CHAPTER 815t
JUVENILE MATTERS

PART I
GENERAL PROVISIONS

      Sec. 46b-120. (Formerly Sec. 51-301). *(See end of section for amended version and effective date.) Definitions. The terms used in this chapter shall, in its interpretation and in the interpretation of other statutes, be defined as follows: (1) "Child" means any person under sixteen years of age and, for purposes of delinquency matters, "child" means any person (A) under sixteen years of age, or (B) sixteen years of age or older who, prior to attaining sixteen years of age, has violated any federal or state law or municipal or local ordinance, other than an ordinance regulating behavior of a child in a family with service needs, and, subsequent to attaining sixteen years of age, violates any order of the Superior Court or any condition of probation ordered by the Superior Court with respect to such delinquency proceeding; (2) "youth" means any person sixteen or seventeen years of age; (3) "youth in crisis" means any youth who, within the last two years, (A) has without just cause run away from the parental home or other properly authorized and lawful place of abode, (B) is beyond the control of the youth's parents, guardian or other custodian, or (C) has four unexcused absences from school in any one month or ten unexcused absences in any school year; (4) "abused" means that a child or youth (A) has been inflicted with physical injury or injuries other than by accidental means, or (B) has injuries that are at variance with the history given of them, or (C) is in a condition that is the result of maltreatment such as, but not limited to, malnutrition, sexual molestation or exploitation, deprivation of necessities, emotional maltreatment or cruel punishment; (5) a child may be found "mentally deficient" who, by reason of a deficiency of intelligence that has existed from birth or from early age, requires, or will require, for his protection or for the protection of others, special care, supervision and control; (6) a child may be convicted as "delinquent" who has violated (A) any federal or state law or municipal or local ordinance, other than an ordinance regulating behavior of a child in a family with service needs, (B) any order of the Superior Court, except as provided in section 46b-148, or (C) conditions of probation as ordered by the court; (7) a child or youth may be found "dependent" whose home is a suitable one for the child or youth, save for the financial inability of the child's or youth's parents, parent or guardian, or other person maintaining such home, to provide the specialized care the condition of the child or youth requires; (8) "family with service needs" means a family that includes a child who (A) has without just cause run away from the parental home or other properly authorized and lawful place of abode, (B) is beyond the control of the child's parent, parents, guardian or other custodian, (C) has engaged in indecent or immoral conduct, (D) is a truant or habitual truant or who, while in school, has been continuously and overtly defiant of school rules and regulations, or (E) is thirteen years of age or older and has engaged in sexual intercourse with another person and such other person is thirteen years of age or older and not more than two years older or younger than such child; (9) a child or youth may be found "neglected" who (A) has been abandoned, or (B) is being denied proper care and attention, physically, educationally, emotionally or morally, or (C) is being permitted to live under conditions, circumstances or associations injurious to the well-being of the child or youth, or (D) has been abused; (10) a child or youth may be found "uncared for" who is homeless or whose home cannot provide the specialized care that the physical, emotional or mental condition of the child requires. For the purposes of this section, the treatment of any child by an accredited Christian Science practitioner, in lieu of treatment by a licensed practitioner of the healing arts, shall not of itself constitute neglect or maltreatment; (11) "delinquent act" means the violation of any federal or state law or municipal or local ordinance, other than an ordinance regulating the behavior of a child in a family with service needs, or the violation of any order of the Superior Court; (12) "serious juvenile offense" means (A) the violation of, including attempt or conspiracy to violate, section 21a-277, 21a-278, 29-33, 29-34, 29-35, 53-21, 53-80a, 53-202b, 53-202c, 53-390 to 53-392, inclusive, 53a-54a to 53a-57, inclusive, 53a-59 to 53a-60c, inclusive, 53a-70 to 53a-71, inclusive, 53a-72b, 53a-86, 53a-92 to 53a-94a, inclusive, 53a-95, 53a-101, 53a-102a, 53a-103a or 53a-111 to 53a-113, inclusive, subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section 53a-122, subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of section 53a-123, section 53a-134, 53a-135, 53a-136a, 53a-166 or 53a-167c, subsection (a) of section 53a-174, or section 53a-196a, 53a-211, 53a-212, 53a-216 or 53a-217b, by a child, or (B) running away, without just cause, from any secure placement other than home while referred as a delinquent child to the Court Support Services Division or committed as a delinquent child to the Commissioner of Children and Families for a serious juvenile offense; (13) "serious juvenile offender" means any child convicted as delinquent for commission of a serious juvenile offense; (14) "serious juvenile repeat offender" means any child charged with the commission of any felony if such child has previously been convicted delinquent at any age for two violations of any provision of title 21a, 29, 53 or 53a that is designated as a felony; (15) "alcohol-dependent child" means any child who has a psychoactive substance dependence on alcohol as that condition is defined in the most recent edition of the American Psychiatric Association's "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders"; and (16) "drug-dependent child" means any child who has a psychoactive substance dependence on drugs as that condition is defined in the most recent edition of the American Psychiatric Association's "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders". No child shall be classified as drug dependent who is dependent (A) upon a morphine-type substance as an incident to current medical treatment of a demonstrable physical disorder other than drug dependence, or (B) upon amphetamine-type, ataractic, barbiturate-type, hallucinogenic or other stimulant and depressant substances as an incident to current medical treatment of a demonstrable physical or psychological disorder, or both, other than drug dependence.

      (1949 Rev., S. 2802; 1959, P.A. 28, S. 52; 1967, P.A. 630, S. 1; 1969, P.A. 794, S. 1; 1971, P.A. 72, S. 14; P.A. 75-602, S. 1, 13; P.A. 76-436, S. 668, 681; P.A. 77-577, S. 4; P.A. 79-567, S. 1, 7; 79-581, S. 1; P.A. 80-401, S. 4; P.A. 85-226, S. 1; P.A. 87-373, S. 13; P.A. 90-161, S. 1, 6; 90-240, S. 2, 6; 90-325, S. 19, 32; P.A. 91-303, S. 11, 22; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-1, S. 2; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-3; P.A. 93-91, S. 1, 2; 93-340, S. 16; P.A. 95-225, S. 9; P.A. 97-319, S. 18, 22; P.A. 98-256, S. 1; P.A. 00-177, S. 1, 5; P.A. 02-109, S. 1; 02-132, S. 18; P.A. 05-250, S. 1.)

      *Note: On and after January 1, 2010, this section, as amended by section 73 of public act 07-4 of the June special session, is to read as follows:

      "Sec. 46b-120. (Formerly Sec. 51-301). Definitions. The terms used in this chapter shall, in its interpretation and in the interpretation of other statutes, be defined as follows: (1) "Child" means any person under sixteen years of age, except that for purposes of delinquency matters and proceedings, "child" means any person (A) under eighteen years of age, or (B) eighteen years of age or older who, prior to attaining eighteen years of age, has committed a delinquent act and, subsequent to attaining eighteen years of age, violates any order of the Superior Court or any condition of probation ordered by the Superior Court with respect to such delinquency proceeding; (2) "youth" means any person sixteen or seventeen years of age; (3) "abused" means that a child or youth (A) has been inflicted with physical injury or injuries other than by accidental means, (B) has injuries that are at variance with the history given of them, or (C) is in a condition that is the result of maltreatment, including, but not limited to, malnutrition, sexual molestation or exploitation, deprivation of necessities, emotional maltreatment or cruel punishment; (4) a child may be found "mentally deficient" who, by reason of a deficiency of intelligence that has existed from birth or from early age, requires, or will require, for such child's protection or for the protection of others, special care, supervision and control; (5) a child may be convicted as "delinquent" who has violated (A) any federal or state law, other than the commission of (i) an infraction or violation by a youth under subsection (b) of section 51-164n, or (ii) a motor vehicle violation by a youth for which a sentence to a term of imprisonment may be imposed, (B) any order of the Superior Court, except as provided in section 46b-148, or (C) conditions of probation as ordered by the court; (6) a child or youth may be found "dependent" whose home is a suitable one for the child or youth, except for the financial inability of the child's or youth's parents, parent or guardian, or other person maintaining such home, to provide the specialized care the condition of the child or youth requires; (7) "family with service needs" means a family that includes a child or youth who (A) has without just cause run away from the parental home or other properly authorized and lawful place of abode, (B) is beyond the control of the child's or youth's parent, parents, guardian or other custodian, (C) has engaged in indecent or immoral conduct, (D) is a truant or habitual truant or who, while in school, has been continuously and overtly defiant of school rules and regulations, or (E) is thirteen years of age or older and has engaged in sexual intercourse with another person and such other person is thirteen years of age or older and not more than two years older or younger than such child or youth; (8) a child or youth may be found "neglected" who (A) has been abandoned, (B) is being denied proper care and attention, physically, educationally, emotionally or morally, (C) is being permitted to live under conditions, circumstances or associations injurious to the well-being of the child or youth, or (D) has been abused; (9) a child or youth may be found "uncared for" who is homeless or whose home cannot provide the specialized care that the physical, emotional or mental condition of the child or youth requires. For the purposes of this section, the treatment of any child or youth by an accredited Christian Science practitioner, in lieu of treatment by a licensed practitioner of the healing arts, shall not of itself constitute neglect or maltreatment; (10) "delinquent act" means the violation of any federal or state law, or the violation of any order of the Superior Court, other than the commission of (A) an infraction or violation by a youth under subsection (b) of section 51-164n, or (B) a motor vehicle violation by a youth for which a sentence to a term of imprisonment may be imposed; (11) "serious juvenile offense" means (A) the violation of, including attempt or conspiracy to violate, (i) section 21a-277, 21a-278, 29-33, 29-34, 29-35, 53-21, 53-80a, 53-202b, 53-202c, 53-390 to 53-392, inclusive, 53a-54a to 53a-56a, inclusive, 53a-59 to 53a-60c, inclusive, 53a-70 to 53a-71, inclusive, 53a-72b, 53a-86, 53a-92 to 53a-94a, inclusive, 53a-95, 53a-101, 53a-102a, 53a-103a or 53a-111 to 53a-113, inclusive, subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section 53a-122, subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of section 53a-123, section 53a-134, 53a-135, 53a-136a, 53a-166 or 53a-167c, subsection (a) of section 53a-174, or section 53a-196a, 53a-211, 53a-212, 53a-216 or 53a-217b, by a child, or (ii) section 53a-56b or 53a-57 by a child under sixteen years of age, or (B) running away, without just cause, from any secure placement other than home while referred as a delinquent child to the Court Support Services Division or committed as a delinquent child to the Commissioner of Children and Families for a serious juvenile offense; (12) "serious juvenile offender" means any child convicted as delinquent for the commission of a serious juvenile offense; (13) "serious juvenile repeat offender" means any child charged with the commission of any felony if such child has previously been convicted as delinquent or otherwise convicted at any age for two violations of any provision of title 21a, 29, 53 or 53a that is designated as a felony; (14) "alcohol-dependent" means a psychoactive substance dependence on alcohol as that condition is defined in the most recent edition of the American Psychiatric Association's "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders"; and (15) "drug-dependent" means a psychoactive substance dependence on drugs as that condition is defined in the most recent edition of the American Psychiatric Association's "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders". No child shall be classified as drug dependent who is dependent (A) upon a morphine-type substance as an incident to current medical treatment of a demonstrable physical disorder other than drug dependence, or (B) upon amphetamine-type, ataractic, barbiturate-type, hallucinogenic or other stimulant and depressant substances as an incident to current medical treatment of a demonstrable physical or psychological disorder, or both, other than drug dependence."

      (1949 Rev., S. 2802; 1959, P.A. 28, S. 52; 1967, P.A. 630, S. 1; 1969, P.A. 794, S. 1; 1971, P.A. 72, S. 14; P.A. 75-602, S. 1, 13; P.A. 76-436, S. 668, 681; P.A. 77-577, S. 4; P.A. 79-567, S. 1, 7; 79-581, S. 1; P.A. 80-401, S. 4; P.A. 85-226, S. 1; P.A. 87-373, S. 13; P.A. 90-161, S. 1, 6; 90-240, S. 2, 6; 90-325, S. 19, 32; P.A. 91-303, S. 11, 22; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-1, S. 2; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-3; P.A. 93-91, S. 1, 2; 93-340, S. 16; P.A. 95-225, S. 9; P.A. 97-319, S. 18, 22; P.A. 98-256, S. 1; P.A. 00-177, S. 1, 5; P.A. 02-109, S. 1; 02-132, S. 18; P.A. 05-250, S. 1; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4, S. 73.)

      History: 1959 act amended definition of child and substituted circuit court for town, city, police or borough courts; 1967 act changed definition of dependent child's home from "poverty" to "financial instability" for "specialized care" and redefined child; 1969 act redefined "delinquent" child, substituted "financial inability" for "financial instability" in definition of "dependent" child, substituted educational and emotional deprivation for mental neglect in definition of "neglected" child and deleted reference to living under evil associations of home conditions and redefined "uncared for" child to delete reference to child whose home is unsuitable or who cannot support himself legally or without subjecting himself to conditions prejudicial to normal development; 1971 act redefined "child" to omit those between 16 and 18 years old who have been transferred from circuit court to superior court jurisdiction; P.A. 75-602 defined "youth", added reference to "neglected" youths and "uncared for" youths and redefined "uncared for" to include reference to home which cannot perform specialized care needed and to specify that treatment by Christian Science practitioner does not constitute neglect or maltreatment; P.A. 76-436 replaced reference to juvenile court with reference to superior court, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 77-577 defined "abused" and added reference to abused child in definition of "neglected" child; P.A. 79-567 defined "family with service needs" and amended definition of "delinquent" child accordingly; P.A. 79-581 defined "serious juvenile offense" and "serious juvenile offender"; Sec. 17-53 temporarily renumbered as Sec. 51-301 and ultimately transferred to Sec. 46b-120 in 1979, see note to Sec. 17-53; P.A. 80-401 changed effective date of P.A. 79-567 from July 1, 1980 to July 1, 1981; P.A. 85-226 amended definition of "delinquent" by deleting exception for order entered in matter relating to a family with service needs; P.A. 87-373 redefined "serious juvenile offense" to include a violation of Sec. 21a-277 or 21a-278; P.A. 90-161 added definitions re "alcohol-dependent child" and "drug-dependent child"; P.A. 90-240 substituted "mentally deficient" for "defective", deleted the phrase "defect of intelligence" and substituted "truant or habitual truant", as defined, for "habitually truant"; P.A. 90-325 changed effective date of P.A. 90-240 from July 1, 1990, to July 1, 1991; P.A. 91-303 removed a cite to Sec. 10-198a for the definition of truant and habitual truant; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-1 amended definition of "serious juvenile offense" to include a violation of Sec. 53a-217b; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-3 amended definition of "serious juvenile offense" to include violations of Secs. 29-35, 53a-94a, 53a-102a, 53a-103a, 53a-212 and 53a-216; P.A. 93-91 substituted commissioner and department of children and families for commissioner and department of children and youth services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 93-340 amended definition of "family with service needs" to add Subpara. (E) re a child who is 13 years of age or older and has engaged in sexual intercourse with another person within a certain age range; P.A. 95-225 inserted Subdiv. indicators, revising Subpara. indicators accordingly for statutory consistency, added definition of "delinquent act", amended the definition of "serious juvenile offense" to include violations of Secs. 29-33, 29-34, 53-21, 53-202b and 53-202c and include running away from any secure placement other than home while "referred as a delinquent child to the Office of Alternative Sanctions", amended the definition of "serious juvenile offender" to replace "adjudicated a delinquent child" with "convicted as delinquent" and added definition of "serious juvenile repeat offender"; P.A. 97-319 redefined "abused" to include exploitation of a child or youth, effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 98-256 amended the definition of "child" in Subdiv. (1) to add definition of child for purposes of delinquency matters, amended the definition of a child found "delinquent" in Subdiv. (5) to replace "found" with "convicted as" and to include a child who has violated conditions of probation ordered by the court and amended the definition of "serious juvenile offense" in Subdiv. (11) to include a violation of Sec. 53a-136a; P.A. 00-177 added new Subdiv. (3) defining "youth in crisis", renumbered Subdivs. (3) to (15), inclusive, as (4) to (16), and made changes throughout section for purposes of gender neutrality, effective July 1, 2001; P.A. 02-109 redefined "youth" in Subdiv. (2) by replacing "sixteen to eighteen" with "sixteen or seventeen" years of age, redefined "youth in crisis" in Subdiv. (3) by inserting "youth" in place of a specific age range and made technical changes, effective June 7, 2002; P.A. 02-132 made technical changes throughout and replaced "Office of Alternative Sanctions" with "Court Support Services Division" in Subdiv. (12); P.A. 05-250 added exception re provisions of Sec. 46b-148 in Subdiv. (6)(B) and made technical changes, effective October 1, 2007; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4 redefined "child" for purposes of delinquency matters and proceedings to include children under "eighteen" years of age, instead of "sixteen", and rewrote provisions, deleted definition of "youth in crisis" in former Subdiv. (3) and renumbered existing Subdivs. accordingly, redefined a child who may be convicted as "delinquent", "delinquent act", "serious juvenile offense", and "serious juvenile repeat offender", substituted "alcohol-dependent" for "alcohol-dependent child" and "drug-dependent" for "drug-dependent child", and made technical changes, effective January 1, 2010.

