 2 CA 705, 706. Cited. 3 CA 158, 159. Cited. Id., 194, 195. Cited. 9 CA 98, 109. Cited.
10 CA 428, 433−436, 438. Cited. 11 CA 507, 508. Cited. 18 CA 806. Cited. 23 CA 410, 418. Where statutory requirements
are met, a mother's prenatal conduct can be basis of a finding of neglect or termination of parental rights. 25 CA 586, 588−
590, 592, 593; judgment reversed, see 223 C. 492 et seq. Cited. 29 CA 600, 612, 613. Cited. 32 CA 759, 760. Cited. 36
CA 146, 147, 149. Cited. 40 CA 216. Cited. 45 CA 606. Cited. 46 CA 545. Cited. 47 CA 64. Discussed: It is not a
constitutional right, but rather a statutory right, to be considered a juvenile. 51 CA 117.
Cited. 35 CS 241, 242. Cited. 39 CS 490, 491. Cited. 41 CS 23, 28. Cited. Id., 505, 509. Cited. 42 CS 562. Cited. 43
CS 108, 124. Cited. Id., 211, 212. Cited. Id., 367, 368, 370.
Former Subdiv. (c):
Subpara. (1) cited. 199 C. 693, 714. Cited. 210 C. 435, 436.
Former Subdiv. (ii):
Cited. 39 CS 514, 516.
Former Subdiv. (iii):
Cited. 39 CS 514, 516.
Subdiv. (1):
Cited. 240 C. 727.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(b) In juvenile matters, the Superior Court shall have authority to make and enforce
such orders directed to parents, including any person who acknowledges before said
court paternity of a child born out of wedlock, guardians, custodians or other adult
persons owing some legal duty to a child or youth therein, as it deems necessary or
appropriate to secure the welfare, protection, proper care and suitable support of a child
or youth subject to its jurisdiction or otherwise committed to or in the custody of the
Commissioner of Children and Families. In addition, with respect to proceedings concerning delinquent children, the Superior Court shall have authority to make and enforce
such orders as it deems necessary or appropriate to punish the child, deter the child from
the commission of further delinquent acts, assure that the safety of any other person
will not be endangered and provide restitution to any victim. Said court shall also have
authority to grant and enforce injunctive relief, temporary or permanent in all proceedings concerning juvenile matters. If any order for the payment of money is issued by
said court, including any order assessing costs issued under section 46b-134 or 46b-
136, the collection of such money shall be made by said court, except orders for support
of children committed to any state agency or department, which orders shall be made
payable to and collected by the Department of Administrative Services. Where the court
after due diligence is unable to collect such moneys within six months, it shall refer
such case to the Department of Administrative Services for collection as a delinquent
account. In juvenile matters, the court shall have authority to make and enforce orders
directed to persons liable hereunder on petition of said Department of Administrative
Services made to said court in the same manner as is provided in section 17b-745, in
accordance with the provisions of section 17b-81, 17b-223, subsection (b) of section
17b-179, section 17a-90, 46b-129 or 46b-130, and all of the provisions of section 17b-
745 shall be applicable to such proceedings. Any judge hearing a juvenile matter may
make any other order in connection therewith within his authority to grant as a judge
of the Superior Court and such order shall have the same force and effect as any other
order of the Superior Court. In the enforcement of its orders, in connection with any
juvenile matter, the court may issue process for the arrest of any person, compel attendance of witnesses and punish for contempt by a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars
or imprisonment not exceeding six months.
(1949 Rev., S. 2805; 1953, 1955, S. 1576d; 1969, P.A. 483; P.A. 75-171, S. 1, 2; 75-602, S. 3, 13; P.A. 76-436, S. 14,
681; P.A. 77-576, S. 41, 65; 77-614, S. 71, 610; P.A. 79-567, S. 2, 7; P.A. 80-70, S. 3; 80-401, S. 4; P.A. 82-472, S. 128,
183; P.A. 87-421, S. 9, 13; P.A. 89-219, S. 2, 10; 89-273, S. 1; P.A. 93-91, S. 1, 2; P.A. 95-225, S. 10; 95-254, S. 2; P.A.
98-256, S. 10; P.A. 00-170, S. 33, 42.)
"Sec. 46b-121. (Formerly Sec. 51-302). "Juvenile matters" defined. Authority
of court. (a) Juvenile matters in the civil session include all proceedings concerning
uncared-for, neglected or dependent children and youth within this state, termination
of parental rights of children committed to a state agency, matters concerning families
with service needs, contested matters involving termination of parental rights or removal
of guardian transferred from the Probate Court, the emancipation of minors and youth
in crisis, but does not include matters of guardianship and adoption or matters affecting
property rights of any child, youth or youth in crisis over which the Probate Court has
jurisdiction, provided appeals from probate concerning adoption, termination of parental
rights and removal of a parent as guardian shall be included. Juvenile matters in the
criminal session include all proceedings concerning delinquent children in the state and
persons sixteen years of age and older who are under the supervision of a juvenile
probation officer while on probation or a suspended commitment to the Department of
Children and Families, for purposes of enforcing any court orders entered as part of
such probation or suspended commitment.
(b) In juvenile matters, the Superior Court shall have authority to make and enforce
such orders directed to parents, including any person who acknowledges before said
court paternity of a child born out of wedlock, guardians, custodians or other adult
persons owing some legal duty to a child, youth or youth in crisis therein, as it deems
necessary or appropriate to secure the welfare, protection, proper care and suitable support of a child, youth or youth in crisis subject to its jurisdiction or otherwise committed
to or in the custody of the Commissioner of Children and Families. In addition, with
respect to proceedings concerning delinquent children, the Superior Court shall have
authority to make and enforce such orders as it deems necessary or appropriate to punish
the child, deter the child from the commission of further delinquent acts, assure that the
safety of any other person will not be endangered and provide restitution to any victim.
Said court shall also have authority to grant and enforce injunctive relief, temporary or
permanent in all proceedings concerning juvenile matters. If any order for the payment
of money is issued by said court, including any order assessing costs issued under section
46b-134 or 46b-136, the collection of such money shall be made by said court, except
orders for support of children committed to any state agency or department, which orders
shall be made payable to and collected by the Department of Administrative Services.
Where the court after due diligence is unable to collect such moneys within six months,
it shall refer such case to the Department of Administrative Services for collection as
a delinquent account. In juvenile matters, the court shall have authority to make and
enforce orders directed to persons liable hereunder on petition of said Department of
Administrative Services made to said court in the same manner as is provided in section
17b-745, in accordance with the provisions of section 17b-81, 17b-223, subsection (b)
of section 17b-179, section 17a-90, 46b-129 or 46b-130, and all of the provisions of
section 17b-745 shall be applicable to such proceedings. Any judge hearing a juvenile
matter may make any other order in connection therewith that a judge of the Superior
Court is authorized to grant and such order shall have the same force and effect as any
other order of the Superior Court. In the enforcement of its orders, in connection with
any juvenile matter, the court may issue process for the arrest of any person, compel
attendance of witnesses and punish for contempt by a fine not exceeding one hundred
dollars or imprisonment not exceeding six months."
(1949 Rev., S. 2805; 1953, 1955, S. 1576d; 1969, P.A. 483; P.A. 75-171, S. 1, 2; 75-602, S. 3, 13; P.A. 76-436, S. 14,
681; P.A. 77-576, S. 41, 65; 77-614, S. 71, 610; P.A. 79-567, S. 2, 7; P.A. 80-70, S. 3; 80-401, S. 4; P.A. 82-472, S. 128,
183; P.A. 87-421, S. 9, 13; P.A. 89-219, S. 2, 10; 89-273, S. 1; P.A. 93-91, S. 1, 2; P.A. 95-225, S. 10; 95-254, S. 2; P.A.
98-256, S. 10; P.A. 00-170, S. 33, 42; 00-177, S. 2, 5.)
History: 1969 act added exception re collection of money under support order by central collections division of finance
and control department for children committed to care of welfare commissioner and added provision re petitions to juvenile
court made by central collections division; P.A. 75-171 referred to children committed to "any state agency or department"
rather than specifically to welfare commissioner; P.A. 75-602 added references to youths, made specific reference to
children and youths in custody of children and youth services commissioner and specified that court has power to grant
and enforce injunctive relief; P.A. 76-436 amended section to transfer juvenile court's powers to superior court, effective
July 1, 1978; P.A. 77-576 included termination of parental rights of children committed to state agency and contested
termination of parental rights transferred from probate court as juvenile matters; P.A. 77-614 replaced central collections
division of finance and control department with department of administrative services; P.A. 79-567 specified that matters
concerning families with service needs are to be considered as juvenile matters; Sec. 17-59 temporarily renumbered as
Sec. 51-302 and ultimately transferred to Sec. 46b-121 in 1979, see note to Sec. 17-59; P.A. 80-70 updated sections referred
to in provisions re petition to court; P.A. 80-401 changed effective date of P.A. 79-567 from July 1, 1980, to July 1, 1981;
P.A. 82-472 replaced obsolete reference to "division" with "department of administrative services"; P.A. 87-421 removed
a reference to Sec. 17-295a which was repealed by the same act; P.A. 89-219 added provision requiring the assessment of
a fee of two hundred dollars whenever the services of the probation staff for juvenile matters is required; P.A. 89-273
included any order assessing costs issued under Sec. 46b-134 or 46b-136 among orders for the payment of money which
the court is responsible for collecting on, required the court to refer any case where after due diligence it is unable to collect
the moneys due within six months to the department of administrative services for collection as a delinquent account, and
added provision re the authority of the court to enforce its orders through issuing process for the arrest of a person, compelling
the attendance of witnesses and punishing for contempt, formerly Subsec. (a) of Sec. 46b-148; P.A. 93-91 substituted
commissioner and department of children and families for commissioner and department of children and youth services,
effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-225 inserted Subsec. indicators, amended Subsec. (a) to provide that the matters specified
constitute juvenile matters "in the civil session", delete proceedings concerning "delinquent children" from such matters,
include proceedings concerning "the emancipation of minors" in such matters and add provision that juvenile matters in
the criminal session include all proceedings concerning delinquent children in the state and amended Subsec. (b) to add
provision authorizing the court in proceedings concerning delinquent children to make and enforce orders to punish the
child, deter the child from the commission of further delinquent acts, assure that the safety of any other person will not be
endangered and provide restitution to any victim; P.A. 95-254 added provision including probate appeals re matters involving termination of parental rights, removal of parent as guardian and adoption; P.A. 98-256 amended Subsec. (a) to provide
that juvenile matters in the criminal session include proceedings concerning "persons sixteen years of age and older who
are under the supervision of a juvenile probation officer while on probation or a suspended commitment to the Department
of Children and Families, for purposes of enforcing any court orders entered as part of such probation or suspended
commitment"; P.A. 00-170 amended Subsec. (b) to delete a requirement that the court impose a fee for probation staff
services, effective July 1, 2000; P.A. 00-177 extended provisions of section to youth in crisis and made technical changes
in Subsec. (b) for purposes of gender neutrality, effective July 1, 2001.
Annotations to former sections 17-59 and 51-302:
If superior court could take jurisdiction of charge of rape against child under sixteen, proceedings must first be had in
juvenile court. 115 C. 589. Cited. 158 C. 439. Cited. 171 C. 630, 643 (Dissent).
Superior court may not make orders for support prior to termination of juvenile court commitment. 19 CS 371. Possible
for juvenile court, superior court and probate court to have concurrent jurisdiction concerning the proper custody of a child
and fact that superior court originally awarded custody in a divorce action does not mean that it retains exclusive jurisdiction
over custody of the child. 21 CS 73.
Annotations to present section:
Cited. 195 C. 303, 304. Cited. Id., 344, 364−366. Cited. 199 C. 693, 695. Cited. 206 C. 323, 329. Cited. 211 C. 289−
291. Cited. 216 C. 563, 568, 580. Cited. 223 C. 384, 405. Cited. 224 C. 263, 282.
Cited. 1 CA 584, 589, 590. Cited. 13 CA 626, 628. Cited. 22 CA 656, 661. Cited. 36 CA 345, 351.
Section carefully contains some exceptions in grant of jurisdiction over children and youths to superior court; these
exceptions do not include reservation of mental health commitment power to probate court. 35 CS 241 et seq. Probate
court is without jurisdiction to entertain and determine matters involving the mental health commitment of children or
youths since the superior court for juvenile matters has exclusive jurisdiction over such matters. Id. Cited. 43 CS 367, 368.
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(P.A. 95-225, S. 29.)
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(b) The Attorney General shall have charge of all proceedings concerning juvenile
matters in the civil session of the Superior Court.
(P.A. 95-225, S. 45, 52.)
History: P.A. 95-225 effective July 1, 1996.
See Sec. 51-1d re transfer of duties of "Juvenile Detention Services Division" to Court Support Services Division.
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(1) Hold juveniles accountable for their unlawful behavior;
(2) Provide secure and therapeutic confinement to those juveniles who present a
danger to the community;
(3) Adequately protect the community and juveniles;
(4) Provide programs and services that are community-based and are provided in
close proximity to the juvenile's community;
(5) Retain and support juveniles within their homes whenever possible and appropriate;
(6) Base probation treatment planning upon individual case management plans;
(7) Include the juvenile's family in the case management plan;
(8) Provide supervision and service coordination where appropriate and implement
and monitor the case management plan in order to discourage reoffending;
(9) Provide follow-up and nonresidential postrelease services to juveniles who are
returned to their families or communities;
(10) Promote the development and implementation of community-based programs
designed to prevent unlawful behavior and to effectively minimize the depth and duration of the juvenile's involvement in the juvenile justice system.
(P.A. 95-225, S. 1, 52.)
History: P.A. 95-225 effective July 1, 1996.
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(1) Coordinate programs and services of the juvenile justice system with other state
and municipal agencies, boards and commissions;
(2) Develop and use intake and assessment procedures for the evaluation of juveniles;
(3) Provide case management for juveniles;
(4) Provide pretrial diversion and postconviction programs;
(5) Coordinate community-based services for juveniles and their families which
promote appropriate reintegration of the juvenile with his family, school and community; and
(6) Provide other programs and services necessary to the juvenile justice system.
(b) In developing its programs, the Judicial Department shall:
(1) Develop risk and assessment instruments for use in determining the need for
detention or other placement at the time a juvenile enters the system;
(2) Develop a case classification process to include the establishment of classification program levels and case management standards for each program level. A program
level is based on the needs of the juvenile, his potential to be dangerous and his risk of
offending further;
(3) Develop a purchase-of-care system, which will facilitate the development of a
state-wide community-based continuum of care, with the involvement of the private
sector and the local public sector. Care services may be purchased from private providers
to provide a wider diversity of services. This system shall include accessing Title IV-
E funds of the federal Social Security Act, as amended, new Medicaid funds and other
funding sources to support eligible community-based services. Such services developed
and purchased shall include, but not be limited to, evaluation services which shall be
available on a geographically accessible basis across the state.
(P.A. 95-225, S. 2, 4, 52.)
History: P.A. 95-225 effective July 1, 1996.
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(b) Probation treatment services shall address:
(1) Behavioral impairments and other emotional disturbances and other mental
health or psychiatric disorders;
(2) Histories of physical or sexual abuse;
(3) Drug and alcohol addiction;
(4) Health and medical needs;
(5) Education, special education and related services.
(c) Available programs shall include:
(1) Individual, group and family counseling services and all other programs and
services as appropriate with any case management plan related to subsection (b) of this
section.
(2) The design and delivery of probation treatment programs following the requirements stated within Title XIX and Title IV-E of the federal Social Security Act, as
amended, the Special Education Act and other funding guidelines, as appropriate. It is
the intent of the General Assembly that these funding sources shall be utilized to support
service needs of eligible juveniles.
(P.A. 95-225, S. 3, 52.)
History: P.A. 95-225 effective July 1, 1996.
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(b) The Office of Alternative Sanctions may contract to establish regional secure
residential facilities and regional highly supervised residential and nonresidential facilities for juveniles referred by the court. Such facilities shall operate within contracted-
for capacity limits. Such facilities shall be exempt from the licensing requirements of
section 17a-145.
(c) The Office of Alternative Sanctions shall collaborate with private residential
facilities providing residential programs and with community-based nonresidential
postrelease programs.
(P.A. 95-225, S. 6, 52; P.A. 98-256, S. 2.)
History: P.A. 95-225 effective July 1, 1996; P.A. 98-256 amended Subsec. (b) to replace "juveniles sentenced to
probation by the court" with "juveniles referred by the court".
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(1) A peer tutoring project designed for juvenile offenders required to perform community services;
(2) Specialized residential services for juvenile offenders on probation who have
been expelled from school;
(3) Social services and counseling for female juvenile offenders;
(4) Training in cognitive skill building;
(5) A self-supporting entrepreneurship program; and
(6) A mentoring program designed to match juveniles with positive adult role
models.
(b) The primary purpose of these projects shall be to provide a network of community services for juvenile offenders. The Office of Alternative Sanctions shall develop
evaluation protocols designed to assess the impact of components of these projects on
deterring juvenile crime in the communities where the projects operate. The Office of
Alternative Sanctions shall report to the General Assembly not later than January 1,
1998, on the effectiveness of the program initiatives.
(P.A. 95-225, S. 7, 52.)
History: P.A. 95-225 effective July 1, 1996.
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(b) For the purposes of subsection (a) of this section, there is established an advisory
board to be composed of the Commissioner of Children and Families, the Commissioner
of Correction and the Chief Court Administrator, or their designees, and the chairpersons
and ranking members of the joint standing committees of the General Assembly on
judiciary and human services.
