CHAPTER 969
REGISTRATION OF SEXUAL OFFENDERS

Table of Contents

Sec. 54-250. Definitions.
Sec. 54-251. Registration of person who has committed a criminal offense against a victim who is a minor or a nonviolent sexual offense.
Sec. 54-252. Registration of person who has committed a sexually violent offense.
Sec. 54-253. Registration of person who has committed a sexual offense in another jurisdiction.
Sec. 54-254. Registration of person who has committed a felony for a sexual purpose.
Sec. 54-255. Restriction on dissemination of registration information for certain offenders.
Sec. 54-256. Responsibilities of courts and agencies in registration process.
Sec. 54-257. Registry. Suspension of registration. Verification of address.
Sec. 54-258. Availability of registration information. Immunity.
Sec. 54-258a. Warning against wrongful use of registry information.
Sec. 54-259. Sexual Offender Registration Committee.
Sec. 54-260. (Formerly Sec. 54-102s). Notification of change of address of sexual offenders on parole or probation.
Sec. 54-261. Community response education program.


Sec. 54-250. Definitions. For the purposes of sections 54-102g and 54-250 to 54- 259, inclusive:
(1) "Conviction" means a judgment entered by a court upon a plea of guilty, a plea of nolo contendere or a finding of guilty by a jury or the court notwithstanding any pending appeal or habeas corpus proceeding arising from such judgment.
(2) "Criminal offense against a victim who is a minor" means (A) a violation of subdivision (2) of section 53-21, subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of section 53a-70, subdivision (1), (4) or (8) of subsection (a) of section 53a-71, subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of section 53a-72a, subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of section 53a-86, subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of section 53a-87, section 53a-196a, 53a-196b, 53a-196c or 53a-196d, (B) a violation of section 53a-92, 53a-92a, 53a-94, 53a-94a, 53a-95, 53a-96 or 53a-186, provided the court makes a finding that, at the time of the offense, the victim was under eighteen years of age, (C) a violation of any of the offenses specified in subparagraph (A) or (B) of this subdivision for which a person is criminally liable under section 53a-8, 53a-48 or 53a-49, or (D) a violation of any predecessor statute to any offense specified in subparagraph (A), (B) or (C) of this subdivision the essential elements of which are substantially the same as said offense.
(3) "Identifying factors" means fingerprints, a photographic image, and a description of any other identifying characteristics as may be required by the Commissioner of Public Safety. The commissioner shall also require a sample of the registrant's blood taken for DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) analysis, unless such sample has been previously obtained in accordance with section 54-102g.
(4) "Mental abnormality" means a congenital or acquired condition of a person that affects the emotional or volitional capacity of the person in a manner that predisposes that person to the commission of criminal sexual acts to a degree that makes the person a menace to the health and safety of other persons.
(5) "Nonviolent sexual offense" means a violation of section 53a-73a.
(6) "Not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect" means a finding by a court or jury of not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect pursuant to section 53a-13 notwithstanding any pending appeal or habeas corpus proceeding arising from such finding.
(7) "Personality disorder" means a condition as defined in the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, published by the American Psychiatric Association.
(8) "Registrant" means a person required to register under section 54-251, 54-252, 54-253 or 54-254.
(9) "Registry" means a central record system in this state, any other state or the federal government that receives, maintains and disseminates information on persons convicted or found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect of criminal offenses against victims who are minors, nonviolent sexual offenses, sexually violent offenses and felonies found by the sentencing court to have been committed for a sexual purpose.
(10) "Release into the community" means, with respect to a conviction or a finding of not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect of a criminal offense against a victim who is a minor, a nonviolent sexual offense, a sexually violent offense or a felony found by the sentencing court to have been committed for a sexual purpose, (A) any release by a court after such conviction or finding of not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect, a sentence of probation or any other sentence under section 53a-28 that does not result in the offender's immediate placement in the custody of the Commissioner of Correction; (B) release from a correctional facility at the discretion of the Board of Parole, by the Department of Correction to a program authorized by section 18-100c or upon completion of the maximum term or terms of the offender's sentence or sentences, or to the supervision of the Office of Adult Probation in accordance with the terms of the offender's sentence; or (C) release from a hospital for mental illness or a facility for persons with mental retardation by the Psychiatric Security Review Board on conditional release pursuant to section 17a-588 or upon termination of commitment to the Psychiatric Security Review Board.
(11) "Sexually violent offense" means (A) a violation of section 53a-70, except subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of said section, 53a-70a, 53a-70b, 53a-71, except subdivision (1), (4) or (8) of subsection (a) of said section, 53a-72a, except subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of said section, or 53a-72b, or of section 53a-92 or 53a-92a, provided the court makes a finding that the offense was committed with intent to sexually violate or abuse the victim, (B) a violation of any of the offenses specified in subparagraph (A) of this subdivision for which a person is criminally liable under section 53a-8, 53a-48 or 53a-49, or (C) a violation of any predecessor statute to any of the offenses specified in subparagraph (A) or (B) of this subdivision the essential elements of which are substantially the same as said offense.
(12) "Sexual purpose" means that a purpose of the defendant in committing the felony was to engage in sexual contact or sexual intercourse with another person without that person's consent. A sexual purpose need not be the sole purpose of the commission of the felony. The sexual purpose may arise at any time in the course of the commission of the felony.
(P.A. 98-111, S. 1; P.A. 99-183, S. 1, 13.)
History: P.A. 99-183 made definitions applicable to new Sec. 54-258a but specific reference not added since said Sec. already included in existing reference to Secs. 54-250 to 54-259, inclusive, amended the definition of "conviction" to add "notwithstanding any pending appeal or habeas corpus proceeding arising from such judgment", amended definition of "criminal offense against a victim who is a minor" to revise Subpara. (A) by deleting a violation of "subparagraph (A) or (D) of subdivision (1) of subsection (a) or subdivision (6) of subsection (a) of section 53a-73a" and including a violation of section "53a-196c or 53a-196d" and to add Subpara. (D) re a violation of any predecessor statute with substantially the same essential elements, amended the definition of "identifying factors" to replace "photographs" with "a photographic image", added definition of "nonviolent sexual offense" as new Subdiv. (5), renumbering the remaining definitions accordingly, amended definition of "not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect" to add "notwithstanding any pending appeal or habeas corpus proceeding arising from such finding", amended definition of "registry" to include a central record system in "the federal government", include information on persons convicted or found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect of "nonviolent sexual offenses" and replace "sexual purposes" with "a sexual purpose", amended the definition of "release into the community" to add reference to "a nonviolent sexual offense", replace "sexual purposes" with "a sexual purpose", and revise Subpara. (A) by including "any release by a court after such conviction or finding of not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect" and replacing "offender's placement" with "offender's immediate placement", amended definition of "sexually violent offense" to delete from Subpara. (A) reference to a violation of section "53a-73a, except subparagraph (A) or (D) of subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of said section or subdivision (6) of subsection (a) of said section" and to add Subpara. (C) re a violation of any predecessor statute with substantially the same essential elements, and added definition of "sexual purpose" as Subdiv. (12), effective July 1, 1999.