      Although no actual harm was done to child, child was neglected within definition of this section because the father was not taking his medication as required to remedy his known mental health condition and neither he nor respondent understood, or attempted to learn, extent of the risk that father may have posed to the child in his unmedicated state. 98 CA 797.

      Sec. 46b-121. (Formerly Sec. 51-302). *(See end of section for amended version and effective date.) "Juvenile matters" defined. Authority of court. (a) Juvenile matters in the civil session include all proceedings concerning uncared-for, neglected or dependent children and youths within this state, termination of parental rights of children committed to a state agency, matters concerning families with service needs, contested matters involving termination of parental rights or removal of guardian transferred from the Probate Court, the emancipation of minors and youths in crisis, but does not include matters of guardianship and adoption or matters affecting property rights of any child, youth or youth in crisis over which the Probate Court has jurisdiction, provided appeals from probate concerning adoption, termination of parental rights and removal of a parent as guardian shall be included. Juvenile matters in the criminal session include all proceedings concerning delinquent children in the state and persons sixteen years of age and older who are under the supervision of a juvenile probation officer while on probation or a suspended commitment to the Department of Children and Families, for purposes of enforcing any court orders entered as part of such probation or suspended commitment.

      (b) In juvenile matters, the Superior Court shall have authority to make and enforce such orders directed to parents, including any person who acknowledges before said court paternity of a child born out of wedlock, guardians, custodians or other adult persons owing some legal duty to a child, youth or youth in crisis therein, as it deems necessary or appropriate to secure the welfare, protection, proper care and suitable support of a child, youth or youth in crisis subject to its jurisdiction or otherwise committed to or in the custody of the Commissioner of Children and Families. In addition, with respect to proceedings concerning delinquent children, the Superior Court shall have authority to make and enforce such orders as it deems necessary or appropriate to punish the child, deter the child from the commission of further delinquent acts, assure that the safety of any other person will not be endangered and provide restitution to any victim. Said court shall also have authority to grant and enforce injunctive relief, temporary or permanent in all proceedings concerning juvenile matters. If any order for the payment of money is issued by said court, including any order assessing costs issued under section 46b-134 or 46b-136, the collection of such money shall be made by said court, except orders for support of children committed to any state agency or department, which orders shall be made payable to and collected by the Department of Administrative Services. Where the court after due diligence is unable to collect such moneys within six months, it shall refer such case to the Department of Administrative Services for collection as a delinquent account. In juvenile matters, the court shall have authority to make and enforce orders directed to persons liable hereunder on petition of said Department of Administrative Services made to said court in the same manner as is provided in section 17b-745, in accordance with the provisions of section 17b-81, 17b-223, subsection (b) of section 17b-179, section 17a-90, 46b-129 or 46b-130, and all of the provisions of section 17b-745 shall be applicable to such proceedings. Any judge hearing a juvenile matter may make any other order in connection therewith that a judge of the Superior Court is authorized to grant and such order shall have the same force and effect as any other order of the Superior Court. In the enforcement of its orders, in connection with any juvenile matter, the court may issue process for the arrest of any person, compel attendance of witnesses and punish for contempt by a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars or imprisonment not exceeding six months.

      (1949 Rev., S. 2805; 1953, 1955, S. 1576d; 1969, P.A. 483; P.A. 75-171, S. 1, 2; 75-602, S. 3, 13; P.A. 76-436, S. 14, 681; P.A. 77-576, S. 41, 65; 77-614, S. 71, 610; P.A. 79-567, S. 2, 7; P.A. 80-70, S. 3; 80-401, S. 4; P.A. 82-472, S. 128, 183; P.A. 87-421, S. 9, 13; P.A. 89-219, S. 2, 10; 89-273, S. 1; P.A. 93-91, S. 1, 2; P.A. 95-225, S. 10; 95-254, S. 2; P.A. 98-256, S. 10; P.A. 00-170, S. 33, 42; 00-177, S. 2, 5; P.A. 06-196, S. 172.)

      *Note: On and after January 1, 2010, this section, as amended by section 74 of public act 07-4 of the June special session, is to read as follows:

      "Sec. 46b-121. (Formerly Sec. 51-302). "Juvenile matters" defined. Authority of court. (a)(1) Juvenile matters in the civil session include all proceedings concerning uncared-for, neglected or dependent children and youths within this state, termination of parental rights of children committed to a state agency, matters concerning families with service needs, contested matters involving termination of parental rights or removal of guardian transferred from the Probate Court and the emancipation of minors, but does not include matters of guardianship and adoption or matters affecting property rights of any child or youth over which the Probate Court has jurisdiction, except that appeals from probate concerning adoption, termination of parental rights and removal of a parent as guardian shall be included.

      (2) Juvenile matters in the criminal session include all proceedings concerning delinquent children within this state and persons eighteen years of age and older who are under the supervision of a juvenile probation officer while on probation or a suspended commitment to the Department of Children and Families, for purposes of enforcing any court orders entered as part of such probation or suspended commitment.

      (b) (1) In juvenile matters, the Superior Court shall have authority to make and enforce such orders directed to parents, including any person who acknowledges before the court paternity of a child born out of wedlock, guardians, custodians or other adult persons owing some legal duty to a child or youth therein, as the court deems necessary or appropriate to secure the welfare, protection, proper care and suitable support of a child or youth subject to the court's jurisdiction or otherwise committed to or in the custody of the Commissioner of Children and Families. In addition, with respect to proceedings concerning delinquent children, the Superior Court shall have authority to make and enforce such orders as the court deems necessary or appropriate to punish the child, deter the child from the commission of further delinquent acts, assure that the safety of any other person will not be endangered and provide restitution to any victim. The Superior Court shall also have authority to grant and enforce temporary and permanent injunctive relief in all proceedings concerning juvenile matters.

      (2) If any order for the payment of money is issued by the Superior Court, including any order assessing costs issued under section 46b-134 or 46b-136, the collection of such money shall be made by the court, except orders for support of children committed to any state agency or department, which orders shall be made payable to and collected by the Department of Administrative Services. If the Superior Court after due diligence is unable to collect such moneys within six months, the court shall refer such case to the Department of Administrative Services for collection as a delinquent account. In juvenile matters, the Superior Court shall have authority to make and enforce orders directed to persons liable hereunder on petition of the Department of Administrative Services made to the court in the same manner as is provided in section 17b-745, in accordance with the provisions of section 17b-81 or 17b-223, subsection (b) of section 17b-179 or section 17a-90, 46b-129 or 46b-130, and all of the provisions of section 17b-745 shall be applicable to such proceedings. Any judge hearing a juvenile matter may make any other order in connection therewith that a judge of the Superior Court is authorized to grant and such order shall have the same force and effect as any other order of the Superior Court. In the enforcement of the court's orders, in connection with any juvenile matter, the court may issue process for the arrest of any person, compel attendance of witnesses and punish for contempt by a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars or imprisonment not exceeding six months."

      (1949 Rev., S. 2805; 1953, 1955, S. 1576d; 1969, P.A. 483; P.A. 75-171, S. 1, 2; 75-602, S. 3, 13; P.A. 76-436, S. 14, 681; P.A. 77-576, S. 41, 65; 77-614, S. 71, 610; P.A. 79-567, S. 2, 7; P.A. 80-70, S. 3; 80-401, S. 4; P.A. 82-472, S. 128, 183; P.A. 87-421, S. 9, 13; P.A. 89-219, S. 2, 10; 89-273, S. 1; P.A. 93-91, S. 1, 2; P.A. 95-225, S. 10; 95-254, S. 2; P.A. 98-256, S. 10; P.A. 00-170, S. 33, 42; 00-177, S. 2, 5; P.A. 06-196, S. 172; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4, S. 74.)

      History: 1969 act added exception re collection of money under support order by central collections division of finance and control department for children committed to care of welfare commissioner and added provision re petitions to juvenile court made by central collections division; P.A. 75-171 referred to children committed to "any state agency or department" rather than specifically to welfare commissioner; P.A. 75-602 added references to youths, made specific reference to children and youths in custody of children and youth services commissioner and specified that court has power to grant and enforce injunctive relief; P.A. 76-436 amended section to transfer juvenile court's powers to superior court, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 77-576 included termination of parental rights of children committed to state agency and contested termination of parental rights transferred from probate court as juvenile matters; P.A. 77-614 replaced central collections division of finance and control department with department of administrative services; P.A. 79-567 specified that matters concerning families with service needs are to be considered as juvenile matters; Sec. 17-59 temporarily renumbered as Sec. 51-302 and ultimately transferred to Sec. 46b-121 in 1979, see note to Sec. 17-59; P.A. 80-70 updated sections referred to in provisions re petition to court; P.A. 80-401 changed effective date of P.A. 79-567 from July 1, 1980, to July 1, 1981; P.A. 82-472 replaced obsolete reference to "division" with "department of administrative services"; P.A. 87-421 removed a reference to Sec. 17-295a which was repealed by the same act; P.A. 89-219 added provision requiring the assessment of a fee of $200 whenever the services of the probation staff for juvenile matters is required; P.A. 89-273 included any order assessing costs issued under Sec. 46b-134 or 46b-136 among orders for the payment of money which the court is responsible for collecting on, required the court to refer any case where after due diligence it is unable to collect the moneys due within six months to the department of administrative services for collection as a delinquent account, and added provision re the authority of the court to enforce its orders through issuing process for the arrest of a person, compelling the attendance of witnesses and punishing for contempt, formerly Sec. 46b-148(a); P.A. 93-91 substituted commissioner and department of children and families for commissioner and department of children and youth services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-225 inserted Subsec. indicators, amended Subsec. (a) to provide that the matters specified constitute juvenile matters "in the civil session", delete proceedings concerning "delinquent children" from such matters, include proceedings concerning "the emancipation of minors" in such matters and add provision that juvenile matters in the criminal session include all proceedings concerning delinquent children in the state and amended Subsec. (b) to add provision authorizing the court in proceedings concerning delinquent children to make and enforce orders to punish the child, deter the child from the commission of further delinquent acts, assure that the safety of any other person will not be endangered and provide restitution to any victim; P.A. 95-254 added provision including probate appeals re matters involving termination of parental rights, removal of parent as guardian and adoption; P.A. 98-256 amended Subsec. (a) to provide that juvenile matters in the criminal session include proceedings concerning "persons sixteen years of age and older who are under the supervision of a juvenile probation officer while on probation or a suspended commitment to the Department of Children and Families, for purposes of enforcing any court orders entered as part of such probation or suspended commitment"; P.A. 00-170 amended Subsec. (b) to delete a requirement that the court impose a fee for probation staff services, effective July 1, 2000; P.A. 00-177 extended provisions of section to youth in crisis and made technical changes in Subsec. (b) for purposes of gender neutrality, effective July 1, 2001; P.A. 06-196 made technical changes in Subsec. (a), effective June 7, 2006; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4 inserted Subdiv. designators (1) and (2) in Subsecs. (a) and (b), deleted references to "youth in crisis", substituted "eighteen years of age" for "sixteen years of age", and made technical changes, effective January 1, 2010.

      Sec. 46b-121k. Programs, services and facilities for juvenile offenders. (a)(1) The Court Support Services Division shall develop constructive programs for the prevention and reduction of delinquency and crime among juvenile offenders. To develop such programs, the executive director of the Court Support Services Division shall cooperate with other agencies to encourage the establishment of new programs and to provide a continuum of services for juvenile offenders who do not require secure placement, including, but not limited to, juveniles classified pursuant to the risk assessment instrument described in section 46b-121i, as those who may be released with structured supervision and those who may be released without supervision. When appropriate, the Court Support Services Division shall coordinate such programs with the Department of Children and Families and the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.

      (2) The programs shall be tailored to the type of juvenile, including the juvenile's offense history, age, maturity and social development, gender, mental health, alcohol dependency or drug dependency, need for structured supervision and other characteristics, and shall be culturally appropriate, trauma-informed and provided in the least restrictive environment possible in a manner consistent with public safety. The Court Support Services Division shall develop programs that provide: (A) Intensive general education, with an individualized remediation plan for each juvenile; (B) appropriate job training and employment opportunities; (C) counseling sessions in anger management and nonviolent conflict resolution; (D) treatment and prevention programs for alcohol dependency and drug dependency; (E) mental health screening, assessment and treatment; (F) sexual offender treatment; and (G) services for families of juveniles.

      (b) The Judicial Department may contract to establish regional secure residential facilities and regional highly supervised residential and nonresidential facilities for juveniles referred by the court. Such facilities shall operate within contracted-for capacity limits. Such facilities shall be exempt from the licensing requirements of section 17a-145.

      (c) The Court Support Services Division shall collaborate with private residential facilities providing residential programs and with community-based nonresidential postrelease programs.

      (d) Any program developed by the Court Support Services Division that is designed to prevent or reduce delinquency and crime among juvenile offenders shall be gender specific, as necessary, and shall comprehensively address the unique needs of a targeted gender group.

      (e) The Court Support Services Division shall consult with the Commission on Racial and Ethnic Disparity in the Criminal Justice System established pursuant to section 51-10c to address the needs of minorities in the juvenile justice system.

      (P.A. 95-225, S. 6, 52; P.A. 98-256, S. 2; P.A. 01-181, S. 3; P.A. 02-132, S. 20; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4, S. 84.)

      History: P.A. 95-225 effective July 1, 1996; P.A. 98-256 amended Subsec. (b) to replace "juveniles sentenced to probation by the court" with "juveniles referred by the court"; P.A. 01-181 added Subsec. (d) re any program developed by Office of Alternate Sanctions designed to prevent or reduce delinquency and crime among juvenile offenders to be gender specific; P.A. 02-132 replaced "Office of Alternative Sanctions" with "Court Support Services Division" in Subsecs. (a), (c) and (d), replaced "director" with "executive director of the Court Support Services Division" in Subsec. (a) and replaced "Office of Alternative Sanctions" with "Judicial Department" in Subsec. (b); June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4 inserted new Subdiv. (1) and (2) and Subpara. (A) to (G) designators in Subsec. (a), amended Subsec. (a)(1) re juveniles classified pursuant to risk assessment instrument as those who may be released with or without supervision and coordination of programs with Departments of Children and Families and Mental Health and Addiction Services, rewrote Subsec. (a)(2) re programs and services, and inserted Subsec. (e) re consultation with Commission on Racial and Ethnic Disparity, effective July 1, 2007.

      Sec. 46b-123c. Commission on Child Protection. Membership. Duties. (a) There is established a Commission on Child Protection that shall consist of eleven members appointed as follows: (1) The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall appoint two judges of the Superior Court, or a judge of the Superior Court and a retired judge of the Superior Court; (2) the speaker of the House of Representatives, the president pro tempore of the Senate, the majority leader of the House of Representatives, the majority leader of the Senate, the minority leader of the House of Representatives and the minority leader of the Senate shall each appoint one member; and (3) the Governor shall appoint three members, one of whom shall serve as chairperson.

      (b) Each member of the commission shall serve for a term of three years and until the appointment and qualification of his or her successor. No more than three of the members, other than the chairperson, may be members of the same political party. Of the four nonjudicial members, other than the chairperson, at least two shall not be members of the bar of any state.

      (c) If any vacancy occurs on the commission, the appointing authority having the power to make the initial appointment under this section shall appoint a person for the unexpired term in accordance with the provisions of this section.

      (d) The members of the commission shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for actual expenses incurred while engaged in the duties of the commission. The members of the commission shall not be employed in any other position under this section or section 46b-123d.

      (e) The commission may adopt such rules as it deems necessary for the conduct of its internal affairs.

      (f) The commission shall be responsible for carrying out the purposes of this section and section 46b-123d and shall appoint a Chief Child Protection Attorney, who shall serve at the pleasure of the commission and whose compensation shall be fixed by the commission.

      (g) The commission shall be within the Division of Public Defender Services for administrative purposes only.

      (h) The commission may accept funds from the federal government, other state agencies and private organizations.

      (i) The commission may establish such requirements for the submission of billing statements, receipts and other documentation by not-for-profit legal services agencies, individual attorneys and private law firms as the commission deems necessary in furnishing compensation to such agencies, attorneys and law firms for providing legal services and serving as guardians ad litem pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section 46b-123d.

      (June Sp. Sess. P.A. 05-3, S. 44; P.A. 07-159, S. 2.)

      History: P.A. 07-159 made technical changes in Subsecs. (a) and (c) and added Subsecs. (h) re acceptance of funds and (i) re establishment of documentation requirements, effective July 1, 2007.