(c) The evaluation shall identify the types of programs that are effective and not
effective in reducing criminal offending in a cost-beneficial way. The evaluation shall
use uniform data collection and a common methodological approach to compare programs serving juvenile offenders. The evaluation shall include, but not be limited to, a
determination of the extent to which each program:
(1) Targets diverted and adjudicated juvenile offenders;
(2) Includes assessment methods to determine services, programs, and intervention
strategies most likely to change behaviors and norms of juvenile offenders;
(3) Provides maximum structured supervision in the community using natural surveillance and community guardians such as employers, relatives, teachers, clergy and
community mentors to the greatest extent possible;
(4) Promotes good work ethic values and educational skills and competencies necessary for the juvenile offender to function effectively and positively in the community;
(5) Maximizes the efficient delivery of treatment services aimed at reducing risk
factors associated with the commission of juvenile offenses;
(6) Maximizes the reintegration of the juvenile offender into the community upon
release from confinement;
(7) Maximizes the juvenile offender's opportunities to make full restitution to the
victims and amends to the community;
(8) Supports and encourages increased court discretion in imposing community-
based intervention strategies;
(9) Is compatible with research that shows which prevention and early intervention
strategies work with juvenile offenders;
(10) Is outcome-based in that it describes what outcomes will be achieved or what
outcomes have already been achieved;
(11) Includes an evaluation component; and
(12) Recognizes the diversity of local needs.
(d) Not later than January 1, 2001, the council shall submit a preliminary report on
its activities to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly on judiciary and
human services.
(P.A. 00-172.)
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(P.A. 76-436, S. 8, 681; P.A. 77-576, S. 42, 65; P.A. 78-379, S. 10, 27; P.A. 95-225, S. 11.)
History: P.A. 77-576 deleted requirement that juvenile matters be dealt with in facilities separate from other superior
court business and authorized hearing of family matters in same facilities as juvenile matters but at separate times to protect
confidentiality; P.A. 78-379 deleted provision which authorized hearing of family matters in same facilities as juvenile
matters and added provisions which authorized judge to exclude from hearing room persons whose presence is unnecessary
and prohibited use of room regularly used for criminal business for hearing of juvenile matter; Sec. 51-303 transferred to
Sec. 46b-122 in 1979 and other sections referred to in provisions revised where necessary to reflect their transfer; P.A.
95-225 deleted reference to matters transferred under Sec. "46b-126", reflecting elimination of transfer provisions from
Sec. 46b-126 by same public act, added provision prohibiting exclusion in delinquency proceedings of any victim of the
delinquent act, the parents or guardian of the victim and any victim advocate unless the judge specifically orders otherwise,
deleted prohibition on hearing a juvenile matter in a room regularly used for the transaction of criminal business and deleted
obsolete provisions re transfer of matters from the juvenile court.
Cited. 195 C. 303, 310. Cited. Id., 344, 363. Cited. 206 C. 323, 329, 332. Cited. Id., 346, 360, 361. Cited. 211 C. 151,
157. Cited. 214 C. 454, 460. Cited. 229 C. 691, 697. Cited. 237 C. 364, 374.
Cited. 43 CS 38, 40. Cited. Id., 367.
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(1949 Rev., S. 2821; 1957, P.A. 651, S. 17; 1967, P.A. 630, S. 4; 1969, P.A. 794, S. 2; P.A. 75-327; P.A. 76-436, S.
10a, 12, 681; P.A. 84-198, S. 4, 7.)
History: 1967 act authorized appointment of "other personnel" and provided for judges to act jointly; 1969 act deleted
provisions which stated that records shall be open to inspection only by "persons having a proper interest therein and upon
order of the court" and specified that records of juvenile courts established in 1921, 1927 and 1935 shall be included as
records subject to provisions applicable to other juvenile records; P.A. 75-327 restated provisions re appointed personnel,
adding executive assistant to chief clerk and director of juvenile probation services as state-wide officers and probation
aides, clerk, detention personnel and supervisory staff on district level; P.A. 76-436 amended section to reflect transfer of
duties from juvenile court to superior court and added provisions authorizing chief court administrator to modify assignments as necessary and specifying that persons transferred to superior court are to receive compensation at same level as
received in juvenile court for the remainder of their appointed terms, effective July 1, 1978; Sec. 17-57 temporarily renumbered as Sec. 51-304 and ultimately transferred to Sec. 46b-123 in 1979, (see note to Sec. 17-57) and references to other
sections within provisions revised as necessary by the Revisors to reflect their transfer; P.A. 84-198 deleted provisions for
appointment of a chief clerk in charge of juvenile matters, an executive assistant to such chief clerk, a director of juvenile
probation services and such other necessary office personnel, and deleted a provision that the judges or a committee appoint
probation officers and other personnel "subject to the provisions of section 46b-125".
Annotations to former section 17-57:
Cited. 135 C. 413; id., 516.
The juvenile court is a court of record and as such can speak only through its record. To determine the issues litigated,
the record and the memorandum of decision may be searched. 19 CS 428. Cited. 24 CS 358. Court will not allow a fishing
expedition into records of the juvenile court. 26 CS 316, 319.
Annotations to present section:
Cited. 181 C. 292, 294.
Cited. 43 CS 367, 371.
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(P.A. 95-225, S. 49, 52.)
History: P.A. 95-225 effective July 1, 1996.
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(P.A. 95-225, S. 44, 52.)
History: P.A. 95-225 effective July 1, 1996.
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(b) All records of cases of juvenile matters involving delinquency proceedings, or
any part thereof, including court records, records of law enforcement agencies including
fingerprints, photographs and physical descriptions, and medical, psychological, psychiatric and social welfare studies and reports by probation officers, public or private
institutions, social agencies and clinics, shall be confidential and for the use of the court
in juvenile matters and shall not be disclosed except as provided in this section.
(c) Records of cases of juvenile matters involving delinquency proceedings shall
be available to (1) judicial branch employees who, in the performance of their duties,
require access to such records, and (2) employees and authorized agents of state or
federal agencies involved in (A) the delinquency proceedings, (B) the provision of services directly to the child, or (C) the design and delivery of treatment programs pursuant
to section 46b-121j. Such employees and authorized agents include, but are not limited
to, law enforcement officials, state and federal prosecutorial officials, school officials
in accordance with section 10-233h, court officials including officials of both the regular
criminal docket and the docket for juvenile matters, officials of the Division of Criminal
Justice, the Division of Public Defender Services, the Department of Children and Families, the Office of Adult Probation, the Office of the Bail Commissioner, the Board of
Parole and agencies under contract with the Office of Alternative Sanctions, and an
advocate appointed pursuant to section 54-221 for a victim of a crime committed by the
child. Such records shall also be available to (i) the attorney representing the child,
including the Division of Public Defender Services, in any proceeding in which such
records are relevant, (ii) the parents or guardian of the child, until such time as the subject
of the record reaches the age of majority, (iii) the subject of the record, upon submission
of satisfactory proof of the subject's identity, pursuant to guidelines prescribed by the
Office of the Chief Court Administrator and provided the subject has reached the age
of majority, (iv) law enforcement officials and prosecutorial officials conducting legitimate criminal investigations, and (v) a state or federal agency providing services related
to the collection of moneys due or funding to support the service needs of eligible
juveniles, provided such disclosure shall be limited to that information necessary for
the collection of and application for such moneys. Such records disclosed pursuant to
this subsection shall not be further disclosed, except that information contained in such
records may be disclosed in connection with bail or sentencing reports in open court
during criminal proceedings involving the subject of such information.
(d) The record of the case of a juvenile matter involving delinquency proceedings,
or any part thereof, may be disclosed upon order of the court to any person who has a
legitimate interest in the information and is identified in such order. Records disclosed
pursuant to this subsection shall not be further disclosed.
(e) The record of the case of a juvenile matter involving delinquency proceedings,
or any part thereof, shall be available to the victim of the crime committed by such child
to the same extent as the record of the case of a defendant in a criminal proceeding in
the regular criminal docket of the Superior Court is available to a victim of the crime
committed by such defendant. The court shall designate an official from whom such
victim may request such information. Records disclosed pursuant to this subsection
shall not be further disclosed.
(f) Information concerning a child who has escaped from a detention center or from
a facility to which he has been committed by the court or for whom an arrest warrant
has been issued with respect to the commission of a felony may be disclosed by law
enforcement officials.
(g) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit any person employed by
the Judicial Department from disclosing any such records, information or files in his
possession to any person employed by the Division of Criminal Justice as a prosecutorial
official, inspector or investigator who, in the performance of his duties, requests such
records, information or files, nor shall such employee of said division be prohibited
from disclosing any records, information or files in his possession to any such employee
of the Judicial Department who, in the performance of his duties, requests such records,
information or files.
(h) A state's attorney shall disclose to the defendant or his counsel in a criminal
prosecution, without the necessity of a court order, exculpatory information and material
contained in any record disclosed to such state's attorney pursuant to this section and
may disclose, without a court order, information and material contained in any such
record which could be the subject of a disclosure order.
(1969, P.A. 794, S. 3; P.A. 75-602, S. 2, 13; P.A. 76-436, S. 13, 681; P.A. 77-246, S. 11; 77-486, S. 1, 2, 5; P.A. 78-
280, S. 92, 127; 78-318, S. 27; P.A. 79-456; P.A. 80-165, S. 1; P.A. 81-472, S. 82, 159; P.A. 82-140, S. 1; P.A. 93-48;
P.A. 94-221, S. 15; July Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-2, S. 10; P.A. 95-225, S. 12; 95-254, S. 3; 95-261, S. 1; P.A. 96-246, S. 35; P.A.
98-70, S. 1; P.A. 99-185, S. 35, 40.)
History: P.A. 75-602 added reference to youths; P.A. 76-436 replaced references to juvenile court with references to
superior court and juvenile matters and added Subsec. (b) re confidentiality of complaint or information transferred from
circuit to juvenile court before October 1, 1971, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 77-246 required that records be available to
adult adopted persons; P.A. 77-486 added provisions requiring that records be available to judges and adult probation
officers for consideration in sentencing or granting youthful offender status for person under twenty-one; P.A. 78-280 added
exception re Sec. 54-76d or 54-109 in provision prohibiting disclosure to third party; P.A. 78-318 authorized disclosure to
another court in custody proceedings; P.A. 79-456 required superior court order for disclosure of records to "bona fide
researchers commissioned by a state agency"; Sec. 17-57a temporarily renumbered as Sec. 51-305 and ultimately transferred to Sec. 46b-124 in 1979, (see note to Sec. 17-57a) and references to other sections within provisions revised as
necessary by the Revisors to reflect their transfer; P.A. 80-165 authorized disclosure of information concerning disposition
of criminal case to the victim of the crime if juvenile's identity is not revealed; P.A. 81-472 made technical corrections;
P.A. 82-140 amended Subsec. (a) to permit disclosure of identity of child or youth to victim if the victim intends to bring
a civil action for damages or if the child or youth is adjudicated delinquent; P.A. 93-48 added provision in Subsec. (a) re
disclosure of records concerning adjudications re child abuse to state's attorney and added Subsec. (c) re disclosure of
exculpatory information and material contained in disclosed record by state's attorney to defendant; P.A. 94-221 amended
Subsec. (a) to add Subdiv. (4) re availability of information on the identity of a child arrested for a felony and the nature
of the offense and Subdiv. (5) re the availability of information on the identity of a child adjudicated a delinquent as a
result of a felony; July Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-2 amended Subsec. (a) to add a new Subdiv. (4) re the availability to a state's
attorney of records concerning adjudications involving certain firearm-related offenses, renumbering the remaining Subdivs. accordingly, and amended Subsec. (c) to add reference to said Subdiv. (4); P.A. 95-225 substantially revised section
by amending Subsec. (a) to add exception for proceedings concerning delinquent children, deleting former Subdivs. (2)
to (6), inclusive, re specific exceptions to the prohibition on disclosure, deleting provision making delinquency records of
any person who has not attained the age of twenty-one available to a judge and an adult probation officer in certain
circumstances and provide that the prohibition on disclosure to a third party applies to a third party "not specified in
subsection (c) of this section", deleting former Subsec. (b) re confidentiality of records transferred from the Circuit Court
to the Juvenile Court prior to October 1, 1971, adding new Subsec. (b) re confidentiality of records of cases of juvenile
matters involving proceedings concerning delinquent children, adding new Subsec. (c) re disclosure of delinquency records
to certain individuals and agencies, adding Subsec. (d) re disclosure of delinquency records to persons with a legitimate
interest therein upon order of the court, adding Subsec. (e) re availability of delinquency records to the victim of the crime,
adding Subsec. (f) re disclosure of information concerning a child who has escaped or for whom an arrest warrant has been
issued, adding Subsec. (g) re exchange of information between certain employees of the Judicial Department and the
Division of Criminal Justice, and redesignating former Subsec. (c) re disclosure of information by a state's attorney to the
defendant or his counsel as Subsec. (h) and amended said Subsec. to make technical changes; P.A. 95-254 amended Subsec.
(a) by applying provisions to records of appeals from probate brought to Juvenile Court pursuant to Subsec. (b) of 45a-
186 and to add provision making such records available to court of probate from which such appeal was taken; P.A. 95-
261 would have amended Subsec. (a) specifying Office of Adult Probation and Office of the Bail Commission as agencies
which may obtain delinquency records where previous availability was limited to adult probation officers, but failed to
take effect, P.A. 95-225 having repealed language on which the changes relied; P.A. 96-246 added Subdiv. (3) to Subsec.
(a) re psychological evaluations being available to Commissioner of Children and Families for purposes of diagnosing,
caring for or treating child; P.A. 98-70 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting "concerning delinquent children" and adding
"delinquency" and by deleting former Subdiv. (3) and adding availability of records to attorney, including public defender,
for child or youth, parents or guardian, employees of Division of Criminal Justice, employees of judicial branch, another
court, the subject of the record, provided subject provides proof of identity and has reached the age of majority or is
emancipated, and the Department of Children and Families; amended Subsec. (b) by deleting "concerning delinquent
children" and adding "delinquency"; amended Subsec. (c) by providing availability of records re delinquency proceedings
to judicial branch employees, employees and certain authorized agents of state or federal agencies, including Division of
Public Defender Services, Office of Adult Probation, Office of Bail Commissioner, Board of Parole and agencies under
contract with Office of Alternative Sanctions, to parent or guardian, to the subject of the record upon proof of identity and
reaching age of majority and to a state or federal agency providing funding to support needs of eligible juveniles, and by
adding provision re disclosure in connection with bail or sentencing reports; amended Subsecs. (d) and (e) by deleting
"concerning a delinquent child" and adding "delinquency"; and amended Subsec. (g) by deleting "as a juvenile prosecutor,
inspector or investigator"; P.A. 99-185 amended Subdiv. (2) of Subsec. (a) by changing reference to section 46b-111 to
Subsec. (d) of Sec. 46b-115j, effective July 1, 2000.
Annotation to former section 17-57a:
Cited. 33 CS 599.
Annotations to present section:
Cited. 195 C. 303, 310. Cited. 211 C. 151, 160. Cited. 214 C. 454, 460, 463. History and policy discussed. 216 C. 563−
565, 567−584. Confidentiality statute cited. Id. Cited. 221 C. 447, 459. Cited. 227 C. 641, 643. Cited. 229 C. 691, 697.
Cited. 235 C. 595, 606. Cited. 237 C. 364, 374.
Cited. 21 CA 654, 661. Cited. 36 CA 345, 351.
Cited. 36 CS 352, 355. Cited. 40 CS 316. Cited. 41 CS 23. Cited. Id., 145. Cited. Id., 229. Cited. Id., 505. Cited. 42 CS
562. Cited. 43 CS 38, 40. Cited. Id., 108. Cited. Id., 211. Cited. Id., 367. Cited. 44 CS 101. Cited. Id., 235. Cited. Id., 437.
Cited. Id., 468. Cited. Id., 527. Cited. Id., 551.
Subsec. (a):
Cited. 215 C. 739, 746. Cited. 216 C. 563, 578, 580.
Cited. 1 CA 584, 585, 589, 590. Cited. 45 CA 508.
Subsec. (d):
Victim not permitted to use actual documents released by juvenile court in civil action for damages but may use
information in documents to uncover admissible evidence. 45 CS 315.
Subsec. (e):
Extent to which court may release juvenile records to victim of a delinquent act and whether child required to be
adjudicated a delinquent before victim entitled to release of information. 45 CS 315.
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(b) Probation officers shall make such investigations and reports as the court directs
or the law requires. They shall execute the orders of the court; and, for that purpose,
such probation officers, and any other employees specifically designated by the court
to assist the probation officers in the enforcement of such orders, shall have the authority
of a state marshal. They shall preserve a record of all cases investigated or coming under
their care, and shall keep informed concerning the conduct and condition of each person
under supervision and report thereon to the court as it may direct. Any juvenile probation
officer or juvenile matters investigator, authorized by the Office of the Chief Court
Administrator, may arrest any juvenile on probation without a warrant or may deputize
any other officer with power to arrest to do so by giving him a written statement setting
forth that the juvenile has, in the judgment of the juvenile probation officer or juvenile
matters investigator, violated the conditions of his probation. When executing such
orders of the court, except when using deadly physical force, juvenile probation officers
and juvenile matters investigators shall be deemed to be acting in the capacity of a peace
officer, as defined in subdivision (9) of section 53a-3.
(1949 Rev., S. 2822; 1969, P.A. 794, S. 5; P.A. 77-614, S. 66, 610; P.A. 84-198, S. 5, 7; P.A. 93-391; P.A. 00-99, S.
90, 154.)
History: 1969 act specified that probation officers and other employees designated by court to assist them have authority
of a deputy sheriff; P.A. 77-614 replaced personnel department with department of administrative services; Sec. 17-58
temporarily renumbered as Sec. 51-366 and ultimately transferred to Sec. 46b-125 in 1979, see note to Sec. 17-58; P.A.