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Sec. 54-251. Registration of person who has committed a criminal offense against a victim who is a minor or a nonviolent sexual offense. (a) Any person who has been convicted or found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect of a criminal offense against a victim who is a minor or a nonviolent sexual offense, and is released into the community on or after October 1, 1998, shall, within three days following such release, and whether or not such person's place of residence is in this state, register such person's name, identifying factors, criminal history record and residence address with the Commissioner of Public Safety, on such forms and in such locations as the commissioner shall direct, and shall maintain such registration for ten years except that any person who has one or more prior convictions of any such offense or who is convicted of a violation of subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of section 53a-70 shall maintain such registration for life. Prior to accepting a plea of guilty or nolo contendere from a person with respect to a criminal offense against a victim who is a minor or a nonviolent sexual offense, the court shall (1) inform the person that the entry of a finding of guilty after acceptance of the plea will subject the person to the registration requirements of this section, and (2) determine that the person fully understands the consequences of the plea. If such person changes such person's address such person shall, within five days, register the new address in writing with the Commissioner of Public Safety, and, if the new address is in another state, such person shall also register with an appropriate agency in that state, provided that state has a registration requirement for such offenders. If any person who is subject to registration under this section regularly travels into or within another state or temporarily resides in another state for purposes including, but not limited to employment or schooling, such person shall notify the Commissioner of Public Safety and shall also register with an appropriate agency in that state provided that state has a registration requirement for such offenders. During such period of registration, each registrant shall complete and return forms mailed to such registrant to verify such registrant's residence address and shall submit to the retaking of a photographic image upon request of the Commissioner of Public Safety.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, the court may exempt any person who has been convicted or found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect of a violation of subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section 53a-71 from the registration requirements of this section if the court finds that such person was under nineteen years of age at the time of the offense and that registration is not required for public safety.
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, the court may exempt any person who has been convicted or found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect of a violation of subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of section 53a-73a from the registration requirements of this section if the court finds that registration is not required for public safety.
(d) Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a class D felony.
(P.A. 98-111, S. 2; P.A. 99-183, S. 2, 13.)
History: P.A. 99-183 amended Subsec. (a) to make provisions applicable to any person convicted or found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect of "a nonviolent sexual offense", require a person to register "whether or not such person's place of residence is in this state", add exception requiring any person who has one or more prior convictions of any such offense or who is convicted of a violation of Sec. 53a-70(a)(2) to maintain registration for life, revise provision re changing address to and registering in another state, add provision requiring a person who regularly travels into or within another state or temporarily resides in another state to notify the Commissioner of Public Safety and register with an appropriate agency in that state if that state has a registration requirement, add provision requiring registrants to submit to the retaking of a photographic image upon request and make technical changes for purposes of gender neutrality, added new Subsec. (b) to authorize the court to exempt any person convicted or found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect of violation of Sec. 53a-71(a)(1) from the registration requirement under certain circumstances, added new Subsec. (c) to authorize the court to exempt any person convicted or found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect of violation of Sec. 53a-73(a)(2) from the registration requirement under certain circumstances, and redesignated former Subsec. (b) as Subsec. (d), effective July 1, 1999.