      Sec. 46b-123d. Chief Child Protection Attorney. Duties. Contracts for legal services. (a) The Chief Child Protection Attorney appointed under section 46b-123c shall:

      (1) Establish a system to provide (A) legal services and guardians ad litem to children, youths and indigent respondents in family relations matters in which the state has been ordered to pay the cost of such legal services and guardians ad litem, provided legal services shall be provided to indigent respondents pursuant to this subparagraph only in paternity proceedings and contempt proceedings, and (B) legal services and guardians ad litem to children, youths and indigent legal parties in proceedings before the superior court for juvenile matters, other than legal services for children in delinquency matters. To carry out the requirements of this section, the Chief Child Protection Attorney may contract with (i) appropriate not-for-profit legal services agencies, and (ii) individual lawyers for the delivery of legal services to represent children and indigent legal parties in such proceedings;

      (2) Establish a system to ensure that attorneys providing legal services pursuant to this section are assigned to cases in a manner that will avoid conflicts of interest, as defined by the Rules of Professional Conduct; and

      (3) Establish training, practice and caseload standards for the representation of children, youths, indigent respondents and indigent legal parties pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection. Such standards shall apply to each attorney who represents children, youths, indigent respondents or indigent legal parties pursuant to this section and shall be designed to ensure a high quality of legal representation. The training standards for attorneys required by this subdivision shall be designed to ensure proficiency in the procedural and substantive law related to such matters and to establish a minimum level of proficiency in relevant subject areas, including, but not limited to, family violence, child development, behavioral health, educational disabilities and cultural competence.

      (b) Any contract entered into pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of this section may include terms encouraging or requiring the use of a multidisciplinary agency model of legal representation.

      (June Sp. Sess. P.A. 05-3, S. 45; P.A. 06-187, S. 23; P.A. 07-159, S. 3.)

      History: P.A. 06-187 added provisions re guardians ad litem, deleted references to contempt and paternity, replaced "parents" with "legal parties", added provision re matters in which state has been ordered to pay cost of legal services and replaced "representation of" with "legal services for" in Subdiv. (1), inserted provision re standards applicable to representation of indigent respondents in Subdiv. (3), and made technical changes; P.A. 07-159 designated existing provisions as Subsec. (a) and amended same by inserting references to youths in Subdivs. (1) and (3), adding provision re legal services provided to indigent respondents in paternity and contempt proceedings in Subdiv. (1), replacing "Ensure" with "Establish a system to ensure" in Subdiv. (2), deleting provision re initial and in-service training and making conforming changes in Subdiv. (3) and making technical changes, and added Subsec. (b) re contract terms for multidisciplinary agency model of legal representation, effective July 1, 2007.

      Sec. 46b-123e. Eligibility for counsel in family relations or juvenile matters. Procedure for appointment or assignment. (a) The judicial authority before whom a family relations matter described in subparagraph (A) of subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section 46b-123d is pending shall determine eligibility for counsel for a child or youth and the parents or guardian of a child or youth if they are unable to afford counsel. Upon a finding that a party is unable to afford counsel, the judicial authority shall appoint an attorney to provide representation from a list of qualified attorneys provided by the Chief Child Protection Attorney.

      (b) The judicial authority before whom a juvenile matter described in subparagraph (B) of subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section 46b-123d is pending shall notify the Chief Child Protection Attorney who shall assign an attorney to represent the child or youth. The judicial authority shall determine eligibility for counsel for the parents or guardian of the child or youth if such parents or guardian is unable to afford counsel. Upon a finding that such parents or guardian is unable to afford counsel, the judicial authority shall notify the Chief Child Protection Attorney of such finding, and the Chief Child Protection Attorney shall assign an attorney to provide representation.

      (c) For the purposes of determining eligibility for appointment of counsel pursuant to subsection (a) or (b) of this section, the judicial authority shall cause the parents or guardian of a child or youth to complete a written statement under oath or affirmation setting forth the parents' or guardian's liabilities and assets, income and sources thereof, and such other information as the Commission on Child Protection shall designate and require on forms adopted by said commission.

      (d) The payment of any attorney who was appointed prior to July 1, 2006, to represent a child or indigent parent in any case described in subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section 46b-123d, who continues to represent such child or parent after July 1, 2006, shall be processed through the Commission on Child Protection and paid at the rate that was in effect at the time of such appointment.

      (June Sp. Sess. P.A. 05-3, S. 46; P.A. 06-187, S. 24; P.A. 07-159, S. 4.)

      History: June Sp. Sess. P.A. 05-3 effective July 1, 2006; P.A. 06-187 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing "appointed under section 46b-123c" with "to provide representation", replacing provision re notice by judicial authority upon appointment of counsel with provision re appointment of Chief Child Protection Attorney pursuant to subsection, making a technical change and replacing reference to contract with Commission on Child Protection with reference to contract with Chief Child Protection Attorney; P.A. 07-159 amended Subsec. (a) by making provisions thereof applicable to family relations matters and replacing provisions re appointment of, and assignment of attorney by, Chief Child Protection Attorney with provisions re appointment of attorney from list provided by Chief Child Protection Attorney, added new Subsec. (b) re assignment of attorney in a juvenile matter, repositioned existing provisions of Subsec. (a) re completion of written financial statement as Subsec. (c), redesignated existing Subsec. (b) as Subsec. (d) and made technical changes, effective July 1, 2007.

      Sec. 46b-124. (Formerly Sec. 51-305). *(See end of section for amended version of subsection (b) and effective date.) Confidentiality of records of juvenile matters. Exceptions. (a) For the purposes of this section, "records of cases of juvenile matters" includes, but is not limited to, court records, records regarding juveniles maintained by the Court Support Services Division, records regarding juveniles maintained by an organization or agency that has contracted with the judicial branch to provide services to juveniles, records of law enforcement agencies including fingerprints, photographs and physical descriptions, and medical, psychological, psychiatric and social welfare studies and reports by juvenile probation officers, public or private institutions, social agencies and clinics.

      *(b) All records of cases of juvenile matters, as provided in section 46b-121, except delinquency proceedings, or any part thereof, and all records of appeals from probate brought to the superior court for juvenile matters pursuant to subsection (b) of section 45a-186, shall be confidential and for the use of the court in juvenile matters, and open to inspection or disclosure to any third party, including bona fide researchers commissioned by a state agency, only upon order of the Superior Court, except that: (1) The records concerning any matter transferred from a court of probate pursuant to section 45a-623 or subsection (g) of section 45a-715 or any appeal from probate to the superior court for juvenile matters pursuant to subsection (b) of section 45a-186 shall be available to the court of probate from which such matter was transferred or from which such appeal was taken; (2) such records shall be available to (A) the attorney representing the child or youth, including the Division of Public Defender Services, in any proceeding in which such records are relevant, (B) the parents or guardian of the child or youth until such time as the child or youth reaches the age of majority or becomes emancipated, (C) an adult adopted person in accordance with the provisions of sections 45a-736, 45a-737 and 45a-743 to 45a-757, inclusive, (D) employees of the Division of Criminal Justice who in the performance of their duties require access to such records, (E) employees of the judicial branch who in the performance of their duties require access to such records, (F) another court under the provisions of subsection (d) of section 46b-115j, (G) the subject of the record, upon submission of satisfactory proof of the subject's identity, pursuant to guidelines prescribed by the Office of the Chief Court Administrator, provided the subject has reached the age of majority or has been emancipated, (H) the Department of Children and Families, and (I) the employees of the Commission on Child Protection who in the performance of their duties require access to such records; and (3) all or part of the records concerning a youth in crisis with respect to whom a court order has been issued pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection (c) of section 46b-150f may be made available to the Department of Motor Vehicles, provided such records are relevant to such order. Any records of cases of juvenile matters, or any part thereof, provided to any persons, governmental and private agencies, and institutions pursuant to this section shall not be disclosed, directly or indirectly, to any third party not specified in subsection (d) of this section, except as provided by court order or in the report required under section 54-76d or 54-91a.

      (c) All records of cases of juvenile matters involving delinquency proceedings, or any part thereof, shall be confidential and for the use of the court in juvenile matters and shall not be disclosed except as provided in this section.

      (d) Records of cases of juvenile matters involving delinquency proceedings shall be available to (1) judicial branch employees who, in the performance of their duties, require access to such records, and (2) employees and authorized agents of state or federal agencies involved in (A) the delinquency proceedings, (B) the provision of services directly to the child, or (C) the design and delivery of treatment programs pursuant to section 46b-121j. Such employees and authorized agents include, but are not limited to, law enforcement officials, state and federal prosecutorial officials, school officials in accordance with section 10-233h, court officials including officials of both the regular criminal docket and the docket for juvenile matters, officials of the Division of Criminal Justice, the Division of Public Defender Services, the Department of Children and Families, the Court Support Services Division, the Board of Pardons and Paroles and agencies under contract with the judicial branch, and an advocate appointed pursuant to section 54-221 for a victim of a crime committed by the child. Such records shall also be available to (i) the attorney representing the child, including the Division of Public Defender Services, in any proceeding in which such records are relevant, (ii) the parents or guardian of the child, until such time as the subject of the record reaches the age of majority, (iii) the subject of the record, upon submission of satisfactory proof of the subject's identity, pursuant to guidelines prescribed by the Office of the Chief Court Administrator, provided the subject has reached the age of majority, (iv) law enforcement officials and prosecutorial officials conducting legitimate criminal investigations, and (v) a state or federal agency providing services related to the collection of moneys due or funding to support the service needs of eligible juveniles, provided such disclosure shall be limited to that information necessary for the collection of and application for such moneys. Records disclosed pursuant to this subsection shall not be further disclosed, except that information contained in such records may be disclosed in connection with bail or sentencing reports in open court during criminal proceedings involving the subject of such information.

      (e) Records of cases of juvenile matters involving delinquency proceedings, or any part thereof, may be disclosed upon order of the court to any person who has a legitimate interest in the information and is identified in such order. Records disclosed pursuant to this subsection shall not be further disclosed.

      (f) Records of cases of juvenile matters involving delinquency proceedings, or any part thereof, shall be available to the victim of the crime committed by such child to the same extent as the record of the case of a defendant in a criminal proceeding in the regular criminal docket of the Superior Court is available to a victim of the crime committed by such defendant. The court shall designate an official from whom such victim may request such information. Records disclosed pursuant to this subsection shall not be further disclosed.

      (g) Information concerning a child who has escaped from a detention center or from a facility to which he has been committed by the court or for whom an arrest warrant has been issued with respect to the commission of a felony may be disclosed by law enforcement officials.

      (h) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit any person employed by the judicial branch from disclosing any records, information or files in his possession to any person employed by the Division of Criminal Justice as a prosecutorial official, inspector or investigator who, in the performance of his duties, requests such records, information or files, or to prohibit any such employee of said division from disclosing any records, information or files in his possession to any such employee of the judicial branch who, in the performance of his duties, requests such records, information or files.

      (i) A state's attorney shall disclose to the defendant or his counsel in a criminal prosecution, without the necessity of a court order, exculpatory information and material contained in any record disclosed to such state's attorney pursuant to this section and may disclose, without a court order, information and material contained in any such record which could be the subject of a disclosure order.

      (j) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (d) of this section, any information concerning a child that is obtained during any mental health screening or assessment of such child shall be used solely for planning and treatment purposes and shall otherwise be confidential and retained in the files of the entity performing such screening or assessment. Such information may be further disclosed only for the purposes of any court-ordered evaluation or treatment of the child or provision of services to the child, or pursuant to sections 17a-101 to 17a-101e, inclusive, 17b-450, 17b-451 or 51-36a. Such information shall not be subject to subpoena or other court process for use in any other proceeding or for any other purpose.

      (1969, P.A. 794, S. 3; P.A. 75-602, S. 2, 13; P.A. 76-436, S. 13, 681; P.A. 77-246, S. 11; 77-486, S. 1, 2, 5; P.A. 78-280, S. 92, 127; 78-318, S. 27; P.A. 79-456; P.A. 80-165, S. 1; P.A. 81-472, S. 82, 159; P.A. 82-140, S. 1; P.A. 93-48; P.A. 94-221, S. 15; July Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-2, S. 10; P.A. 95-225, S. 12; 95-254, S. 3; 95-261, S. 1; P.A. 96-246, S. 35; P.A. 98-70, S. 1; P.A. 99-185, S. 35, 40; P.A. 02-132, S. 22; P.A. 03-202, S. 8; P.A. 04-234, S. 2; P.A. 05-152, S. 9; P.A. 06-187, S. 75.)

      *Note: On and after January 1, 2010, subsection (b) of this section, as amended by section 81 of public act 07-4 of the June special session, is to read as follows:

      "(b) All records of cases of juvenile matters, as provided in section 46b-121, except delinquency proceedings, or any part thereof, and all records of appeals from probate brought to the superior court for juvenile matters pursuant to subsection (b) of section 45a-186, shall be confidential and for the use of the court in juvenile matters, and open to inspection or disclosure to any third party, including bona fide researchers commissioned by a state agency, only upon order of the Superior Court, except that: (1) The records concerning any matter transferred from a court of probate pursuant to section 45a-623 or subsection (g) of section 45a-715 or any appeal from probate to the superior court for juvenile matters pursuant to subsection (b) of section 45a-186 shall be available to the court of probate from which such matter was transferred or from which such appeal was taken; (2) such records shall be available to (A) the attorney representing the child or youth, including the Division of Public Defender Services, in any proceeding in which such records are relevant, (B) the parents or guardian of the child or youth until such time as the child or youth reaches the age of majority or becomes emancipated, (C) an adult adopted person in accordance with the provisions of sections 45a-736, 45a-737 and 45a-743 to 45a-757, inclusive, (D) employees of the Division of Criminal Justice who in the performance of their duties require access to such records, (E) employees of the judicial branch who in the performance of their duties require access to such records, (F) another court under the provisions of subsection (d) of section 46b-115j, (G) the subject of the record, upon submission of satisfactory proof of the subject's identity, pursuant to guidelines prescribed by the Office of the Chief Court Administrator, provided the subject has reached the age of majority or has been emancipated, (H) the Department of Children and Families, and (I) the employees of the Commission on Child Protection who in the performance of their duties require access to such records; and (3) all or part of the records concerning a youth in crisis with respect to whom a court order was issued prior to January 1, 2010, may be made available to the Department of Motor Vehicles, provided such records are relevant to such order. Any records of cases of juvenile matters, or any part thereof, provided to any persons, governmental and private agencies, and institutions pursuant to this section shall not be disclosed, directly or indirectly, to any third party not specified in subsection (d) of this section, except as provided by court order or in the report required under section 54-76d or 54-91a."

      (1969, P.A. 794, S. 3; P.A. 75-602, S. 2, 13; P.A. 76-436, S. 13, 681; P.A. 77-246, S. 11; 77-486, S. 1, 2, 5; P.A. 78-280, S. 92, 127; 78-318, S. 27; P.A. 79-456; P.A. 80-165, S. 1; P.A. 81-472, S. 82, 159; P.A. 82-140, S. 1; P.A. 93-48; P.A. 94-221, S. 15; July Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-2, S. 10; P.A. 95-225, S. 12; 95-254, S. 3; 95-261, S. 1; P.A. 96-246, S. 35; P.A. 98-70, S. 1; P.A. 99-185, S. 35, 40; P.A. 02-132, S. 22; P.A. 03-202, S. 8; P.A. 04-234, S. 2; P.A. 05-152, S. 9; P.A. 06-187, S. 75; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4, S. 81.)