84-198 deleted provision requiring appointment of all juvenile probation personnel from a list of persons certified by the
department of administrative services as being qualified for such appointment; P.A. 93-391 inserted Subsec. indicators
and amended Subsec. (b) to authorize any juvenile probation officer or juvenile matters investigator to arrest any juvenile
on probation without a warrant or deputize another officer to do so and to specify when such officers and investigators are
deemed to be acting in the capacity of a peace officer; P.A. 00-99 replaced reference in Subsec. (b) to deputy sheriff in
each county of the state with state marshal, effective December 1, 2000.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(1971, P.A. 170; P.A. 76-194, S. 4; 76-436, S. 17, 681; P.A. 77-326; 77-452, S. 23, 72; P.A. 79-581, S. 2; P.A. 83-402,
S. 1; P.A. 84-252; P.A. 86-185, S. 1; P.A. 89-273, S. 2; P.A. 90-136, S. 1; 90-187, S. 1, 3; P.A. 93-91, S. 1, 2; P.A. 95-
225, S. 39.)
History: P.A. 76-194 specified that superior court has exclusive jurisdiction upon transfer of case, that child is to be
tried and sentenced, if convicted, as if he were sixteen and that if action dismissed or child found innocent, etc. he resumes
juvenile status; P.A. 76-436 replaced references to juvenile court and superior court with references to juvenile and criminal
dockets of superior court where necessary to reflect transfer of juvenile court duties to superior court, effective July 1,
1978; P.A. 77-326 rearranged Subdiv. indicators but did not take effect; P.A. 77-452 made technical correction; P.A. 79-
581 entirely replaced previous provisions, broadening applicability of provisions from cases involving murder to those
involving class A felonies or serious juvenile offenses; Sec. 17-60a temporarily transferred to Sec. 51-307 and ultimately
transferred to Sec. 46b-126 in 1979, (see note to Sec. 17-60a) and references to other sections within provisions revised
as necessary by the Revisors to reflect their transfer; P.A. 83-402 authorized transfer of child to regular criminal docket
for commission of offenses classified as Class B or C felonies, deleted requirement that court make investigation prior to
transfer and revised provision re determination of child's danger to society in Subsec. (a); P.A. 84-252 amended Subsec.
(b) by deleting phrase requiring that care be "by qualified medical experts"; P.A. 86-185 amended Subsec. (a) to add
provision that a transfer order shall be a final judgment for purposes of appeal; P.A. 89-273 amended Subsec. (a) to add
"Except as otherwise provided in section 46b-127" and to make the transfer hearing discretionary rather than mandatory;
P.A. 90-136 amended Subsec. (a) to exclude from the discretionary transfer provisions of section any child referred for
the commission of the class A felony of murder, to add provisions re the rights of the child and the procedure applicable
at the transfer hearing, to grant credit against any sentence imposed for time served in a juvenile facility prior to transfer,
to authorize a child to plead guilty to a lesser offense and provide that a child who so pleads shall not resume his juvenile
status re said offense, and to replace a reference to a finding of "innocent" with a finding of "not guilty"; P.A. 90-187
amended Subsec. (a) to add provision requiring a transferred child to be maintained in a facility for children and youth
rather than in a correctional facility until he is sixteen years of age or sentenced, whichever occurs first, effective July 1,
1991; P.A. 93-91 substituted commissioner and department of children and families for commissioner and department of
children and youth services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-225 deleted former Subsec. (a) re the discretionary transfer of
children charged with certain felonies to the regular criminal docket of the Superior Court.
Annotations to former section 17-60a:
Juvenile court has power to transfer plaintiff based on finding of reasonable cause to believe that he was a participant
in a felony and murder. 171 C. 683, 687. Removes juvenile status of juvenile upon such juvenile's transfer from jurisdiction
of juvenile court. 173 C. 414. Cited. Id., 414−418. Cited. 182 C. 419, 420. Cited. 206 C. 346, 360. Cited. 207 C. 270, 275.
Cited. 240 C. 743.
Annotations to present section:
Transfer order under statute not a final appealable judgment. 195 C. 303−306, 310, 313, 314. Cited. 204 C. 630, 633.
Cited. 206 C. 323, 326, 330, 331. Cited. Id., 346, 350, 355−360, 362. Cited. 210 C. 435, 443. Cited. 211 C. 151, 158, 166.
Cited. Id., 289, 296−299, 301, 304, 318. Cited. Id., 289, 298, 300. Cited. 214 C. 454, 460. Cited. 220 C. 162, 165. Cited.
221 C. 109, 112. Cited. 229 C. 691, 697, 701. Cited. 237 C. 364, 374. Cited. 240 C. 727.
The order denying a transfer under this section is not a final judgment or an order from which the state can appeal. 1
CA 378, 379, 383, 384. Cited. Id., 584, 585. Defendant took no direct appeal from the transfer order resulting in a waiver
of such appeal at a later point. 51 CA 117.
Cited. 43 CS 367, 368, 370.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(b) Upon motion of a juvenile prosecutor and order of the court, the case of any
child charged with the commission of a class C or D felony or an unclassified felony
shall be transferred from the docket for juvenile matters to the regular criminal docket
of the Superior Court, provided such offense was committed after such child attained
the age of fourteen years and the court finds ex parte that there is probable cause to
believe the child has committed the act for which he is charged. The file of any case so
transferred shall remain sealed until such time as the court sitting for the regular criminal
docket accepts such transfer. The court sitting for the regular criminal docket may return
any such case to the docket for juvenile matters not later than ten working days after
the date of the transfer for proceedings in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
The child shall be arraigned in the regular criminal docket of the Superior Court by the
next court date following such transfer.
(c) Upon the effectuation of the transfer, such child shall stand trial and be sentenced,
if convicted, as if he were sixteen years of age. Such child shall receive credit against
any sentence imposed for time served in a juvenile facility prior to the effectuation of
the transfer. A child who has been transferred may enter a guilty plea to a lesser offense
if the court finds that such plea is made knowingly and voluntarily. Any child transferred
to the regular criminal docket who pleads guilty to a lesser offense shall not resume his
status as a juvenile regarding said offense. If the action is dismissed or nolled or if such
child is found not guilty of the charge for which he was transferred or of any lesser
included offenses, the child shall resume his status as a juvenile until he attains the age
of sixteen years.
(d) Any child transferred to the regular criminal docket of the Superior Court who
is detained shall be in the custody of the Commissioner of Correction upon the finalization of such transfer. A transfer shall be final (1) upon the expiration of ten working
days after the arraignment if no motion has been filed by the state's attorney pursuant
to subsection (a) of this section or, if such motion has been filed, upon the decision of
the court to deny such motion, or (2) upon the court accepting the transfer pursuant to
subsection (b) of this section. Any child returned to the docket for juvenile matters who
is detained shall be in the custody of the Judicial Department.
(e) The transfer of a child to a Department of Correction facility shall be limited to
the provisions of subsection (d) of this section and said subsection shall not be construed
to permit the transfer of or otherwise reduce or eliminate any other population of juveniles in detention or confinement within the Judicial Department or the Department of
Children and Families.
(P.A. 75-620, S. 1−4; P.A. 76-194, S. 3; 76-436, S. 18, 19, 20, 681; P.A. 79-581, S. 3; P.A. 83-402, S. 2; P.A. 86-185,
S. 2; P.A. 90-136, S. 2; 90-187, S. 2, 3; July Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-2, S. 6; P.A. 95-225, S. 13; P.A. 97-4, S. 1, 2; 97-319, S.
21, 22; P.A. 98-256, S. 3.)
History: P.A. 76-194 required that child "be sentenced, if convicted" as if he were sixteen; P.A. 76-436 revised provisions
to reflect transfer of juvenile court duties to superior court, substituting references to criminal and juvenile dockets for
references to said courts, etc., effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 79-581 clarified and qualified circumstances under which matters
transferred from juvenile to criminal docket and deleted requirements that transfer is contingent upon investigation finding
that no suitable institution for care of children exists to which child in question may be committed and that court facilities
for criminal sessions and institutions for those sixteen or over are suitable for child's care and confinement and deleted
former Subsecs. (b) and (c) re establishment of maximum security facility for care and treatment of children under superior
court jurisdiction and re court-ordered evaluation to determine whether institutions for children or institutions for those
sixteen and over are more suitable for care and treatment of child in question; Sec. 17-60b temporarily renumbered as Sec.
51-308 and ultimately transferred to Sec. 46b-127 in 1979; P.A. 83-402 qualified reference to commission of murder in
Subdiv. (1) by specifying murder "under sections 53a-54a to 53a-54d, inclusive" and required that written findings be
made rather than an investigation prior to transfer; P.A. 86-185 added provision that a transfer order shall be a final judgment
for purposes of appeal; P.A. 90-136 excluded from the provisions of Subdiv. (2) a child referred for the commission of
the class A felony of murder, added provisions re the rights of the child and the procedure applicable at the hearing,
authorized credit against any sentence imposed for time served in a juvenile facility prior to transfer, authorized a child to
plead guilty to a lesser offense and provided that a child who so pleads shall not resume his juvenile status re said offense,
and replaced a reference to a finding of "innocent" with a finding of "not guilty"; P.A. 90-187 added provision requiring
a transferred child to be maintained in a facility for children and youth rather than in a correctional facility until he is
sixteen years of age or sentenced, whichever occurs first, effective July 1, 1991; July Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-2 designated existing
provisions re children required to be transferred to the regular criminal docket as Subsec. (a) and amended said Subsec.
to add a new Subdiv. (2) requiring the transfer of any child referred for the violation of certain firearm-related offenses,
renumbering the remaining Subdivs. accordingly, to exclude from Subdivs. (3) and (4) any child referred for a violation
of any provision specified in Subdiv. (2), to add provision requiring the prosecuting authority for juvenile matters to
consider whether the child is a person with mental retardation or suffers from a substantial mental disorder in deciding
whether to seek the transfer of the child under Subdiv. (2) and to add provision authorizing the child to file a notice of
intent to request a hearing under Subsec. (c), designated existing provisions re probable cause hearing as Subsec. (b), added
Subsec. (c) re a hearing for a child referred pursuant to Subsec. (a)(2) at which he may present evidence that he should not
be transferred to the regular criminal docket and the factors that must be proven at such hearing to avoid such a transfer,
deleted the provision that a transfer order is a final judgment for purposes of appeal and designated existing provisions re
post-transfer procedures as Subsec. (d); P.A. 95-225 substantially revised section by deleting former Subsecs. (a), (b) and
(c), adding new Subsec. (a) re automatic transfer of a child charged with the commission of a capital felony, a class A or
B felony or a violation of section 53a-54d, adding new Subsec. (b) re transfer of a child charged with a class C or D felony
or an unclassified felony and redesignating former Subsec. (d) re post-transfer procedures as Subsec. (c); P.A. 97-4 amended
Subsec. (c) to delete provision that prohibited a child being placed in a correctional facility and required the child to be
maintained in a facility for children and youth until he attains the age of sixteen years or until he is sentenced, whichever
occurs first, added Subsec. (d) providing that a child transferred to the regular criminal docket shall be in the custody of
the Commissioner of Correction upon the finalization of the transfer and specifying when a transfer is final, and added
Subsec. (e) limiting the transfer of children and juveniles to a Department of Correction facility, effective March 20, 1997;
P.A. 97-319 amended Subsec. (a) by adding provision re appointment of counsel for indigent child, effective July 1, 1997;
P.A. 98-256 amended Subsec. (a) to require the file of a transferred case to remain sealed "until the end of the tenth working
day following such arraignment" rather than "until the tenth day following such arraignment" and to replace "disposition"
with "proceedings", amended Subsec. (b) to provide that the case shall be transferred upon "order of the court" rather than
upon "approval by the court", to establish a deadline for a court to return a case to the docket for juvenile matters of "not
later than ten working days after the date of the transfer" and to require arraignment "by the next court date" rather than
"at the next court date" and amended Subsec. (c) to make provision mandating that a child resume his status as a juvenile
when found not guilty of the transferred charge also apply when found not guilty of any lesser included offenses.
See Sec. 18-65a re confinement of young and teenage women and female children.
See Sec. 18-73 re confinement of male children and youths.
Annotation to former section 17-60b:
Cited. 42 CS 426−429, 432, 497.
Annotations to present section:
Cited. 195 C. 303, 310. Cited. 206 C. 323, 324, 326, 327, 330, 331. Section "required a transfer of defendant back to
Juvenile Matters after it had been found that there was no probable cause to believe he had committed murder". 206 C.
346, 347, 350, 353−362. Cited. 207 C. 270, 275. Cited. 210 C. 435, 443. Cited. 211 C. 151, 158, 166. Cited. Id., 289, 296,
298, 299, 301, 304−307, 312, 318. Cited. 214 C. 454, 455, 457, 460, 461. Cited. 215 C. 277−282. Cited. 218 C. 714, 715,
717. Cited. 220 C. 162, 165. Cited. 221 C. 109, 110, 112, 114, 116, 119, 124, 125. Cited. 224 C. 29, 38. Cited. 226 C.
497, 499, 500. Requirements by section for adjudication of juvenile matter are not contemporaneous with procedural
requirements of Sec. 54-46a. 229 C. 691−695, 697, 699, 701, 702. Cited. 233 C. 44, 64. 1994 amendment affects substantive
rights and therefore applies prospectively. Judgment of appellate court reversed. 237 C. 364, 366, 369−378. P.A. 94-2 Sec.
6, July Spec. Sess. cited. Id. Section must be read to authorize the same sentence for those children convicted of lesser
included offenses after a full trial as for those who plead guilty to lesser included offenses. 240 C. 727. Cited. Id., 743.
Cited. 20 CA 321, 330. Cited. 24 CA 244−246. Cited. 28 CA 608−610. Cited. 29 CA 499, 500. Cited. Id., 573, 574.
Cited. Id., 771. Cited. 30 CA 381, 382, 384, 385, 391, 392. Cited. 32 CA 431, 433, 434, 436. Cited. Id., 759−765. Cited.
33 CA 90, 92. Cited. 36 CA 364, 365, 381. Cited. 46 CA 545.
Cited. 42 CS 426−429, 432, 437. Court allowed full participation of both state's attorney and state's advocate in transfer
hearing. 43 CS 38, 40, 41. Cited. Id., 367−370.
Former Subdiv. (1):
Cited. 211 C. 289, 295−301, 307, 310, 313. Cited. 215 C. 277, 278. Cited. 218 C. 714, 715. Cited. 240 C. 727.
Cited. 24 CA 244, 245.
Former Subdiv. (2):
Cited. 211 C. 289, 298.
Subsec. (a):
Statute does not create vested liberty interest in juvenile status and therefore procedural due process is not denied by
transferring juvenile to criminal docket without notice, hearing or the assistance of counsel; nor does statute violate juvenile's rights to substantive due process and equal protection of the law or violate principle of separation of powers. 245
C. 93.
Subsec. (d):
Cited. 240 C. 727.
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(b) Upon the filing of a delinquency petition, the court may, either forthwith or after
investigation, cause a summons, which summons shall have a copy of said verified
petition attached thereto, signed by the judge or by the clerk or assistant clerk of such
court, to be issued, requiring the child and the parent or parents, guardian or other person
having control of the child to appear in court at the time and place therein specified.
Whenever it appears to the judge that orders addressed to an adult, as set forth in section
46b-121, are necessary for the welfare of such child, a similar summons shall be issued
and served upon such adult if such adult is not already in court. Service of summons,
together with a copy of the verified petition, may be made by any one of the following
methods: (1) By the delivery of a true and attested copy thereof to the person summoned,
or at such person's usual place of abode; (2) by restricted delivery addressed to the
person summoned, return receipt requested; or (3) by first class mail addressed to the
person summoned. Any notice sent by first class mail shall include a provision informing
the party that appearance in court as a result of the notice may subject the appearing
party to the jurisdiction of the court. If service is made by first class mail and the party
does not appear, no order may be entered by the court in the case. If, after reasonable
effort, personal service has not been made, such substitute service, by publication or
otherwise, as the judge may order, shall be sufficient. Service may be made by any
officer authorized by law to serve process, or by a probation officer, probation aide or
indifferent person, and the court may allow suitable expenses and a reasonable fee therefor. The court may punish for contempt, as provided in section 46b-121, any parent,
guardian or other person so summoned who fails to appear in court at the time and place
so specified.
(1949 Rev., S. 2807; 1967, P.A. 630, S. 6; 1969, P.A. 794, S. 6; P.A. 75-157; 75-226, S. 1; P.A. 76-436, S. 15, 681;
P.A. 95-225, S. 14; P.A. 00-196, S. 27.)
History: 1967 act added requirement that copy of petition be served with the summons; 1969 act applied provisions to
delinquent children only where previously applicable to "uncared-for, neglected, dependent or delinquent" children, added
provisions re nonjudicial disposition of child and re contents of petition of delinquency and authorized service of summons
at person's usual place of abode; P.A. 75-157 authorized probation aides to serve summons; P.A. 75-226 allowed court to
order child to do work in public buildings or on public property in cases where complaint alleges that child's conduct
resulted in wilful destruction of property; P.A. 76-436 made changes in wording to reflect transfer of juvenile court powers
to superior court, effective July 1, 1978; Sec. 17-61 temporarily renumbered as Sec. 51-309 and ultimately transferred to
Sec. 46b-128 in 1979, (see note to Sec. 17-61) and references to other sections within provisions revised as necessary by
the Revisors to reflect their transfer; P.A. 95-225 inserted Subsec. indicators, amended Subsec. (a) to delete the provision
that prohibited nonjudicial supervision being continued beyond three months unless reviewed and extended by the judge
or the supervising officer's administrative superior and with the continuing acceptance of such action by the child and his
parent or guardian and add the provision that if a nonjudicial disposition is made, the term of nonjudicial supervision shall
be established by the juvenile probation supervisor and shall not exceed one hundred eighty days and amended Subsec.
(b) to authorize service of the summons and copy of the verified petition to be made by restricted delivery addressed to
the person summoned, return receipt requested, or by first class mail addressed to the person summoned, require any notice
sent by first class mail to inform the party that appearance in court as a result of the notice may subject the appearing party
to the jurisdiction of the court, prohibit an order being entered in the case if service is by first class mail and the party does
not appear, and authorize the court to punish for contempt any parent, guardian or other person so summoned who fails
to appear in court at the time and place so specified; P.A. 00-196 made technical changes in Subsec. (b).