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Sec. 54-252. Registration of person who has committed a sexually violent offense. (a) Any person who has been convicted or found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect of a sexually violent offense, and (1) is released into the community on or after October 1, 1988, and prior to October 1, 1998, and resides in this state, shall, on October 1, 1998, or within three days of residing in this state, whichever is later, or (2) is released into the community on or after October 1, 1998, shall, within three days following such release, register such person's name, identifying factors, criminal history record, documentation of any treatment received for mental abnormality or personality disorder, and residence address with the Commissioner of Public Safety on such forms and in such locations as said commissioner shall direct, and shall maintain such registration for life. Prior to accepting a plea of guilty or nolo contendere from a person with respect to a sexually violent offense, the court shall (A) inform the person that the entry of a finding of guilty after acceptance of the plea will subject the person to the registration requirements of this section, and (B) determine that the person fully understands the consequences of the plea. If such person changes such person's address such person shall, within five days, register the new address in writing with the Commissioner of Public Safety, and, if the new address is in another state, such person shall also register with an appropriate agency in that state, provided that state has a registration requirement for such offenders. If any person who is subject to registration under this section regularly travels into or within another state or temporarily resides in another state for purposes including, but not limited to employment or schooling, such person shall notify the Commissioner of Public Safety and shall also register with an appropriate agency in that state, provided that state has a registration requirement for such offenders. During such period of registration, each registrant shall complete and return forms mailed to such registrant to verify such registrant's residence address and shall submit to the retaking of a photographic image upon request of the Commissioner of Public Safety.
(b) Any person who has been subject to the registration requirements of section 54- 102r of the general statutes, revised to January 1, 1997, as amended by section 1 of public act 97-183, shall, not later than three working days after October 1, 1998, register under this section and thereafter comply with the provisions of sections 54-102g and 54-250 to 54-259, inclusive.
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of this section, during the initial registration period following October 1, 1998, the Commissioner of Public Safety may phase in completion of the registration procedure for persons released into the community prior to said date over the first three months following said date, and no such person shall be prosecuted for failure to register under this section during those three months provided such person complies with the directives of said commissioner regarding registration procedures.
(d) Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a class D felony.
(P.A. 98-111, S. 3; P.A. 99-183, S. 3, 13.)
History: P.A. 99-183 amended Subsec. (a) to replace provision requiring a person who "is released into the community on or after October 1, 1988," to register "within three days following such release or October 1, 1998, whichever is later" with provisions requiring a person who "is released into the community on or after October 1, 1988, and prior to October 1, 1998, and resides in this state" to register "on October 1, 1998, or within three days of residing in this state, whichever is later" and requiring a person who "is released into the community on or after October 1, 1998," to register "within three days of such release", to require that a person maintain registration "for life" rather than "until released from this obligation in accordance with section 54-255", to revise provision re changing address to and registering in another state, to add provision requiring a person who regularly travels into or within another state or temporarily resides in another state to notify the Commissioner of Public Safety and register with an appropriate agency in that state if that state has a registration requirement, and to add provision requiring registrants to submit to the retaking of a photographic image upon request and made technical changes, effective July 1, 1999.

