Sec. 54-201. Definitions. As used in this chapter:
(1) "Victim" means a person who is injured or killed as provided in section 54-209;
(2) "Personal injury" means actual bodily harm and mental anguish which is the direct result of bodily injury and includes pregnancy and any condition thereof;
(3) "Dependents" means such relatives of a deceased victim as were wholly or partially dependent upon his income at the time of his death or the child of a deceased victim and shall include the child of such victim born after his death;
(4) "Relative of any person" means the spouse, parent, grandparent, stepparent, child, including natural born, step and adopted, grandchild, brother, sister, half brother, half sister or spouse's parents;
(5) "Crime" means any act which is a felony, as defined in section 53a-25, or misdemeanor, as defined in section 53a-26, and includes any crime committed by a juvenile.
(P.A. 78-261, S. 1, 17; P.A. 87-554, S. 17; P.A. 95-175, S. 4.)
History: P.A. 87-554 redefined "dependents" to include children of deceased victims and added definition of "crime"; P.A. 95-175 redefined crime to include crimes committed by juveniles.

(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)

Sec. 54-202. Compensation commissioners; appointment; Chief Victim Compensation Commissioner; temporary victim compensation commissioners; compensation. (a) On or before July 1, 1993, the Governor shall appoint five victim compensation commissioners for a term of four years to conduct hearings and make determinations as provided in this chapter. To be eligible for appointment, a victim compensation commissioner shall have been admitted to the practice of law in this state for at least five years prior to the appointment.
(b) Each victim compensation commissioner shall be eligible for reappointment and may be removed by the Governor for inefficiency, neglect of duty or malfeasance in office after due notice and hearing.
(c) A Chief Victim Compensation Commissioner shall be designated by the Chief Court Administrator from among the five victim compensation commissioners appointed by the Governor. The Chief Court Administrator may appoint qualified attorneys to serve as temporary victim compensation commissioners when victim compensation commissioners are not available or when additional victim compensation commissioners are necessary for the expeditious processing of claims. Temporary victim compensation commissioners shall have the same qualifications for appointment and the same powers as victim compensation commissioners.
(d) Each victim compensation commissioner and temporary victim compensation commissioner shall receive one hundred twenty-five dollars for each day of service.
(P.A. 78-261, S. 2, 17; P.A. 80-390, S. 1, 5; P.A. 83-311; P.A. 87-554, S. 1; P.A. 89-35; P.A. 91-389, S. 9; P.A. 92- 153, S. 1; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-11, S. 49, 70; P.A. 93-310, S. 1, 32.)
History: P.A. 80-390 replaced previous provision in Subsec. (c) which had allowed members no compensation but had allowed reimbursement for expenses incurred in performing duties with provision authorizing fifty-dollar per diem; P.A. 83-311 amended Subsec. (c) by increasing compensation from fifty to one hundred dollars per day; P.A. 87-554 changed "criminal injuries compensation board" to "commission on victim services" and amended Subsec. (c) to specify that expenses are in addition to one-hundred-dollar per diem; P.A. 89-35 amended Subsec. (d) by adding provision permitting administrator to make preliminary evaluation and order of compensation not to exceed two thousand dollars; P.A. 91-389 amended Subsec. (d) to replace provision permitting administrator to make preliminary evaluation and order of compensation not to exceed two thousand dollars with provision permitting administrator to make a preliminary evaluation of an application; P.A. 92-153 increased members from three to five, required that one member have at least five years' experience in delivery of victim services and one member have at least five years' experience in insurance handling personal injury claims, deleted restriction specifying that members must never have been victims themselves or be related to a victim, added provisions re expiration of terms of members on September 30, 1992, appointment of members as of October 1, 1992, and re term length, revised provision re compensation of members and appeals panel, and changed "administrator" to "executive director"; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-11 made a technical change in Subsec. (a); P.A. 93-310 extensively revised section, changing "members of the commission" to "victim compensation commissioners", providing for chief victim compensation commissioner, authorizing appointment of temporary victim compensation commissioners, replacing provision authorizing reimbursement for expenses and payment of one hundred dollars per day with set compensation of one hundred twenty-five dollars per day and deleting prior provisions re hearing officers, effective July 1, 1993.
See Sec. 4-38f for definition of "administrative purposes only".

(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)

Sec. 54-202a. Executive director. Appointment; term; salary; duties. Deputy director of compensation. Deputy director of victim services. Section 54-202a is repealed, effective July 1, 1993.
(P.A. 92-153, S. 2; P.A. 93-310, S. 31, 32.)

(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)