See Sec. 46b-142 re venue and appeals in juvenile matters.
Annotations to former sections 17-61 and 51-309:
Cited. 171 C. 630, 641 (Dissent).
Cited. 19 CS 374; 26 CS 316.
Annotations to present section:
Cited. 206 C. 323, 326. Cited. Id., 346, 349. Cited. 229 C. 691, 700.
Subdiv. (1):
Cited. 211 C. 289, 294.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(b) If it appears from the specific allegations of the petition and other verified affirmations of fact accompanying the petition and application, or subsequent thereto, that
there is reasonable cause to believe that (1) the child is suffering from serious physical
illness or serious physical injury or is in immediate physical danger from his surroundings and (2) that as a result of said conditions, the child's safety is endangered and
immediate removal from such surroundings is necessary to ensure the child's safety,
the court shall either (A) issue an order to the parents or other person having responsibility for the care of the child or youth to appear at such time as the court may designate
to determine whether the court should vest in some suitable agency or person the child's
or youth's temporary care and custody pending disposition of the petition, or (B) issue
an order ex parte vesting in some suitable agency or person the child's or youth's temporary care and custody. A preliminary hearing on any ex parte custody order or order to
appear issued by the court shall be held within ten days from the issuance of such order.
The service of such orders may be made by any officer authorized by law to serve
process, or by any probation officer appointed in accordance with section 46b-123,
investigator from the Department of Administrative Services, state or local police officer
or indifferent person. Such orders shall include a conspicuous notice to the respondent
written in clear and simple language containing at least the following information: (i)
That the order contains allegations that conditions in the home have endangered the
safety and welfare of the child; (ii) that a hearing will be held on the date on the form;
(iii) that the hearing is the opportunity to present the parents' position concerning the
alleged facts; (iv) that an attorney will be appointed for parents who cannot afford an
attorney; (v) that such parents may apply for a court-appointed attorney by going in
person to the court address on the form and are advised to go as soon as possible in order
for the attorney to prepare for the hearing; and (vi) if such parents have any questions
concerning the case or appointment of counsel, any such parent is advised to go to the
court or call the clerk's office at the court as soon as possible. Upon application for
appointed counsel, the court shall promptly determine eligibility and, if the respondent
is eligible, promptly appoint counsel. The expense for any temporary care and custody
shall be paid by the town in which such child or youth is at the time residing, and such
town shall be reimbursed therefor by the town found liable for his support, except that
where a state agency has filed a petition pursuant to the provisions of subsection (a) of
this section, the agency shall pay such expense. The agency shall give primary consideration to placing the child in the town where such child resides. The agency shall file in
writing with the clerk of the court the reasons for placing the child in a particular placement outside the town where the child resides. Upon issuance of an ex parte order,
the court shall provide to the commissioner and the parent or guardian specific steps
necessary for each to take to address the ex parte order for the parent or guardian to
retain or regain custody of the child or youth.
(c) In any proceeding under this section, any grandparent of the child may make a
motion to intervene and the court shall grant such motion except for good cause shown.
Upon the granting of such motion, such grandparent may appear by counsel or in person.
(d) The preliminary hearing on the order of temporary custody or order to appear
or the first hearing on a petition filed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall be
held in order for the court to: (1) Advise the parent or guardian of the allegations contained in all petitions and applications that are the subject of the hearing; (2) assure that
an attorney, and where appropriate, a separate guardian ad litem has been appointed to
represent the child or youth in accordance with section 46b-129a and section 46b-136;
(3) upon request, appoint an attorney to represent the respondent when the respondent
is unable to afford representation, as determined by the court; (4) advise the parent or
guardian of the right to a hearing on the petitions and applications, to be held within ten
days from the date of the preliminary hearing if the hearing is pursuant to an order of
temporary custody or an order to show cause; (5) accept a plea regarding the truth
of such allegations; (6) make any interim orders, including visitation, that the court
determines are in the best interests of the child or youth. The court, after a hearing
pursuant to this subsection, shall order specific steps the commissioner and the parent
or guardian shall take for the parent or guardian to regain or to retain custody of the
child or youth; (7) take steps to determine the identity of the father of the child or youth,
including ordering genetic testing, if necessary, and order service of the petition and
notice of the hearing date, if any, to be made upon him; (8) if the person named as the
father appears, and admits that he is the father, provide him and the mother with the
notices which comply with section 17b-27 and provide them with the opportunity to
sign a paternity acknowledgment and affirmation on forms which comply with section
17b-27. These documents shall be executed and filed in accordance with chapter 815y
and a copy delivered to the clerk of the superior court for juvenile matters; and (9) in
the event that the person named as a father appears and denies that he is the father of
the child or youth, advise him that he may have no further standing in any proceeding
concerning the child, and either order genetic testing to determine paternity or direct
him to execute a written denial of paternity on a form promulgated by the Office of the
Chief Court Administrator. Upon execution of such a form by the putative father, the
court may remove him from the case and afford him no further standing in the case or
in any subsequent proceeding regarding the child or youth until such time as paternity
is established by formal acknowledgment or adjudication in a court of competent jurisdiction.
(e) If any parent or guardian fails, after service of such order, to appear at the preliminary hearing the court may enter or sustain an order of temporary custody.
(f) Upon request, or upon its own motion, the court shall schedule a hearing on the
order for temporary custody or the order to show cause to be held within ten days from
the date of the preliminary hearing. Such hearing shall be held on consecutive days
except for compelling circumstances or at the request of the parent or guardian.
(g) At a contested hearing on the order for temporary custody or order to appear,
credible hearsay evidence regarding statements of the child or youth made to a mandated
reporter or to a parent may be offered by the parties and admitted by the court upon a
finding that the statement is reliable and trustworthy and that admission of such statement
is reasonably necessary. A signed statement executed by a mandated reporter under oath
may be admitted by the court without the need for the mandated reporter to appear
and testify unless called by a respondent or the child, provided the statement: (1) Was
provided at the preliminary hearing and promptly upon request to any counsel appearing
after the preliminary hearing; (2) reasonably describes the qualifications of the reporter
and the nature of his contact with the child; and (3) contains only the direct observations
of the reporter, and statements made to the reporter that would be admissible if the
reporter were to testify to them in court and any opinions reasonably based thereupon.
If a respondent or the child gives notice at the preliminary hearing that he intends to
cross-examine the reporter, the person filing the petition shall make the reporter available
for such examination at the contested hearing.
(h) If any parent or guardian fails, after due notice of the hearing scheduled pursuant
to subsection (g) of this section and without good cause, to appear at the scheduled date
for a contested hearing on the order of temporary custody or order to appear, the court
may enter or sustain an order of temporary custody.
(i) When a petition is filed in said court for the commitment of a child or youth, the
Commissioner of Children and Families shall make a thorough investigation of the case
and shall cause to be made a thorough physical and mental examination of the child or
youth if requested by the court. The court after hearing may also order a thorough physical or mental examination, or both, of a parent or guardian whose competency or ability
to care for a child or youth before the court is at issue. The expenses incurred in making
such physical and mental examinations shall be paid as costs of commitment are paid.
(j) Upon finding and adjudging that any child or youth is uncared-for, neglected or
dependent, the court may commit him to the Commissioner of Children and Families
for a maximum period of twelve months, unless such period is extended in accordance
with the provisions of subsection (k) of this section, provided such commitment or any
extension thereof may be revoked or parental rights terminated at any time by the court,
or the court may vest such child's or youth's care and personal custody in any private or
public agency which is permitted by law to care for neglected, uncared-for or dependent
children or youth or with any person or persons found to be suitable and worthy of such
responsibility by the court. The court shall order specific steps which the parent must
take to facilitate the return of the child or youth to the custody of such parent. The
commissioner shall be the guardian of such child or youth for the duration of the commitment, provided the child or youth has not reached the age of eighteen years or, in the
case of a child or youth in full-time attendance in a secondary school, a technical school,
a college or a state-accredited job training program, provided such child or youth has
not reached the age of twenty-one, by consent of such youth, or until another guardian
has been legally appointed, and in like manner, upon such vesting of his care, such other
public or private agency or individual shall be the guardian of such child or youth until
he has reached the age of eighteen years or, in the case of a child or youth in full-time
attendance in a secondary school, a technical school, a college or a state-accredited job
training program, until such child or youth has reached the age of twenty-one years or
until another guardian has been legally appointed. Said commissioner may place any
child or youth so committed to him in a suitable foster home or in the home of a person
related by blood to such child or youth or in a licensed child-caring institution or in the
care and custody of any accredited, licensed or approved child-caring agency, within
or without the state, provided a child shall not be placed outside the state except for
good cause and unless the parents of such child are notified in advance of such placement
and given an opportunity to be heard, or in a receiving home maintained and operated
by the Commissioner of Children and Families. In placing such child or youth, said
commissioner shall, if possible, select a home, agency, institution or person of like
religious faith to that of a parent of such child or youth, if such faith is known or may
be ascertained by reasonable inquiry, provided such home conforms to the standards of
said commissioner and the commissioner shall, when placing siblings, if possible, place
such children together. As an alternative to commitment, the court may place the child
in the custody of the parent or guardian with protective supervision by the Commissioner
of Children and Families subject to conditions established by the court.
(k) (1) Ten months after the adjudication of neglect of the child or youth or twelve
months after the vesting of temporary care and custody pursuant to subsection (b) of
this section, whichever is earlier, the commissioner shall file a motion for review of a
permanency plan and to extend or revoke the commitment. Ten months after a permanency plan has been approved by the court pursuant to this subsection, unless the court
has approved placement in long-term foster care with an identified person or an independent living program, or the commissioner has filed a petition for termination of parental
rights or motion to transfer guardianship, the commissioner shall file a motion for review
of the permanency plan to extend or revoke the commitment. A hearing on any such
motion shall be held within sixty days of the filing. The court shall provide notice to
the child or youth, and his parent or guardian of the time and place of the court hearing
on any such motion not less than fourteen days prior to such hearing.
(2) At such hearing, the court shall determine whether it is appropriate to continue
to make reasonable efforts to reunify the child or youth with the parent. In making this
determination, the court shall consider the best interests of the child, including the child's
need for permanency. If the court finds that further efforts are not appropriate, the commissioner has no duty to make further efforts to reunify the child or youth with the
parent. If the court finds that further efforts are appropriate, such efforts shall ensure
that the child or youth's health and safety are protected and such efforts shall be specified
by the court, including the services to be provided to the parent, what steps the parent
may take to address the problem that prevents the child or youth from safely reuniting
with the parent and a time period, not longer than six months, for such steps to be
accomplished.
(3) At such hearing, the court shall approve a permanency plan that is in the best
interests of the child or youth and takes into consideration the child or youth's need for
permanency. Such permanency plan may include (A) revocation of commitment and
placement of the child or youth with the parent or guardian, with or without protective
supervision; (B) placing the child or youth in an independent living program; (C) transfer
of guardianship; (D) approval of long-term foster care with an identified foster parent;
(E) filing of termination of parental rights; (F) if the permanency plan identifies adoption
as an option, a thorough adoption assessment and child specific recruitment. As used in
this subdivision, "thorough adoption assessment" means conducting and documenting
face-to-face interviews with the child, foster care providers, and other significant parties
and "child specific recruitment" means recruiting an adoptive placement targeted to
meet the individual needs of the specific child, including, but not limited to, use of the
media, use of photo-listing services and any other in-state or out-of-state resources that
may be used to meet the specific needs of the child, unless there are extenuating circumstances that indicate that these efforts are not in the best interest of the child; or (G) such
other appropriate action ordered by the court. At the permanency plan hearing, the court
shall review the status of the child, the progress being made to implement the permanency plan and determine a timetable for attaining the permanency prescribed by the
plan. The court shall extend commitment if extension is in the best interests of the child
or youth for a period of twelve months. The court shall revoke commitment if a cause
for commitment no longer exists and it is in the best interests of the child or youth.
(l) The Commissioner of Children and Families shall pay directly to the person or
persons furnishing goods or services determined by said commissioner to be necessary
for the care and maintenance of such child or youth the reasonable expense thereof,
payment to be made at intervals determined by said commissioner; and the Comptroller
shall draw his order on the Treasurer, from time to time, for such part of the appropriation
for care of committed children or youth as may be needed in order to enable the commissioner to make such payments. Said commissioner shall include in his annual budget a
sum estimated to be sufficient to carry out the provisions of this section. Notwithstanding
that any such child or youth has income or estate, the commissioner may pay the cost
of care and maintenance of such child or youth. The commissioner may bill to and collect
from the person in charge of the estate of any child or youth aided under this chapter,
including his decedent estate, or the payee of such child's or youth's income, the total
amount expended for care of such child or youth or such portion thereof as any such
estate or payee is able to reimburse.
(m) The commissioner, a parent or the child's attorney may file a motion to revoke
a commitment, and, upon finding that cause for commitment no longer exists, and that
such revocation is in the best interest and welfare of such child or youth, the court may
revoke the commitment of any child or youth. No such motion shall be filed more often
than once every six months.
(n) Upon service on the parent, guardian or other person having control of the child
or youth of any order issued by the court pursuant to the provisions of subsections (b)
and (j) of this section, the child or youth concerned shall be surrendered to the person
serving the order who shall forthwith deliver the child or youth to the person, agency,
department or institution awarded custody in such order. Upon refusal of the parent,
guardian or other person having control of the child or youth to surrender the child or
youth as provided in the order, the court may cause a warrant to be issued charging the
parent, guardian or other person having control of the child or youth with contempt of
court. If the person arrested is found in contempt of court, the court may order such
person confined until he purges himself of contempt, but for not more than six months,
or may fine such person not more than five hundred dollars, or both.
(o) A foster parent shall have standing for the purposes of this section in Superior
Court in matters concerning the placement or revocation of commitment of a foster child
living with such parent. A foster parent shall receive notice of any motion to revoke
commitment or any hearing on such motion. A foster parent who has cared for a child
or youth for not less than six months shall have standing to comment on the best interests
of such child or youth in any matter under this section which is brought not more than
one year after the last day the foster parent provided such care.
(1949 Rev., S. 2634, subs. (a)−(e); 1949, 1953, 1955, S. 1469d, subs. (a)−(e); 1957, P.A. 50; 1959, P.A. 293; 1967,
P.A. 698; 1969, P.A. 794, S. 7; 1971, P.A. 150; 184; 231; 253; 1972, P.A. 127, S. 24; 294, S. 18; P.A. 73-205, S. 5; 73-
546, S. 2; 73-625, S. 3, 4; P.A. 74-251, S. 10, 11; P.A. 75-420, S. 4, 6; 75-492, S. 1, 2; 75-602, S. 4, 13; P.A. 76-436, S.
16, 668, 681; P.A. 77-272; 77-273; 77-614, S. 71, 521, 587, 610; P.A. 78-223, S. 1, 2; 78-303, S. 85, 136; P.A. 79-423;
79-579; 79-631, S. 84, 111; P.A. 80-483, S. 121, 186; P.A. 82-181, S. 1, 2; P.A. 84-449, S. 5, 7; P.A. 93-91, S. 1, 2; 93-
262, S. 1, 87; P.A. 95-238, S. 4; P.A. 96-246, S. 20, 21; P.A. 97-319, S. 19, 22; P.A. 98-185; 98-241, S. 5, 18; June Sp.
Sess. P.A. 98-1, S. 102, 121; P.A. 00-137, S. 2, 3, 15.)
History: 1959 act specified that commissioner is to pay cost of child's care and maintenance and collect cost of care
and maintenance from child's estate or income in Subsec. (d); 1967 act added "dependent child" to classification of children
within section and added custody by private or public agency to Subsec. (c); 1969 act rephrased provisions and rearranged
Subsecs., authorized filing in Subsec. (a) by town manager, local welfare department and commission on youth services,
deleting authority for parent or guardian, Long Lane School and Connecticut State Farm for Women to file and added
provisions in Subsec. (c) re physical and/or mental examinations of parents or guardians; 1971 acts authorized application
by person who acknowledges paternity of a child born out of wedlock in Subsec. (f), added Subsec. (g) re surrender of
child upon court order, rephrased provision in Subsec. (e) re recovery of costs of child's care and maintenance and specified
in Subsec. (b) who may serve orders for temporary custody; 1972 acts changed age at which child's guardianship terminates
from twenty-one to eighteen, reflecting changed age of majority, in Subsec. (d) and referred to annual rather than biennial
budgets in Subsec. (e); P.A. 73-205 authorized court to order child's parent or person responsible for child to show cause
why temporary custody should not be vested in suitable agency or person pending hearing and specified that hearing must
be held within ten days from issuance of order in Subsec. (b); P.A. 73-546 rephrased provision in Subsec. (e) re recovery
of costs of child's care and maintenance; P.A. 73-625 extended period of guardianship until child is twenty-one where he
is in full-time attendance in secondary or technical school, college or state-accredited job training program in Subsec. (d);
P.A. 74-251 authorized commitments to commissioner of children and youth services after April 1, 1975, in Subsecs. (a)
and (d); P.A. 75-420 replaced welfare commissioner with commissioner of social services generally; P.A. 75-492 deleted
reference to welfare commissioner and authorized filing by child, his representative, attorney or foster parent in Subsec.
(a); P.A. 75-602 applied provisions to youths, included in Subsec. (a) reference to "dependent" children and substituted
children and youth services commissioner for welfare commissioner in Subsec. (c); P.A. 76-436 deleted references to
superior court for references to juvenile court where appearing, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 77-272 added proviso in Subsec.