      History: P.A. 75-602 added reference to youths; P.A. 76-436 replaced references to juvenile court with references to superior court and juvenile matters and added Subsec. (b) re confidentiality of complaint or information transferred from circuit to juvenile court before October 1, 1971, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 77-246 required that records be available to adult adopted persons; P.A. 77-486 added provisions requiring that records be available to judges and adult probation officers for consideration in sentencing or granting youthful offender status for person under twenty-one; P.A. 78-280 added exception re Sec. 54-76d or 54-109 in provision prohibiting disclosure to third party; P.A. 78-318 authorized disclosure to another court in custody proceedings; P.A. 79-456 required superior court order for disclosure of records to "bona fide researchers commissioned by a state agency"; Sec. 17-57a temporarily renumbered as Sec. 51-305 and ultimately transferred to Sec. 46b-124 in 1979, (see note to Sec. 17-57a) and references to other sections within provisions revised as necessary by the Revisors to reflect their transfer; P.A. 80-165 authorized disclosure of information concerning disposition of criminal case to the victim of the crime if juvenile's identity is not revealed; P.A. 81-472 made technical corrections; P.A. 82-140 amended Subsec. (a) to permit disclosure of identity of child or youth to victim if the victim intends to bring a civil action for damages or if the child or youth is adjudicated delinquent; P.A. 93-48 added provision in Subsec. (a) re disclosure of records concerning adjudications re child abuse to state's attorney and added Subsec. (c) re disclosure of exculpatory information and material contained in disclosed record by state's attorney to defendant; P.A. 94-221 added Subsecs. (a)(4) re availability of information on the identity of a child arrested for a felony and the nature of the offense and (a)(5) re availability of information on the identity of a child adjudicated a delinquent as a result of a felony; July Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-2 added Subsec. (a)(4) re availability to a state's attorney of records concerning adjudications involving certain firearm-related offenses, renumbering the remaining Subdivs. accordingly, and amended Subsec. (c) to add reference to said Subdiv. (4); P.A. 95-225 substantially revised section by amending Subsec. (a) to add exception for proceedings concerning delinquent children, deleting former Subdivs. (2) to (6), inclusive, re specific exceptions to the prohibition on disclosure, deleting provision making delinquency records of any person who has not attained the age of 21 available to a judge and an adult probation officer in certain circumstances and provide that the prohibition on disclosure to a third party applies to a third party "not specified in subsection (c) of this section", deleting former Subsec. (b) re confidentiality of records transferred from the Circuit Court to the Juvenile Court prior to October 1, 1971, adding new Subsec. (b) re confidentiality of records of cases of juvenile matters involving proceedings concerning delinquent children, adding new Subsec. (c) re disclosure of delinquency records to certain individuals and agencies, adding Subsec. (d) re disclosure of delinquency records to persons with a legitimate interest therein upon order of the court, adding Subsec. (e) re availability of delinquency records to the victim of the crime, adding Subsec. (f) re disclosure of information concerning a child who has escaped or for whom an arrest warrant has been issued, adding Subsec. (g) re exchange of information between certain employees of the Judicial Department and the Division of Criminal Justice, and redesignating former Subsec. (c) re disclosure of information by a state's attorney to the defendant or his counsel as Subsec. (h) and amended said Subsec. to make technical changes; P.A. 95-254 amended Subsec. (a) by applying provisions to records of appeals from probate brought to Juvenile Court pursuant to Sec. 45a-186(b) and to add provision making such records available to court of probate from which such appeal was taken; P.A. 95-261 would have amended Subsec. (a) specifying Office of Adult Probation and Office of the Bail Commission as agencies which may obtain delinquency records where previous availability was limited to adult probation officers, but failed to take effect, P.A. 95-225 having repealed language on which the changes relied; P.A. 96-246 added Subsec. (a)(3) re psychological evaluations being available to Commissioner of Children and Families for purposes of diagnosing, caring for or treating child; P.A. 98-70 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting "concerning delinquent children" and adding "delinquency" and by deleting former Subdiv. (3) and adding availability of records to attorney, including public defender, for child or youth, parents or guardian, employees of Division of Criminal Justice, employees of judicial branch, another court, the subject of the record, provided subject provides proof of identity and has reached the age of majority or is emancipated, and the Department of Children and Families; amended Subsec. (b) by deleting "concerning delinquent children" and adding "delinquency"; amended Subsec. (c) by providing availability of records re delinquency proceedings to judicial branch employees, employees and certain authorized agents of state or federal agencies, including Division of Public Defender Services, Office of Adult Probation, Office of Bail Commissioner, Board of Parole and agencies under contract with Office of Alternative Sanctions, to parent or guardian, to the subject of the record upon proof of identity and reaching age of majority and to a state or federal agency providing funding to support needs of eligible juveniles, and by adding provision re disclosure in connection with bail or sentencing reports; amended Subsecs. (d) and (e) by deleting "concerning a delinquent child" and adding "delinquency"; and amended Subsec. (g) by deleting "as a juvenile prosecutor, inspector or investigator"; P.A. 99-185 amended Subsec. (a)(2) by changing reference to Sec. 46b-111 to Sec. 46b-115j(d), effective July 1, 2000; P.A. 02-132 amended Subsec. (c) by replacing "Office of Adult Probation, the Office of the Bail Commissioner" with "Court Support Services Division", replacing "Office of Alternative Sanctions" with "Judicial Department" and making a technical change; P.A. 03-202 added new Subsec. (a) defining "records of cases of juvenile matters", redesignated existing Subsecs. (a) to (h) as Subsecs. (b) to (i), replaced references to "Judicial Department" with references to "judicial branch" and made technical and conforming changes; P.A. 04-234 replaced Board of Parole with Board of Pardons and Paroles, effective July 1, 2004; P.A. 05-152 amended Subsec. (a) by inserting "juvenile" in reference to "probation officers", amended Subsec. (b) by making technical changes and adding Subdiv. (3) re records concerning youth in crisis made available to Department of Motor Vehicles, and added Subsec. (j) re information obtained during mental health screening or assessment of a child; P.A. 06-187 amended Subsec. (b)(2) by adding Subpara. (I) permitting records of cases of juvenile matters to be made available to employees of Commission on Child Protection in performance of duties requiring access to such records; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4 amended Subsec. (b)(3) to insert "was issued prior to January 1, 2010," and delete reference to Sec. 46b-150f(c)(1), effective January 1, 2010.

      Sec. 46b-127. (Formerly Sec. 51-308). *(See end of section for amended version of subsection (c) and effective date.) Transfer of child charged with a felony to the regular criminal docket. (a) The court shall automatically transfer from the docket for juvenile matters to the regular criminal docket of the Superior Court the case of any child charged with the commission of a capital felony, a class A or B felony or a violation of section 53a-54d, provided such offense was committed after such child attained the age of fourteen years and counsel has been appointed for such child if such child is indigent. Such counsel may appear with the child but shall not be permitted to make any argument or file any motion in opposition to the transfer. The child shall be arraigned in the regular criminal docket of the Superior Court at the next court date following such transfer, provided any proceedings held prior to the finalization of such transfer shall be private and shall be conducted in such parts of the courthouse or the building wherein court is located as shall be separate and apart from the other parts of the court which are then being held for proceedings pertaining to adults charged with crimes. The file of any case so transferred shall remain sealed until the end of the tenth working day following such arraignment unless the state's attorney has filed a motion pursuant to this subsection, in which case such file shall remain sealed until the court makes a decision on the motion. A state's attorney may, not later than ten working days after such arraignment, file a motion to transfer the case of any child charged with the commission of a class B felony or a violation of subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of section 53a-70 to the docket for juvenile matters for proceedings in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. The court sitting for the regular criminal docket shall, after hearing and not later than ten working days after the filing of such motion, decide such motion.

      (b) Upon motion of a juvenile prosecutor and order of the court, the case of any child charged with the commission of a class C or D felony or an unclassified felony shall be transferred from the docket for juvenile matters to the regular criminal docket of the Superior Court, provided such offense was committed after such child attained the age of fourteen years and the court finds ex parte that there is probable cause to believe the child has committed the act for which he is charged. The file of any case so transferred shall remain sealed until such time as the court sitting for the regular criminal docket accepts such transfer. The court sitting for the regular criminal docket may return any such case to the docket for juvenile matters not later than ten working days after the date of the transfer for proceedings in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. The child shall be arraigned in the regular criminal docket of the Superior Court by the next court date following such transfer, provided any proceedings held prior to the finalization of such transfer shall be private and shall be conducted in such parts of the courthouse or the building wherein court is located as shall be separate and apart from the other parts of the court which are then being held for proceedings pertaining to adults charged with crimes.

      *(c) Upon the effectuation of the transfer, such child shall stand trial and be sentenced, if convicted, as if he were sixteen years of age. Such child shall receive credit against any sentence imposed for time served in a juvenile facility prior to the effectuation of the transfer. A child who has been transferred may enter a guilty plea to a lesser offense if the court finds that such plea is made knowingly and voluntarily. Any child transferred to the regular criminal docket who pleads guilty to a lesser offense shall not resume his status as a juvenile regarding said offense. If the action is dismissed or nolled or if such child is found not guilty of the charge for which he was transferred or of any lesser included offenses, the child shall resume his status as a juvenile until he attains the age of sixteen years.

      (d) Any child transferred to the regular criminal docket of the Superior Court who is detained shall be in the custody of the Commissioner of Correction upon the finalization of such transfer. A transfer shall be final (1) upon the expiration of ten working days after the arraignment if no motion has been filed by the state's attorney pursuant to subsection (a) of this section or, if such motion has been filed, upon the decision of the court to deny such motion, or (2) upon the court accepting the transfer pursuant to subsection (b) of this section. Any child returned to the docket for juvenile matters who is detained shall be in the custody of the Judicial Department.

      (e) The transfer of a child to a Department of Correction facility shall be limited to the provisions of subsection (d) of this section and said subsection shall not be construed to permit the transfer of or otherwise reduce or eliminate any other population of juveniles in detention or confinement within the Judicial Department or the Department of Children and Families.

      (P.A. 75-620, S. 1-4; P.A. 76-194, S. 3; 76-436, S. 18, 19, 20, 681; P.A. 79-581, S. 3; P.A. 83-402, S. 2; P.A. 86-185, S. 2; P.A. 90-136, S. 2; 90-187, S. 2, 3; July Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-2, S. 6; P.A. 95-225, S. 13; P.A. 97-4, S. 1, 2; 97-319, S. 21, 22; P.A. 98-256, S. 3; P.A. 04-127, S. 2; 04-148, S. 1.)

      *Note: On and after January 1, 2010, subsection (c) of this section, as amended by section 75 of public act 07-4 of the June special session, is to read as follows:

      "(c) Upon the effectuation of the transfer, such child shall stand trial and be sentenced, if convicted, as if such child were eighteen years of age. Such child shall receive credit against any sentence imposed for time served in a juvenile facility prior to the effectuation of the transfer. A child who has been transferred may enter a guilty plea to a lesser offense if the court finds that such plea is made knowingly and voluntarily. Any child transferred to the regular criminal docket who pleads guilty to a lesser offense shall not resume such child's status as a juvenile regarding such offense. If the action is dismissed or nolled or if such child is found not guilty of the charge for which such child was transferred or of any lesser included offenses, the child shall resume such child's status as a juvenile until such child attains the age of eighteen years."

      (P.A. 75-620, S. 1-4; P.A. 76-194, S. 3; 76-436, S. 18, 19, 20, 681; P.A. 79-581, S. 3; P.A. 83-402, S. 2; P.A. 86-185, S. 2; P.A. 90-136, S. 2; 90-187, S. 2, 3; July Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-2, S. 6; P.A. 95-225, S. 13; P.A. 97-4, S. 1, 2; 97-319, S. 21, 22; P.A. 98-256, S. 3; P.A. 04-127, S. 2; 04-148, S. 1; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4, S. 75.)

      History: P.A. 76-194 required that child "be sentenced, if convicted" as if he were sixteen; P.A. 76-436 revised provisions to reflect transfer of juvenile court duties to superior court, substituting references to criminal and juvenile dockets for references to said courts, etc., effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 79-581 clarified and qualified circumstances under which matters transferred from juvenile to criminal docket and deleted requirements that transfer is contingent upon investigation finding that no suitable institution for care of children exists to which child in question may be committed and that court facilities for criminal sessions and institutions for those sixteen or over are suitable for child's care and confinement and deleted former Subsecs. (b) and (c) re establishment of maximum security facility for care and treatment of children under superior court jurisdiction and re court-ordered evaluation to determine whether institutions for children or institutions for those sixteen and over are more suitable for care and treatment of child in question; Sec. 17-60b temporarily renumbered as Sec. 51-308 and ultimately transferred to Sec. 46b-127 in 1979; P.A. 83-402 qualified reference to commission of murder in Subdiv. (1) by specifying murder "under sections 53a-54a to 53a-54d, inclusive" and required that written findings be made rather than an investigation prior to transfer; P.A. 86-185 added provision that a transfer order shall be a final judgment for purposes of appeal; P.A. 90-136 excluded from the provisions of Subdiv. (2) a child referred for the commission of the class A felony of murder, added provisions re the rights of the child and the procedure applicable at the hearing, authorized credit against any sentence imposed for time served in a juvenile facility prior to transfer, authorized a child to plead guilty to a lesser offense and provided that a child who so pleads shall not resume his juvenile status re said offense, and replaced a reference to a finding of "innocent" with a finding of "not guilty"; P.A. 90-187 added provision requiring a transferred child to be maintained in a facility for children and youth rather than in a correctional facility until he is 16 years of age or sentenced, whichever occurs first, effective July 1, 1991; July Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-2 designated existing provisions re children required to be transferred to the regular criminal docket as Subsec. (a) and amended said Subsec. to add a new Subdiv. (2) requiring the transfer of any child referred for the violation of certain firearm-related offenses, renumbering the remaining Subdivs. accordingly, to exclude from Subdivs. (3) and (4) any child referred for a violation of any provision specified in Subdiv. (2), to add provision requiring the prosecuting authority for juvenile matters to consider whether the child is a person with mental retardation or suffers from a substantial mental disorder in deciding whether to seek the transfer of the child under Subdiv. (2) and to add provision authorizing the child to file a notice of intent to request a hearing under Subsec. (c), designated existing provisions re probable cause hearing as Subsec. (b), added Subsec. (c) re a hearing for a child referred pursuant to Subsec. (a)(2) at which he may present evidence that he should not be transferred to the regular criminal docket and the factors that must be proven at such hearing to avoid such a transfer, deleted the provision that a transfer order is a final judgment for purposes of appeal and designated existing provisions re post-transfer procedures as Subsec. (d); P.A. 95-225 substantially revised section by deleting former Subsecs. (a), (b) and (c), adding new Subsec. (a) re automatic transfer of a child charged with the commission of a capital felony, a class A or B felony or a violation of section 53a-54d, adding new Subsec. (b) re transfer of a child charged with a class C or D felony or an unclassified felony and redesignating former Subsec. (d) re post-transfer procedures as Subsec. (c); P.A. 97-4 amended Subsec. (c) to delete provision that prohibited a child being placed in a correctional facility and required the child to be maintained in a facility for children and youth until he attains the age of 16 years or until he is sentenced, whichever occurs first, added Subsec. (d) providing that a child transferred to the regular criminal docket shall be in the custody of the Commissioner of Correction upon the finalization of the transfer and specifying when a transfer is final, and added Subsec. (e) limiting the transfer of children and juveniles to a Department of Correction facility, effective March 20, 1997; P.A. 97-319 amended Subsec. (a) by adding provision re appointment of counsel for indigent child, effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 98-256 amended Subsec. (a) to require the file of a transferred case to remain sealed "until the end of the tenth working day following such arraignment" rather than "until the tenth day following such arraignment" and to replace "disposition" with "proceedings", amended Subsec. (b) to provide that the case shall be transferred upon "order of the court" rather than upon "approval by the court", to establish a deadline for a court to return a case to the docket for juvenile matters of "not later than ten working days after the date of the transfer" and to require arraignment "by the next court date" rather than "at the next court date" and amended Subsec. (c) to make provision mandating that a child resume his status as a juvenile when found not guilty of the transferred charge also apply when found not guilty of any lesser included offenses; P.A. 04-127 amended Subsecs. (a) and (b) by adding provisions re privacy and location of proceedings held prior to finalization of transfer and made a technical change in Subsec. (a); P.A. 04-148 amended Subsec. (a) to authorize the transfer of the case of a child charged with a violation of Sec. 53a-70(a)(2) to the docket for juvenile matters; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4 amended Subsec. (c) to substitute "eighteen years" for "sixteen years" re age of child and make technical changes, effective January 1, 2010.

      Sec. 46b-129. (Formerly Sec. 51-310). Commitment of child or youth. Petition for neglected, uncared-for, dependent child or youth. Hearing re temporary custody, order to appear or petition. Review of permanency plan. Cost of care and maintenance of child or youth; reimbursement. Revocation of commitment. Applicability of provisions re placement of child from another state and Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children. (a) Any selectman, town manager, or town, city or borough welfare department, any probation officer, or the Commissioner of Social Services, the Commissioner of Children and Families or any child-caring institution or agency approved by the Commissioner of Children and Families, a child or such child's representative or attorney or a foster parent of a child, having information that a child or youth is neglected, uncared-for or dependent, may file with the Superior Court that has venue over such matter a verified petition plainly stating such facts as bring the child or youth within the jurisdiction of the court as neglected, uncared-for or dependent, within the meaning of section 46b-120, the name, date of birth, sex and residence of the child or youth, the name and residence of such child's parents or guardian, and praying for appropriate action by the court in conformity with the provisions of this chapter. Upon the filing of such a petition, except as otherwise provided in subsection (k) of section 17a-112, the court shall cause a summons to be issued requiring the parent or parents or the guardian of the child or youth to appear in court at the time and place named, which summons shall be served not less than fourteen days before the date of the hearing in the manner prescribed by section 46b-128, and the court shall further give notice to the petitioner and to the Commissioner of Children and Families of the time and place when the petition is to be heard not less than fourteen days prior to the hearing in question.