Sec. 54-203. Office of Victim Services established. Powers and duties. (a) There is established an Office of Victim Services within the Judicial Department.
(b) The Office of Victim Services shall have the following powers and duties:
(1) To direct each hospital, whether public or private, to display prominently in its emergency room posters giving notice of the availability of compensation and assistance to victims of crime or their dependents pursuant to this chapter, and to direct every law enforcement agency of the state to inform victims of crime or their dependents of their rights pursuant to this chapter;
(2) To request from the office of the state's attorney, state police, local police departments or any law enforcement agency such investigation and data as will enable the Office of Victim Services to determine if in fact the applicant was a victim of a crime or attempted crime and the extent, if any, to which the victim or claimant was responsible for his own injury;
(3) To request from the Department of Correction, other units of the Judicial Department, the Board of Pardons and the Board of Parole such information as will enable the Office of Victim Services to determine if in fact a person who has requested notification pursuant to section 54-228 was a victim of a crime;
(4) To direct medical examination of victims as a requirement for payment under this chapter;
(5) To take or cause to be taken affidavits or depositions within or without the state;
(6) To apply for, receive, allocate, disburse and account for grants of funds made available by the United States, by the state, foundations, corporations and other businesses, agencies or individuals to implement a program for victim services which shall assist witnesses and victims of crimes as the Office of Victim Services deems appropriate within the resources available and to coordinate services to victims by state and community-based agencies, with priority given to victims of violent crimes, by (A) assigning, in consultation with the Division of Criminal Justice, such victim advocates as are necessary to provide assistance; (B) administering victim service programs; and (C) awarding grants or purchase of service contracts in accordance with the plan developed under subdivision (15) of this subsection to private nonprofit organizations or local units of government for the direct delivery of services, except that the provision of training and technical assistance of victim service providers and the development and implementation of public education campaigns may be provided by private nonprofit or for-profit organizations or local units of government. Such grants and contracts shall be the predominant method by which the Office of Victim Services shall develop, implement and operate direct service programs and provide training and technical assistance to victim service providers;
(7) To provide each person who applies for compensation pursuant to section 54- 204, within ten days of the date of receipt of such application, with a written list of rights of victims of crime involving personal injury and the programs available in this state to assist such victims. The Office of Victim Services, the state or any agent, employee or officer thereof shall not be liable for the failure to supply such list or any alleged inadequacies of such list. Such list shall include, but not be limited to:
(A) Subject to the provisions of sections 18-81e and 51-286e, the victim shall have the right to be informed concerning the status of his or her case and to be informed of the release from custody of the defendant;
(B) Subject to the provisions of section 54-91c, the victim shall have the right to present a statement of his or her losses, injuries and wishes to the prosecutor and the court prior to the acceptance by the court of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere made pursuant to a plea agreement with the state wherein the defendant pleads to a lesser offense than the offense with which the defendant was originally charged;
(C) Subject to the provisions of section 54-91c, prior to the imposition of sentence upon the defendant, the victim shall have the right to submit a statement to the prosecutor as to the extent of any injuries, financial losses and loss of earnings directly resulting from the crime;
(D) Subject to the provisions of section 54-126a, the victim shall have the right to appear before a panel of the Board of Parole and make a statement as to whether the defendant should be released on parole and any terms or conditions to be imposed upon any such release;
(E) Subject to the provisions of section 54-36a, the victim shall have the right to have any property the victim owns which was seized by police in connection with an arrest to be returned;
(F) Subject to the provisions of sections 54-56e and 54-142c, the victim shall have the right to be notified of the application by the defendant for the pretrial program for accelerated rehabilitation and to obtain from the court information as to whether the criminal prosecution in the case has been dismissed;
(G) Subject to the provisions of section 54-85b, the victim cannot be fired, harassed or otherwise retaliated against by an employer for appearing under a subpoena as a witness in any criminal prosecution;
(H) Subject to the provisions of section 54-86g, the parent or legal guardian of a child twelve years of age or younger who is a victim of child abuse or sexual assault may request special procedural considerations to be taken during the testimony of the child;
(I) Subject to the provisions of section 46b-15, the victim of assault by a spouse or former spouse, family or household member has the right to request the arrest of the offender, request a protective order and apply for a restraining order;
(J) Subject to the provisions of sections 52-146k, 54-86e and 54-86f, the victim of sexual assault or domestic violence can expect certain records to remain confidential;
(8) Within available appropriations, to establish a victim's assistance center which shall provide a victims' rights information clearinghouse which shall be a central repository of information regarding rights of victims of crime and services available to such victims and shall collect and disseminate such information to assist victims;
(9) To provide, not later than January 1, 1994, a victims' notification clearinghouse which shall be a central repository for requests for notification filed pursuant to sections 54-228 and 54-229, and to notify, on and after January 1, 1994, persons who have filed such a request whenever an inmate has applied for release from a correctional institution or reduction of sentence or review of sentence pursuant to section 54-227 or whenever an inmate is scheduled to be released from a correctional institution and, on and after January 1, 1994, to provide victims of family violence crimes, upon request, information concerning any modification or termination of criminal orders of protection;
(10) To provide a telephone hotline that shall provide information on referrals for various services for victims of crime and their families;
(11) To provide staff services to a state advisory council. The council shall consist of not more than fifteen members to be appointed by the Chief Justice and shall include the Chief Victim Compensation Commissioner and members who represent victim populations, including but not limited to, homicide survivors, family violence victims, sexual assault victims, victims of drunk drivers, and assault and robbery victims, and members who represent the judicial branch and executive branch agencies involved with victims of crime. The members shall serve for terms of four years. Any vacancy in the membership shall be filled by the appointing authority for the balance of the unexpired term. The members shall receive no compensation for their services. The council shall meet at least six times a year. The council shall recommend to the Office of Victim Services program, legislative or other matters which would improve services to victims of crime and develop and coordinate needs assessments for both court-based and community-based victim services. The Chief Justice shall appoint two members to serve as cochairmen. Not later than December fifteenth of each year, the council shall report the results of its findings and activities to the Chief Court Administrator;
(12) To utilize such voluntary and uncompensated services of private individuals, agencies and organizations as may from time to time be offered and needed;
(13) To recommend policies and make recommendations to agencies and officers of the state and local subdivisions of government relative to victims of crime;
(14) To provide support and assistance to state-wide victim services coalitions and groups;
(15) To develop, in coordination with the Department of Social Services, the Department of Public Health, the Office of Policy and Management, the Department of Children and Families and the Division of Criminal Justice, a comprehensive plan to more effectively administer crime victims' compensation and coordinate the delivery of services to crime victims, including the funding of such services. Such plan shall be submitted to the Governor and the General Assembly not later than January 1, 1994;
(16) Within available appropriations to establish a crime victims' information clearinghouse which shall be a central repository for information collected pursuant to subdivision (9) and information made available through the criminal justice information system, to provide a toll-free telephone number for access to such information and to develop a plan, in consultation with all agencies required to provide notification to victims, outlining any needed statutory changes, resources and working agreements necessary to make the Office of Victim Services the lead agency for notification of victims, which plan shall be submitted to the General Assembly not later than February 15, 2000;
(17) To provide a training program for judges, prosecutors, police, probation and parole personnel, bail commissioners, officers from the Department of Correction and judicial marshals to inform them of victims' rights and available services; and
(18) To submit to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to victim services, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, on or before January 15, 2000, and biennially thereafter a report of its activities under this chapter including, but not limited to, implementation of training activities and mandates. Such report shall include the types of training provided, entities providing training and recipients of training.
(P.A. 78-261, S. 3, 17; P.A. 80-390, S. 2, 5; P.A. 83-341; P.A. 85-609, S. 1; P.A. 86-401, S. 1; P.A. 87-514, S. 1, 4; 87-554, S. 2; P.A. 91-389, S. 10; P.A. 92-153, S. 3; P.A. 93-91, S. 1, 2; 93-262, S. 1, 87; 93-310, S. 2, 32; 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 96-97, S. 1; P.A. 97-257, S. 3, 13; P.A. 99-184, S. 1−3; P.A. 00-99, S. 125, 154; 00- 196, S. 44.)
History: P.A. 80-390 added Subdiv. (e) re implementation of programs to assist witnesses and crime victims; P.A. 83- 341 amended Subsec. (e) to permit board to apply for and receive grants of funds for victim services program; P.A. 85- 609 added Subsec. (f) re provision of comprehensive state-wide victim assistance program and appointment and assignment of victim advocates; P.A. 86-401 amended Subsec. (f) to permit transfer of any person employed in classified service as a victim advocate on October 1, 1986, to the criminal injuries compensation board as classified employee as victim advocate without reduction in salary or grade and added Subsec. (g) re written list of rights provided to victim; P.A. 87-514 added Subsecs. (h) to (k), inclusive, adding duty to provide victims' rights information and telephone hotline for referrals; to continue study by task force on civil liability, assist in implementing recommendations thereof and report findings; to utilize voluntary services and recommend policies to state and local government re rights of victims of crime and victims of torts; P.A. 87-554 changed name of "criminal injuries compensation board" to "commission on victim services"; P.A. 91-389 amended Subsec. (a) to include notice of the availability of "assistance" to crime victims, inserted a new Subsec. (c) to authorize the commission to request information to verify that a person who has requested notification pursuant to Sec. 54-228 was a victim of crime and relettering the remaining Subsecs. accordingly, amended Subsec. (g) to delete provision re transfer to the commission as a classified employee any person employed in the unclassified service as a victim advocate on October 1, 1986, amended Subsec. (h) to add Subdivs. (6) to (10), inclusive, re additional rights of victims to be included in the list, inserted a new Subsec. (j) re the establishment of a victims' notification clearinghouse and the notification of persons who have requested notification, relettering the remaining Subsecs. accordingly, deleted former Subsec. (j) re the study by the task force on civil liability, and added Subsec. (l) re the establishment, composition and duties of a victim services coordinating council, relettering the remaining Subsec. accordingly; P.A. 92-153 established division of crime victims' compensation and division of victim services under supervision of executive director and deputy directors, revised provisions re coordination of victim services, added provision re notification of victims of family violence crimes and modification or termination of criminal orders of protection not later than April 1, 1993, deleted provision re victim services coordinating council and added provision re state advisory council and added responsibility of development of comprehensive plan for administration of crime victims' compensation and coordination of delivery of services in coordination with department of human resources, department of health services, office of policy and management, judicial branch, department of children and youth services and division of criminal justice; 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. 93-310 revised section by deleting references to victim compensation commission, establishing office of victim compensation within the judicial department, deleting references to victims of torts, adding deadline of January 1, 1994, for establishment of victims' notification clearinghouse, requiring chief justice to appoint members of council, including the chief victim compensation commissioner, and two members to serve as cochairmen, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 96-97 amended Subdiv. (9) of Subsec. (b) by adding "scheduled to be" before "released"; P.A. 97-257 amended Subdiv. (8) of Subsec. (b) by adding "Within available appropriations, to establish a victim's assistance center which shall" and added Subdivs. (16) re establishment of victim's information clearinghouse and provision of toll-free number for access to information and (17) re training program for judges, prosecutors, police, probation and parole personnel, bail commissioners, correctional officers and special deputy sheriffs, effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 99-184 amended Subdiv. (6) of Subsec. (b) by adding provision that training and technical assistance for providers and development and implementation of public education campaigns may be provided by nonprofit or for-profit organizations or local units of government, amended Subdiv. (16) of Subsec. (b) by adding provision requiring the Office of Victim Services to develop a plan in consultation with other agencies for notification of victims, making Office of Victim Services the lead agency for notification of victims and requiring plan to be submitted to General Assembly not later than February 15, 2000, and added Subdiv. (18) requiring Office of Victim Services to submit report of its activities, including training activities and mandates, to the General Assembly on or before January 15, 2000, and biennially thereafter; P.A. 00-99 replaced reference to special deputy sheriffs with judicial marshals in Subsec. (b)(17), effective December 1, 2000; P.A. 00-196 made a technical change in Subsec. (b)(18).