(d) re conditions which must be met for out-of-state placements; P.A. 77-273 added Subsec. (h) re standing of foster parent;
P.A. 77-614 and P.A. 78-303 replaced central collections division of finance and control department with department of
administrative services in Subsec. (b) and, effective January 1, 1979, replaced references to social services commissioner
with references to human resources commissioner; P.A. 78-223 specified commissioner in Subsec. (e) as commissioner
"of the department to which the child or youth is committed"; P.A. 79-423 added exception in Subsec. (b) re payment of
expenses of temporary care and custody by state agencies; P.A. 79-579 deleted reference to human resources commissioner
in Subsec. (d), placed limitations on period of commitment in that Subsec., inserted new Subsec. (e) re procedure when
expiration of commitment period is near to revoke or extend commitment or terminate parental rights, relettering former
Subsecs. (e) to (h) accordingly, and amended Subsec. (i), formerly (h), to apply with regard to revocation of commitments;
P.A. 79-631 and P.A. 80-483 made technical changes to reflect final deletion of extraneous references to commissioner
of human resources; Sec. 17-62 temporarily renumbered as Sec. 51-310 and ultimately transferred to Sec. 46b-129 in 1979,
(see note to Sec. 17-62) and references to other sections within provisions revised as necessary by the Revisors to reflect
their transfer; P.A. 82-181 amended Subsecs. (d) and (e) by reducing the maximum period of commitment from two years
to eighteen months; P.A. 84-449 amended Subsec. (a) by adding "except as otherwise provided in subsection (e) of section
17-43a"; P.A. 93-91 substituted commissioner and department of children and families for commissioner and department
of children and youth services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 93-262 authorized substitution of commissioner and department
of social services for commissioner and department of human resources, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-238 amended
Subsecs. (d) and (e) to change the maximum period of commitment from eighteen months to twelve months and amended
Subsec. (e) to require that the court determine the appropriateness of continued efforts to reunify the child or youth with
his family; P.A. 96-246 amended Subsec. (b) by adding provision requiring court to provide commissioner and parent with
specific steps for parent to facilitate return of child to custody of parent or maintain custody of child and amended Subsec.
(g) by permitting attorney who represented child in prior or pending hearing, attorney appointed by Superior Court and
attorney retained by child over fourteen to make application for revocation of commitment; P.A. 97-319 amended Subsec.
(d) to add provision re court orders of steps the parent must take to facilitate return of a child or youth to the custody of
the parent and provision re placement of siblings and alternatives to commitment, effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 98-185
amended Subsec. (i) by providing standing to foster parents to comment on the best interest of the child or youth; P.A. 98-
241 substantially revised section, amending provisions re allegations of petition, preliminary hearing on ex parte custody
order or hearing on petition, notice re rights of parents re hearing, consideration of placement of child in town where child
resides, necessary steps for parent to regain custody of child, intervention by grandparents, and contested hearing on order
of temporary custody, adding new Subsecs. (c) to (h), inclusive, and redesignating former Subsecs. (c), (d), (f), (h) and (i)
as Subsecs. (i), (j), (l), (n) and (o); replaced former Subsec. (e) with new Subsec. (k) re filing of permanency plan and
motion to extend or revoke commitment by Commissioner of Children and Families, basis for determination by court, and
determination by court, and replaced former Subsec. (g) with new Subsec. (m) re motion to revoke commitment; June Sp.
Sess. P.A. 98-1 made technical changes in Subsec. (b), effective July 1, 1998; P.A. 00-137 changed reference in Subsec.
(a) from Subsec. (d) to Subsec. (k) of Sec. 17a-112, made technical changes in Subsec. (d), and in Subsec. (e) deleted "and
enter a default" after "order of temporary custody" and added Subsec. (k)(3)(F) providing that if permanency plan identifies
adoption as option, thorough adoption assessment and child specific recruitment is required, and defining "thorough
adoption assessment" and "child specific recruitment", relettered former (F) as (G), and added provision to Subsec. (k)(3)(G)
that at permanency plan hearing, court shall review status of child, progress made to implement permanency plan and
determine timetable for attaining permanency plan, and deleted Subsec. (k)(4) re revocation of commitment by operation
of law, following dismissal of termination petition, or denial of motion to transfer guardianship.
See Sec. 17a-109 re commitment of children to child-caring institutions.
Annotations to former section 17-62 and 51-310:
Cited. 4 CS 254; 26 CS 316. Youth and emotional instability of parents held not sufficient to warrant finding that child
was uncared for or neglected. 21 CS 154.
Subsec. (a):
Cited. 171 C. 630, 633.
Subsec. (d):
Cited. 171 C. 630, 633, 634, 636, 638.
Cited. 33 CS 193, 194.
Subsec. (f):
Foster parents are not parents for purposes of this subsection. 171 C. 630, 632−636. Plaintiff-foster parent should have
right to reopen commitment of child under this subsection. Id., 630, 639, 643, 644 (Dissent).
Annotations to present section:
Cited. 179 C. 155, 156, 169, 172, 173. Cited. 187 C. 431, 435; Cited. 189 C. 276, 289, 293. Cited. 190 C. 310, 312.
Confers exclusive jurisdiction on superior court to enter orders in cases in which there is finding that child or youth is
uncared for, neglected or dependent upon filing of a neglect petition. 195 C. 344−349, 353, 366. Cited. 211 C. 151, 162.
Cannot be read together with Sec. 45a-717(f)(3) so as to permit the custody determination made under this section to lead
directly to the termination determination made under Sec. 45a-717(f)(3). Judgment of appellate court in In re Valerie D.,
25 CA 586 reversed. 223 C. 492, 499, 533−535. Cited. 224 C. 263, 265, 268.
Cited. 1 CA 463, 466. Cited. 6 CA 360, 361. Cited. 9 CA 506, 509, 511. Cited. 10 CA 428, 434, 438. Cited. 13 CA
626, 630. Cited. 22 CA 656, 657. Cited. 26 CA 58, 61, 63. Cited. 29 CA 112, 114. Cited. Id., 600, 602, 603, 607, 612, 613,
617, 618. Cited. 33 CA 632, 634. Cited. 35 CA 276, 277. Cited. 40 CA 366, 369.
Cited. 39 CS 514, 515. Cited. 43 CS 108, 110. Cited. 44 CS 235. P.A. 95-238 Sec. 4(e) cited. Id., 551.
Subsec. (a):
Cited. 179 C. 155, 170. Cited. 189 C. 276, 280, 299. Cited. 195 C. 344, 364. Cited. 223 C. 492, 502. Authority to draft
and sign petitions to terminate parental rights not limited to attorneys. 247 C. 1.
Cited. 2 CA 705, 706. Cited. 9 CA 98, 99. Cited. 10 CA 428, 430. Statute does not require that a respondent parent
have custody for court to adjudicate a neglect petition. 51 CA 667.
Cited. 41 CS 23, 27.
Subsec. (b):
Held constitutional; burden of proof and standard of proof discussed. 189 C. 276 et seq. Subdiv. (1) cited. Id., 276, 293.
Subdiv. (2) cited. Id., 276, 280, 281, 293−295. Cited. 192 C. 254, 256, 263. Cited. 223 C. 492, 499, 533.
Cited. 10 CA 428, 430, 435. Cited. 26 CA 58, 61, 62.
Subdiv. (2) cited. 39 CS 514, 516, 517. Subdiv. (2) cited. 41 CS 505, 509.
Subsec. (c):
Cited. 179 C. 155, 173, 174. Cited. 189 C. 276, 299. Cited. 192 C. 254, 256. Cited. 216 C. 563, 580.
Does not violate due process. 10 CA 428, 438, 439. Cited. 33 CA 632, 641, 642.
Cited. 44 CS 551.
Subsec. (d):
Cited. 192 C. 254, 264. Cited. 195 C. 344, 345, 349, 350, 352−357, 361, 364−367. Cited. 223 C. 492, 533. Cited. 230
C. 459, 462. Cited. 238 C. 146.
Cited. 8 CA 656, 657, 660, 666. Subdiv. (3) cited. Id., 656, 659. Cited. 9 CA 506, 509, 511, 512. Cited. Id., 608, 613.
Cited. 10 CA 428, 429, 434. Cited. 19 CA 371, 372. Cited. 31 CA 400, 404; judgment reversed, see 230 C. 459 et seq.
Cited. 40 CA 366, 367, 369, 371. Cited. 45 CA 606.
Cited. 39 CS 514, 518. Cited. 41 CS 23, 30. Cited. Id., 145. Cited. Id., 505, 513, 515. Cited. 42 CS 562−564.
Subsec. (e):
Cited. 189 C. 276, 285. Cited. 190 C. 310, 319. Cited. 192 C. 254, 264. Cited. 195 C. 344, 350, 352, 355−358, 361.
Subdiv. (3) cited. Id., 344, 356, 357.
"Shall" construed to be directory rather than mandatory. 9 CA 506, 508, 509, 511, 512. Cited. Id., 608, 613. Subdiv.
(2) cited. Id., 608, 614. Cited. 23 CA 410, 413. Department of Children and Families (DCF) may petition for an extension
of commitment pursuant to the section even when petition to terminate parental rights is pending. 40 CA 366−368, 371,
373, 374. Order of trial court extending commitment of minor child to commissioner is final judgment for purposes of
appeal. 49 CA 361.
Cited. 44 CS 551.
Subsec. (f):
Cited. 177 C. 648, 650, 657−659, 662. Cited. 189 C. 276, 291.
Subsec. (g):
Cited. 189 C. 276, 299. Cited. 192 C. 254, 264. Cited. 195 C. 344, 356.
Cited. 45 CA 606.
Cited. 41 CS 505, 514. Cited. 42 CS 562, 564.
Subsec. (i):
Cited. 188 C. 259, 261, 263.
Cited. 46 CA 69.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(P.A. 96-246, S. 13.)
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(P.A. 73-546, S. 1; P.A. 85-548, S. 6; P.A. 90-230, S. 64, 101; P.A. 93-91, S. 1, 2; 93-262, S. 1, 87; June 18 Sp. Sess.
P.A. 97-2, S. 106, 165; P.A. 98-241, S. 13, 18.)
History: Sec. 17-62a temporarily renumbered as Sec. 51-311 and ultimately transferred to Sec. 46b-130 in 1979, (see
note to Sec. 17-62a) and references to other sections within provisions revised as necessary by the Revisors to reflect their
transfer; P.A. 85-548 added provision re assignment of support rights of minor child receiving foster care maintenance
payments under Title IV-E of the Social Security Act; P.A. 90-230 corrected an internal reference; P.A. 93-91 substituted
commissioner and department of children and families for commissioner and department of children and youth services,
effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 93-262 authorized substitution of commissioner and department of social services for commissioner and department of human resources, effective July 1, 1993; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-2 made a technical change,
deleting various references to sections in title 17b, effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 98-241 changed reference from Subsec. (f)
to Subsec. (k) of Sec. 46b-129, effective July 1, 1998.
Cited. 236 C. 582, 594.
Cited. 45 CA 508.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(1949 Rev., S. 2808; 1969, P.A. 297; 794, S. 8; P.A. 79-581, S. 4; P.A. 80-483, S. 122, 186; P.A. 81-472, S. 83, 159;
P.A. 84-369, S. 3.)
Cited. 195 C. 303, 310.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(1949 Rev., S. 2809; 1955, S. 1577d; P.A. 76-436, S. 10a, 21, 681.)
History: P.A. 76-436 transferred powers formerly held by juvenile court district judges to chief court administrator or
his designee, effective July 1, 1978; Sec. 17-64 temporarily renumbered as Sec. 51-313 and ultimately transferred to Sec.
46b-132 in 1979, see note to Sec. 17-64.
Annotations to former section 17-64:
Cited. 26 CS 316.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(P.A. 98-256, S. 9.)
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(b) Whenever a child is brought before a judge of the Superior Court, such judge
shall immediately have the case proceeded upon as a juvenile matter. Such judge may
admit such child to bail or release him in the custody of his parent or parents, his guardian
or some other suitable person to appear before the Superior Court when ordered. If
detention becomes necessary or desirable, the same shall be in the manner prescribed
by this chapter.
(c) Upon the arrest of any child by an officer, such officer may release him to the
custody of his parent or parents, guardian or some other suitable person or agency or
may immediately turn him over to a juvenile detention center. When a child is arrested
for the commission of a delinquent act and the child is not placed in detention or referred
to a diversionary program, an officer shall serve a written complaint and summons on
the child and his parent, guardian or other person having control of the child. Such
parent, guardian or other person shall execute a written promise to appear in court at
the time and place specified in such summons. If any person so summoned wilfully fails
to appear in court at the time and place so specified, the court may issue a warrant for
the child's arrest or a capias to assure the appearance in court of such parent, guardian
or other person. The court may punish for contempt, as provided in section 46b-121,
any parent, guardian or other person so summoned who wilfully fails to appear in court
at the time and place so specified.
(d) The court or detention supervisor may turn such child over to a youth service
program created for such purpose, if such course is practicable, or such child may be
detained pending a hearing which shall be held on the business day next following his
arrest. No child shall be detained after such hearing or held in detention pursuant to a
court order unless it appears from the available facts that there is probable cause to
believe that the child has committed the acts alleged and that there is (1) a strong probability that the child will run away prior to court hearing or disposition, (2) a strong probability that the child will commit or attempt to commit other offenses injurious to him or
to the community before court disposition, (3) probable cause to believe that the child's
continued residence in his home pending disposition will not safeguard the best interests
of the child or the community because of the serious and dangerous nature of the act or
acts he is alleged to have committed, (4) a need to hold the child for another jurisdiction
or (5) a need to hold the child to assure his appearance before the court, in view of his
previous failure to respond to the court process. Such probable cause may be shown by
sworn affidavit in lieu of testimony. No child shall be released from detention who is
alleged to have committed a serious juvenile offense except by order of a judge of the
Superior Court. In no case shall a child be confined in a community correctional center
or lockup, or in any place where adults are or may be confined, except in the case of a
nursing infant; nor shall any child at any time be held in solitary confinement. When a
female child is held in custody, she shall, as far as possible, be in the charge of a woman
attendant.
(e) The police officer who brings a child into detention shall have first notified, or
made a reasonable effort to notify, the parents or guardian of the child in question of
the intended action and shall file at the detention center a signed statement setting forth
the alleged delinquent conduct of the child. Unless the arrest was for a serious juvenile
offense, the child may be released by a detention supervisor to the custody of his parent
or parents, guardian or some other suitable person.
(f) In conjunction with any order of release from detention the court may, when it
has reason to believe a child is alcohol-dependent or drug-dependent as defined in section
46b-120, and where necessary, reasonable and appropriate, order the child to participate
in a program of periodic alcohol or drug testing and treatment as a condition of such
release. The results of any such alcohol or drug test shall be admissible only for the
purposes of enforcing the conditions of release from detention.
(g) Whenever the population of a juvenile detention center equals or exceeds the
maximum capacity for such center, as determined by the Judicial Department, the detention supervisor in charge of intake shall only admit a child who: (1) Is charged with the
commission of a serious juvenile offense, (2) is the subject of an order to detain or an
outstanding court order to take such child into custody, (3) is ordered by a court to be
held in detention, or (4) is being transferred to such center to await a court appearance.
(1949 Rev., S. 2810; 1959, P.A. 28, S. 54; P.A. 74-183, S. 211, 291; P.A. 76-426; 76-436, S. 22, 668, 681; P.A. 77-
452, S. 24, 72; P.A. 80-236; P.A. 82-220; P.A. 83-504; P.A. 84-369, S. 1; P.A. 89-273, S. 3; P.A. 90-161, S. 2, 6; P.A. 95-
225, S. 15; P.A. 98-256, S. 4.)
History: 1959 act substituted circuit court for city, police, borough or town court; P.A. 74-183 replaced circuit court
with court of common pleas, effective December 31, 1974; P.A. 76-426 authorized juvenile court, probation officer or
other officer to turn child over to youth service program; P.A. 76-436 replaced references to court of common pleas and
juvenile court with references to superior court and juvenile matters, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 77-452 made technical
grammatical change; Sec. 17-65 temporarily renumbered as Sec. 51-314 and ultimately transferred to Sec. 46b-133 in
1979, (see note to Sec. 17-65) and references to other sections within provisions revised as necessary by the Revisors to
reflect their transfer; P.A. 80-236 authorized turning child over to juvenile detention center and similarly authorized
detention supervisor to turn child over to youth service program; P.A. 82-220 added provision re taking photograph,
physical description and fingerprints of child fourteen or older arrested and charged with a felony; P.A. 83-504 divided
section into Subsecs. and added provision re arrest of child by an officer for the commission of a serious juvenile offense
as Subsec. (e); P.A. 84-369 revised the procedures for the release or detention of an arrested child including deleting the
provision allowing the police officer to set bond for a child arrested for a serious juvenile offense, providing that a child
arrested for any offense may either be released to the custody of his parent, guardian or some other suitable person or
agency or turned over to a detention center, requiring the detention release hearing to be held on the next business day for
all arrested children who are detained, prohibiting detention unless certain findings are made including probable cause
that the child has committed the acts alleged, prohibiting release from detention of a child who has committed a serious
juvenile offense except by order of a judge, and requiring a police officer to notify the parents or guardian of a child whom
he intends to bring into detention; P.A. 89-273 added Subsec. (f) re the criteria for the admission of a child to a juvenile
detention center when the population of the center equals or exceeds its maximum capacity; P.A. 90-161 inserted new
Subsec. (f) permitting the court to order child to participate in drug testing and treatment as condition of release from
detention, relettering former Subsec. as (g); P.A. 95-225 amended Subsec. (a) to revise provision re taking of the photograph,
physical description and fingerprints of an arrested child by making it applicable to any child who is charged with a crime,
rather than only to a child fourteen years of age or older who is charged with a violation of any provision of title 53a which
is designated a felony, and by providing that such child "may be required to" submit to such taking, rather than "shall"
submit to such taking, and add provision permitting the disclosure to the public of the photograph of any child arrested
for the commission of a capital felony or a class A felony, amended Subsec. (c) to add provisions requiring an officer to
serve a written complaint and summons on a child and the parent, guardian or other person having control of a child who
is arrested or referred for the commission of a delinquent act and is not placed in detention, requiring such parent, guardian
or other person to execute a written promise to appear in court, authorizing the court to issue a warrant for the child's arrest
or a capias to assure the court appearance of the parent, guardian or other person if any person so summoned wilfully fails
to appear in court and authorizing the court to punish for contempt any parent, guardian or other person who wilfully fails
to appear in court and amended Subsec. (f) to authorize "alcohol" testing and treatment and allow the admissibility of the
results of an "alcohol" test; P.A. 98-256 amended Subsec. (a) to revise provision authorizing the disclosure of the photograph
of a child arrested for a capital felony or class A felony to also include the name and custody status of the child, amended
Subsec. (c) to make requirement that an officer serve a written complaint and summons on a child arrested for a delinquent
act and his parent, guardian or other person having control of the child inapplicable when the child is referred to a diversionary program and amended Subsec. (g) to add "an order to detain" in Subdiv. (2).