      (b) If it appears from the specific allegations of the petition and other verified affirmations of fact accompanying the petition and application, or subsequent thereto, that there is reasonable cause to believe that (1) the child or youth is suffering from serious physical illness or serious physical injury or is in immediate physical danger from the child's or youth's surroundings, and (2) that as a result of said conditions, the child's or youth's safety is endangered and immediate removal from such surroundings is necessary to ensure the child's or youth's safety, the court shall either (A) issue an order to the parents or other person having responsibility for the care of the child or youth to appear at such time as the court may designate to determine whether the court should vest in some suitable agency or person the child's or youth's temporary care and custody pending disposition of the petition, or (B) issue an order ex parte vesting in some suitable agency or person the child's or youth's temporary care and custody. A preliminary hearing on any ex parte custody order or order to appear issued by the court shall be held not later than ten days after the issuance of such order. The service of such orders may be made by any officer authorized by law to serve process, or by any probation officer appointed in accordance with section 46b-123, investigator from the Department of Administrative Services, state or local police officer or indifferent person. Such orders shall include a conspicuous notice to the respondent written in clear and simple language containing at least the following information: (i) That the order contains allegations that conditions in the home have endangered the safety and welfare of the child or youth; (ii) that a hearing will be held on the date on the form; (iii) that the hearing is the opportunity to present the parents' position concerning the alleged facts; (iv) that an attorney will be appointed for parents who cannot afford an attorney; (v) that such parents may apply for a court-appointed attorney by going in person to the court address on the form and are advised to go as soon as possible in order for the attorney to prepare for the hearing; and (vi) if such parents have any questions concerning the case or appointment of counsel, any such parent is advised to go to the court or call the clerk's office at the court as soon as possible. Upon application for appointed counsel, the court shall promptly determine eligibility and, if the respondent is eligible, promptly appoint counsel. The expense for any temporary care and custody shall be paid by the town in which such child or youth is at the time residing, and such town shall be reimbursed for such expense by the town found liable for the child's or youth's support, except that where a state agency has filed a petition pursuant to the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, the agency shall pay such expense. The agency shall give primary consideration to placing the child or youth in the town where such child or youth resides. The agency shall file in writing with the clerk of the court the reasons for placing the child or youth in a particular placement outside the town where the child or youth resides. Upon issuance of an ex parte order, the court shall provide to the commissioner and the parent or guardian specific steps necessary for each to take to address the ex parte order for the parent or guardian to retain or regain custody of the child or youth. Upon the issuance of such order, or not later than sixty days after the issuance of such order, the court shall make a determination whether the Department of Children and Families made reasonable efforts to keep the child or youth with his or her parents or guardian prior to the issuance of such order and, if such efforts were not made, whether such reasonable efforts were not possible, taking into consideration the child's or youth's best interests, including the child's or youth's health and safety.

      (c) In any proceeding under this section, any grandparent of the child may make a motion to intervene and the court shall grant such motion except for good cause shown. Upon the granting of such motion, such grandparent may appear by counsel or in person.

      (d) The preliminary hearing on the order of temporary custody or order to appear or the first hearing on a petition filed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall be held in order for the court to: (1) Advise the parent or guardian of the allegations contained in all petitions and applications that are the subject of the hearing and the parent's or guardian's right to counsel pursuant to subsection (b) of section 46b-135; (2) assure that an attorney, and where appropriate, a separate guardian ad litem has been appointed to represent the child or youth in accordance with subsection (b) of section 46b-123e and sections 46b-129a and 46b-136; (3) upon request, appoint an attorney to represent the respondent when the respondent is unable to afford representation, in accordance with subsection (b) of section 46b-123e; (4) advise the parent or guardian of the right to a hearing on the petitions and applications, to be held not later than ten days after the date of the preliminary hearing if the hearing is pursuant to an order of temporary custody or an order to show cause; (5) accept a plea regarding the truth of such allegations; (6) make any interim orders, including visitation, that the court determines are in the best interests of the child or youth. The court, after a hearing pursuant to this subsection, shall order specific steps the commissioner and the parent or guardian shall take for the parent or guardian to regain or to retain custody of the child or youth; (7) take steps to determine the identity of the father of the child or youth, including ordering genetic testing, if necessary, and order service of the petition and notice of the hearing date, if any, to be made upon him; (8) if the person named as the father appears, and admits that he is the father, provide him and the mother with the notices that comply with section 17b-27 and provide them with the opportunity to sign a paternity acknowledgment and affirmation on forms that comply with section 17b-27. Such documents shall be executed and filed in accordance with chapter 815y and a copy delivered to the clerk of the superior court for juvenile matters; and (9) in the event that the person named as a father appears and denies that he is the father of the child or youth, advise him that he may have no further standing in any proceeding concerning the child, and either order genetic testing to determine paternity or direct him to execute a written denial of paternity on a form promulgated by the Office of the Chief Court Administrator. Upon execution of such a form by the putative father, the court may remove him from the case and afford him no further standing in the case or in any subsequent proceeding regarding the child or youth until such time as paternity is established by formal acknowledgment or adjudication in a court of competent jurisdiction.

      (e) If any parent or guardian fails, after service of such order, to appear at the preliminary hearing, the court may enter or sustain an order of temporary custody.

      (f) Upon request, or upon its own motion, the court shall schedule a hearing on the order for temporary custody or the order to show cause to be held not later than ten days after the date of the preliminary hearing. Such hearing shall be held on consecutive days except for compelling circumstances or at the request of the parent or guardian.

      (g) At a contested hearing on the order for temporary custody or order to appear, credible hearsay evidence regarding statements of the child or youth made to a mandated reporter or to a parent may be offered by the parties and admitted by the court upon a finding that the statement is reliable and trustworthy and that admission of such statement is reasonably necessary. A signed statement executed by a mandated reporter under oath may be admitted by the court without the need for the mandated reporter to appear and testify unless called by a respondent or the child, provided the statement: (1) Was provided at the preliminary hearing and promptly upon request to any counsel appearing after the preliminary hearing; (2) reasonably describes the qualifications of the reporter and the nature of his contact with the child; and (3) contains only the direct observations of the reporter, and statements made to the reporter that would be admissible if the reporter were to testify to them in court and any opinions reasonably based thereupon. If a respondent or the child gives notice at the preliminary hearing that he intends to cross-examine the reporter, the person filing the petition shall make the reporter available for such examination at the contested hearing.

      (h) If any parent or guardian fails, after due notice of the hearing scheduled pursuant to subsection (g) of this section and without good cause, to appear at the scheduled date for a contested hearing on the order of temporary custody or order to appear, the court may enter or sustain an order of temporary custody.

      (i) When a petition is filed in said court for the commitment of a child or youth, the Commissioner of Children and Families shall make a thorough investigation of the case and shall cause to be made a thorough physical and mental examination of the child or youth if requested by the court. The court after hearing may also order a thorough physical or mental examination, or both, of a parent or guardian whose competency or ability to care for a child or youth before the court is at issue. The expenses incurred in making such physical and mental examinations shall be paid as costs of commitment are paid.

      (j) Upon finding and adjudging that any child or youth is uncared-for, neglected or dependent, the court may commit such child or youth to the Commissioner of Children and Families. Such commitment shall remain in effect until further order of the court, except that such commitment may be revoked or parental rights terminated at any time by the court, or the court may vest such child's or youth's care and personal custody in any private or public agency that is permitted by law to care for neglected, uncared-for or dependent children or youths or with any person or persons found to be suitable and worthy of such responsibility by the court. The court shall order specific steps that the parent must take to facilitate the return of the child or youth to the custody of such parent. The commissioner shall be the guardian of such child or youth for the duration of the commitment, provided the child or youth has not reached the age of eighteen years or, in the case of a child or youth in full-time attendance in a secondary school, a technical school, a college or a state-accredited job training program, provided such child or youth has not reached the age of twenty-one years, by consent of such youth, or until another guardian has been legally appointed, and in like manner, upon such vesting of the care of such child or youth, such other public or private agency or individual shall be the guardian of such child or youth until such child or youth has reached the age of eighteen years or, in the case of a child or youth in full-time attendance in a secondary school, a technical school, a college or a state-accredited job training program, until such child or youth has reached the age of twenty-one years or until another guardian has been legally appointed. The commissioner may place any child or youth so committed to the commissioner in a suitable foster home or in the home of a person related by blood to such child or youth or in a licensed child-caring institution or in the care and custody of any accredited, licensed or approved child-caring agency, within or without the state, provided a child shall not be placed outside the state except for good cause and unless the parents or guardian of such child are notified in advance of such placement and given an opportunity to be heard, or in a receiving home maintained and operated by the Commissioner of Children and Families. In placing such child or youth, the commissioner shall, if possible, select a home, agency, institution or person of like religious faith to that of a parent of such child or youth, if such faith is known or may be ascertained by reasonable inquiry, provided such home conforms to the standards of said commissioner and the commissioner shall, when placing siblings, if possible, place such children together. As an alternative to commitment, the court may place the child or youth in the custody of the parent or guardian with protective supervision by the Commissioner of Children and Families subject to conditions established by the court. Upon the issuance of an order committing the child or youth to the Commissioner of Children and Families, or not later than sixty days after the issuance of such order, the court shall determine whether the Department of Children and Families made reasonable efforts to keep the child or youth with his or her parents or guardian prior to the issuance of such order and, if such efforts were not made, whether such reasonable efforts were not possible, taking into consideration the child's or youth's best interests, including the child's or youth's health and safety.

      (k) (1) Nine months after placement of the child or youth in the care and custody of the commissioner pursuant to a voluntary placement agreement, or removal of a child or youth pursuant to section 17a-101g or an order issued by a court of competent jurisdiction, whichever is earlier, the commissioner shall file a motion for review of a permanency plan. Nine months after a permanency plan has been approved by the court pursuant to this subsection, the commissioner shall file a motion for review of the permanency plan. Any party seeking to oppose the commissioner's permanency plan shall file a motion in opposition not later than thirty days after the filing of the commissioner's motion for review of the permanency plan, which motion shall include the reason therefor. A permanency hearing on any motion for review of the permanency plan shall be held not later than ninety days after the filing of such motion. The court shall hold evidentiary hearings in connection with any contested motion for review of the permanency plan. The commissioner shall have the burden of proving that the proposed permanency plan is in the best interests of the child or youth. After the initial permanency hearing, subsequent permanency hearings shall be held not less frequently than every twelve months while the child or youth remains in the custody of the Commissioner of Children and Families. The court shall provide notice to the child or youth, and the parent or guardian of such child or youth of the time and place of the court hearing on any such motion not less than fourteen days prior to such hearing.

      (2) At a permanency hearing held in accordance with the provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection, the court shall approve a permanency plan that is in the best interests of the child or youth and takes into consideration the child's or youth's need for permanency. The child's or youth's health and safety shall be of paramount concern in formulating such plan. Such permanency plan may include the goal of (A) revocation of commitment and reunification of the child or youth with the parent or guardian, with or without protective supervision; (B) transfer of guardianship; (C) long-term foster care with a relative licensed as a foster parent or certified as a relative caregiver; (D) adoption and filing of termination of parental rights; or (E) such other planned permanent living arrangement ordered by the court, provided the Commissioner of Children and Families has documented a compelling reason why it would not be in the best interest of the child or youth for the permanency plan to include the goals in subparagraphs (A) to (D), inclusive, of this subdivision. Such other planned permanent living arrangement may include, but not be limited to, placement of a child or youth in an independent living program or long term foster care with an identified foster parent.

      (3) At a permanency hearing held in accordance with the provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection, the court shall review the status of the child, the progress being made to implement the permanency plan, determine a timetable for attaining the permanency plan, determine the services to be provided to the parent if the court approves a permanency plan of reunification and the timetable for such services, and determine whether the commissioner has made reasonable efforts to achieve the permanency plan. The court may revoke commitment if a cause for commitment no longer exists and it is in the best interests of the child or youth.

      (4) If the court approves the permanency plan of adoption: (A) The Commissioner of Children and Families shall file a petition for termination of parental rights not later than sixty days after such approval if such petition has not previously been filed; (B) the commissioner may conduct a thorough adoption assessment and child-specific recruitment; and (C) the court may order that the child be photo-listed within thirty days if the court determines that such photo-listing is in the best interest of the child. As used in this subdivision, "thorough adoption assessment" means conducting and documenting face-to-face interviews with the child, foster care providers and other significant parties and "child specific recruitment" means recruiting an adoptive placement targeted to meet the individual needs of the specific child, including, but not limited to, use of the media, use of photo-listing services and any other in-state or out-of-state resources that may be used to meet the specific needs of the child, unless there are extenuating circumstances that indicate that such efforts are not in the best interest of the child.

      (l) The Commissioner of Children and Families shall pay directly to the person or persons furnishing goods or services determined by said commissioner to be necessary for the care and maintenance of such child or youth the reasonable expense thereof, payment to be made at intervals determined by said commissioner; and the Comptroller shall draw his or her order on the Treasurer, from time to time, for such part of the appropriation for care of committed children or youths as may be needed in order to enable the commissioner to make such payments. The commissioner shall include in the department's annual budget a sum estimated to be sufficient to carry out the provisions of this section. Notwithstanding that any such child or youth has income or estate, the commissioner may pay the cost of care and maintenance of such child or youth. The commissioner may bill to and collect from the person in charge of the estate of any child or youth aided under this chapter, or the payee of such child's or youth's income, the total amount expended for care of such child or youth or such portion thereof as any such estate or payee is able to reimburse, provided the commissioner shall not collect from such estate or payee any reimbursement for the cost of care or other expenditures made on behalf of such child or youth from (1) the proceeds of any cause of action received by such child or youth; (2) any lottery proceeds due to such child or youth; (3) any inheritance due to such child or youth; (4) any payment due to such child or youth from a trust other than a trust created pursuant to 42 USC 1396p, as amended from time to time; or (5) the decedent estate of such child or youth.

      (m) The commissioner, a parent or the child's attorney may file a motion to revoke a commitment, and, upon finding that cause for commitment no longer exists, and that such revocation is in the best interests of such child or youth, the court may revoke the commitment of such child or youth. No such motion shall be filed more often than once every six months.

      (n) Upon service on the parent, guardian or other person having control of the child or youth of any order issued by the court pursuant to the provisions of subsections (b) and (j) of this section, the child or youth concerned shall be surrendered to the person serving the order who shall forthwith deliver the child or youth to the person, agency, department or institution awarded custody in the order. Upon refusal of the parent, guardian or other person having control of the child or youth to surrender the child or youth as provided in the order, the court may cause a warrant to be issued charging the parent, guardian or other person having control of the child or youth with contempt of court. If the person arrested is found in contempt of court, the court may order such person confined until the person complies with the order, but for not more than six months, or may fine such person not more than five hundred dollars, or both.

      (o) A foster parent, prospective adoptive parent or relative caregiver shall receive notice and have the right to be heard for the purposes of this section in Superior Court in any proceeding concerning a foster child living with such foster parent, prospective adoptive parent or relative caregiver. A foster parent, prospective adoptive parent or relative caregiver who has cared for a child or youth shall have the right to be heard and comment on the best interests of such child or youth in any proceeding under this section which is brought not more than one year after the last day the foster parent, prospective adoptive parent or relative caregiver provided such care.

      (p) Upon motion of any sibling of any child committed to the Department of Children and Families pursuant to this section, such sibling shall have the right to be heard concerning visitation with, and placement of, any such child. In awarding any visitation or modifying any placement, the court shall be guided by the best interests of all siblings affected by such determination.

      (q) The provisions of section 17a-152, regarding placement of a child from another state, and section 17a-175, regarding the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children, shall apply to placements pursuant to this section.

      (1949 Rev., S. 2634, subs. (a)-(e); 1949, 1953, 1955, S. 1469d, subs. (a)-(e); 1957, P.A. 50; 1959, P.A. 293; 1967, P.A. 698; 1969, P.A. 794, S. 7; 1971, P.A. 150; 184; 231; 253; 1972, P.A. 127, S. 24; 294, S. 18; P.A. 73-205, S. 5; 73-546, S. 2; 73-625, S. 3, 4; P.A. 74-251, S. 10, 11; P.A. 75-420, S. 4, 6; 75-492, S. 1, 2; 75-602, S. 4, 13; P.A. 76-436, S. 16, 668, 681; P.A. 77-272; 77-273; 77-614, S. 71, 521, 587, 610; P.A. 78-223, S. 1, 2; 78-303, S. 85, 136; P.A. 79-423; 79-579; 79-631, S. 84, 111; P.A. 80-483, S. 121, 186; P.A. 82-181, S. 1, 2; P.A. 84-449, S. 5, 7; P.A. 93-91, S. 1, 2; 93-262, S. 1, 87; P.A. 95-238, S. 4; P.A. 96-246, S. 20, 21; P.A. 97-319, S. 19, 22; P.A. 98-185; 98-241, S. 5, 18; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 98-1, S. 102, 121; P.A. 00-137, S. 2, 3, 15; P.A. 01-142, S. 6-8; 01-149, S. 1; 01-195, S. 37, 38, 181; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-2, S. 33, 69; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-9, S. 129, 131; May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-7, S. 29, 30; P.A. 03-243, S. 2; P.A. 06-102, S. 9; 06-196, S. 173; P.A. 07-159, S. 5; 07-174, S. 3; 07-203, S. 1.)