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Sec. 54-253. Registration of person who has committed a sexual offense in another jurisdiction. (a) Any person who has been convicted or found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect in any other state, in a federal or military court or in any foreign jurisdiction of any crime, the essential elements of which are substantially the same as any of the crimes specified in subdivisions (2), (5) and (11) of section 54-250 and who resides in this state on and after October 1, 1998, shall, within ten days of residing in this state, register with the Commissioner of Public Safety in the same manner as if such person had been convicted or found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect of such crime in this state, except that for purposes of determining the ten-year period of registration under section 54-251 such person shall be deemed to have initially registered on the date of such person's release into the community in such other state, federal or military system or foreign jurisdiction.
(b) Any person not a resident of this state who is registered as a sexual offender under the laws of any other state and who regularly travels into or within this state or temporarily resides in this state for purposes including, but not limited to employment or schooling shall, within three days after the commencement of such travel or residence in this state, register such person's name, identifying factors, criminal history record, locations visited on a recurring basis or residence address, if any, in this state, and residence address in such person's home state with the Commissioner of Public Safety on such forms and in such locations as said commissioner shall direct and shall maintain such registration until such travel or residence terminates or until such person is released from registration as a sexual offender in such other state. If such person terminates such person's travel or residence in this state or changes such person's address in this state such person shall, within five days, provide notice in writing to the Commissioner of Public Safety.
(c) Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a class D felony.
(P.A. 98-111, S. 4; P.A. 99-183, S. 4, 13.)
History: P.A. 99-183 amended Subsec. (a) to include crimes specified in Subdiv. "(5)" of Sec. 54-250, replace reference to Subdiv. "(10)" with Subdiv. "(11)" of Sec. 54-250, make the registration requirement applicable to a person who "resides" rather than "establishes residence" in this state, require registration within ten days of "residing in this state" rather than within ten days of "establishing such residence", delete reference to the ten-year period of registration under Sec. 54-255, and make technical changes, added new Subsec. (b) re registration and notice requirements of a nonresident who is registered as a sexual offender in another state and regularly travels into or within this state or temporarily resides in this state, and redesignated former Subsec. (b) as Subsec. (c), effective July 1, 1999.

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Sec. 54-254. Registration of person who has committed a felony for a sexual purpose. (a) Any person who has been convicted or found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect in this state on or after October 1, 1998, of any felony that the court finds was committed for a sexual purpose, may be required by the court upon release into the community to register such person's name, identifying factors, criminal history record and residence address with the Commissioner of Public Safety, on such forms and in such locations as the commissioner shall direct, and to maintain such registration for ten years. If the court finds that a person has committed a felony for a sexual purpose and intends to require such person to register under this section, prior to accepting a plea of guilty or nolo contendere from such person with respect to such felony, the court shall (1) inform the person that the entry of a finding of guilty after acceptance of the plea will subject the person to the registration requirements of this section, and (2) determine that the person fully understands the consequences of the plea. If such person changes such person's address such person shall, within five days, register the new address in writing with the Commissioner of Public Safety, and, if the new address is in another state, such person shall also register with an appropriate agency in that state, provided that state has a registration requirement for such offenders. If any person who is subject to registration under this section regularly travels into or within another state or temporarily resides in another state for purposes including, but not limited to employment or schooling, such person shall notify the Commissioner of Public Safety and shall also register with an appropriate agency in that state, provided that state has a registration requirement for such offenders. During such period of registration, each registrant shall complete and return forms mailed to such registrant to verify such registrant's residence address and shall submit to the retaking of a photographic image upon request of the Commissioner of Public Safety.
(b) Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a class D felony.
(P.A. 98-111, S. 5; P.A. 99-183, S. 5, 13.)
History: P.A. 99-183 amended Subsec. (a) to replace "sexual purposes" with "a sexual purpose" where appearing, revise provision re changing address to and registering in another state, add provision requiring a person who regularly travels into or within another state or temporarily resides in another state to notify the Commissioner of Public Safety and register with an appropriate agency in that state if that state has a registration requirement, add provision requiring registrants to submit to the retaking of a photographic image upon request and make technical changes for purposes of gender neutrality, effective July 1, 1999.