(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)

Sec. 54-204. Application for compensation or restitution services. Report and examination. Confidential information. (a) Any person who may be eligible for compensation or restitution services, or both, pursuant to this chapter may make application therefor to the Office of Victim Services. If the person entitled to make application is a minor or incompetent person, the application may be made on such person's behalf by a parent, guardian or other legal representative of the minor or incompetent person.
(b) In order to be eligible for compensation or restitution services under this chapter, the applicant shall prior to a determination on any application made pursuant to this chapter submit reports if reasonably available from all physicians or surgeons who have treated or examined the victim in relation to the injury for which compensation is claimed at the time of or subsequent to the victim's injury or death. If in the opinion of the Office of Victim Services or, on review, a victim compensation commissioner, reports on the previous medical history of the victim, examination of the injured victim and a report thereon or a report on the cause of death of the victim by an impartial medical expert would be of material aid to its just determination, said office or commissioner shall order such reports and examinations. Any information received which is confidential in accordance with any provision of the general statutes shall remain confidential while in the custody of the Office of Victim Services or a victim compensation commissioner.
(P.A. 78-261, S. 4, 17; P.A. 79-505, S. 1, 7; P.A. 87-554, S. 3; P.A. 91-39; P.A. 93-310, S. 3, 32.)
History: P.A. 79-505 added references to restitution services; P.A. 87-554 substituted "commission" for "board"; P.A. 91-39 amended Subsec. (b) by adding provision that confidential information received by the commission shall remain confidential while in the custody of the commission; P.A. 93-310 changed "commission" to "office of victims services", added "of the minor or incompetent person" after "representative", changed "hearing" to "determination", changed "commission or hearing examiner" to "office of victim services or, on review, a victim compensation commissioner" and "office of victim services or a victim compensation commissioner", effective July 1, 1993.

(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)

Sec. 54-205. Review of application. Determination. Request for review by compensation commissioner. (a) Upon application made under the provisions of this chapter, the Office of Victim Services shall review such application, make an appropriate determination in writing, and provide notice to the applicant of such determination. In order to make a determination on an application, the Office of Victim Services may administer oaths or affirmations, may subpoena any witness to appear or may issue a subpoena duces tecum, provided no subpoena shall be issued except under the signature of a victim compensation commissioner. Any application to any court for aid in enforcing such subpoena may be made in the name of the Office of Victim Services only by a victim compensation commissioner. Subpoenas shall be served by any person designated by a victim compensation commissioner.
(b) An applicant may request that a determination made pursuant to subsection (a) of this section be reviewed by a victim compensation commissioner by filing a request for review with the Office of Victim Services, on a form prescribed by the Office of the Chief Court Administrator, within thirty days from mailing of the notice of such determination.
(c) For the purposes of carrying out the provisions of this chapter, a victim compensation commissioner shall hear any request for review filed by an applicant pursuant to this chapter to which such commissioner is assigned and shall make a written determination on such application for compensation. A victim compensation commissioner shall hold such hearings and take such testimony as such commissioner may deem advisable. A commissioner may administer oaths or affirmations to witnesses and shall have full power to subpoena any witness to appear and give testimony or to issue a subpoena duces tecum. Subpoenas shall be served by any person designated by a victim compensation commissioner.
(d) No witness under subpoena authorized to be issued by the provisions of this section shall be excused from testifying or from producing records, papers or documents. If any person disobeys such process or, having appeared in obedience thereto, refuses to answer any pertinent question put to him by the victim compensation commissioner or to produce any records, papers or documents and appears pursuant thereto, said commissioner may apply to the superior court for the judicial district of Hartford, setting forth such disobedience to process or refusal to answer. The court shall cite such person to appear before said court to answer such question or to produce such records, papers or documents or to show cause why a question put to him should not be answered or why such records, papers or documents should not be produced. Upon such person's refusal to answer or produce records, papers or documents or to show cause, the court may commit such person to a community correctional center until such person complies, but not for a longer period than sixty days. Notwithstanding any such commitment of such person, the victim compensation commissioner may proceed with the hearing as if such witness had testified adversely regarding his interest in the proceeding.
(e) The applicant and any other person having a substantial interest in a proceeding may appear before the victim compensation commissioner and be heard, produce evidence and cross-examine witnesses in person or by his attorney. The victim compensation commissioner also may hear such other persons as in the commissioner's judgment may have relevant evidence to submit.
(f) Any statement, document, information or matter may be considered by the Office of Victim Services or, on review, by a victim compensation commissioner, if in the opinion of said office or commissioner, it contributes to a determination of the claim, whether or not the same would be admissible in a court of law.
(g) If any person has been convicted of any offense with respect to an act on which a claim under this chapter is based, proof of that conviction shall be taken as conclusive evidence that the offense has been committed by such person, unless an appeal or any proceeding with regard thereto is pending.
(P.A. 78-261, S. 5, 17; P.A. 87-554, S. 4; P.A. 93-142, S. 4, 7, 8; 93-310, S. 4, 32; P.A. 95-220, S. 4−6; P.A. 96-97, S. 2.)
History: P.A. 87-554 changed "board" to "commission"; P.A. 88-230, P.A. 90-98 and P.A. 93-142 authorized substitution of "judicial district of Hartford" for "judicial district of Hartford-New Britain" in public acts of the 1993 session of the general assembly, to take effect September 1, 1996; P.A. 93-310 revised section, changing "commission" to "office of victim services", changing "hearing" to "determination", providing revised procedure for determination of claims by office of victim services and upon request of applicant, review by a victim compensation commissioner and adding provision re witness under subpoena, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-220 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1996, to September 1, 1998, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 96-97 amended Subsec. (b) by increasing time for filing a request for review from fourteen to thirty days from mailing notice of determination.

(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)

Sec. 54-206. Attorney's fees as part of order. A victim compensation commissioner may, as part of any order entered under this chapter, determine and allow reasonable attorney's fees, which shall not exceed fifteen per cent of the amount awarded as compensation under section 54-208, to be paid out of but not in addition to the amount of such compensation. No such attorney shall ask for, contract for or receive any larger sum than the amount so allowed.
(P.A. 78-261, S. 6, 17; P.A. 87-554, S. 5; P.A. 93-310, S. 5, 32.)
History: P.A. 87-554 substituted "commission" for "board"; P.A. 93-310 changed "The commission" to "A victim compensation commissioner", effective July 1, 1993.

(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)

Sec. 54-207. Regulations to prescribe procedures. Section 54-207 is repealed, effective July 1, 1993.
(P.A. 78-261, S. 7, 17; P.A. 87-554, S. 6; P.A. 92-153, S. 7; P.A. 93-310, S. 31, 32.)

(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)

Sec. 54-207a. Chief Court Administrator to prescribe policies and procedures. The Office of the Chief Court Administrator shall prescribe such policies and procedures, as deemed necessary, to implement the provisions of this chapter and may formulate standards for the uniform application of the payment of compensation of claims.
(P.A. 93-310, S. 6, 32.)
History: P.A. 93-310 effective July 1, 1993.

(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)