      History: 1959 act specified that commissioner is to pay cost of child's care and maintenance and collect cost of care and maintenance from child's estate or income in Subsec. (d); 1967 act added "dependent child" to classification of children within section and added custody by private or public agency to Subsec. (c); 1969 act rephrased provisions and rearranged Subsecs., authorized filing in Subsec. (a) by town manager, local welfare department and commission on youth services, deleting authority for parent or guardian, Long Lane School and Connecticut State Farm for Women to file and added provisions in Subsec. (c) re physical and/or mental examinations of parents or guardians; 1971 acts authorized application by person who acknowledges paternity of a child born out of wedlock in Subsec. (f), added Subsec. (g) re surrender of child upon court order, rephrased provision in Subsec. (e) re recovery of costs of child's care and maintenance and specified in Subsec. (b) who may serve orders for temporary custody; 1972 acts changed age at which child's guardianship terminates from 21 to 18, reflecting changed age of majority, in Subsec. (d) and referred to annual rather than biennial budgets in Subsec. (e); P.A. 73-205 authorized court to order child's parent or person responsible for child to show cause why temporary custody should not be vested in suitable agency or person pending hearing and specified that hearing must be held within 10 days from issuance of order in Subsec. (b); P.A. 73-546 rephrased provision in Subsec. (e) re recovery of costs of child's care and maintenance; P.A. 73-625 extended period of guardianship until child is twenty-one where he is in full-time attendance in secondary or technical school, college or state-accredited job training program in Subsec. (d); P.A. 74-251 authorized commitments to commissioner of children and youth services after April 1, 1975, in Subsecs. (a) and (d); P.A. 75-420 replaced welfare commissioner with commissioner of social services generally; P.A. 75-492 deleted reference to welfare commissioner and authorized filing by child, his representative, attorney or foster parent in Subsec. (a); P.A. 75-602 applied provisions to youths, included in Subsec. (a) reference to "dependent" children and substituted children and youth services commissioner for welfare commissioner in Subsec. (c); P.A. 76-436 deleted references to superior court for references to juvenile court where appearing, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 77-272 added proviso in Subsec. (d) re conditions which must be met for out-of-state placements; P.A. 77-273 added Subsec. (h) re standing of foster parent; P.A. 77-614 and P.A. 78-303 replaced central collections division of finance and control department with department of administrative services in Subsec. (b) and, effective January 1, 1979, replaced references to social services commissioner with references to human resources commissioner; P.A. 78-223 specified commissioner in Subsec. (e) as commissioner "of the department to which the child or youth is committed"; P.A. 79-423 added exception in Subsec. (b) re payment of expenses of temporary care and custody by state agencies; P.A. 79-579 deleted reference to human resources commissioner in Subsec. (d), placed limitations on period of commitment in that Subsec., inserted new Subsec. (e) re procedure when expiration of commitment period is near to revoke or extend commitment or terminate parental rights, relettering former Subsecs. (e) to (h) accordingly, and amended Subsec. (i), formerly (h), to apply with regard to revocation of commitments; P.A. 79-631 and P.A. 80-483 made technical changes to reflect final deletion of extraneous references to commissioner of human resources; Sec. 17-62 temporarily renumbered as Sec. 51-310 and ultimately transferred to Sec. 46b-129 in 1979, (see note to Sec. 17-62) and references to other sections within provisions revised as necessary by the Revisors to reflect their transfer; P.A. 82-181 amended Subsecs. (d) and (e) by reducing the maximum period of commitment from 2 years to 18 months; P.A. 84-449 amended Subsec. (a) by adding "except as otherwise provided in subsection (e) of section 17-43a"; P.A. 93-91 substituted commissioner and department of children and families for commissioner and department of children and youth services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 93-262 authorized substitution of commissioner and department of social services for commissioner and department of human resources, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-238 amended Subsecs. (d) and (e) to change the maximum period of commitment from 18 months to 12 months and amended Subsec. (e) to require that the court determine the appropriateness of continued efforts to reunify the child or youth with his family; P.A. 96-246 amended Subsec. (b) by adding provision requiring court to provide commissioner and parent with specific steps for parent to facilitate return of child to custody of parent or maintain custody of child and amended Subsec. (g) by permitting attorney who represented child in prior or pending hearing, attorney appointed by Superior Court and attorney retained by child over fourteen to make application for revocation of commitment; P.A. 97-319 amended Subsec. (d) to add provision re court orders of steps the parent must take to facilitate return of a child or youth to the custody of the parent and provision re placement of siblings and alternatives to commitment, effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 98-185 amended Subsec. (i) by providing standing to foster parents to comment on the best interest of the child or youth; P.A. 98-241 substantially revised section, amending provisions re allegations of petition, preliminary hearing on ex parte custody order or hearing on petition, notice re rights of parents re hearing, consideration of placement of child in town where child resides, necessary steps for parent to regain custody of child, intervention by grandparents, and contested hearing on order of temporary custody, adding new Subsecs. (c) to (h), inclusive, and redesignating former Subsecs. (c), (d), (f), (h) and (i) as Subsecs. (i), (j), (l), (n) and (o); replaced former Subsec. (e) with new Subsec. (k) re filing of permanency plan and motion to extend or revoke commitment by Commissioner of Children and Families, basis for determination by court, and determination by court, and replaced former Subsec. (g) with new Subsec. (m) re motion to revoke commitment; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 98-1 made technical changes in Subsec. (b), effective July 1, 1998; P.A. 00-137 changed reference in Subsec. (a) from Subsec. (d) to Subsec. (k) of Sec. 17a-112, made technical changes in Subsec. (d), and in Subsec. (e) deleted "and enter a default" after "order of temporary custody" and added Subsec. (k)(3)(F) providing that if permanency plan identifies adoption as option, thorough adoption assessment and child specific recruitment is required, and defining "thorough adoption assessment" and "child specific recruitment", relettered former (F) as (G), and added provision to Subsec. (k)(3)(G) that at permanency plan hearing, court shall review status of child, progress made to implement permanency plan and determine timetable for attaining permanency plan, and deleted Subsec. (k)(4) re revocation of commitment by operation of law, following dismissal of termination petition, or denial of motion to transfer guardianship; P.A. 01-142 amended Subsec. (j) by deleting provisions re 12-month commitment period and extension, providing that commitment shall remain in effect until further order of the court pursuant to Subsec. (k), and making technical changes for purposes of gender neutrality, amended Subsec. (k) by changing review of permanency plan to 9 months after placement in custody of commissioner or removal of child or youth by order of court whichever is earlier, deleting former provisions re 10 and 12-month periods and extension, giving party 30 days to file motion in opposition to permanency plan or the maintaining or revocation of commitment and requiring hearing to be held within 90 days of filing motion, requiring evidentiary hearing re any contested motion, adding provisions re burden of proof and subsequent permanency hearings, requiring court to find by clear and convincing evidence that efforts to reunite child with parents is inappropriate, making child or youth's health and safety to be of paramount concern in formulating permanency plan, deleting provisions re thorough adoption assessment and child specific recruitment, requiring commissioner to document compelling reason why goals in Subdiv. (3)(A) to (D) are not in best interest of child, requiring permanency hearing to determine whether commissioner has made reasonable efforts to achieve permanency plan and making conforming and technical changes, amended Subsec. (o) by changing "standing" to "right to be heard" for foster parents in matters re placement or revocation of commitment of foster child; P.A. 01-149 added Subsec. (p) re right to be heard of sibling of child committed to Department of Children and Families concerning visitation with and placement of such child and re court guided by best interest of all siblings in awarding visitation or modifying placement; P.A. 01-195 made technical changes in Subsecs. (a) and (k), effective July 11, 2001; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-2 amended Subsec. (k) by adding provisions, designated as Subdiv. (5), thorough adoption assessment and child-specific recruitment; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-9 revised effective date of June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-2 but without affecting this section; May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-7 amended Subsec. (b) to add provision requiring the court upon issuance of order, or not later than 60 days thereafter, to make a determination whether the Department of Children and Families made reasonable efforts to keep the child or youth with his or her parents or guardian prior to the issuance of such order and, if such efforts were not made, whether such reasonable efforts were not possible considering the best interests of the child or youth and to make technical changes and amended Subsec. (j) to add provision requiring the court upon issuance of an order committing the child or youth to the Commissioner of Children and Families, or not later than 60 days thereafter, to make a determination whether the Department of Children and Families made reasonable efforts to keep the child or youth with his or her parents or guardian prior to the issuance of such order and, if such efforts were not made, whether such reasonable efforts were not possible considering the best interests of the child or youth and to make technical changes, effective August 15, 2002; P.A. 03-243 added Subsec. (q) re application of Secs. 17a-152 and 17a-175 to placements pursuant to section; P.A. 06-102 made technical changes, amended Subsec. (j) to delete reference to provisions of Subsec. (k) re order of the court, amended Subsec. (k)(1) to delete references to motion to maintain or revoke commitment, require that motion for review include reason therefor, and substitute burden of proving that permanency plan is in best interests of child or youth for burden of establishing that commitment should be maintained, deleted former Subsec. (k)(2) re court hearing on reunification, redesignated existing Subsec. (k)(3) to (5) as (k)(2) to (4), amended Subsec. (k)(2) to substitute "reunification" for "placement", amended Subsec. (k)(3) to require court to determine services to be provided to parent if court approves permanency plan of reunification and timetable for services, delete provision re court to maintain commitment if in best interests of child or youth, and substitute "may" for "shall" re revocation of commitment, amended Subsec. (k)(4) to require commissioner to petition for termination of parental rights not later than 60 days after permanency plan of adoption is approved if petition not previously filed, amended Subsec. (m) to substitute "interests" for "interest and welfare", and amended Subsec. (o) to reference motion for review of permanency plan (Revisor's note: In Subsec. (j), the word "youth" in the phrase "neglected, uncared-for or dependent children or youth" was replaced editorially by the Revisors with "youths" for consistency with P.A. 06-196); P.A. 06-196 made technical changes in Subsec. (l), effective June 7, 2006; P.A. 07-159 amended Subsec. (d) by adding provision re parent's or guardian's right to counsel pursuant to Sec. 46b-135(b) in Subdiv. (1) and references to Sec. 46b-123e(b) in Subdivs. (2) and (3) and by deleting "as determined by the court" in Subdiv. (3), effective July 1, 2007; P.A. 07-174 amended Subsec. (o) to apply provisions to prospective adoptive parents and relative caregivers, change right to notice and to be heard "on a motion for review of a permanency plan and in matters concerning the placement or revocation of commitment of a foster child" to "in any proceeding concerning a foster child living with such foster parent, prospective adoptive parent or relative caregiver", and eliminate requirement that former foster parent must have cared for a child or youth for "not less than six months" in order to have right to be heard and comment on best interests of the child or youth; P.A. 07-203 amended Subsec. (l) by adding proviso limiting commissioner's ability to collect reimbursement from the estate of a child or youth for his or her care and maintenance and making a conforming change, effective July 10, 2007.

      Subsec. (m):

      Trial court improperly revoked, sua sponte, child's commitment to Department of Children and Families and acted outside scope of its authority pursuant to section by opening judgment and revoking commitment without proper evidence, without giving notice to the parties and foster mother, and without giving foster mother opportunity to be heard as required by Subsec. (o). 98 CA 319.

      Sec. 46b-133. (Formerly Sec. 51-314). *(See end of section for amended version of subsection (b) and effective date.) Arrest of child. Release or detention of arrested child. Alcohol or drug testing or treatment as condition of release. Admission of child to overpopulated juvenile detention center. (a) Nothing in this part shall be construed as preventing the arrest of a child, with or without a warrant, as may be provided by law, or as preventing the issuance of warrants by judges in the manner provided by section 54-2a, except that no child shall be taken into custody on such process except on apprehension in the act, or on speedy information, or in other cases when the use of such process appears imperative. Whenever a child is arrested and charged with a crime, such child may be required to submit to the taking of his photograph, physical description and fingerprints. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 46b-124, the name, photograph and custody status of any child arrested for the commission of a capital felony or class A felony may be disclosed to the public.

      *(b) Whenever a child is brought before a judge of the Superior Court, such judge shall immediately have the case proceeded upon as a juvenile matter. Such judge may admit such child to bail or release him in the custody of his parent or parents, his guardian or some other suitable person to appear before the Superior Court when ordered. If detention becomes necessary or desirable, the same shall be in the manner prescribed by this chapter.

      (c) Upon the arrest of any child by an officer, such officer may release him to the custody of his parent or parents, guardian or some other suitable person or agency or may immediately turn him over to a juvenile detention center. When a child is arrested for the commission of a delinquent act and the child is not placed in detention or referred to a diversionary program, an officer shall serve a written complaint and summons on the child and his parent, guardian or other person having control of the child. Such parent, guardian or other person shall execute a written promise to appear in court at the time and place specified in such summons. If any person so summoned wilfully fails to appear in court at the time and place so specified, the court may issue a warrant for the child's arrest or a capias to assure the appearance in court of such parent, guardian or other person. The court may punish for contempt, as provided in section 46b-121, any parent, guardian or other person so summoned who wilfully fails to appear in court at the time and place so specified.

      (d) The court or detention supervisor may turn such child over to a youth service program created for such purpose, if such course is practicable, or such child may be detained pending a hearing which shall be held on the business day next following his arrest. No child shall be detained after such hearing or held in detention pursuant to a court order unless it appears from the available facts that there is probable cause to believe that the child has committed the acts alleged and that there is (1) a strong probability that the child will run away prior to court hearing or disposition, (2) a strong probability that the child will commit or attempt to commit other offenses injurious to him or to the community before court disposition, (3) probable cause to believe that the child's continued residence in his home pending disposition will not safeguard the best interests of the child or the community because of the serious and dangerous nature of the act or acts he is alleged to have committed, (4) a need to hold the child for another jurisdiction or (5) a need to hold the child to assure his appearance before the court, in view of his previous failure to respond to the court process. Such probable cause may be shown by sworn affidavit in lieu of testimony. No child shall be released from detention who is alleged to have committed a serious juvenile offense except by order of a judge of the Superior Court. In no case shall a child be confined in a community correctional center or lockup, or in any place where adults are or may be confined, except in the case of a nursing infant; nor shall any child at any time be held in solitary confinement. When a female child is held in custody, she shall, as far as possible, be in the charge of a woman attendant.

      (e) The police officer who brings a child into detention shall have first notified, or made a reasonable effort to notify, the parents or guardian of the child in question of the intended action and shall file at the detention center a signed statement setting forth the alleged delinquent conduct of the child. Unless the arrest was for a serious juvenile offense, the child may be released by a detention supervisor to the custody of his parent or parents, guardian or some other suitable person.

      (f) In conjunction with any order of release from detention the court may, when it has reason to believe a child is alcohol-dependent or drug-dependent as defined in section 46b-120, and where necessary, reasonable and appropriate, order the child to participate in a program of periodic alcohol or drug testing and treatment as a condition of such release. The results of any such alcohol or drug test shall be admissible only for the purposes of enforcing the conditions of release from detention.

      (g) Whenever the population of a juvenile detention center equals or exceeds the maximum capacity for such center, as determined by the Judicial Department, the detention supervisor in charge of intake shall only admit a child who: (1) Is charged with the commission of a serious juvenile offense, (2) is the subject of an order to detain or an outstanding court order to take such child into custody, (3) is ordered by a court to be held in detention, or (4) is being transferred to such center to await a court appearance.

      (1949 Rev., S. 2810; 1959, P.A. 28, S. 54; P.A. 74-183, S. 211, 291; P.A. 76-426; 76-436, S. 22, 668, 681; P.A. 77-452, S. 24, 72; P.A. 80-236; P.A. 82-220; P.A. 83-504; P.A. 84-369, S. 1; P.A. 89-273, S. 3; P.A. 90-161, S. 2, 6; P.A. 95-225, S. 15; P.A. 98-256, S. 4.)

      *Note: On and after January 1, 2010, subsection (b) of this section, as amended by section 85 of public act 07-4 of the June special session, is to read as follows:

      "(b) Whenever a child is brought before a judge of the Superior Court, such judge shall immediately have the case proceeded upon as a juvenile matter. Such judge may admit the child to bail or release the child in the custody of the child's parent or parents, the child's guardian or some other suitable person to appear before the Superior Court when ordered. If detention becomes necessary, such detention shall be in the manner prescribed by this chapter, provided the child shall be placed in the least restrictive environment possible in a manner consistent with public safety."

      (1949 Rev., S. 2810; 1959, P.A. 28, S. 54; P.A. 74-183, S. 211, 291; P.A. 76-426; 76-436, S. 22, 668, 681; P.A. 77-452, S. 24, 72; P.A. 80-236; P.A. 82-220; P.A. 83-504; P.A. 84-369, S. 1; P.A. 89-273, S. 3; P.A. 90-161, S. 2, 6; P.A. 95-225, S. 15; P.A. 98-256, S. 4; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4, S. 85.)