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Sec. 54-255. Restriction on dissemination of registration information for certain offenders. (a) Upon the conviction or finding of not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect of any person for a violation of section 53a-70b, the court may order the Department of Public Safety to restrict the dissemination of the registration information to law enforcement purposes only and to not make such information available for public access, provided the court finds that dissemination of the registration information is not required for public safety and that publication of the registration information would be likely to reveal the identity of the victim within the community where the victim resides. The court shall remove the restriction on the dissemination of such registration information if, at any time, the court finds that public safety requires that such person's registration information be made available to the public or that a change of circumstances makes publication of such registration information no longer likely to reveal the identity of the victim within the community where the victim resides. Prior to ordering or removing the restriction on the dissemination of such person's registration information, the court shall consider any information or statements provided by the victim.
(b) Upon the conviction or finding of not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect of any person of a criminal offense against a victim who is a minor, a nonviolent sexual offense or a sexually violent offense, where the victim of such offense was, at the time of the offense, under eighteen years of age and related to such person within any of the degrees of kindred specified in section 46b-21, the court may order the Department of Public Safety to restrict the dissemination of the registration information to law enforcement purposes only and to not make such information available for public access, provided the court finds that dissemination of the registration information is not required for public safety and that publication of the registration information would be likely to reveal the identity of the victim within the community where the victim resides. The court shall remove the restriction on the dissemination of such registration information if, at any time, it finds that public safety requires that such person's registration information be made available to the public or that a change in circumstances makes publication of the registration information no longer likely to reveal the identity of the victim within the community where the victim resides.
(c) Any person who: (1) Has been convicted or found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect of a violation of subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section 53a-71 between October 1, 1988, and June 30, 1999, and was under nineteen years of age at the time of the offense; (2) has been convicted or found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect of a violation of subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of section 53a-73a between October 1, 1988, and June 30, 1999; (3) has been convicted or found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect of a criminal offense against a victim who is a minor, a nonviolent sexual offense or a sexually violent offense, between October 1, 1988, and June 30, 1999, where the victim of such offense was, at the time of the offense, under eighteen years of age and related to such person within any of the degrees of kindred specified in section 46b-21; (4) has been convicted or found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect of a violation of section 53a-70b between October 1, 1988, and June 30, 1999; or (5) has been convicted or found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect of any crime between October 1, 1988, and September 30, 1998, which requires registration under sections 54-250 to 54-259, inclusive, and (A) served no jail or prison time as a result of such conviction or finding of not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect, (B) has not been subsequently convicted or found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect of any crime which would require registration under sections 54-250 to 54-259, inclusive, and (C) has registered with the Department of Public Safety in accordance with sections 54-250 to 54-259, inclusive; may petition the court to order the Department of Public Safety to restrict the dissemination of the registration information to law enforcement purposes only and to not make such information available for public access, provided the court finds that dissemination of the registration information is not required for public safety.
(P.A. 98-111, S. 6; P.A. 99-183, S. 6, 13.)
History: P.A. 99-183 entirely replaced existing provisions that had authorized a person registered under Sec. 54-252 to apply to the court after ten years for release from the obligation to register, that had required the court to grant such application if the person proved by clear and convincing evidence that he does not suffer from a mental abnormality or personality disorder that makes him likely to engage in sexually violent offenses and that had specified the procedure for the court to follow in acting on such application with new provisions authorizing the court under certain circumstances to order the Department of Public Safety to restrict the dissemination of registration information with respect to certain offenders to law enforcement purposes only and not make such information available for public access, effective July 1, 1999.

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Sec. 54-256. Responsibilities of courts and agencies in registration process. Any court, the Commissioner of Correction or the Psychiatric Security Review Board, prior to releasing into the community any person convicted or found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect of a criminal offense against a victim who is a minor, a nonviolent sexual offense, a sexually violent offense or a felony found by the sentencing court to have been committed for a sexual purpose, except a person being released unconditionally at the conclusion of such person's sentence or commitment, shall require as a condition of such release that such person complete the registration procedure established by the Commissioner of Public Safety under sections 54-251, 54-252 and 54- 254. The court, the Commissioner of Correction or the Psychiatric Security Review Board, as the case may be, shall provide the person with a written summary of the person's obligations under sections 54-102g and 54-250 to 54-259, inclusive, and transmit the completed registration package to the Commissioner of Public Safety who shall enter the information into the registry established under section 54-257. If a court transmits the completed registration package to the Commissioner of Public Safety with respect to a person released by the court, such package need not include identifying factors for such person. In the case of a person being released unconditionally who declines to complete the registration package through the court or the releasing agency, the court or agency shall: (1) Except with respect to information that is not available to the public pursuant to court order, rule of court or any provision of the general statutes, provide to the Commissioner of Public Safety the person's name, date of release into the community, anticipated residence address, if known, criminal history record, any known treatment history and any other relevant information; (2) inform the person that such person has an obligation to register within three days with the Commissioner of Public Safety for a period of ten years following the date of such person's release or for life, as the case may be, and that if such person changes such person's address such person shall within five days register the new address in writing with the Commissioner of Public Safety and, if the new address is in another state or if such person regularly travels into or within another state or temporarily resides in another state for purposes including, but not limited to employment or schooling, such person shall also register with an appropriate agency in that state, provided that state has a registration requirement for such offenders; (3) provide the person with a written summary of the person's obligations under sections 54-102g and 54-250 to 54-259, inclusive, as explained to the person under subdivision (2) of this section; and (4) make a specific notation on the record maintained by that agency with respect to such person that the registration requirements were explained to such person and that such person was provided with a written summary of such person's obligations under sections 54-102g and 54-250 to 54-259, inclusive.
(P.A. 98-111, S. 7; P.A. 99-183, S. 7, 13.)
History: P.A. 99-183 deleted the Board of Parole from requirements of section, made provisions applicable to a person "found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect" of the specified offenses, added "a nonviolent sexual offense" to specified offenses, replaced "sexual purposes" with "a sexual purpose", required the court or specified agencies to "provide the person with a written summary of the person's obligations under sections 54-102g and 54-250 to 54-259, inclusive,", added provision that if a court transmits the completed registration package to the Commissioner of Public Safety with respect to a person released by the court, the package need not include identifying factors for the person, required the court or agency to inform the person that the obligation to register is for ten years "or for life" rather than "or until released from such obligation in accordance with section 54-255", revised provision re changing address to and registering in another state, added provision requiring the court or agency to inform a person that if such person regularly travels into or within another state or temporarily resides in another state such person shall register with an appropriate agency in that other state if that state has a registration requirement and made technical changes for purposes of gender neutrality, effective July 1, 1999.