Sec. 54-208. Order of compensation. Criminal intent circumstances considered. Prosecution not necessary. Amounts. (a) If a person is injured or killed as provided in section 54-209, the Office of Victim Services or, on review, a victim compensation commissioner may order the payment of compensation in accordance with the provisions of this chapter: (1) To or for the benefit of the injured person; (2) in the case of personal injury of the victim, to any person responsible for the maintenance of the victim who has suffered pecuniary loss as a result of such injury; or (3) in the case of death of the victim, to or for the benefit of any one or more of the dependents of the victim including any dependent child of a homicide victim who was killed by the other parent or to any person who has suffered pecuniary loss, including but not limited to funeral expenses, as a result of such death.
(b) For the purposes of this chapter, a person shall be deemed to have intended an act notwithstanding that, by reason of age, insanity, drunkenness or otherwise, he was legally incapable of forming a criminal intent.
(c) In determining whether to make an order under this section, the Office of Victim Services or, on review, a victim compensation commissioner shall consider all circumstances determined to be relevant, including but not limited to provocation, consent or any other behavior of the victim which directly or indirectly contributed to such victim's injury or death, the extent of the victim's cooperation in investigating the application and the extent of the victim's cooperation with law enforcement agencies in their efforts to apprehend and prosecute the offender, and any other relevant matters.
(d) An order may be made under this section whether or not any person is prosecuted or convicted of any offense arising out of such act. Upon application made by an appropriate prosecuting authority, the Office of Victim Services or a victim compensation commissioner may suspend making any determination or any proceedings, as the case may be, under this chapter for such period as it deems appropriate on the ground that a prosecution for an offense arising out of such act or omission has been commenced or is imminent.
(e) In determining the amount of compensation to be allowed, the Office of Victim Services or, on review, a victim compensation commissioner shall take into consideration amounts that the applicant has received or is eligible to receive from any other source or sources, including but not limited to payments from state and municipal agencies, insurance benefits, and workers' compensation awards, as a result of the incident or offense giving rise to the application.
(f) Payments shall be in a manner to be determined by the Office of Victim Services, including but not limited to lump sum or periodic payments. If an award is not claimed by the applicant within forty-five days after notice of the award, the Office of Victim Services may vacate such award.
(P.A. 78-261, S. 8, 17; P.A. 80-90; P.A. 82-397, S. 1, 7; P.A. 87-554, S. 7; P.A. 93-310, S. 7, 32; P.A. 95-175, S. 5.)
History: P.A. 80-90 amended Subsec. (a)(3) to include payments to victim's estate; P.A. 82-397 deleted references to "incurred expenses" associated with injury or death in Subsec. (a), referring instead to "pecuniary loss" in both instances, added provision re extent of victim's cooperation with board and law enforcement agencies in Subsec. (c), restated Subsec. (e) and added specific reference to payments from state and municipal agencies, insurance benefits and workers' compensation awards and added Subsec. (f) re method of payment; P.A. 87-554 changed "board" to "commission" and amended Subsec. (a) by adding "including any child of a homicide victim who was killed by the other parent, provided the proceeds of any payment of compensation shall be placed in a trust fund for the benefit of any such child until such child or children reach the age of eighteen"; P.A. 93-310 changed "commission" to "office of victim services, or on review a victim compensation commissioner", made technical changes, and in Subsec. (f) changed "commission" to "office of victim services", eliminated annuities or deposits in accounts held in trust for applicant and added provision permitting vacation of award if not claimed within forty-five days, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-175 amended Subsec. (c) to delete "need for financial aid" as factor to be considered.

(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)

Sec. 54-209. Compensation ordered, when. (a) The Office of Victim Services or, on review, a victim compensation commissioner may order the payment of compensation in accordance with the provisions of this chapter for personal injury or death which resulted from: (1) An attempt to prevent the commission of crime or to apprehend a suspected criminal or in aiding or attempting to aid a police officer so to do, (2) the commission or attempt to commit by another of any crime as provided in section 53a- 24, (3) the operation of a motor vehicle by another person who was subsequently convicted with respect to such operation for a violation of subsection (a) of section 14-224 or of section 14-227a, 53a-56b or 53a-60d, or (4) any crime involving international terrorism as defined in Section 2331 of Title 18 of the United States Code.
(b) In the absence of conviction, as provided in subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of this section, the Office of Victim Services or, on review, a victim compensation commissioner may order payment of compensation under this section if, upon consideration of all circumstances determined to be relevant, the Office of Victim Services or a victim compensation commissioner, as the case may be, reasonably concludes that another person has operated a motor vehicle in violation of subsection (a) of section 14- 224 or of section 14-227a, 53a-56b or 53a-60d.
(c) Except as provided in subdivision (3) of subsection (a) and subsection (b) of this section, no act involving the operation of a motor vehicle which results in injury shall constitute a crime for the purposes of this chapter unless the injuries were intentionally inflicted through the use of the vehicle.
(d) Evidence of an order for the payment of compensation by the Office of Victim Services or a victim compensation commissioner in accordance with the provisions of this chapter shall not be admissible in any civil proceeding to prove the liability of any person for such personal injury or death or in any criminal proceeding to prove the guilt or innocence of any person for any crime.
(P.A. 78-261, S. 9, 17; P.A. 85-529, S. 2, 4; P.A. 87-554, S. 8; P.A. 89-49; P.A. 93-310, S. 8, 32; P.A. 95-175, S. 6; P.A. 97-59, S. 1, 4.)
History: P.A. 85-529 inserted Subsec. indicators and added Subdiv. (3) to Subsec. (a) and an exception to Subsec. (b) to authorize the board to pay compensation for injury or death resulting from the operation of a motor vehicle by another person subsequently convicted of a violation of Sec. 14-227a, 53a-56b or 53a-60d; P.A. 87-554 changed "board" to "commission"; P.A. 89-49 inserted new Subsec. (b) permitting payment of compensation in absence of conviction if commission reasonably concludes person operated motor vehicle in violation of Sec. 14-227a, 53a-56b or 53a-60d, relettering former Subsec. (b) accordingly, and added Subsec. (d) re inadmissibility of order of compensation in civil or criminal proceeding to prove liability or guilt or innocence of any person; P.A. 93-310 changed "commission" to "office of victim services or, on review, a victim compensation commissioner", effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-175 amended Subsecs. (a) and (b) by adding references to Subsec. (a) of Sec. 14-224; P.A. 97-59 amended Subsec. (a) by adding Subdiv. (4) re crime involving international terrorism, effective May 8, 1997.

(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)

Sec. 54-210. Compensation ordered for expenses, loss of earnings, pecuniary loss and other losses. (a) The Office of Victim Services or a victim compensation commissioner may order the payment of compensation under this chapter for: (1) Expenses actually and reasonably incurred as a result of the personal injury or death of the victim, provided coverage for the cost of medical care and treatment of a crime victim who does not have medical insurance or who has exhausted coverage under applicable health insurance policies or Medicaid shall be ordered; (2) loss of earning power as a result of total or partial incapacity of such victim; (3) pecuniary loss to the spouse or dependents of the deceased victim, including zero to one per cent loans of up to one hundred thousand dollars, with repayment beginning five years from the date the loan was awarded, provided the family qualifies for compensation as a result of murder or manslaughter of the victim; (4) pecuniary loss to the relatives or dependents of a deceased victim for attendance at court proceedings with respect to the criminal case of the person or persons charged with committing the crime that resulted in the death of the victim; and (5) any other loss, except as set forth in section 54-211, resulting from the personal injury or death of the victim which the Office of Victim Services or a victim compensation commissioner, as the case may be, determines to be reasonable. At the discretion of said office or victim compensation commissioner, there shall be one hundred dollars deductible from the total amount determined by said office or victim compensation commissioner. Loan funds awarded under subdivision (3) of this subsection shall be used to pay for essential living expenses, directly resulting from the loss of income provided by the deceased victim, or preexisting financial obligations that are not otherwise forgiven or excused. The Office of the Chief Court Administrator shall establish procedures and forms for the application and repayment of such loans.
(b) Payment of compensation under this chapter may be made to a person who is a recipient of public assistance, state-administered general assistance or general assistance for necessary and reasonable expenses related to injuries resulting from a crime and not provided for by the income assistance program in which such person is a participant. Unless required by federal law, no such payment shall be considered an asset for purposes of eligibility for such assistance.
(P.A. 78-261, S. 10, 17; P.A. 87-217; 87-554, S. 9; P.A. 92-153, S. 6; P.A. 93-310, S. 9, 32; P.A. 97-257, S. 5, 13; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-2, S. 111, 165; P.A. 99-128, S. 1; 99-184, S. 4; P.A. 00-200, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 87-217 added Subsec. (b) (1) permitting board to order compensation to recipient of income assistance for expenses related to injuries resulting from crime and not provided for by income assistance program and (2) providing no such payment shall be considered asset for purposes of eligibility for assistance unless required by federal law; P.A. 87-554 changed "board" to "commission"; P.A. 92-153 made no change; P.A. 93-310 changed "commission" to "office of victim services" or "office of victim services or a victim compensation commissioner, as the case may be", effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 97-257 amended Subsec. (a) by requiring order of coverage for cost of medical care of victim who does not have medical insurance or who has exhausted coverage, effective July 1, 1998; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-2 amended Subsec. (b) to make technical and conforming changes re references to assistance programs, effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 99-128 amended Subsec. (a) by adding provision re compensation for pecuniary loss to relatives or dependents of deceased victim for attendance at court re criminal case of person charged with crime resulting in death of victim; P.A. 99-184 amended Subsec. (a) by providing that the one-hundred-dollar deductible shall be at the discretion of the Office of Victim Services or a victim compensation commissioner; P.A. 00-200 amended Subsec. (a) to add provisions re compensation for pecuniary loss to spouse or dependents of deceased victim in the form of zero to one per cent loans.