      History: 1959 act substituted circuit court for city, police, borough or town court; P.A. 74-183 replaced circuit court with court of common pleas, effective December 31, 1974; P.A. 76-426 authorized juvenile court, probation officer or other officer to turn child over to youth service program; P.A. 76-436 replaced references to court of common pleas and juvenile court with references to superior court and juvenile matters, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 77-452 made technical grammatical change; Sec. 17-65 temporarily renumbered as Sec. 51-314 and ultimately transferred to Sec. 46b-133 in 1979, (see note to Sec. 17-65) and references to other sections within provisions revised as necessary by the Revisors to reflect their transfer; P.A. 80-236 authorized turning child over to juvenile detention center and similarly authorized detention supervisor to turn child over to youth service program; P.A. 82-220 added provision re taking photograph, physical description and fingerprints of child 14 or older arrested and charged with a felony; P.A. 83-504 divided section into Subsecs. and added provision re arrest of child by an officer for the commission of a serious juvenile offense as Subsec. (e); P.A. 84-369 revised the procedures for the release or detention of an arrested child including deleting the provision allowing the police officer to set bond for a child arrested for a serious juvenile offense, providing that a child arrested for any offense may either be released to the custody of his parent, guardian or some other suitable person or agency or turned over to a detention center, requiring the detention release hearing to be held on the next business day for all arrested children who are detained, prohibiting detention unless certain findings are made including probable cause that the child has committed the acts alleged, prohibiting release from detention of a child who has committed a serious juvenile offense except by order of a judge, and requiring a police officer to notify the parents or guardian of a child whom he intends to bring into detention; P.A. 89-273 added Subsec. (f) re the criteria for the admission of a child to a juvenile detention center when the population of the center equals or exceeds its maximum capacity; P.A. 90-161 inserted new Subsec. (f) permitting the court to order child to participate in drug testing and treatment as condition of release from detention, relettering former Subsec. as (g); P.A. 95-225 amended Subsec. (a) to revise provision re taking of the photograph, physical description and fingerprints of an arrested child by making it applicable to any child who is charged with a crime, rather than only to a child 14 years of age or older who is charged with a violation of any provision of title 53a which is designated a felony, and by providing that such child "may be required to" submit to such taking, rather than "shall" submit to such taking, and add provision permitting the disclosure to the public of the photograph of any child arrested for the commission of a capital felony or a class A felony, amended Subsec. (c) to add provisions requiring an officer to serve a written complaint and summons on a child and the parent, guardian or other person having control of a child who is arrested or referred for the commission of a delinquent act and is not placed in detention, requiring such parent, guardian or other person to execute a written promise to appear in court, authorizing the court to issue a warrant for the child's arrest or a capias to assure the court appearance of the parent, guardian or other person if any person so summoned wilfully fails to appear in court and authorizing the court to punish for contempt any parent, guardian or other person who wilfully fails to appear in court and amended Subsec. (f) to authorize "alcohol" testing and treatment and allow the admissibility of the results of an "alcohol" test; P.A. 98-256 amended Subsec. (a) to revise provision authorizing the disclosure of the photograph of a child arrested for a capital felony or class A felony to also include the name and custody status of the child, amended Subsec. (c) to make requirement that an officer serve a written complaint and summons on a child arrested for a delinquent act and his parent, guardian or other person having control of the child inapplicable when the child is referred to a diversionary program and amended Subsec. (g) to add "an order to detain" in Subdiv. (2); June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4 amended Subsec. (b) to require that child be placed in the least restrictive environment possible consistent with public safety, delete "or desirable" re detention and make technical changes, effective January 1, 2010.

      Sec. 46b-133c. *(See end of section for amended version of subsection (f) and effective date.) Serious juvenile repeat offender prosecution. Sentencing. (a) Whenever a child is referred for the commission of a felony committed after such child attained the age of fourteen years and such child is a serious juvenile repeat offender, as defined in section 46b-120, the juvenile prosecutor may request the court to designate the proceeding as a serious juvenile repeat offender prosecution.

      (b) If a juvenile prosecutor requests that a proceeding be designated a serious juvenile repeat offender prosecution, the court shall hold a hearing not later than thirty days after the filing of such request unless good cause is shown by the juvenile prosecutor or by the child as to why the hearing should not be held within such period. If good cause is shown, the hearing shall be held not later than ninety days after the filing of such request. The court shall decide whether to designate the proceeding as a serious juvenile repeat offender prosecution not later than thirty days after the completion of such hearing. The court shall grant the request to designate the proceeding as a serious juvenile repeat offender prosecution if the juvenile prosecutor shows by clear and convincing evidence that such designation will serve the public safety. The decision to designate the proceeding as a serious juvenile repeat offender prosecution shall not be a final judgment for purposes of appeal.

      (c) A proceeding designated as a serious juvenile repeat offender prosecution pursuant to subsection (b) of this section shall be held before the court without a jury provided the child has waived his right to a trial by jury. If a child is convicted of or pleads guilty to a felony in such proceeding, the court shall: (1) Sentence the child in accordance with section 46b-140 or 46b-141a and (2) sentence the child in accordance with section 53a-28 with the execution of such sentence stayed on the condition that the child not violate the conditions of the sentence imposed pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection or commit a subsequent crime.

      (d) If a child is convicted of or pleads guilty to a misdemeanor in a proceeding designated as a serious juvenile repeat offender prosecution pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, the court shall sentence the child in accordance with section 46b-140 or 46b-141a.

      (e) Whenever it appears that a child who has been sentenced pursuant to subsection (c) of this section has violated the conditions of the sentence imposed pursuant to subdivision (1) of said subsection (c) or has committed a subsequent crime, the court may, without notice, order that the child be immediately taken into custody in accordance with the provisions of section 46b-125. The court shall notify the child and such child's parent or guardian and the attorney of record, if any, in writing of the reasons alleged to exist for the lifting of the stay of execution of the sentence imposed pursuant to subdivision (2) of said subsection (c). If the child challenges such reasons, the court shall hold a hearing at which the child shall be entitled to be heard and be represented by counsel. After such hearing, if the court finds that the child has violated the conditions of the sentence imposed pursuant to subdivision (1) of said subsection (c) or committed a subsequent crime, it shall order the child to serve a sentence not to exceed that imposed pursuant to subdivision (2) of said subsection (c) unless it determines there are mitigating circumstances that justify continuing the stay of execution and specifically states such mitigating circumstances in writing for the record. The child shall receive credit against any sentence imposed pursuant to subdivision (2) of said subsection (c) for time served in a juvenile facility pursuant to the sentence imposed pursuant to subdivision (1) of said subsection (c).

      *(f) Whenever a proceeding has been designated a serious juvenile repeat offender prosecution pursuant to subsection (b) of this section and the child does not waive such child's right to a trial by jury, the court shall transfer the case from the docket for juvenile matters to the regular criminal docket of the Superior Court. Upon transfer, such child shall stand trial and be sentenced, if convicted, as if such child were sixteen years of age, except that no such child shall be placed in a correctional facility but shall be maintained in a facility for children and youths until such child attains sixteen years of age or until such child is sentenced, whichever occurs first. Such child shall receive credit against any sentence imposed for time served in a juvenile facility prior to the effectuation of the transfer. A child who has been transferred may enter a guilty plea to a lesser offense if the court finds that such plea is made knowingly and voluntarily. Any child transferred to the regular criminal docket who pleads guilty to a lesser offense shall not resume such child's status as a juvenile regarding such offense. If the action is dismissed or nolled or if such child is found not guilty of the charge for which such child was transferred, the child shall resume such child's status as a juvenile until such child attains sixteen years of age.

      (P.A. 95-225, S. 25; P.A. 06-196, S. 174.)

      *Note: On and after January 1, 2010, subsection (f) of this section, as amended by section 76 of public act 07-4 of the June special session, is to read as follows:

      "(f) Whenever a proceeding has been designated a serious juvenile repeat offender prosecution pursuant to subsection (b) of this section and the child does not waive such child's right to a trial by jury, the court shall transfer the case from the docket for juvenile matters to the regular criminal docket of the Superior Court. Upon transfer, such child shall stand trial and be sentenced, if convicted, as if such child were eighteen years of age, except that no such child shall be placed in a correctional facility but shall be maintained in a facility for children and youths until such child attains eighteen years of age or until such child is sentenced, whichever occurs first. Such child shall receive credit against any sentence imposed for time served in a juvenile facility prior to the effectuation of the transfer. A child who has been transferred may enter a guilty plea to a lesser offense if the court finds that such plea is made knowingly and voluntarily. Any child transferred to the regular criminal docket who pleads guilty to a lesser offense shall not resume such child's status as a juvenile regarding such offense. If the action is dismissed or nolled or if such child is found not guilty of the charge for which such child was transferred, the child shall resume such child's status as a juvenile until such child attains eighteen years of age."

      (P.A. 95-225, S. 25; P.A. 06-196, S. 174; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4, S. 76.)

      History: P.A. 06-196 made technical changes in Subsec. (f), effective June 7, 2006; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4 amended Subsec. (f) to substitute "eighteen years of age" for "sixteen years of age", effective January 1, 2010.

      Sec. 46b-133d. *(See end of section for amended version of subsection (f) and effective date.) Serious sexual offender prosecution. Sentencing. (a) For the purposes of this section, "special juvenile probation" means a period of probation imposed by the superior court for juvenile matters upon a child in a proceeding designated as a serious sexual offender prosecution during which the child is supervised by a juvenile probation officer prior to such child attaining eighteen years of age and by an adult probation officer after such child attains eighteen years of age.

      (b) Whenever a child is referred for the commission of any crime of a sexual nature, and such case is not transferred to the regular criminal docket pursuant to section 46b-127, the juvenile prosecutor may request the court to designate the proceeding as a serious sexual offender prosecution.

      (c) If a juvenile prosecutor requests that a proceeding be designated a serious sexual offender prosecution, the court shall hold a hearing not later than thirty days after the filing of such request unless good cause is shown by the juvenile prosecutor or by the child as to why the hearing should not be held within such period. If good cause is shown, the hearing shall be held not later than ninety days after the filing of such request. The court shall decide whether to designate the proceeding as a serious sexual offender prosecution not later than thirty days after the completion of such hearing. The court shall grant the request to designate the proceeding as a serious sexual offender prosecution if the juvenile prosecutor shows by a preponderance of the evidence that such designation will serve the public safety. The decision to designate the proceeding as a serious sexual offender prosecution shall not be a final judgment for purposes of appeal.

      (d) A proceeding designated as a serious sexual offender prosecution pursuant to subsection (c) of this section shall be held before the court without a jury provided the child has waived the right to a trial by jury. If a child is convicted of or pleads guilty or nolo contendere to a charge in a proceeding that has been designated as a serious sexual offender prosecution, the court shall: (1) Sentence the child in accordance with section 46b-140 or 46b-141a, (2) sentence the child to a period of special juvenile probation of at least five years, to commence upon the release of the child from the institution, agency or program in whose care the child had been placed, and (3) sentence the child in accordance with section 53a-28 with the execution of such sentence stayed on the condition that the child not violate the conditions of the sentence imposed pursuant to subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection or commit a subsequent crime.

      (e) Whenever it appears that a child who has been sentenced pursuant to subsection (d) of this section has violated the conditions of the sentence imposed pursuant to subdivision (2) of said subsection or has committed a subsequent crime, the court may, without notice, order that the child be immediately taken into custody in accordance with the provisions of sections 46b-125 and 53a-32. If such violation of probation or subsequent crime occurs prior to the person attaining eighteen years of age, the matter shall be handled by the superior court for juvenile matters. If such violation of probation or subsequent crime occurs after the person has attained eighteen years of age, the matter shall be handled by the regular criminal docket of the Superior Court. Whenever such matter is handled by the superior court for juvenile matters, the court shall notify the child and such child's parent or guardian and the attorney of record, if any, in writing of the reasons alleged to exist for the lifting of the stay of execution of the sentence imposed pursuant to subdivision (3) of subsection (d) of this section. If the child challenges such reasons, the court shall hold a hearing at which the child shall be entitled to be heard and be represented by counsel. After such hearing, if the court finds that the child has violated the conditions of the sentence imposed pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection (d) of this section or committed a subsequent crime, it shall order the child to serve a sentence not to exceed that imposed pursuant to subdivision (3) of subsection (d) of this section unless it determines there are mitigating circumstances that justify continuing the stay of execution and specifically states such mitigating circumstances in writing for the record. The child shall receive credit against any sentence imposed pursuant to subdivision (3) of subsection (d) of this section for time served in a juvenile facility pursuant to the sentence imposed pursuant to subdivision (1) of said subsection.

      *(f) When a proceeding has been designated a serious sexual offender prosecution pursuant to subsection (c) of this section and the child does not waive the right to a trial by jury, the court shall transfer the case from the docket for juvenile matters to the regular criminal docket of the Superior Court. Upon transfer, such child shall stand trial and be sentenced, if convicted, as if such child were sixteen years of age, except that no such child shall be placed in a correctional facility but shall be maintained in a facility for children and youths until such child attains sixteen years of age or until such child is sentenced, whichever occurs first. Such child shall receive credit against any sentence imposed for time served in a juvenile facility prior to the effectuation of the transfer. A child who has been transferred may enter a guilty plea to a lesser offense if the court finds that such plea is made knowingly and voluntarily. Any child transferred to the regular criminal docket who pleads guilty to a lesser offense shall not resume such child's status as a juvenile regarding such offense. If the action is dismissed or nolled or if such child is found not guilty of the charge for which such child was transferred, the child shall resume such child's status as a juvenile until such child attains sixteen years of age.

      (June Sp. Sess. P.A. 99-2, S. 47; P.A. 06-196, S. 175.)

      *Note: On and after January 1, 2010, subsection (f) of this section, as amended by section 77 of public act 07-4 of the June special session, is to read as follows:

      "(f) When a proceeding has been designated a serious sexual offender prosecution pursuant to subsection (c) of this section and the child does not waive the right to a trial by jury, the court shall transfer the case from the docket for juvenile matters to the regular criminal docket of the Superior Court. Upon transfer, such child shall stand trial and be sentenced, if convicted, as if such child were eighteen years of age, except that no such child shall be placed in a correctional facility but shall be maintained in a facility for children and youths until such child attains eighteen years of age or until such child is sentenced, whichever occurs first. Such child shall receive credit against any sentence imposed for time served in a juvenile facility prior to the effectuation of the transfer. A child who has been transferred may enter a guilty plea to a lesser offense if the court finds that such plea is made knowingly and voluntarily. Any child transferred to the regular criminal docket who pleads guilty to a lesser offense shall not resume such child's status as a juvenile regarding such offense. If the action is dismissed or nolled or if such child is found not guilty of the charge for which such child was transferred, the child shall resume such child's status as a juvenile until such child attains eighteen years of age."

      (June Sp. Sess. P.A. 99-2, S. 47; P.A. 06-196, S. 175; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4, S. 77.)

      History: P.A. 06-196 made a technical change in Subsec. (f), effective June 7, 2006; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4 amended Subsec. (f) to substitute "eighteen years of age" for "sixteen years of age", effective January 1, 2010.

      Sec. 46b-135. (Formerly Sec. 51-316). Right to counsel and cross-examination. (a) At the commencement of any proceeding concerning the alleged delinquency of a child, the child shall have the right to counsel and be so informed by the judge, and that if the child and the parent or parents or guardian of the child are unable to afford counsel, counsel will be provided for the child. Such counsel and the child shall have the rights of confrontation and cross-examination. If a parent fails to comply with a court order entered in the best interests of the alleged or adjudicated delinquent child and is facing potential imprisonment for contempt of court, such parent, if unable to afford counsel, shall be entitled to have counsel provided for such parent pursuant to this subsection.

      (b) At the commencement of any proceeding on behalf of a neglected, uncared-for or dependent child or youth, the parent or parents or guardian of the child or youth shall have the right to counsel, and shall be so informed by the judge, and that if they are unable to afford counsel, counsel will be provided for them. Such parent or guardian of the child or youth shall have the rights of confrontation and cross-examination.

      (1967, P.A. 630, S. 8; 1969, P.A. 794, S. 11, 12; P.A. 75-602, S. 5, 13; P.A. 76-436, S. 23, 681; P.A. 95-225, S. 19; P.A. 07-159, S. 6.)

      History: 1969 act deleted references to persons, other than parent or guardian, "having control of the child" and required that judge inform parent, guardian and child of their right to counsel and their right to have counsel provided if they cannot afford counsel themselves, both in Subsec. (a) and in new Subsec. (b); P.A. 75-602 added references to youths in Subsec. (b); P.A. 76-436 deleted references to juvenile court, effective July 1, 1978; Sec. 17-66b temporarily renumbered as Sec. 51-316 and ultimately transferred to Sec. 46b-135 in 1979, see note to Sec. 17-66b; P.A. 95-225 amended Subsec. (a) to replace "proceeding on behalf of a delinquent child" with "proceeding concerning the alleged delinquency of a child" and make technical changes; P.A. 07-159 amended Subsec. (a) to provide that parent who fails to comply with a court order and is facing imprisonment for contempt is entitled to counsel pursuant to subsection and to make conforming changes and amended Subsec. (b) to delete "and such counsel" re rights of confrontation and cross-examination and to make technical changes, effective July 1, 2007.