Annotations to former sections 17-65 and 51-314:
Cited. 115 C. 591; 154 C. 644, 648. Under circumstances of the apprehension, and in view of fact that offices of juvenile
court were closed, it was not practicable to turn plaintiff over to appropriate officials immediately after arrest, and ten-
hour detention was not unreasonable. 171 C. 683, 689.
Annotations to present section:
Cited. 206 C. 346, 349. Cited. 211 C. 289, 293.
Cited. 46 CA 545.
Cited. 43 CS 211, 220.
Subsec. (b):
Cited. 206 C. 323, 330. Cited. Id., 346, 349.
Subsec. (c):
Cited. 46 CA 545.
Subsec. (d):
Cited. 214 C. 454, 463.
Cited. 43 CS 211, 212, 220.
Subsec. (e):
Cited. 215 C. 739, 748.
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(b) Whenever a nolle prosequi has been entered as to any count of delinquency, or
whenever any count of delinquency has been dismissed without prejudice, if at least
thirteen months have elapsed since such nolle or dismissal without prejudice, all police
and court records pertaining to such count shall be erased. Whenever any such count
has been continued at the request of the juvenile prosecutor and a period of thirteen
months has elapsed since the granting of such continuance during which period there
has been no prosecution or other disposition of the matter, the count shall be construed
to have been nolled as of the date of termination of such thirteen-month period and such
erasure may thereafter be effected as provided in this subsection for nolled cases.
(P.A. 84-369, S. 2; P.A. 95-225, S. 16; P.A. 98-256, S. 5.)
History: P.A. 95-225 replaced "court advocate" with "juvenile prosecutor"; P.A. 98-256 replaced "charge" with "count"
where appearing.
Subsec. (b):
Cited. 21 CA 654, 661.
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(b) The court, upon motion of the child charged with a delinquency offense but not
yet convicted, may order the suspension of the delinquency proceedings for a period of
up to one year, order periodic alcohol and drug testing of such child during the period
of suspension and order treatment for alcohol or drug dependency if the court, after
consideration of information before it concerning the alcohol or drug dependency of
the child, finds that (1) the child is alcohol-dependent or drug-dependent as defined in
section 46b-120, (2) the child presently needs and is likely to benefit from treatment for
the dependency and (3) the suspension of the delinquency proceedings will advance the
interests of justice. During the period of suspension, a child shall be placed under the
supervision of a juvenile probation officer for treatment for alcohol or drug dependency
and such officer shall monitor the compliance of the child with the orders of the court.
(c) If the court denies the motion for suspension of the delinquency proceedings,
the juvenile prosecutor may proceed with the delinquency proceedings. Any order of
the court granting or denying a motion for suspension of the delinquency proceedings
shall not be deemed a final order for purposes of appeal.
(d) At any time before the end of the period of the suspension of the delinquency
proceedings, but not later than one month before the end of the period of suspension, a
juvenile probation officer shall notify the court of the impending conclusion of the
suspension and submit a report on whether the child has completed the treatment program and has complied with all other conditions of the suspension order imposed by
the court.
(e) If the court, on motion of the child or on its own motion, finds that the child
has completed the treatment program and has complied with all other conditions of
suspension, it may dismiss the charge for which the delinquency proceedings had been
suspended. If the court denies the motion and terminates the suspension of the delinquency proceedings, the juvenile prosecutor may proceed with such proceedings.
(f) The provisions of this section shall not apply to any child charged with a serious
juvenile offense as defined in section 46b-120 or any child who was previously ordered
treated under this section.
(P.A. 90-161, S. 4, 6; P.A. 95-225, S. 17.)
History: P.A. 95-225 amended Subsec. (a) to replace "adjudged a delinquent child" with "convicted", amended Subsec.
(b) to replace "adjudged a delinquent child" with "convicted" and authorize the court to order periodic alcohol and drug
testing of the child during the period of suspension and amended Subsecs. (c) and (e) to replace "court advocate" with
"juvenile prosecutor".
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(b) If a juvenile prosecutor requests that a proceeding be designated a serious juvenile repeat offender prosecution, the court shall hold a hearing not later than thirty days
after the filing of such request unless good cause is shown by the juvenile prosecutor
or by the child as to why the hearing should not be held within such period. If good
cause is shown, the hearing shall be held not later than ninety days after the filing of
such request. The court shall decide whether to designate the proceeding as a serious
juvenile repeat offender prosecution not later than thirty days after the completion of
such hearing. The court shall grant the request to designate the proceeding as a serious
juvenile repeat offender prosecution if the juvenile prosecutor shows by clear and convincing evidence that such designation will serve the public safety. The decision to
designate the proceeding as a serious juvenile repeat offender prosecution shall not be
a final judgment for purposes of appeal.
(c) A proceeding designated as a serious juvenile repeat offender prosecution pursuant to subsection (b) of this section shall be held before the court without a jury provided
the child has waived his right to a trial by jury. If a child is convicted of or pleads guilty
to a felony in such proceeding, the court shall: (1) Sentence the child in accordance with
section 46b-140 or 46b-141a and (2) sentence the child in accordance with section 53a-
28 with the execution of such sentence stayed on the condition that the child not violate
the conditions of the sentence imposed pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection or
commit a subsequent crime.
(d) If a child is convicted of or pleads guilty to a misdemeanor in a proceeding
designated as a serious juvenile repeat offender prosecution pursuant to subsection (b)
of this section, the court shall sentence the child in accordance with section 46b-140 or
46b-141a.
(e) Whenever it appears that a child who has been sentenced pursuant to subsection
(c) of this section has violated the conditions of the sentence imposed pursuant to subdivision (1) of said subsection (c) or has committed a subsequent crime, the court may,
without notice, order that the child be immediately taken into custody in accordance
with the provisions of section 46b-125. The court shall notify the child and such child's
parent or guardian and the attorney of record, if any, in writing of the reasons alleged
to exist for the lifting of the stay of execution of the sentence imposed pursuant to
subdivision (2) of said subsection (c). If the child challenges such reasons, the court
shall hold a hearing at which the child shall be entitled to be heard and be represented
by counsel. After such hearing, if the court finds that the child has violated the conditions
of the sentence imposed pursuant to subdivision (1) of said subsection (c) or committed
a subsequent crime, it shall order the child to serve a sentence not to exceed that imposed
pursuant to subdivision (2) of said subsection (c) unless it determines there are mitigating
circumstances that justify continuing the stay of execution and specifically states such
mitigating circumstances in writing for the record. The child shall receive credit against
any sentence imposed pursuant to subdivision (2) of said subsection (c) for time served
in a juvenile facility pursuant to the sentence imposed pursuant to subdivision (1) of
said subsection (c).
(f) Whenever a proceeding has been designated a serious juvenile repeat offender
prosecution pursuant to subsection (b) of this section and the child does not waive his
right to a trial by jury, the court shall transfer the case from the docket for juvenile
matters to the regular criminal docket of the Superior Court. Upon transfer, such child
shall stand trial and be sentenced, if convicted, as if he were sixteen years of age, except
that no such child shall be placed in a correctional facility but shall be maintained in a
facility for children and youth until he attains sixteen years of age or until he is sentenced,
whichever occurs first. Such child shall receive credit against any sentence imposed for
time served in a juvenile facility prior to the effectuation of the transfer. A child who
has been transferred may enter a guilty plea to a lesser offense if the court finds that
such plea is made knowingly and voluntarily. Any child transferred to the regular criminal docket who pleads guilty to a lesser offense shall not resume his status as a juvenile
regarding said offense. If the action is dismissed or nolled or if such child is found not
guilty of the charge for which he was transferred, the child shall resume his status as a
juvenile until he attains sixteen years of age.
(P.A. 95-225, S. 25.)
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(b) Whenever a child is referred for the commission of any crime of a sexual nature,
and such case is not transferred to the regular criminal docket pursuant to section 46b-
127, the juvenile prosecutor may request the court to designate the proceeding as a
serious sexual offender prosecution.
(c) If a juvenile prosecutor requests that a proceeding be designated a serious sexual
offender prosecution, the court shall hold a hearing not later than thirty days after the
filing of such request unless good cause is shown by the juvenile prosecutor or by the
child as to why the hearing should not be held within such period. If good cause is
shown, the hearing shall be held not later than ninety days after the filing of such request.
The court shall decide whether to designate the proceeding as a serious sexual offender
prosecution not later than thirty days after the completion of such hearing. The court shall
grant the request to designate the proceeding as a serious sexual offender prosecution if
the juvenile prosecutor shows by a preponderance of the evidence that such designation
will serve the public safety. The decision to designate the proceeding as a serious sexual
offender prosecution shall not be a final judgment for purposes of appeal.
(d) A proceeding designated as a serious sexual offender prosecution pursuant to
subsection (c) of this section shall be held before the court without a jury provided the
child has waived the right to a trial by jury. If a child is convicted of or pleads guilty or
nolo contendere to a charge in a proceeding that has been designated as a serious sexual
offender prosecution, the court shall: (1) Sentence the child in accordance with section
46b-140 or 46b-141a, (2) sentence the child to a period of special juvenile probation of
at least five years, to commence upon the release of the child from the institution, agency
or program in whose care the child had been placed, and (3) sentence the child in accordance with section 53a-28 with the execution of such sentence stayed on the condition
that the child not violate the conditions of the sentence imposed pursuant to subdivisions
(1) and (2) of this subsection or commit a subsequent crime.
(e) Whenever it appears that a child who has been sentenced pursuant to subsection
(d) of this section has violated the conditions of the sentence imposed pursuant to subdivision (2) of said subsection or has committed a subsequent crime, the court may, without
notice, order that the child be immediately taken into custody in accordance with the
provisions of sections 46b-125 and 53a-32. If such violation of probation or subsequent
crime occurs prior to the person attaining eighteen years of age, the matter shall be
handled by the superior court for juvenile matters. If such violation of probation or
subsequent crime occurs after the person has attained eighteen years of age, the matter
shall be handled by the regular criminal docket of the Superior Court. Whenever such
matter is handled by the superior court for juvenile matters, the court shall notify the
child and such child's parent or guardian and the attorney of record, if any, in writing
of the reasons alleged to exist for the lifting of the stay of execution of the sentence
imposed pursuant to subdivision (3) of subsection (d) of this section. If the child challenges such reasons, the court shall hold a hearing at which the child shall be entitled
to be heard and be represented by counsel. After such hearing, if the court finds that the
child has violated the conditions of the sentence imposed pursuant to subdivision (2)
of subsection (d) of this section or committed a subsequent crime, it shall order the child
to serve a sentence not to exceed that imposed pursuant to subdivision (3) of subsection
(d) of this section unless it determines there are mitigating circumstances that justify
continuing the stay of execution and specifically states such mitigating circumstances
in writing for the record. The child shall receive credit against any sentence imposed
pursuant to subdivision (3) of subsection (d) of this section for time served in a juvenile
facility pursuant to the sentence imposed pursuant to subdivision (1) of said subsection.
(f) When a proceeding has been designated a serious sexual offender prosecution
pursuant to subsection (c) of this section and the child does not waive the right to a trial
by jury, the court shall transfer the case from the docket for juvenile matters to the
regular criminal docket of the Superior Court. Upon transfer, such child shall stand trial
and be sentenced, if convicted, as if such child were sixteen years of age, except that
no such child shall be placed in a correctional facility but shall be maintained in a facility
for children and youth until such child attains sixteen years of age or until such child is
sentenced, whichever occurs first. Such child shall receive credit against any sentence
imposed for time served in a juvenile facility prior to the effectuation of the transfer. A
child who has been transferred may enter a guilty plea to a lesser offense if the court
finds that such plea is made knowingly and voluntarily. Any child transferred to the
regular criminal docket who pleads guilty to a lesser offense shall not resume such
child's status as a juvenile regarding such offense. If the action is dismissed or nolled
or if such child is found not guilty of the charge for which such child was transferred,
the child shall resume such child's status as a juvenile until such child attains sixteen
years of age.
(June Sp. Sess. P.A. 99-2, S. 47.)
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(b) As a condition of eligibility for suspension of prosecution and placement in a
school violence prevention program pursuant to this section, (1) the child shall agree
to participate in a program of anger management and nonviolent conflict resolution
consisting of at least eight group counseling sessions, and to satisfactorily complete
such program, (2) the child shall agree to comply with any orders of the court, and (3)
the parents or guardian of such child shall certify under penalty of false statement that,
to the best of such parents' or guardian's knowledge and belief, neither such parent or
guardian nor such child possesses any firearms, dangerous weapons, controlled substances or other property or materials the possession of which is prohibited by law or
in violation of the law.
(c) The cost of participation in such program shall be paid by the parent or guardian
of such child, except that no child shall be excluded from such program for inability to
pay such cost provided (1) the parent or guardian of such child files with the court an
affidavit of indigency or inability to pay, and (2) the court enters a finding thereof.
(d) During the period of suspension, a child shall be placed under the supervision
of a juvenile probation officer for placement in a school violence prevention program
and such officer shall monitor the compliance of the child with the orders of the court
including, but not limited to, maintaining contact with the child and officials of the
child's school.
(e) If the court denies the motion for suspension of the delinquency proceedings,
the juvenile prosecutor may proceed with the delinquency proceedings. Any order of
the court granting or denying a motion for suspension of the delinquency proceedings
shall not be deemed a final order for purposes of appeal.
(f) At any time before the end of the period of the suspension of the delinquency
proceedings, but not later than one month before the end of the period of suspension, a
juvenile probation officer shall notify the court of the impending conclusion of the
suspension and submit a report on whether the child has satisfactorily completed the
school violence prevention program and has complied with all other conditions of the
suspension order imposed by the court.
(g) If the court, on motion of the child or on its own motion, finds that the child has
satisfactorily completed the school violence prevention program and has complied with
all other conditions of suspension, and one year has elapsed since the child was placed
in such program, it may dismiss the charge for which the delinquency proceedings had
been suspended. If the court denies the motion and terminates the suspension of the
delinquency proceedings, the juvenile prosecutor may proceed with such proceedings.
(P.A. 99-259, S. 1, 3.)
History: P.A. 99-259 effective January 1, 2000.
See Sec. 54-56j re school violence prevention program for students sixteen years of age and older.
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(1949 Rev., S. 2811; 1969, P.A. 794, S. 9; P.A. 78-188, S. 7, 8; P.A. 79-581, S. 5; P.A. 82-298, S. 7; P.A. 89-273, S.
4; P.A. 90-161, S. 3, 6; P.A. 93-91, S. 1, 2; P.A. 94-221, S. 13; P.A. 95-225, S. 18.)
History: 1969 act restated provisions and specified probation officer as agent required to make investigations necessary
prior to disposition of case; P.A. 78-188 authorized court to order a restitution investigation; P.A. 79-581 added provisions re
required diagnostic examinations in cases where child found delinquent for serious juvenile offense; Sec. 17-66 temporarily
renumbered as Sec. 51-315 and ultimately transferred to Sec. 46b-134 in 1979, see note to Sec. 17-66; P.A. 82-298 deleted
provision which empowered court to order restitution investigations; P.A. 89-273 added provision requiring that the costs
incurred and paid by the court for a physical or mental examination of a child be assessed against the parents, guardian or
custodian of such child, including any agency vested with the legal custody of such child, to the extent of their financial
ability to do so, and made the diagnostic examination discretionary rather than mandatory and applicable to any child
found to be delinquent rather than any child found to be delinquent for a serious juvenile offense; P.A. 90-161 added
provision permitting examination to include testing to determine whether the child is alcohol-dependent or drug-dependent;
P.A. 93-91 substituted commissioner and department of children and families for commissioner and department of children
and youth services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 94-221 expanded the information to be included in the report for a child
attending school or who legally should be attending school to include attendance, behavior and any recommendations from
school officials on conditions of probation if the child is placed on probation; P.A. 95-225 replaced "found to be delinquent"
with "convicted of a delinquent act" and added provision requiring the investigation to include an inquiry into the circumstances of the offense, the attitude of the complainant or victim, the criminal record, the present condition of the child and
any damages suffered by the victim.
Annotations to former section 17-66:
Cited. 135 C. 515; 136 C. 494; 158 C. 439.
Cited. 19 CS 374; 26 CS 316.
Annotations to present section:
Cited. 211 C. 151, 158, 159. Cited. 216 C. 563, 580, 581.
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(b) At the commencement of any proceeding on behalf of a neglected, uncared-for
or dependent child or youth, the parent or parents or guardian of the child or youth shall
have the right to counsel, and shall be so informed by the judge, and that if they are
unable to afford counsel, counsel will be provided for them, and such counsel and such
parent or guardian of the child or youth shall have the rights of confrontation and cross-
examination.
(1967, P.A. 630, S. 8; 1969, P.A. 794, S. 11, 12; P.A. 75-602, S. 5, 13; P.A. 76-436, S. 23, 681; P.A. 95-225, S. 19.)