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Sec. 54-257. Registry. Suspension of registration. Verification of address. (a) The Department of Public Safety shall, not later than January 1, 1999, establish and maintain a registry of all persons required to register under sections 54-251, 54-252, 54-253 and 54-254. The department shall, in cooperation with the Office of the Chief Court Administrator, the Department of Correction and the Psychiatric Security Review Board, develop appropriate forms for use by agencies and individuals to report registration information, including changes of address. Upon receipt of registration information, the department shall enter the information into the registry and notify the local police department or state police troop having jurisdiction where the registrant resides or plans to reside. If a registrant reports a residence in another state, the department shall notify the state police agency of that state or such other agency in that state that maintains registry information, if known. The department shall also transmit all registration information, conviction data, photographic images and fingerprints to the Federal Bureau of Investigation in such form as said bureau shall require for inclusion in a national registry.
(b) The Department of Public Safety may suspend the registration of any person registered under section 54-251, 54-252, 54-253 or 54-254 while such person is incarcerated, under civil commitment or residing outside this state. During the period that such registration is under suspension, the department is not required to verify the address of the registrant pursuant to subsection (c) of this section and may withdraw the registration information from public access. Upon the release of the registrant from incarceration or civil commitment or resumption of residency in this state by the registrant, the department shall reinstate the registration, redistribute the registration information in accordance with subsection (a) of this section and resume verifying the address of the registrant in accordance with subsection (c) of this section. Suspension of registration shall not affect the date of expiration of the registration obligation of the registrant under section 54-251, 54-252 or 54-253.
(c) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, the Department of Public Safety shall verify the address of each registrant by mailing a nonforwardable verification form to the registrant at the registrant's last reported address. Such form shall require the registrant to sign a statement that the registrant continues to reside at the registrant's last reported address and return the form by mail by a date which is ten days after the date such form was mailed to the registrant. The form shall contain a statement that failure to return the form or providing false information is a violation of section 54-251, 54-252, 54-253 or 54-254, as the case may be. Each person required to register under section 54-251 or 54-254 shall have such person's address verified in such manner annually on the anniversary of such person's initial registration date. Each person required to register under section 54-252 shall have such person's address verified in such manner every ninety days after such person's initial registration date. Each person required to register under section 54-253 shall have such person's address verified in such manner either annually on the anniversary of such person's initial registration date or every ninety days after such person's initial registration date depending upon whether, after such initial registration, such person is subject to the requirements of section 54- 251 or section 54-252, respectively. In the event that a registrant fails to return the address verification form, the Department of Public Safety shall notify the local police department or the state police troop having jurisdiction over the registrant's last reported address, and that agency shall apply for a warrant to be issued for the registrant's arrest under section 54-251, 54-252, 54-253 or 54-254, as the case may be. The Department of Public Safety shall not verify the address of registrants whose last reported address was outside this state.
(d) The Department of Public Safety shall retake the photographic image of each registrant at least once every five years.
(P.A. 98-111, S. 8; P.A. 99-183, S. 8, 13.)
History: P.A. 99-183 amended Subsec. (a) to delete the Board of Parole from list of agencies cooperating with the department in the development of forms to report registration information, added new Subsec. (b) re suspension of registration while a person is incarcerated, under civil commitment or residing out of state, redesignated former Subsec. (b) as Subsec. (c) and amended said Subsec. to add exception to address verification requirement when registration is suspended under Subsec.(b), to add reference to Sec. 54-253 in provision requiring the form to contain a statement that failure to return the form or providing false information is a violation of the specified statutes, to delete provision establishing an affirmative defense in a prosecution for failure to return the address verification form and to make technical changes for purposes of gender neutrality, and added Subsec. (d) to require the retaking of the photographic image of each registrant at least once every five years, effective July 1, 1999.