(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)

Sec. 54-211. When no order of payment shall be made. Waiver of time limitation, when. (a)(1) No order for the payment of compensation shall be made under section 54-210 unless the application has been made within two years after the date of the personal injury or death, and the personal injury or death was the result of an incident or offense listed in section 54-209 which has been reported to the police within five days of its occurrence or, if the incident or offense could not reasonably have been reported within such period, within five days of the time when a report could reasonably have been made. (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection, any person who fails to make application for compensation within two years after the date of the personal injury or death as a result of physical, emotional or psychological injuries caused by such personal injury or death may apply for a waiver of such time limitation, provided in no event may such application for waiver of the time limitation be filed later than six years after the date of such personal injury or death. The Office of Victim Services, upon a finding of such physical, emotional or psychological injury, may grant such waiver. (3) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection, any minor who fails to make application for compensation within two years after the date of the personal injury or death through no fault of the minor, may apply for a waiver of such time limitation, provided in no event may such application be filed later than two years after such minor attains the age of majority, or seven years after the date of the personal injury or death, whichever is sooner. The Office of Victim Services, upon a finding that such minor is not at fault, may grant such waiver. (4) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection, a person who is a dependent of a victim may make application for payment of compensation not later than two years from the date that such person discovers or in the exercise of reasonable care should have discovered that the person upon whom the applicant was dependent was a victim or ninety days after May 26, 2000, whichever is later. Such person shall file with such application a statement signed under penalty of false statement setting forth the date when such person discovered that the person upon whom the applicant was dependent was a victim and the circumstances that prevented such person discovering that the person upon whom the applicant was dependent was a victim until more than two years after the date of the incident or offense. There shall be a rebuttable presumption that a person who files such a statement and is otherwise eligible for compensation under this chapter is entitled to compensation. (5) Any waiver denied by the Office of Victim Services under this subsection may be reviewed by a victim compensation commissioner, provided such request for review is made by the applicant within thirty days from the mailing of the notice of denial by the Office of Victim Services. If a victim compensation commissioner grants such waiver the commissioner shall refer the application for compensation to the Office of Victim Services for a determination pursuant to section 54-205.
(b) No compensation shall be awarded if: (1) The offender is unjustly enriched by the award, provided compensation awarded to a victim which would benefit the offender in a minimal or inconsequential manner shall not be considered unjust enrichment; (2) the victim violated a penal law of this state, which violation caused or contributed to his injuries or death.
(c) No compensation shall be awarded for losses sustained for crimes against property or for noneconomic detriment such as pain and suffering.
(d) No compensation shall be awarded for the first hundred dollars of injury sustained and no such compensation shall be in an amount in excess of fifteen thousand dollars except that such compensation to or for the benefit of the dependents of a homicide victim shall be in an amount not to exceed twenty-five thousand dollars. The claims of the dependents of a deceased victim, as provided in section 54-208, shall be considered derivative of the claim of such victim and the total compensation paid for all claims arising from the death of such victim shall not exceed a maximum of twenty-five thousand dollars.
(e) Orders for payment of compensation pursuant to this chapter may be made only as to injuries or death resulting from incidents or offenses arising on and after January 1, 1979, except that orders for payment of compensation pursuant to subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of section 54-209 may be made only as to injuries or death resulting from incidents or offenses arising on and after July 1, 1985.
(f) Compensation shall be awarded pursuant to this chapter for bodily injury or death resulting from a crime which occurs (1) within this state, regardless of the residency of the applicant; (2) outside this state but within the territorial boundaries of the United States, provided the victim, at the time of injury or death, was a resident of this state and the state in which such crime occurred does not have a program for compensation of victims for which such victim is eligible; and (3) outside the territorial boundaries of the United States, provided the applicant is a victim of international terrorism, as defined in Section 2331 of Title 18 of the United States Code, and was a resident of this state at the time of injury or death.
(P.A. 78-261, S. 11, 17; P.A. 81-23, S. 1; P.A. 82-397, S. 4, 7; P.A. 85-529, S. 3, 4; 85-538, S. 3; P.A. 87-554, S. 10; P.A. 90-22, S. 1; 90-279, S. 1; P.A. 93-310, S. 10, 32; P.A. 95-175, S. 7; P.A. 97-59, S. 2, 4; P.A. 00-110, S. 1, 2.)
History: P.A. 81-23 added Subsec. (e) prohibiting compensation to nonresident victims unless a reciprocal victim compensation provision has been enacted in the state in which the victim is a resident; P.A. 82-397 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting provision prohibiting compensation award if victim is relative of offender or living with offender as member of family or household or maintaining a sexual relationship with offender or member of family of offender and added prohibition of compensation to victim if offender benefits or if victim was living with offender by mutual consent in relationship of cohabitation, regardless of legal status, and amended Subsec. (c) by deleting requirement that all payments be made in a lump sum; P.A. 85-529 amended Subsec. (d) by providing that compensation pursuant to Subdiv. (3) of Subsec. (a) of Sec. 54-209 is limited to incidents or offenses arising on and after July 1, 1985; P.A. 85-538 amended Subsec. (b) adding "unless the parties have separated, are no longer in a relationship of cohabitation and there is no expectation that the parties will resume a relationship of cohabitation in the future, and deleted Subsec. (e) which required reciprocity for nonresident victim; P.A. 87-554 amended Subsec. (c) by (1) increasing maximum compensation to fifteen thousand dollars, except that the maximum compensation for dependents of homicide victim shall be twenty-five thousand dollars and (2) providing that claims of dependents of deceased victim shall be considered derivative of claim of victim and total of all claims shall not exceed twenty-five thousand dollars, and amended Subsec. (e) re compensation for bodily injury or death from crime occurring in this state, regardless of residency of the applicant; P.A. 90-22 amended Subsec. (b) by adding provisions prohibiting compensation if offender may be unjustly enriched and amended Subsec. (e) by authorizing award of compensation to resident victim of a crime committed outside the state; P.A. 90-279 amended Subsec. (a) by permitting application for and granting of waiver of time limitation for benefits if failure to file within two-year period was a result of (1) physical, emotional or psychological injuries or (2) the negligence of the parent, guardian or custodian of a minor who failed to file within the two-year period; P.A. 93-310 changed "commission" to "office of victim services", added provision re review of denial of waiver, deleted provision in Subsec. (b) re investigation where unjust enrichment, added provision prohibiting compensation for crimes against property or for noneconomic detriment such as pain and suffering and made technical changes, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-175 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing failure to make application through "negligence of the parent, guardian or custodian" of a minor with failure to apply "through no fault of" the minor; P.A. 97-59 amended Subsec. (a) by changing "fourteen" days from the mailing of the notice of denial to "thirty" days from such mailing, amended Subsec. (f) by adding "but within the territorial boundaries of the United States" to Subdiv. (2) and added Subdiv. (3) re crime outside territorial boundaries provided applicant is victim of international terrorism and resident of state at time of injury or death, effective May 8, 1997; P.A. 00-110 amended Subsec. (a) to add new Subdiv. (4) re time limitation and procedure for a person to make application for compensation upon discovering that the person upon whom the applicant was dependent was a victim and to redesignate former Subdiv. (4) as Subdiv. (5), effective May 26, 2000.

(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)

Sec. 54-211a. Appeal. Any applicant aggrieved by an order or decision of a victim compensation commissioner may appeal by way of a demand for a trial de novo to the superior court for the judicial district of Hartford. The appeal shall be taken within thirty days after mailing of the order or decision, or if there is no mailing, within thirty days after personal delivery of such order or decision.
(P.A. 82-397, S. 3, 7; P.A. 87-554, S. 11; P.A. 88-230, S. 1, 12; 88-364, S. 72, 123; P.A. 90-98, S. 1, 2; P.A. 93-142, S. 4, 7, 8; 93-310, S. 11, 32; P.A. 95-220, S. 4−6.)
History: P.A. 87-554 changed "board" to "commission"; P.A. 88-230 replaced "judicial district of Hartford-New Britain" with "judicial district of Hartford", effective September 1, 1991; P.A. 88-364 made technical changes; P.A. 90-98 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1991, to September 1, 1993; P.A. 93-142 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1993, to September 1, 1996, effective June 14, 1993; P.A. 93-310 changed "commission" to "victim compensation commissioner" and added provision re appeal by way of trial de novo and requirement that appeal be taken within thirty days, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-220 changed the effective date of P.A. 88- 230 from September 1, 1996, to September 1, 1998, effective July 1, 1995.