History: 1969 act deleted references to persons, other than parent or guardian, "having control of the child" and required
that judge inform parent, guardian and child of their right to counsel and their right to have counsel provided if they cannot
afford counsel themselves, both in Subsec. (a) and in new Subsec. (b); P.A. 75-602 added references to youths in Subsec.
(b); P.A. 76-436 deleted references to juvenile court, effective July 1, 1978; Sec. 17-66b temporarily renumbered as Sec.
51-316 and ultimately transferred to Sec. 46b-135 in 1979, see note to Sec. 17-66b; P.A. 95-225 amended Subsec. (a) to
replace "proceeding on behalf of a delinquent child" with "proceeding concerning the alleged delinquency of a child" and
make technical changes.
Annotations to former section 17-66b:
Cited. 158 C. 439.
Annotations to present section:
Subsec. (a):
Cited. 195 C. 303, 306. Cited. 207 C. 725, 732, 743. Cited. 211 C. 289, 310.
Juvenile is entitled to counsel at both adjudicatory and dispositive phases. 39 CS 400, 401.
Subsec. (b):
Cited. 23 CA 207, 212. Cited. Id., 410, 420, 421. Cited. 25 CA 536, 540−542. Cited. 42 CA 664. In parental rights
termination case, trial court did not violate respondent's right of confrontation under this subsec. by deciding not to question
child in camera where trial court found that child's testimony was not necessary based on all the evidence in case and that
requiring child to testify would victimize her. 49 CA 763.
Cited. 41 CS 145, 147.
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(1967, P.A. 630, S. 9; 1969, P.A. 794, S. 10; P.A. 73-188; P.A. 75-277; 75-602, S. 6, 13; P.A. 76-235, S. 1, 2; 76-436,
S. 24, 681.)
History: 1969 act specified that judge may provide attorney to represent child "even in the absence of a request to do
so" and added provisions re assessment of costs; P.A. 73-188 allowed judge to authorize attorney to represent his assigned
client on an appeal to the superior court; P.A. 75-277 added provision making appointment of attorney for child in custody
proceeding mandatory; P.A. 75-602 applied provisions to youths; P.A. 76-235 referred to cases where custody of child "is
at issue" rather than to cases where custody "may be affected"; P.A. 76-436 replaced reference to juvenile court with
reference to juvenile matters and deleted reference to superior court as appeal court, reflecting transfer of juvenile court
powers to superior court, effective July 1, 1978; Sec. 17-66c temporarily renumbered as Sec. 51-317 and ultimately transferred to Sec. 46b-136 in 1979, see note to Sec. 17-66c.
Annotations to former section 17-66c:
Cited. 158 C. 439. Cited. 168 C. 421.
Annotations to present section:
Where statute mandates assistance of counsel it is implicit that this means competent counsel. 179 C. 155, 160.
Cited. 10 CA 36, 37, 39, 40. Cited. 31 CA 400, 422; judgment reversed, see 230 C. 459 et seq.
Cited. 39 CS 400, 402.
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(b) Any confession, admission or statement, written or oral, made by the parent or
parents or guardian of the child or youth after the filing of a petition alleging such
child or youth to be neglected, uncared-for or dependent, shall be inadmissible in any
proceeding held upon such petition against the person making such admission or statement unless such person shall have been advised of his right to retain counsel, and that
if he is unable to afford counsel, counsel will be appointed to represent him, that he has
a right to refuse to make any statement and that any statements he makes may be introduced in evidence against him.
(1967, P.A. 630, S. 10; 1969, P.A. 794, S. 13, 14; P.A. 75-183; 75-602, S. 7, 13; P.A. 76-436, S. 591, 681; P.A. 95-
225, S. 20; P.A. 98-256, S. 11.)
History: 1969 act removed persons having control of child (other than parents or guardians) from purview of section
and specifically enumerated rights of parents or guardians where previously "rights as provided by section 17-66a" occurred
and added Subsec. (b) re admissibility of confessions, admissions, etc. in court proceeding; P.A. 75-183 applied Subsec.
(a) to admissions, confessions, etc. made by child, replacing provisions applicable to children, their parents or guardians;
P.A. 75-602 added references to youths in Subsec. (b); P.A. 76-436 deleted references to juvenile court, reflecting transfer
of that court's powers to superior court and made technical changes to correct grammar in Subsec. (b); Sec. 17-66d
temporarily renumbered as Sec. 51-318 and ultimately transferred to Sec. 46b-137 in 1979, see note to Sec. 17-66d; P.A.
95-225 amended Subsec. (a) to limit applicability of provisions to any admission, confession or statement made "to a
police officer or juvenile court official" and replace "inadmissible in any proceeding for delinquency against the child"
with "inadmissible in any proceeding concerning the alleged delinquency of the child"; P.A. 98-256 made a technical
change in Subsec. (a).
Annotations to former section 17-66d:
Cited. 158 C. 439. Cited. 211 C. 289, 315.
Annotations to present section:
Cited. 211 C. 289, 315.
Cited. 46 CA 545.
Subsec. (a):
Cited. 211 C. 289, 312, 314, 315. Cited. 215 C. 739, 748, 749.
"Fruit of the poisonous tree" doctrine as applied to statements obtained in violation of statute discussed. 22 CA 53, 56−
61. "Where accused and parent or guardian are informed through a single reading, separate Miranda readings would be
unnecessary and redundant." 32 CA 431, 432, 434−436. Cited. 46 CA 545.
Subsec. (b):
Cited. 10 CA 428, 439.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(1949 Rev., S. 2812; P.A. 75-602, S. 8, 13; P.A. 76-436, S. 25, 681; P.A. 78-379, S. 11, 27.)
History: P.A. 75-602 specified that conversations of judge and youth are privileged as well as conversations between
judge and child; P.A. 76-436 referred to judges "hearing a juvenile matter" rather than to judges of juvenile court, reflecting
transfer of juvenile court duties to superior court, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 78-379 deleted provisions which had empowered judge to exclude from hearing persons whose presence is not necessary and which had prohibited use of room regularly
used for criminal matters; Sec. 17-67 temporarily transferred to Sec. 51-319 and ultimately transferred to Sec. 46b-138 in
1979, see note to Sec. 17-67.
Annotations to former section 17-67:
Cited. 135 C. 516; 158 C. 439.
Cited. 26 CS 316.
Annotations to present section:
Cited. 2 CA 132, 136.
Cited. 41 CS 505, 509.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(P.A. 79-263.)
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(P.A. 89-273, S. 11; P.A. 95-225, S. 21.)
History: P.A. 95-225 authorized the victim's advocate and the victim's counsel to appear before the court and deleted
the provision that the appearance by the victim or the victim's representative shall be "outside the presence of the alleged
delinquent child".
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(b) Any judge of the Superior Court hearing a juvenile matter may call in a competent interpreter to interpret the evidence in any such hearing and each interpreter so
necessarily employed shall be paid from funds appropriated to the Judicial Department.
(1969, P.A. 794, S. 15; P.A. 76-436, S. 26, 681; P.A. 77-576, S. 25, 65.)
History: P.A. 76-436 deleted former Subsecs. (b) and (c) re recompense for town, city or borough policemen summoned
to testify in proceedings and re fees for other witnesses, redesignating former Subsec. (d) accordingly, and revised remaining
provisions to reflect transfer of juvenile court powers to superior court, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 77-576 replaced
provision re fifteen-dollar fee for interpreters or other fee determined by judge to be reasonable in exceptional cases with
statement that interpreter is to be paid from judicial department appropriations, omitting any reference to amount of fee;
Sec. 17-67a temporarily renumbered as Sec. 51-320 and ultimately transferred to Sec. 46b-139 in 1979, see note to Sec.
17-67a.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(b) Upon conviction of a child as delinquent, the court may: (1) Place the child in
the care of any institution or agency which is permitted by law to care for children; (2)
order the child to participate in an alternative incarceration program; (3) order the child
to participate in a wilderness school program operated by the Department of Children
and Families; (4) order the child to participate in a youth service bureau program; (5)
place the child on probation; (6) order the child or the parents or guardian of the child
or both to make restitution to the victim of the offense in accordance with subsection
(d) of this section; (7) order the child to participate in a program of community service
in accordance with subsection (e) of this section; or (8) withhold or suspend execution
of any judgment.
(c) The court may order, as a condition of probation, that the child (1) reside with
a parent, relative or guardian or in a suitable foster home or other residence approved
by the court, (2) attend school and class on a regular basis and comply with school
policies on student conduct and discipline, (3) refrain from violating any federal or state
law or municipal or local ordinance, (4) undergo any medical or psychiatric evaluation
or treatment deemed necessary by the court, (5) submit to random drug or alcohol testing,
or both, (6) participate in a program of alcohol or drug treatment, or both, (7) make
restitution to the victim of the offense in accordance with subsection (d) of this section,
(8) participate in an alternative incarceration program or other program established
through the Office of Alternative Sanctions, (9) participate in a program of community
service, and (10) satisfy any other conditions deemed appropriate by the court. The court
shall cause a copy of any such order to be delivered to the child, the child's parents or
guardian and the child's probation officer.
(d) If the child has engaged in conduct which results in property damage or personal
injury, the court may order the child or the parent or parents or guardian of the child, if
such parent or parents or guardian had knowledge of and condoned the conduct of the
child, or both the child and the parent or parents or guardian, to make full or partial
restitution to the victim of such offense, provided the liability of such parent or parents
or guardian shall be limited to an amount not exceeding the amount such parent or
parents or guardian would be liable for in an action under section 52-572. Restitution
may consist of monetary reimbursement for the damage or injury, based on the child's
or the parent's, parents' or guardian's ability to pay, as the case may be, in the form of
a lump sum or installment payments, paid to the court clerk or such other official designated by the court for distribution to the victim.
(e) The court may order the child to participate in a program of community service
under the supervision of the court or any organization designated by the court. Such
child shall not be deemed to be an employee and the services of such child shall not be
deemed employment.
(f) If the court further finds that its probation services or other services available to
the court are not adequate for such child, the court shall commit such child to the Department of Children and Families in accordance with the provisions of section 46b-141.
Prior to making such commitment, the court shall consult with the department to determine the placement which will be in the best interest of such child.
(g) Any child or youth coming within the jurisdiction of the court, who is found to
be mentally ill, may be committed by said court to the Commissioner of Children and
Families and, if the court convicts a child as delinquent and finds him to be mentally
deficient, it may commit him to an institution for mentally deficient children or youth
or delinquents. Whenever it is found that a child convicted by the court as delinquent
or adjudged by the court to be a member of a family with service needs who is fourteen
years of age or older would not benefit from continued school attendance, the court may
order him to be placed on vocational probation if such court finds that he may properly
be employed for part or full-time at some useful occupation and that such employment
would be favorable to his welfare, and the probation officer shall supervise such employment. For the purposes of this section the limitations of subsection (a) of section 31-23
on the employment of minors under the age of sixteen years shall not apply for the
duration of such vocational probation.
(h) Whenever the court commits a child to the Department of Children and Families,
there shall be delivered with the mittimus a copy of the results of the investigations
made as required by section 46b-134. The court may, at any time, require from the
department in whose care a child has been placed such report as to such child and his
treatment.
(i) If the delinquent act for which the child is committed to the Department of Children and Families is a serious juvenile offense, the court may set a period of time during
which the Department of Children and Families shall place such child out of his town
of residence at the commencement of such child's commitment. The setting of any such
time period shall be in the form of an order of the court included in the mittimus. For good
cause shown in the form of an affidavit annexed thereto, the Department of Children and
Families, the parent or guardian of the child or the child may petition the court for
temporary modification of any such order not to extend or reduce the term of such
placement.
(j) Notwithstanding any provisions of the general statutes concerning the confidentiality of records and information, whenever a child convicted as delinquent is committed
to the Department of Children and Families, the Commissioner of Children and Families
shall have access to the following information: (1) Educational records of such child;
(2) records regarding such child's past treatment for physical or mental illness, including
substance abuse; (3) records regarding such child's prior placement in a public or private
residential facility; (4) records created or obtained by the Judicial Department regarding
such child; and (5) records, as defined in subsection (a) of section 17a-28. The Commissioner of Children and Families shall review such information to determine the appropriate services and placement which will be in the best interest of the child.
(1949 Rev., S. 2813; 1955, S. 1578d; 1957, P.A. 41; 1969, P.A. 498, S. 1; 664, S. 9; P.A. 75-226, S. 2; 75-567, S. 77,
80; 75-602, S. 9, 13; P.A. 76-436, S. 27, 681; P.A. 78-188, S. 6, 8; P.A. 79-581, S. 6; P.A. 84-10; 84-389, S. 1; P.A. 89-
273, S. 5; 89-390, S. 20, 37; P.A. 90-161, S. 5, 6; 90-240, S. 5, 6; 90-325, S. 19, 32; P.A. 93-91, S. 1, 2; P.A. 94-136, S.
2; 94-221, S. 14; P.A. 95-225, S. 22; P.A. 98-70, S. 3; 98-256, S. 6.)
"Sec. 46b-140. (Formerly Sec. 51-321). Disposition upon conviction of child
as delinquent. (a) In determining the appropriate disposition of a child convicted as
delinquent, the court shall consider: (1) The seriousness of the offense, including the
existence of any aggravating factors such as the use of a firearm in the commission
of the offense and the impact of the offense on any victim; (2) the child's record of
delinquency; (3) the child's willingness to participate in available programs; (4) the
existence of other mitigating factors; and (5) the culpability of the child in committing
the offense including the level of the child's participation in the planning and carrying
out of the offense.
(b) Upon conviction of a child as delinquent, the court may: (1) Place the child in
the care of any institution or agency which is permitted by law to care for children; (2)
order the child to participate in an alternative incarceration program; (3) order the child
to participate in a wilderness school program operated by the Department of Children
and Families; (4) order the child to participate in a youth service bureau program; (5)
place the child on probation; (6) order the child or the parents or guardian of the child
or both to make restitution to the victim of the offense in accordance with subsection
(d) of this section; (7) order the child to participate in a program of community service
in accordance with subsection (e) of this section; or (8) withhold or suspend execution
of any judgment.
(c) The court may order, as a condition of probation, that the child (1) reside with
a parent, relative or guardian or in a suitable foster home or other residence approved
by the court, (2) attend school and class on a regular basis and comply with school
policies on student conduct and discipline, (3) refrain from violating any federal or state
law or municipal or local ordinance, (4) undergo any medical or psychiatric evaluation
or treatment deemed necessary by the court, (5) submit to random drug or alcohol testing,
or both, (6) participate in a program of alcohol or drug treatment, or both, (7) make
restitution to the victim of the offense in accordance with subsection (d) of this section,
(8) participate in an alternative incarceration program or other program established
through the Office of Alternative Sanctions, (9) participate in a program of community
service, and (10) satisfy any other conditions deemed appropriate by the court. The court
shall cause a copy of any such order to be delivered to the child, the child's parents or
guardian and the child's probation officer.
(d) If the child has engaged in conduct which results in property damage or personal
injury, the court may order the child or the parent or parents or guardian of the child, if
such parent or parents or guardian had knowledge of and condoned the conduct of the
child, or both the child and the parent or parents or guardian, to make full or partial
restitution to the victim of such offense, provided the liability of such parent or parents
or guardian shall be limited to an amount not exceeding the amount such parent or
parents or guardian would be liable for in an action under section 52-572. Restitution
may consist of monetary reimbursement for the damage or injury, based on the child's
or the parent's, parents' or guardian's ability to pay, as the case may be, in the form of
a lump sum or installment payments, paid to the court clerk or such other official designated by the court for distribution to the victim.
(e) The court may order the child to participate in a program of community service
under the supervision of the court or any organization designated by the court. Such
child shall not be deemed to be an employee and the services of such child shall not be
deemed employment.
(f) If the court further finds that its probation services or other services available to
the court are not adequate for such child, the court shall commit such child to the Department of Children and Families in accordance with the provisions of section 46b-141.
Prior to making such commitment, the court shall consult with the department to determine the placement which will be in the best interest of such child.
(g) Any child or youth coming within the jurisdiction of the court, who is found to
be mentally ill, may be committed by said court to the Commissioner of Children and
Families and, if the court convicts a child as delinquent and finds such child to be
mentally deficient, it may commit such child to an institution for mentally deficient
children or youth or delinquents. Whenever it is found that a child convicted by the
court as delinquent or adjudged by the court to be a member of a family with service
needs who is fourteen years of age or older would not benefit from continued school
attendance, the court may order such child to be placed on vocational probation if such
court finds that such child may properly be employed for part or full-time at some useful
occupation and that such employment would be favorable to such child's welfare, and
the probation officer shall supervise such employment. For the purposes of this section,
the limitations of subsection (a) of section 31-23 on the employment of minors under
the age of sixteen years shall not apply for the duration of such vocational probation.
(h) Whenever the court commits a child to the Department of Children and Families,
there shall be delivered with the mittimus a copy of the results of the investigations
made as required by section 46b-134. The court may, at any time, require from the
department in whose care a child has been placed such report as to such child and such
child's treatment.
(i) If the delinquent act for which the child is committed to the Department of Children and Families is a serious juvenile offense, the court may set a minimum period of
twelve months during which the child shall be placed in a residential facility operated
by or under contract with said department, as determined by the Commissioner of Children and Families. The setting of such minimum period shall be in the form of an order
of the court included in the mittimus. For good cause shown in the form of an affidavit
annexed thereto, the Department of Children and Families, the parent or guardian of
the child or the child may petition the court for modification of any such order.
(j) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the court may order a child be
(1) committed to the Department of Children and Families and be placed directly in
a residential facility within this state and under contract with said department, or (2)
committed to the Commissioner of Children and Families for placement by the commissioner, in said commissioner's discretion, (A) with respect to the juvenile offenders
determined by the Department of Children and Families to be the highest risk, in the
Connecticut Juvenile Training School or other state facility, presumptively for a minimum period of twelve months, or (B) in a private residential or day treatment facility
within or outside this state, or (C) on parole. The commissioner shall use a risk and
needs assessment classification system to ensure that children who are in the highest
risk level will be placed in the Connecticut Juvenile Training School.