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Sec. 54-258. Availability of registration information. Immunity. (a)(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of the general statutes, except subdivisions (3) and (4) of this subsection, the registry maintained by the Department of Public Safety shall be a public record and shall be accessible to the public during normal business hours. The Department of Public Safety shall make registry information available to the public through the Internet. Not less than once per calendar quarter, the Department of Public Safety shall issue notices to all print and electronic media in the state regarding the availability and means of accessing the registry. Each local police department and each state police troop shall keep a record of all registration information transmitted to it by the Department of Public Safety, and shall make such information accessible to the public during normal business hours.
(2) Any state agency, the Judicial Department, any state police troop or any local police department may, at its discretion, notify any government agency, private organization or individual of registration information when such agency, said department, such troop or such local police department, as the case may be, believes such notification is necessary to protect the public or any individual in any jurisdiction from any person who is subject to registration under section 54-251, 54-252, 54-253 or 54-254.
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection, state agencies, the Judicial Department, state police troops and local police departments shall not disclose the identity of any victim of a crime committed by a registrant or treatment information provided to the registry pursuant to sections 54-102g and 54-250 to 54-259, inclusive, except to government agencies for bona fide law enforcement or security purposes.
(4) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection, registration information the dissemination of which has been restricted by court order pursuant to section 54-255 and which is not otherwise subject to disclosure, shall not be a public record and shall be released only for law enforcement purposes until such restriction is removed by the court pursuant to said section.
(5) When any registrant completes the registrant's term of registration or is otherwise released from the obligation to register under section 54-251, 54-252, 54-253 or 54-254, the Department of Public Safety shall notify any state police troop or local police department having jurisdiction over the registrant's last reported residence address that the person is no longer a registrant, and the Department of Public Safety, state police troop and local police department shall remove the registrant's name and information from the registry.
(b) Neither the state nor any political subdivision of the state nor any officer or employee thereof, shall be held civilly liable to any registrant by reason of disclosure of any information regarding the registrant that is released or disclosed in accordance with subsection (a) of this section. The state and any political subdivision of the state and, except in cases of wanton, reckless or malicious conduct, any officer or employee thereof, shall be immune from liability for good faith conduct in carrying out the provisions of subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of this section.
(P.A. 98-111, S. 9; P.A. 99-183, S. 9, 13.)
History: P.A. 99-183 amended Subsec. (a) to add exception for Subdivs. (3) and (4) of said Subsec., designate provisions re notification as new Subdiv. (2) and amend said Subdiv. to replace "The Department of Public Safety" with "Any state agency, the Judicial Department" and make technical changes, redesignate former Subdiv. (2) as Subdiv. (3) and amend said Subdiv. to replace "Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection, the Department of Public Safety," with "Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection, state agencies, the Judicial Department,", add Subdiv. (4) providing that registration information the dissemination of which has been restricted by court order pursuant to Sec. 54-255 and is not otherwise subject to disclosure shall not be a public record and shall be released only for law enforcement purposes, redesignate former Subdiv. (3) as Subdiv. (5) and amend said Subdiv. to make provisions applicable when a registrant "completes the registrant's term of registration or is otherwise released from the obligation to register" rather than when a registrant "is released from the obligation to register" and to replace provision that when notified a person is no longer a registrant the Department of Public Safety, state police troop and local police department "shall remove and destroy all registration information pertaining to the person and shall make no further disclosure of such information to any government agency, private organization or individual" with provision that said department, troop and local police department "shall remove the registrant's name and information from the registry", amended Subsec. (b) to replace "Neither the state nor any municipality, nor any branch, agency or employee thereof, shall be liable" with "Neither the state nor any political subdivision of the state nor any officer or employee thereof, shall be held civilly liable" and to add provision that the state and any political subdivision of the state and, except in cases of wanton, reckless or malicious conduct, any officer or employee thereof, shall be immune from liability for good faith conduct in carrying out Subsec. (a)(2), effective July 1, 1999.

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Sec. 54-258a. Warning against wrongful use of registry information. Any agency of the state or any political subdivision thereof that provides public access to information contained in the registry shall post a warning that states: "Any person who uses information in this registry to injure, harass or commit a criminal act against any person included in the registry or any other person is subject to criminal prosecution." Such warning shall be in a suitable size and location to ensure that it will be seen by any person accessing registry information.
(P.A. 99-183, S. 10, 13.)
History: P.A. 99-183 effective July 1, 1999.