(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)

Sec. 54-212. Office of Victim Services to have subrogated cause of action against person responsible for crime. (a) Whenever an order for the payment of compensation for personal injury or death or for the provision of restitution services is or has been made under this chapter, the Office of Victim Services shall, upon payment of the amount of the order or the provision of such services, be subrogated to the cause of action of the applicant against the person or persons responsible for such injury or death. The Attorney General, on behalf of the Office of Victim Services, shall be entitled to bring an action and, if the Attorney General declines to do so, the office may hire a private attorney to bring an action against such person or persons and to recover, whether by judgment, settlement or compromise settlement before or after judgment, the amount of damages sustained by the applicant and shall furnish the applicant with a copy of the action taken within thirty days of the filing of such action. If an amount greater than two-thirds of that paid pursuant to any such order is recovered and collected in any such action, whether by judgment, settlement or compromise settlement before or after judgment, the state shall pay the balance exceeding two-thirds of the amount paid pursuant to such order to the applicant less any costs and expenses incurred therefor.
(b) If the applicant brings an action against the person or persons responsible for such injury or death to recover damages arising out of the crime for which an award has been granted, the Office of Victim Services shall have a lien on the applicant's recovery for the amount to which the office is entitled to reimbursement. The applicant shall notify the Office of Victim Services of the filing of such complaint within thirty days of the filing of the complaint in court. Whenever an applicant recovers damages, whether by judgment, settlement or compromise settlement before or after judgment, from the person or persons responsible for such injury, the Office of Victim Services is entitled to reimbursement from the applicant for two-thirds of the amount paid pursuant to any order for the payment of compensation for personal injury or death or for the provision of restitution services.
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, if the Office of Victim Services finds that enforcement of its subrogation rights would cause undue harm to the applicant, the office may abrogate such rights. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b) of this section, if the Office of Victim Services finds that enforcement of its lien rights would cause undue harm to the applicant, the office may abrogate such rights. "Undue harm" includes, but is not limited to, considerations of victim safety and recovery by the applicant of an amount that is less than the applicant's compensable economic losses.
(P.A. 78-261, S. 12, 17; P.A. 79-505, S. 6, 7; P.A. 81-149; P.A. 82-397, S. 5, 7; P.A. 85-538, S. 4; P.A. 87-554, S. 12; P.A. 93-310, S. 12, 32; P.A. 95-175, S. 8.)
History: P.A. 79-505 added references to orders for provision of restitution services; P.A. 81-149 provided that if an amount greater than two-thirds of restitution payment is recovered by judgment or settlement, the state shall pay the excess to the applicant, less any costs and expenses, where previously the excess was paid to applicant when any amount greater than that paid was recovered; P.A. 82-397 enabled board to recover, whether by judgment settlement or compromise settlement before or after judgment the amount of damages sustained by applicant and to contract with private attorneys to undertake subrogation actions on its behalf and deleted provision re payment by state of balance exceeding two-thirds of amount paid pursuant to order; P.A. 85-538 added provision that if an amount greater than two-thirds of order is recovered, the state shall pay balance exceeding two-thirds to the applicant less costs and expenses, and added Subsec. (b) stating whenever applicant recovers damages, the board is entitled to two-thirds of amount paid pursuant to order; P.A. 87-554 changed "board" to "commission" and amended Subsec. (a) by adding provision requiring commission to furnish applicant with copy of action to recover damages within thirty days of filing such action and requiring applicant who brings any such action to provide similar notice to commission; P.A. 93-310 changed "commission" to "office of victim services" and "the attorney general, on behalf of the office of victim services", added provision that if attorney general declines to bring an action, the office of victim services may hire private attorney to bring action, and made technical changes, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-175 amended Subsec. (b) by adding provision re lien by Office of Victim Services on applicants recovery and added Subsec. (c) re abrogation of subrogation and lien rights if it would cause undue harm to the applicant.

(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)

Sec. 54-213. Award not subject to execution or attachment. No award made pursuant to this chapter shall be subject to execution or attachment other than for expenses resulting from the injury which is the basis for the claim.
(P.A. 78-261, S. 13, 17.)

(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)

Sec. 54-214. Annual report to legislature and to appropriations committee. Section 54-214 is repealed, effective July 1, 1993.
(P.A. 78-261, S. 14, 17; P.A. 82-397, S. 2, 7; P.A. 84-179; P.A. 85-609, S. 5; P.A. 87-554, S. 13; P.A. 92-153, S. 4; P.A. 93-310, S. 31, 32.)

(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)

Sec. 54-215. Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund established. The Office of Victim Services shall establish a Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund, for the purpose of funding the compensation and restitution services provided for by this chapter. The fund may contain any moneys required by law to be deposited in the fund and shall be held by the Treasurer separate and apart from all other moneys, funds and accounts. The interest derived from the investment of the fund shall be credited to the fund. Amounts in the fund may be expended only pursuant to appropriation by the General Assembly. Any balance remaining in the fund at the end of any fiscal year shall be carried forward in the fund for the fiscal year next succeeding. The cost paid into court under section 54-143 shall be deposited in the General Fund and shall be credited to and become a part of said Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund. Any restitution collected by the Office of Adult Probation pursuant to section 53a-30 and which is not disbursed within five years, because the victim could not be located, shall be deposited in the Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund. If payment is awarded under section 54-210 and thereafter the court orders the defendant in the criminal case from which such injury or death resulted to make restitution, any money collected as restitution shall be paid to said fund unless the court directs otherwise. Any administrative costs related to the operation of said fund, including credits to and payments of compensation therefrom, shall be paid from said fund. Administrative costs of providing direct services, the proportionate share of any fixed costs associated with such services, the costs of providing direct services to victims and witnesses of crimes in accordance with subdivision (6) of subsection (b) of section 54-203, and any services offered by the Office of Victim Services to witnesses and victims of crime may be budgeted for payment from said fund. The Office of Victim Services may also apply for and receive moneys for said fund from any federal, state or private source.
(P.A. 78-261, S. 16, 17; P.A. 79-505, S. 2, 7; P.A. 80-390, S. 3, 5; P.A. 82-397, S. 6, 7; P.A. 86-312, S. 13, 21; P.A. 87-554, S. 14; P.A. 92-153, S. 5; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-14, S. 6, 11; P.A. 93-310, S. 13, 32; P.A. 97-59, S. 3, 4.)
History: P.A. 79-505 added reference to restitution services and deleted provision requiring termination of fund on June 30, 1979, and transfer of remaining moneys to general fund; P.A. 80-390 deleted specific reference to ten-dollar cost under Sec. 54-143, that amount having been increased and specified that costs of services to witnesses and crime victims are to be paid from fund; P.A. 82-397 included cost of encouraging volunteer activities on board's behalf as administrative cost and required board to invest balance of fund in short term investment fund, with any interest earned deposited in criminal injuries compensation fund, effective July 1, 1983; P.A. 86-312 changed criminal injuries compensation "fund" to a separate nonlapsing "account" within the general fund; P.A. 87-554 changed "board" to "commission" and authorized commission to apply for and receive state funds; P.A. 92-153 changed "account" to "fund" and provided that amounts in fund may be expended only pursuant to appropriation by the general assembly, and deleted costs of volunteer activities and costs of services to witnesses and victims of crime from payments to be made from the fund; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92- 14 added provision that administrative costs of direct services and proportionate share of fixed costs for such services to witnesses and victims of crime may be paid from the fund; P.A. 93-310 changed "commission on victim services" to "office of victim services", effective July 1, 1993; (Revisor's note: In 1995, a reference to "said account" was corrected editorially by the Revisors to "said fund" to reflect the changes enacted by P.A. 92-153); P.A. 97-59 added provision re deposit into fund of restitution collected by Office of Adult Probation and not disbursed to victim and added provision re payment of costs of providing direct services to victims and witnesses of crime from fund, effective May 8, 1997.