(k) Any female child committed to the Connecticut Juvenile Training School shall
be separated from any contact with male children in said facility. Separation shall be
accomplished through architectural means, through time-phasing of common use nonresidential areas and through policies and procedures. No program activities may be
shared by female and male children in said facility. For the purposes of this subsection,
"contact" includes any physical or sustained sight or sound contact; "sight contact"
means clear visual contact between female and male children within close proximity to
each other; and "sound contact" means direct oral communication between female and
male children.
(l) Notwithstanding any provisions of the general statutes concerning the confidentiality of records and information, whenever a child convicted as delinquent is committed
to the Department of Children and Families, the Commissioner of Children and Families
shall have access to the following information: (1) Educational records of such child;
(2) records regarding such child's past treatment for physical or mental illness, including
substance abuse; (3) records regarding such child's prior placement in a public or private
residential facility; (4) records created or obtained by the Judicial Department regarding
such child; and (5) records, as defined in subsection (a) of section 17a-28. The Commissioner of Children and Families shall review such information to determine the appropriate services and placement which will be in the best interest of the child."
(1949 Rev., S. 2813; 1955, S. 1578d; 1957, P.A. 41; 1969, P.A. 498, S. 1; 664, S. 9; P.A. 75-226, S. 2; 75-567, S. 77,
80; 75-602, S. 9, 13; P.A. 76-436, S. 27, 681; P.A. 78-188, S. 6, 8; P.A. 79-581, S. 6; P.A. 84-10; 84-389, S. 1; P.A. 89-
273, S. 5; 89-390, S. 20, 37; P.A. 90-161, S. 5, 6; 90-240, S. 5, 6; 90-325, S. 19, 32; P.A. 93-91, S. 1, 2; P.A. 94-136, S.
2; 94-221, S. 14; P.A. 95-225, S. 22; P.A. 98-70, S. 3; 98-256, S. 6; P.A. 99-26, S. 12, 39.)
History: 1969 acts restated provisions and divided section into Subsecs., inserting new provision authorizing commitment of child to department of children and youth services as Subsec. (b); P.A. 75-226 added provisions in Subsec. (a) re
orders for child to do work in public buildings or on public property; P.A. 75-567 deleted references to youths judged to
be delinquent in Subsec. (c); P.A. 75-602 restored references to youths deleted by P.A. 75-667 in Subsec. (c) and authorized
commitment of child or youth to commissioner of children and youth services rather than to "a hospital or other institution
empowered by law to treat mentally ill children" in that Subsec.; P.A. 76-436 deleted reference to juvenile court in Subsec.
(d), reflecting transfer of juvenile court's powers and duties to superior court, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 78-188 authorized
court to order child to make restitution in Subsec. (a); P.A. 79-581 added Subsec. (e) re procedure where delinquent act
is a serious juvenile offense; Sec. 17-68 temporarily renumbered as Sec. 51-321 and ultimately transferred to Sec. 46b-
140 in 1979, (see note to Sec. 17-68) and references to other sections within provisions revised as necessary by the Revisors
to reflect their transfer; P.A. 84-10 amended Subsec. (c) by authorizing a court to place a child who is a member of a family
with service needs on vocational probation if certain findings are made; P.A. 84-389 amended Subsec. (b) by adding
provision that prior to making commitment, court shall consult with department to determine placement in best interests
of child and amended Subsec. (d) by deleting references to commitment to any institution, person or agency other than the
department of children and youth services; P.A. 89-273 amended Subsec. (e) to delete reference to a "mandatory" transfer
hearing to conform to changes made by act to Sec. 46b-126; P.A. 89-390 amended Subsec. (a) by authorizing the court to
order the child to participate in a wilderness school program operated by the department of children and youth services;
P.A. 90-161 added provision in Subsec. (a) permitting the court, as a condition of probation, to order the child to participate
in a program of periodic drug testing and treatment; P.A. 90-240 deleted the term "defective delinquents"; P.A. 90-325
changed effective date of P.A. 90-240 from July 1, 1990, to July 1, 1991; P.A. 93-91 substituted commissioner and
department of children and families for commissioner and department of children and youth services, effective July 1,
1993; P.A. 94-136 amended Subsec. (a) by authorizing the court to order the child to participate in an alternative incarceration program; P.A. 94-221 amended Subsec. (a) to provide for participation in a youth service bureau program and expanded
the list of possible conditions of probation to include attendance at school and class on a regular basis and compliance with
school policies on student conduct and discipline; P.A. 95-225 added a new Subsec. (a) re factors the court shall consider
in determining the appropriate disposition of a child convicted as delinquent, designated provisions of former Subsec. (a)
re disposition alternatives as Subsec. (b) and amended said Subsec. to replace the provision authorizing the court to
"adjudge" a child delinquent and take one of the enumerated actions "if it finds that the child is delinquent and needs the
care, discipline or protection of the state" with provision authorizing the court to take one of the enumerated actions "Upon
conviction of the child as delinquent", insert Subdiv. indicators and add Subdiv. (6) re restitution and Subdiv. (7) re
community service, designated provisions of former Subsec. (a) authorizing the court to order as a condition of probation
school attendance or drug testing or treatment as Subsec. (c) and amended said Subsec. to include "alcohol" testing and
treatment, deleted provisions of former Subsec. (a) authorizing the court to order the child to do work of which he is capable
in public buildings and on public property or make restitution of the fruits of his offense or make restitution in an amount
he can afford to pay or provide in a suitable manner for the loss or damage caused thereby provided the child and his parent
or guardian accept such disposition, added new Subsec. (d) authorizing the court to order the child or the parent or parents
or guardian of the child, or both, to make full or partial restitution to the victim of the offense, added new Subsec. (e)
authorizing the court to order the child to participate in a program of community service, redesignated former Subsec. (b)
as Subsec. (f), redesignated former Subsec. (c) as Subsec. (g) and amended said Subsec. to replace "adjudges" and "adjudged" with "convicts" and "convicted", respectively, redesignated former Subsec. (d) as Subsec. (h), redesignated former
Subsec. (e) as Subsec. (i) and amended said Subsec. to delete in Subdiv. (1) the maximum period of six months during
which the child shall be placed out of his town of residence, delete former Subdiv. (2) that had required the court to impose
a period of one year during which a child who had committed a serious juvenile offense and been subject to a transfer
hearing shall be placed out of his town of residence, and redesignate former Subdiv. (3) as Subdiv. (2); P.A. 98-70 added
new Subsec. (j) re access by Commissioner of Children and Families to educational records, treatment records, records of
prior placement in residential facility and records of Judicial Department of child convicted as delinquent and committed
to department; P.A. 98-256 amended Subsec. (b) to replace in Subdiv. (5) "order the child to remain in his own home or
in the custody of a relative or any other fit person subject to the supervision of the probation officer" with "place the child
on probation" and amended Subsec. (c) to specify the conditions of probation that a court may order by adding new Subdiv.
(1) re place of residence, new Subdiv. (3) re refraining from violations of law, new Subdiv. (4) re medical or psychiatric
evaluation or treatment, new Subdiv. (7) re restitution, new Subdiv. (8) re participation in alternative incarceration program,
new Subdiv. (9) re participation in community service program and new Subdiv. (10) re satisfaction of other appropriate
conditions and by redesignating former Subdiv. (1) re school attendance and compliance with school policies as Subdiv.
(2) and by dividing former Subdiv. (2) re alcohol and drug testing and treatment into Subdiv. (5) re testing and Subdiv.
(6) re treatment, and to add requirement that the court cause a copy of the order to be delivered to the child, the child's
parents or guardian and the child's probation officer, amended Subsec. (g) to authorize the court to place on vocational
probation a child who "would not benefit from continued school attendance" rather than a child who is "either mentally
deficient or too educationally retarded to benefit from school attendance" and require the court to find that such employment
would be "favorable to the child's welfare" rather than "more favorable to his welfare than commitment to an institution"
and amended Subsec. (i) to make technical changes; P.A. 99-26 amended Subsec. (i) to authorize the court to set "a
minimum period of twelve months during which the child shall be placed in a residential facility operated by or under
contract with said department, as determined by the Commissioner of Children and Families" rather than "a period of
time during which the Department of Children and Families shall place such child out of his town of residence at the
commencement of such child's commitment" and to authorize a petition for "modification of any such order" rather than
for "temporary modification of any such order not to extend or reduce the term of such placement", added new Subsec.
(j) re commitment and placement options for the sentencing court, placement options for the Commissioner of Children
and Families and the use of a risk and needs assessment classification system by the commissioner, added Subsec. (k) re
sight and sound separation of female offenders and prohibition on sharing of program activities, redesignated former
Subsec. (j) as Subsec. (l) and made technical changes in Subsecs. (g) and (h) for purposes of gender neutrality, effective
upon the filing with the Governor and the General Assembly of written certification by the Commissioner of Children and
Families that the new Connecticut Juvenile Training School is operational.
See Sec. 17a-10 re Children and Families Commissioner's custody of committed children, re support and health services
for such children and re extension or termination of commitment.
Annotations to former section 17-68:
Cited. 162 C. 243.
Suspension of sentence and suspension of execution of a commitment distinguished; juvenile court has no power as to
the latter. 19 CS 433. Cited. 26 CS 316. See note to Sec. 46b-121.
Annotations to present section:
Cited. 199 C. 693, 713, 714. Cited. 204 C. 630, 633. Cited. 207 C. 270, 271. Cited. 211 C. 151 162, 165.
Subsec. (a):
Cited. 199 C. 693, 713. Cited. 207 C. 270, 273. Cited. 211 C. 151, 159.
Subsec. (b):
Cited. 199 C. 693, 695, 715. Cited. 207 C. 270, 273, 275. Cited. 211 C. 151, 159, 166.
Subsec. (c):
Cited. 206 C. 323, 328.
Subsec. (e):
Subdiv. (1) cited. 204 C. 630, 633. Subdiv. (2) cited. Id., 630, 634.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(b) The period of participation in an alternative incarceration program, as a condition of probation or suspended commitment, unless terminated sooner, shall not exceed
the original period of probation or suspended commitment.
(c) At any time during the period of probation or suspended commitment, the court
may issue a warrant for the arrest of a child or youth for violation of any of the conditions
of probation or suspended commitment, or may issue a notice to appear to answer to a
charge of such violation, which notice shall be personally served upon the child or youth.
Any such warrant shall authorize all officers named therein to return the child or youth
to the custody of the court or to any suitable juvenile detention facility designated by
the court.
(d) If such violation is established, the court may continue or revoke the order of
probation or suspended commitment or modify or enlarge the conditions and, if such
order of probation or suspended commitment is revoked, require the child or youth to
serve the commitment imposed or impose any lesser commitment. No such revocation
shall be ordered, except upon consideration of the whole record and unless such violation
is established by reliable and probative evidence.
(e) Upon a determination by the court that a child or youth has violated probation
by failing to comply with the requirements of electronic monitoring, the court support
services division shall notify the local law enforcement agency of such violation.
(P.A. 98-256, S. 8; P.A. 00-141, S. 5.)
History: P.A. 00-141 added Subsec. (e) providing that upon determination by court that child or youth has violated
probation by failing to comply with electronic monitoring, court support services division shall notify local law enforcement
agency of such violation.
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(b) The Commissioner of Children and Families may petition the court for an extension of the commitment as provided in subdivision (1) of subsection (a) beyond the
eighteen-month period on the grounds that such extension is for the best interest of the
child or the community. The court shall give notice to the parent or guardian and to the
child at least fourteen days prior to the hearing upon such petition. The court may, after
hearing and upon finding that such extension is in the best interest of the child or the
community, continue the commitment for an additional period of not more than eighteen
months.
(c) The Commissioner of Children and Families shall obtain judicial review of each
child convicted as delinquent for a serious juvenile offense as provided in subdivision
(2) of subsection (a) within eighteen months of commitment to the Department of Children and Families and every eighteen months thereafter. Such judicial review may include the submission of a petition to the court by the commissioner to either (1) modify
such commitment, or (2) extend the commitment beyond such four-year period on the
grounds that such extension is for the best interest of the child or the community. The
court shall give notice to the parent or guardian and to the child at least fourteen days
prior to the hearing upon such petition. The court, after hearing, may modify such commitment or, upon finding that such extension is in the best interest of the child or the
community, continue the commitment for an additional period of not more than eighteen
months.
(d) All other commitments of delinquent, mentally deficient or mentally ill children
by the court pursuant to the provisions of section 46b-140, may be for an indeterminate
time. Commitments may be reopened and terminated at any time by said court, provided
the Commissioner of Children and Families shall be given notice of such proposed
reopening and a reasonable opportunity to present his views thereon. The parents or
guardian of such child may apply not more than twice in any calendar year for such
reopening and termination of commitment. Any order of the court made under the provisions of this section shall be deemed a final order for purposes of appeal, except that
no bond shall be required nor costs taxed on such appeal.
(1949 Rev., S. 2814; 1955, S. 1579d; 1969, P.A. 664, S. 10; 1971, P.A. 151; P.A. 76-436, S. 31, 681; P.A. 79-581, S.
7; P.A. 81-472, S. 84, 159; P.A. 84-389, S. 2; P.A. 92-167, S. 1, 3; P.A. 93-91, S. 1, 2; P.A. 95-225, S. 23.)
History: 1969 act replaced previous provisions re commitment period, i.e. terminated when child reaches twenty-one
unless he is mentally deficient or a defective delinquent, and re reopening and termination procedure with new provisions
limiting commitment to two years and setting forth procedure for commitment extensions, retaining existing appeal provision; 1971 act inserted new Subsec. (c) re indeterminate commitments, in part replacing provisions deleted by 1969 act
and incorporating existing appeal provision in this Subsec.; P.A. 76-436 replaced juvenile court with superior court and
specified that orders are deemed final orders for appeal purposes in Subsec. (c), effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 79-581 added
exception re Sec. 51-321(e) and authorized four-year commitments when case involves serious juvenile offense in Subsec.
(a); Sec. 17-69 temporarily renumbered as Sec. 51-322 and ultimately transferred to Sec. 46b-141 in 1979, see note to Sec.
17-69; P.A. 81-472 made technical changes; P.A. 84-389 deleted reference to "institution to which the child is committed"
and inserted "commissioner of children and youth services" in lieu thereof; P.A. 92-167 amended Subsec. (a) by changing
the maximum length of commitment of a child adjudged delinquent to the department from two years to eighteen months,
amended Subsec. (b) by changing the maximum length of an extension of such commitment from two years to eighteen
months and added Subsec. (c) re judicial review of children adjudged delinquent on a serious juvenile offense; P.A. 93-
91 substituted commissioner and department of children and families for commissioner and department of children and
youth services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-225 amended Subsecs. (a) and (c) to replace "adjudged" with "convicted",
amended Subsecs. (b) and (c) to make the best interest of the community a ground for the extension of a commitment and
amended Subsec. (d) to make discretionary, rather than mandatory, that all other commitments be for an indeterminate
time, and made technical changes.
See Sec. 17a-10 re Children and Families Commissioner's custody of committed children, re support and health services
for such children and re extension or termination of commitment.
Annotations to former section 17-69:
Cited. 204 C. 630, 633.
Provision that no costs or fees shall be taxed in proceedings before juvenile court, or upon appeal to superior court,
does not apply to appeals taken from the superior court to the supreme court. 135 C. 411. There is no specific provision
in the statutes for an appeal to supreme court and none is necessary. A judgment of the superior court is a final judgment
within section 52-263. 135 C. 512. Cited. 158 C. 439.
Juvenile court commitments continue until child is twenty-one unless terminated sooner. 19 CS 371. Commitments
may be reopened or terminated at any time within prescribed limitations. Id., 432. Cited. 21 CS 73.
Annotations to present section:
Cited. 204 C. 630, 633. Cited. 207 C. 270, 271. Cited. 211 C. 151, 162, 165. Cited. 229 C. 691, 701.
Cited. 43 CS 367, 370.
Subsec. (a):
Cited. 199 C. 693, 716. Cited. 207 C. 270, 274. Cited. 211 C. 151, 159. Cited. 240 C. 727.
Cited. 32 CA 759, 764.
Subsec. (b):
Where there is no request to transfer a matter to the regular criminal docket, statutorily authorized response to further
allegations of misconduct is extension of existing commitment, not successive commitments to be served in future. 207
C. 270, 274, 275. Cited. 211 C. 151, 160.
Subsec. (c):
Cited. 207 C. 270, 274.
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(b) An alternative incarceration program shall include, but not be limited to, fines,
restitution, community service, halfway houses, alternative incarceration centers, day
incarceration centers, drug, alcohol and mental health programs, electronic monitoring,
intensive probation, vocational probation, boot camps, structured wilderness programs,
pretrial diversion options aimed at creating alternatives to unnecessary detention, and
school and job training programs.
(P.A. 94-136, S. 3; P.A. 95-225, S. 24.)
History: P.A. 95-225 amended Subsec. (a) to replace "adjudged delinquent" with "convicted as delinquent" and "Family
Division" with "juvenile probation unit".
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(b) The probation treatment plan shall be submitted to the court for consideration
and approval prior to the court's final entry of a probation treatment order. In addition
to any probation order, the court may order a medical and psychiatric or psychological
examination of the juvenile. The court may assess the cost of the examination to the
family based on its ability to pay.
(c) In ordering implementation of a probation treatment plan, the court may reasonably designate from the programs and services under contract with the Office of Alternative Sanctions the scope and extent of the services to be provided by the Office of
Alternative Sanctions and the juvenile probation unit.
(d) The Office of Alternative Sanctions shall proceed to implement the probation
treatment plan immediately upon its approval by the court.
(P.A. 95-225, S. 5, 52.)
History: P.A. 95-225 effective July 1, 1996.
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(P.A. 95-225, S. 46.)