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Sec. 54-259. Sexual Offender Registration Committee. (a) There is established a Sexual Offender Registration Committee consisting of the following members or their designees: The Chief Court Administrator, the Chief State's Attorney, the Commissioner of Public Safety, the Commissioner of Correction, the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, the chairman of the Psychiatric Security Review Board, the chairman of the Board of Parole, the director of the Office of Adult Probation, the President of the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association and two persons appointed by the Governor, one of whom shall be involved in the delivery of services to victims of sexual assault and one of whom shall be involved in the delivery of services to victims of crime. The Chief Court Administrator shall serve as chairperson of the committee. The Office of Policy and Management shall, within available resources, provide staff resources to the committee.
(b) On or before January 15, 1999, the Sexual Offender Registration Committee shall submit a report to the Governor and the General Assembly. Such report shall make recommendations concerning the implementation of sections 54-102g and 54-250 to 54-259, inclusive, and shall address issues including (1) assuring interagency coordination to maximize the accuracy and timeliness of information contained in the registry, (2) complying with other applicable state and federal laws and regulations, (3) establishing a procedure by which registrants may apply to the sentencing court, not sooner than ten years after initial registration, to be relieved of their obligation to register, (4) establishing a board of experts in the behavior and treatment of sexual offenders, to examine such applicants and make recommendations to the court in accordance with section 54- 255, (5) developing guidelines for the state police and municipal police departments that shall set forth the circumstances in which individuals, private organizations and government agencies in their respective jurisdictions should be directly notified that a person subject to registration under sections 54-102g and 54-250 to 54-259, inclusive, is residing near their locations, and (6) any other fiscal, legislative and programmatic matters which affect the successful implementation of the registry.
(P.A. 98-111, S. 11.)

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Sec. 54-260. (Formerly Sec. 54-102s). Notification of change of address of sexual offenders on parole or probation. (a) For the purposes of this section, "sexual offender" means any person convicted of a violation of subdivision (2) of section 53- 21, section 53a-70, 53a-70a, 53a-70b, 53a-71, 53a-72a or 53a-72b committed on or after October 1, 1995.
(b) Any sexual offender who is released from a correctional institution on parole or who is sentenced to a period of probation shall, during the period of such parole or probation and as a condition of such parole or probation, immediately notify his parole officer or probation officer, as the case may be, whenever he changes his residence address. Each parole officer or probation officer who is notified of such change of address shall notify the chief of police of the police department or resident state trooper for the municipality of the new address of the parolee or probationer and any other law enforcement official he deems appropriate.
(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a parole officer or probation officer acting in the performance of his duties and within the scope of his employment from disclosing any information concerning the parolee or probationer to any person whenever he deems such disclosure to be appropriate.
(P.A. 95-142, S. 6.)
History: Sec. 54-102s transferred to Sec. 54-260 in 1999 (Revisor's note: In Subsec. (b) the words "or section 54-102r" were deleted editorially by the Revisors to reflect the repeal of Sec. 54-102r by P.A. 98-111).

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Sec. 54-261. Community response education program. (a) The Office of Adult Probation, in conjunction with state-wide experts in law enforcement, the treatment of sexual offenders and sexual assault victim services, shall, within available appropriations, develop a community response education program to be offered to neighborhoods and municipalities that have been notified pursuant to section 54-258 that a person who has registered under said section is or will be residing in that community.
(b) The purpose of such program shall be to assist neighborhoods, parents and children to learn how to better protect themselves from sexual abuse and sexual assault. The program shall develop educational materials and community information resources on prevention and risk reduction concerning sexual abuse and sexual assault and the enforcement of requirements concerning the registration and supervision of sexual offenders and the notification of communities where such offenders reside.
(c) The program may include the following:
(1) An initial community meeting following a community notification, sponsored by the Office of Adult Probation and held in conjunction with the chief of police, chief elected officials, the superintendent of schools and other municipal officials of the community, to discuss the implementation of the statutory requirements concerning the registration of a sexual offender and the notification of the community where such offender resides, to provide information on the crime or crimes involved and to provide information on how the offender will be monitored by the Office of Adult Probation and the specific conditions of probation applicable to the offender;
(2) Information on how and where concerned residents may report observed violations by an offender of the conditions of such offender's probation;
(3) Resources to educate families and children in the prevention and avoidance of sexual abuse and sexual assault and for parents seeking supportive methods for discussing relevant issues with their children;
(4) Resources on when and how a community may wish to establish a network of "Safe Houses" for neighborhood children to use when they seek safe shelter or the creation of a neighborhood block watch or crime watch;
(5) Resources for police departments and boards of education to use in consulting with parents on appropriate school-based classroom programs stressing safety, prevention and risk reduction and to use in developing educational programs for parents to discuss relevant issues with their children;
(6) Compilation and distribution of a list of child protective agencies, child guidance clinics and rape crisis centers for families seeking more in-depth counseling after a community notification has occurred.
(d) The Office of Adult Probation may apply for and receive grants from the federal government or any agency thereof or from any foundation, corporation, association or individual for purposes of the development of the community response education program under this section.
(P.A. 98-135, S. 1, 2; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 98-1, S. 111.)
History: P.A. 98-135 effective May 27, 1998; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 98-1 made a technical change in Subsec. (a).


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