(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)

Sec. 54-216. Restitution services. (a) The Office of Victim Services or, on review, a victim compensation commissioner may order that services be provided for the restitution of any person eligible for such services in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. Such services may include but shall not be limited to medical, psychiatric, psychological and social services and social rehabilitation services.
(b) The Office of Victim Services or, on review, a victim compensation commissioner may order that such restitution services be provided to victims of child abuse and members of their families, victims of sexual assault and members of their families and members of the family of any victim of homicide.
(c) The Office of Victim Services may contract with any public or private agency for any services ordered under this section.
(P.A. 79-505, S. 3, 7; P.A. 85-538, S. 1; P.A. 87-554, S. 15; P.A. 93-310, S. 14, 32; P.A. 95-175, S. 9.)
History: P.A. 85-538 inserted new Subsec. (b) re restitution services to victims of child abuse and their families and members of the family of any victim of homicide, relettering former Subsec. (b) accordingly; P.A. 87-554 replaced "board" with "commission"; P.A. 93-310 changed "commission" to "office of victim services or, on review, a victim compensation commissioner", effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-175 amended Subsec. (b) by including victims of sexual assault and members of their families.

(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)

Sec. 54-217. Emergency award pending final determination on claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 54-204 and section 54-205, if it appears to the Office of Victim Services prior to taking action upon such claim, that (a) such claim is one with respect to which an award probably will be made, and (b) undue hardship will result to the claimant if immediate payment is not made, the Office of Victim Services may make an emergency award to the claimant pending a final determination on the application, provided (1) the amount of such emergency award shall not exceed one thousand dollars, (2) the amount of such emergency award shall be deducted from any final award made to the claimant and (3) the excess of the amount of such emergency award over the final award, or the full amount of the emergency award if no final award is made, shall be repaid by the claimant to the Office of Victim Services.
(P.A. 79-505, S. 5, 7; P.A. 87-554, S. 16; P.A. 90-22, S. 2; P.A. 93-310, S. 15, 32.)
History: P.A. 87-554 changed "board" to "commission"; P.A. 90-22 increased maximum amount of emergency award from five hundred to one thousand dollars; P.A. 93-310 changed "commission on victim services" to "office of victim services", effective July 1, 1993.

(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)

Sec. 54-218. Profits derived as result of crime of violence. Recovery of money judgment by victim. Payment to Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund. (a) Any person, firm, corporation, partnership, association or other legal entity contracting with any person or the representative or assignee of any person accused of a crime of violence in this state, with respect to the reenactment of such crime, by way of a movie, book, magazine article, radio or television presentation, live entertainment of any kind, or from the expression of such person's thoughts, feelings, opinions or emotions regarding such crime, shall pay over to the Office of Victim Services any moneys which would otherwise, by terms of such contract, be owing to the persons so accused or the accused's representatives. The Office of Victim Services shall deposit such moneys in an interest- bearing escrow account for the benefit of and payable to such accused person for the expenses of his or her defense and any victim of a crime of violence committed by such person, provided such person is finally convicted of a crime of violence for which compensation may be paid and, provided further such victim brings a civil action in a court of competent jurisdiction within five years of the date of the crime and recovers a money judgment against such person or his or her representatives. Any covenant, promise, agreement or understanding entered into or in connection with or collateral to a contract or agreement relative to the payment of any person accused or convicted of a crime of violence which attempts to circumvent the provisions of this section is prohibited.
(b) If no victim brings a civil action within five years of the date of the crime and recovers a money judgment, the moneys in any such escrow account shall be paid to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund established under section 54-215. If there is an affirmative finding that the person accused of the crime is not guilty within such five- year period, the money in any such escrow account shall be returned to such person.
(P.A. 82-328; P.A. 93-310, S. 16, 32; P.A. 95-175, S. 11.)
History: P.A. 93-310 deleted "clerk of the court of the judicial district in which the crime is alleged to have been committed" to the "office of victim services" and made technical changes, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-175 amended Subsec. (b) by adding provision re return of money if affirmative finding that person accused of crime is not guilty.

(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)

Sec. 54-219. Victim Services Technical Assistance Fund. Section 54-219 is repealed.
(P.A. 85-609, S. 3; P.A. 88-185, S. 1, 2; P.A. 92-153, S. 13.)

(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)

Sec. 54-220. Victim advocates. Responsibilities and duties. (a) Victim advocates shall have the following responsibilities and duties: (1) To provide initial screening of each personal injury case; (2) to prepare victim impact statements to be placed in court files; (3) to assist victims by providing information needed for more effective processing of cases; (4) to provide information and advice to individual victims; (5) to direct victims to public and private agencies for service; (6) to coordinate victim applications to the Office of Victim Services; and (7) to assist victims in the processing of claims for restitution.
(b) Within available appropriations, the Office of Victim Services may contract with any public or private agency for victim advocate services in geographical area courts.
(P.A. 85-609, S. 2; P.A. 87-554, S. 1; P.A. 93-310, S. 17, 32; P.A. 95-175, S. 10.)
History: (Revisor's note: In 1991 the term "commission on victim services" was substituted editorially for "criminal injuries compensation board" pursuant to public act 87-554); P.A. 93-310 amended Subdiv. (3) by deleting "prosecutors by gathering victim or witness" and inserting "victims by providing", amended Subdiv. (4) by deleting requirement of counsel, and amended Subdiv. (6) by changing "commission" to "office of victim services", effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-175 amended Subsec. (a) by adding Subdiv. (7) re assistance of victims in processing claims for restitution and added Subsec. (b) re contracting with public or private agency for victim advocates in geographical area courts.

(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)

Sec. 54-221. Appointment of advocates for victims of crime by court. The court may appoint any appropriate person to act as an advocate for any victim of a crime. The court shall not appoint an advocate under this section unless the victim agrees to such appointment.
(P.A. 85-538, S. 2.)

(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)

Sec. 54-222. Bilingual brochure re rights of victims and victim services. The Office of the Chief Court Administrator shall develop a concise, bilingual card or brochure concerning information to victims of crime concerning their rights as victims and any services available to them. The Office of Victim Services shall distribute such cards or brochures to municipalities and the state police who shall distribute such cards or brochures to crime victims.
(P.A. 85-609, S. 4; P.A. 87-554, S. 1; P.A. 93-310, S. 18, 32.)
History: (Revisor's note: In 1991 the term "commission on victim services" was substituted editorially for "criminal injuries compensation board" and "commission" for "board" pursuant to public act 87-554); P.A. 93-310 changed reference to "commission on victim services" to "office of the chief court administrator", changed "commission" to "office of victim services" and added "and the state police" after "municipalities", effective July 1, 1993.

(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)

Sec. 54-222a. Duty of peace officer to inform victim re victim services at scene of crime. (a) Whenever a peace officer determines that a crime has been committed, such officer shall render immediate assistance to any victim of such crime including obtaining medical assistance for any such victim if such assistance is required, shall present a card prepared by the Office of the Chief Court Administrator to a victim who has suffered physical injury informing the victim of services available and the rights of victims in this state and shall refer the victim to the Office of Victim Services for additional information on rights and services.
(b) The Commissioner of Public Safety shall adopt regulations in accordance with chapter 54 to implement the provisions of subsection (a) of this section.
(P.A. 88-260; P.A. 93-310, S. 19, 32.)
History: P.A. 93-310 changed "commission on victims services" to "office of chief court administrator" and changed "said commission" to "the office of victim services", effective July 1, 1993.

(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)

Sec. 54-223. Failure to afford rights to victim shall not constitute grounds for vacating conviction or voiding sentence or parole determination. Failure to afford the victim of a crime any of the rights provided pursuant to any provision of the general statutes shall not constitute grounds for vacating an otherwise lawful conviction or voiding an otherwise lawful sentence or parole determination.
(P.A. 86-401, S. 3, 7.)

(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)

Sec. 54-224. Liability of state re failure to afford rights to victim. Except as provided in subsection (d) of section 46b-38b, the state or any agent, employee or officer thereof shall not be liable for (1) the failure to afford the victim of a crime any of the rights provided pursuant to any provision of the general statutes or (2) the failure to provide the victim of a crime with any notice pursuant to any provision of the general statutes.
(P.A. 86-401, S. 4, 7; P.A. 93-310, S. 20, 32.)
History: P.A. 93-310 inserted "Except as provided in subsection (d) of section 46b-38b, the", added Subdiv. indicators, designating as Subdiv. (2) new provision re failure to provide notice to victim, effective July 1, 1993.

(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)

Sec. 54-225. Voluntary program for lawyers for protection of persons injured in person or property by civil wrong. There shall be a program for the protection of persons injured in person or property by a civil wrong. Lawyers may voluntarily participate in such program. Under the program, a lawyer shall inform any person injured in person or property by a civil wrong of his right to (1) bring an action to recover damages for such injury within the time limited by law, (2) the competent assistance of counsel, (3) notification of all court proceedings concerning his action, (4) full compensation for his injury, and (5) a written list of the rights of civil victims and the agencies or programs available to assist such victims. No lawyer who participates in such program or any law firm with which he is associated may solicit, accept or agree to accept any compensation from any such victim.
(P.A. 87-514, S. 2, 4.)

(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)

Sec. 54-226. Definitions. For the purposes of sections 54-226 to 54-231, inclusive, "furlough" means the temporary custodial transfer of an inmate from incarcerative custody to community custody for an authorized purpose under the supervision of a verified community sponsor, and "victim" means the victim, the legal representative of the victim or a member of the deceased victim's immediate family.
(P.A. 91-389, S. 1, 12; P.A. 92-153, S. 8.)
History: P.A. 91-389, S. 1 effective April 1, 1992; P.A. 92-153 added definition of "furlough".

(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)

Sec. 54-227. Notification of Office of Victim Services by inmate applying for release or sentence reduction or review. Access to criminal history record information. (a) Any inmate who makes an application to the Board of Pardons, Board of Parole or Department of Correction for release other than a furlough from a correctional institution or who applies to the sentencing court or judge for a reduction in sentence pursuant to section 53a-39, or who applies to the review division for a review of sentence pursuant to section 51-195, shall notify the Office of Victim Services of such application on a form prescribed by the Office of the Chief Court Administrator. Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, no such application shall be accepted unless the applicant has notified the Office of Victim Services and provides proof of such notice as part of the application.
(b) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes to the contrary, the Board of Pardons, Board of Parole, sentencing court and sentence review division may make available to the Office of Victim Services direct access to records in their custody, including computerized criminal history record information, for the purpose of performing its duties regarding victim notification.
(P.A. 91-389, S. 2, 12; P.A. 92-153, S. 9; P.A. 93-310, S. 21, 32; P.A. 96-97, S. 3.)
History: P.A. 91-389, S. 2 effective April 1, 1992; P.A. 92-153 added phrase "other than a furlough"; P.A. 93-310 changed "commission on victim services" to "office of victim services", effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 96-97 added Subsec. (b) permitting Board of Pardons, Board of Parole, sentencing court and sentence review division to allow Office of Victim Services direct access to records.

(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)

Sec. 54-227a. Copy of transcript to victim of crime, when. Whenever a transcript of a criminal proceeding is prepared, the prosecuting official shall provide a copy of such transcript to any victim of the crime without charge upon request of such victim.
(P.A. 97-257, S. 10, 13.)
History: P.A. 97-257 effective July 1, 1997.

(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)

Sec. 54-228. Request by victim or family member of inmate for notification. Any victim of a crime or any member of an inmate's immediate family who desires to be notified whenever an inmate makes an application to the Board of Pardons, Board of Parole, Department of Correction, sentencing court or judge or review division as provided in section 54-227, or whenever an inmate is scheduled to be released from a correctional institution other than on a furlough, may complete and file a request for notification with the Office of Victim Services. Such request for notification shall be in such form and content as the Office of the Chief Court Administrator may prescribe. Such request for notification shall be confidential and shall remain confidential while in the custody of the Office of Victim Services and shall not be disclosed. It shall be the responsibility of the victim to notify the Office of Victim Services of his or her current mailing address, which shall be kept confidential and shall not be disclosed by the Office of Victim Services.
(P.A. 91-389, S. 3, 12; P.A. 92-153, S. 10; P.A. 93-219, S. 13, 14; 93-310, S. 22, 32; P.A. 96-97, S. 4.)
History: P.A. 91-389, S. 3 effective April 1, 1992; P.A. 92-153 deleted reference to confidentiality "as provided in section 54-204" and inserted provision specifying that requests for notification "shall not be disclosed"; P.A. 93-219 authorized any member of an inmate's immediate family to complete and file a request for notification, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 93-310 changed "commission" to "office of victim services", changed "commission on victim services" to "office of the chief court administrator", and added provision re responsibility of victim to notify office of current mailing address, which shall be kept confidential, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 96-97 added phrase "scheduled to be" before "released".

(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)

Sec. 54-229. Request by prosecuting authority for notification. Any state's attorney, assistant state's attorney or deputy assistant state's attorney who desires to be notified whenever an inmate makes an application to the Board of Pardons, Board of Parole, Department of Correction, sentencing court or judge or review division as provided in section 54-227 may complete and file a request for notification with the Office of Victim Services. Such request for notification shall be in such form and content as the Office of the Chief Court Administrator may prescribe.
(P.A. 91-389, S. 4, 12; P.A. 93-310, S. 23, 32.)
History: P.A. 91-389, S. 4 effective April 1, 1992; P.A. 93-310 deleted "commission on" and inserted "office of" and deleted "commission on victim services" and inserted "office of chief court administrator" effective July 1, 1993.

(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)

Sec. 54-230. Notification by Office of Victim Services when inmate applies for release or sentence reduction or review or is released from correctional institution. (a) Upon receipt of notice from an inmate pursuant to section 54-227, the Office of Victim Services shall notify by mail all persons who have requested to be notified pursuant to sections 54-228 and 54-229 whenever such inmate makes application for release or sentence reduction or review. Such notice shall be in writing and notify each person of the nature of the release or sentence reduction or review being applied for, the address and telephone number of the board or agency to which the application by the inmate was made, and the date and place of the hearing or session, if any, scheduled on the application.
(b) Upon receipt of notice from the Department of Correction pursuant to section 54-231, the Office of Victim Services shall notify by mail all victims who have requested to be notified pursuant to section 54-228 whenever such inmate is scheduled to be released from a correctional institution. Such notice shall be in writing and notify each victim of the date of such inmate's release. The victim shall notify the Office of Victim Services of his or her current mailing address, which shall be kept confidential and shall not be disclosed by the Office of Victim Services.
(P.A. 91-389, S. 5, 12; P.A. 92-153, S. 11; P.A. 93-310, S. 24, 32; P.A. 96-97, S. 5.)
History: P.A. 91-389, S. 5 effective April 1, 1992; P.A. 92-153 deleted requirement that victim be notified of "place" where inmate is released; P.A. 93-310 changed "commission on" to "office of" and added provision in Subsec. (b) re responsibility of victim to notify office of current mailing address which shall be kept confidential, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 96-97 amended Subsec. (b) by adding phrase "scheduled to be" before "released".

(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)

Sec. 54-231. Notification of Office of Victim Services by Department of Correction upon release of inmate. Access to criminal history record information. The Department of Correction shall notify the Office of Victim Services whenever it schedules the release of an inmate from a correctional institution other than on a furlough. Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes to the contrary, the Department of Correction may make available to the Office of Victim Services direct access to any records in its custody, including computerized criminal history record information, for the purpose of assisting said office to perform its duties regarding victim notification.
(P.A. 91-389, S. 6, 12; P.A. 92-153, S. 12; P.A. 93-310, S. 25, 32; P.A. 96-97, S. 6.)
History: P.A. 91-389, S. 6 effective April 1, 1992; P.A. 92-153 specified that correction department need not notify commission of inmate's release on furlough; P.A. 93-310 changed "commission on victim services" to "office of victim services", effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 96-97 changed "releases" to "schedules the release of" and added provision permitting Department of Correction to allow Office of Victim Services direct access to records.

(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)

Sec. 54-232. Disposition of requests for notification received prior to April 1, 1992. Section 54-232 is repealed, effective July 1, 1993.
(P.A. 91-389, S. 11; P.A. 93-310, S. 31, 32.)

(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)

Sec. 54-233. Compensation of victim of tort occurring prior to July 1, 1993. Nothing in sections 4-141, 18-85, 18-101, 54-202 to 54-206, inclusive, 54-207a to 54- 212, inclusive, 54-215 to 54-218, inclusive, 54-220, 54-222, 54-222a, 54-224 and 54- 227 to 54-231, inclusive, shall preclude any victim of a tort occurring prior to July 1, 1993, from seeking compensation pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, revision of 1958, revised to January 1, 1993.
(P.A. 93-310, S. 29, 32.)
History: P.A. 93-310 effective July 1, 1993.

(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)

Secs. 54-234 to 54-249. Reserved for future use.

(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)