      Sec. 46b-136. (Formerly Sec. 51-317). Appointment of attorney to represent child or youth and parent or guardian. In any proceeding in a juvenile matter, the judge before whom such proceeding is pending shall, even in the absence of a request to do so, provide an attorney to represent the child or youth, the child's or youth's parent or parents or guardian, or other person having control of the child or youth, if such judge determines that the interests of justice so require, and in any proceeding in which the custody of a child is at issue, such judge shall provide an attorney to represent the child and may authorize such attorney or appoint another attorney to represent such child or youth, parent, guardian or other person on an appeal from a decision in such proceeding. Where, under the provisions of this section, the court so appoints counsel for any such party who is found able to pay, in whole or in part, the cost thereof, the court shall assess as costs against such parents, guardian or custodian, including any agency vested with the legal custody of the child or youth, the expense so incurred and paid by the Commission on Child Protection in providing such counsel, to the extent of their financial ability to do so. The Commission on Child Protection shall establish the rate at which counsel provided pursuant to this section shall be compensated.

      (1967, P.A. 630, S. 9; 1969, P.A. 794, S. 10; P.A. 73-188; P.A. 75-277; 75-602, S. 6, 13; P.A. 76-235, S. 1, 2; 76-436, S. 24, 681; P.A. 07-159, S. 7.)

      History: 1969 act specified that judge may provide attorney to represent child "even in the absence of a request to do so" and added provisions re assessment of costs; P.A. 73-188 allowed judge to authorize attorney to represent his assigned client on an appeal to the superior court; P.A. 75-277 added provision making appointment of attorney for child in custody proceeding mandatory; P.A. 75-602 applied provisions to youths; P.A. 76-235 referred to cases where custody of child "is at issue" rather than to cases where custody "may be affected"; P.A. 76-436 replaced reference to juvenile court with reference to juvenile matters and deleted reference to superior court as appeal court, reflecting transfer of juvenile court powers to superior court, effective July 1, 1978; Sec. 17-66c temporarily renumbered as Sec. 51-317 and ultimately transferred to Sec. 46b-136 in 1979, see note to Sec. 17-66c; P.A. 07-159 replaced provision re expense paid for by court with provision re expense paid by Commission on Child Protection, added provision re counsel compensation rate established by commission and made technical changes, effective July 1, 2007.

      Sec. 46b-140. (Formerly Sec. 51-321). *(See end of section for amended version of subsection (b) and effective date.) Disposition upon conviction of child as delinquent. (a) In determining the appropriate disposition of a child convicted as delinquent, the court shall consider: (1) The seriousness of the offense, including the existence of any aggravating factors such as the use of a firearm in the commission of the offense and the impact of the offense on any victim; (2) the child's record of delinquency; (3) the child's willingness to participate in available programs; (4) the existence of other mitigating factors; and (5) the culpability of the child in committing the offense including the level of the child's participation in the planning and carrying out of the offense.

      *(b) Upon conviction of a child as delinquent, the court may: (1) Place the child in the care of any institution or agency which is permitted by law to care for children; (2) order the child to participate in an alternative incarceration program; (3) order the child to participate in a wilderness school program operated by the Department of Children and Families; (4) order the child to participate in a youth service bureau program; (5) place the child on probation; (6) order the child or the parents or guardian of the child or both to make restitution to the victim of the offense in accordance with subsection (d) of this section; (7) order the child to participate in a program of community service in accordance with subsection (e) of this section; or (8) withhold or suspend execution of any judgment.

      (c) The court may order, as a condition of probation, that the child (1) reside with a parent, relative or guardian or in a suitable foster home or other residence approved by the court, (2) attend school and class on a regular basis and comply with school policies on student conduct and discipline, (3) refrain from violating any federal or state law or municipal or local ordinance, (4) undergo any medical or psychiatric evaluation or treatment deemed necessary by the court, (5) submit to random drug or alcohol testing, or both, (6) participate in a program of alcohol or drug treatment, or both, (7) make restitution to the victim of the offense in accordance with subsection (d) of this section, (8) participate in an alternative incarceration program or other program established through the Court Support Services Division, (9) participate in a program of community service, and (10) satisfy any other conditions deemed appropriate by the court. The court shall cause a copy of any such order to be delivered to the child, the child's parents or guardian and the child's probation officer. If the child is convicted as delinquent for a violation of section 53-247, the court may order, as a condition of probation, that the child undergo psychiatric or psychological counseling or participate in an animal cruelty prevention and education program provided such a program exists and is available to the child.

      (d) If the child has engaged in conduct which results in property damage or personal injury, the court may order the child or the parent or parents or guardian of the child, if such parent or parents or guardian had knowledge of and condoned the conduct of the child, or both the child and the parent or parents or guardian, to make restitution to the victim of such offense, provided the liability of such parent or parents or guardian shall be limited to an amount not exceeding the amount such parent or parents or guardian would be liable for in an action under section 52-572. Restitution may consist of monetary reimbursement for the damage or injury, based on the child's or the parent's, parents' or guardian's ability to pay, as the case may be, in the form of a lump sum or installment payments, paid to the court clerk or such other official designated by the court for distribution to the victim.

      (e) The court may order the child to participate in a program of community service under the supervision of the court or any organization designated by the court. Such child shall not be deemed to be an employee and the services of such child shall not be deemed employment.

      (f) If the court further finds that its probation services or other services available to the court are not adequate for such child, the court shall commit such child to the Department of Children and Families in accordance with the provisions of section 46b-141. Prior to making such commitment, the court shall consult with the department to determine the placement which will be in the best interest of such child.

      (g) Any child or youth coming within the jurisdiction of the court, who is found to be mentally ill, may be committed by said court to the Commissioner of Children and Families and, if the court convicts a child as delinquent and finds such child to be mentally deficient, it may commit such child to an institution for mentally deficient children or youth or delinquents. Whenever it is found that a child convicted by the court as delinquent or adjudged by the court to be a member of a family with service needs who is fourteen years of age or older would not benefit from continued school attendance, the court may order such child to be placed on vocational probation if such court finds that such child may properly be employed for part or full-time at some useful occupation and that such employment would be favorable to such child's welfare, and the probation officer shall supervise such employment. For the purposes of this section, the limitations of subsection (a) of section 31-23 on the employment of minors under the age of sixteen years shall not apply for the duration of such vocational probation.

      (h) Whenever the court commits a child to the Department of Children and Families, there shall be delivered with the mittimus a copy of the results of the investigations made as required by section 46b-134. The court may, at any time, require from the department in whose care a child has been placed such report as to such child and such child's treatment.

      (i) If the delinquent act for which the child is committed to the Department of Children and Families is a serious juvenile offense, the court may set a minimum period of twelve months during which the child shall be placed in a residential facility operated by or under contract with said department, as determined by the Commissioner of Children and Families. The setting of such minimum period shall be in the form of an order of the court included in the mittimus. For good cause shown in the form of an affidavit annexed thereto, the Department of Children and Families, the parent or guardian of the child or the child may petition the court for modification of any such order.

      (j) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the court may order a child be (1) committed to the Department of Children and Families and be placed directly in a residential facility within this state and under contract with said department, or (2) committed to the Commissioner of Children and Families for placement by the commissioner, in said commissioner's discretion, (A) with respect to the juvenile offenders determined by the Department of Children and Families to be the highest risk, in the Connecticut Juvenile Training School, if the juvenile offender is a male, or in another state facility, presumptively for a minimum period of twelve months, or (B) in a private residential or day treatment facility within or outside this state, or (C) on parole. The commissioner shall use a risk and needs assessment classification system to ensure that male children who are in the highest risk level will be placed in the Connecticut Juvenile Training School.

      (k) On or after May 21, 2004, no female child committed to the Department of Children and Families shall be placed in the Connecticut Juvenile Training School. Any female child placed in the Connecticut Juvenile Training School before May 21, 2004, shall be transferred to another appropriate facility not later than ninety days after May 21, 2004.

      (l) Notwithstanding any provisions of the general statutes concerning the confidentiality of records and information, whenever a child convicted as delinquent is committed to the Department of Children and Families, the Commissioner of Children and Families shall have access to the following information: (1) Educational records of such child; (2) records regarding such child's past treatment for physical or mental illness, including substance abuse; (3) records regarding such child's prior placement in a public or private residential facility; (4) records created or obtained by the Judicial Department regarding such child; and (5) records, as defined in subsection (a) of section 17a-28. The Commissioner of Children and Families shall review such information to determine the appropriate services and placement which will be in the best interest of the child.

      (1949 Rev., S. 2813; 1955, S. 1578d; 1957, P.A. 41; 1969, P.A. 498, S. 1; 664, S. 9; P.A. 75-226, S. 2; 75-567, S. 77, 80; 75-602, S. 9, 13; P.A. 76-436, S. 27, 681; P.A. 78-188, S. 6, 8; P.A. 79-581, S. 6; P.A. 84-10; 84-389, S. 1; P.A. 89-273, S. 5; 89-390, S. 20, 37; P.A. 90-161, S. 5, 6; 90-240, S. 5, 6; 90-325, S. 19, 32; P.A. 93-91, S. 1, 2; P.A. 94-136, S. 2; 94-221, S. 14; P.A. 95-225, S. 22; P.A. 98-70, S. 3; 98-256, S. 6; P.A. 99-26, S. 12, 39; P.A. 01-211, S. 14; P.A. 02-132, S. 23; P.A. 03-208, S. 3; P.A. 04-152, S. 1.)

      *Note: On and after January 1, 2010, subsection (b) of this section, as amended by section 79 of public act 07-4 of the June special session, is to read as follows:

      "(b) Upon conviction of a child as delinquent, the court: (1) May (A) place the child in the care of any institution or agency which is permitted by law to care for children; (B) order the child to participate in an alternative incarceration program; (C) order the child to participate in a wilderness school program operated by the Department of Children and Families; (D) order the child to participate in a youth service bureau program; (E) place the child on probation; (F) order the child or the parents or guardian of the child or both to make restitution to the victim of the offense in accordance with subsection (d) of this section; (G) order the child to participate in a program of community service in accordance with subsection (e) of this section; or (H) withhold or suspend execution of any judgment; and (2) shall impose the penalty established in subsection (b) of section 30-89, for any violation of said subsection (b)."

      (1949 Rev., S. 2813; 1955, S. 1578d; 1957, P.A. 41; 1969, P.A. 498, S. 1; 664, S. 9; P.A. 75-226, S. 2; 75-567, S. 77, 80; 75-602, S. 9, 13; P.A. 76-436, S. 27, 681; P.A. 78-188, S. 6, 8; P.A. 79-581, S. 6; P.A. 84-10; 84-389, S. 1; P.A. 89-273, S. 5; 89-390, S. 20, 37; P.A. 90-161, S. 5, 6; 90-240, S. 5, 6; 90-325, S. 19, 32; P.A. 93-91, S. 1, 2; P.A. 94-136, S. 2; 94-221, S. 14; P.A. 95-225, S. 22; P.A. 98-70, S. 3; 98-256, S. 6; P.A. 99-26, S. 12, 39; P.A. 01-211, S. 14; P.A. 02-132, S. 23; P.A. 03-208, S. 3; P.A. 04-152, S. 1; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4, S. 79.)

      History: 1969 acts restated provisions and divided section into Subsecs., inserting new provision authorizing commitment of child to department of children and youth services as Subsec. (b); P.A. 75-226 added provisions in Subsec. (a) re orders for child to do work in public buildings or on public property; P.A. 75-567 deleted references to youths judged to be delinquent in Subsec. (c); P.A. 75-602 restored references to youths deleted by P.A. 75-667 in Subsec. (c) and authorized commitment of child or youth to commissioner of children and youth services rather than to "a hospital or other institution empowered by law to treat mentally ill children" in that Subsec.; P.A. 76-436 deleted reference to juvenile court in Subsec. (d), reflecting transfer of juvenile court's powers and duties to superior court, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 78-188 authorized court to order child to make restitution in Subsec. (a); P.A. 79-581 added Subsec. (e) re procedure where delinquent act is a serious juvenile offense; Sec. 17-68 temporarily renumbered as Sec. 51-321 and ultimately transferred to Sec. 46b-140 in 1979, (see note to Sec. 17-68) and references to other sections within provisions revised as necessary by the Revisors to reflect their transfer; P.A. 84-10 amended Subsec. (c) by authorizing a court to place a child who is a member of a family with service needs on vocational probation if certain findings are made; P.A. 84-389 amended Subsec. (b) by adding provision that prior to making commitment, court shall consult with department to determine placement in best interests of child and amended Subsec. (d) by deleting references to commitment to any institution, person or agency other than the department of children and youth services; P.A. 89-273 amended Subsec. (e) to delete reference to a "mandatory" transfer hearing to conform to changes made by act to Sec. 46b-126; P.A. 89-390 amended Subsec. (a) by authorizing the court to order the child to participate in a wilderness school program operated by the department of children and youth services; P.A. 90-161 added provision in Subsec. (a) permitting the court, as a condition of probation, to order the child to participate in a program of periodic drug testing and treatment; P.A. 90-240 deleted the term "defective delinquents"; P.A. 90-325 changed effective date of P.A. 90-240 from July 1, 1990, to July 1, 1991; P.A. 93-91 substituted commissioner and department of children and families for commissioner and department of children and youth services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 94-136 amended Subsec. (a) by authorizing the court to order the child to participate in an alternative incarceration program; P.A. 94-221 amended Subsec. (a) to provide for participation in a youth service bureau program and expanded the list of possible conditions of probation to include attendance at school and class on a regular basis and compliance with school policies on student conduct and discipline; P.A. 95-225 added a new Subsec. (a) re factors the court shall consider in determining the appropriate disposition of a child convicted as delinquent, designated provisions of former Subsec. (a) re disposition alternatives as Subsec. (b) and amended said Subsec. to replace the provision authorizing the court to "adjudge" a child delinquent and take one of the enumerated actions "if it finds that the child is delinquent and needs the care, discipline or protection of the state" with provision authorizing the court to take one of the enumerated actions "Upon conviction of the child as delinquent", insert Subdiv. indicators and add Subdiv. (6) re restitution and Subdiv. (7) re community service, designated provisions of former Subsec. (a) authorizing the court to order as a condition of probation school attendance or drug testing or treatment as Subsec. (c) and amended said Subsec. to include "alcohol" testing and treatment, deleted provisions of former Subsec. (a) authorizing the court to order the child to do work of which he is capable in public buildings and on public property or make restitution of the fruits of his offense or make restitution in an amount he can afford to pay or provide in a suitable manner for the loss or damage caused thereby provided the child and his parent or guardian accept such disposition, added new Subsec. (d) authorizing the court to order the child or the parent or parents or guardian of the child, or both, to make full or partial restitution to the victim of the offense, added new Subsec. (e) authorizing the court to order the child to participate in a program of community service, redesignated former Subsec. (b) as Subsec. (f), redesignated former Subsec. (c) as Subsec. (g) and amended said Subsec. to replace "adjudges" and "adjudged" with "convicts" and "convicted", respectively, redesignated former Subsec. (d) as Subsec. (h), redesignated former Subsec. (e) as Subsec. (i) and amended said Subsec. to delete in Subdiv. (1) the maximum period of 6 months during which the child shall be placed out of his town of residence, delete former Subdiv. (2) that had required the court to impose a period of one year during which a child who had committed a serious juvenile offense and been subject to a transfer hearing shall be placed out of his town of residence, and redesignate former Subdiv. (3) as Subdiv. (2); P.A. 98-70 added new Subsec. (j) re access by Commissioner of Children and Families to educational records, treatment records, records of prior placement in residential facility and records of Judicial Department of child convicted as delinquent and committed to department; P.A. 98-256 amended Subsec. (b) to replace in Subdiv. (5) "order the child to remain in his own home or in the custody of a relative or any other fit person subject to the supervision of the probation officer" with "place the child on probation" and amended Subsec. (c) to specify the conditions of probation that a court may order by adding new Subdiv. (1) re place of residence, new Subdiv. (3) re refraining from violations of law, new Subdiv. (4) re medical or psychiatric evaluation or treatment, new Subdiv. (7) re restitution, new Subdiv. (8) re participation in alternative incarceration program, new Subdiv. (9) re participation in community service program and new Subdiv. (10) re satisfaction of other appropriate conditions and by redesignating former Subdiv. (1) re school attendance and compliance with school policies as Subdiv. (2) and by dividing former Subdiv. (2) re alcohol and drug testing and treatment into Subdiv. (5) re testing and Subdiv. (6) re treatment, and to add requirement that the court cause a copy of the order to be delivered to the child, the child's parents or guardian and the child's probation officer, amended Subsec. (g) to authorize the court to place on vocational probation a child who "would not benefit from continued school attendance" rather than a child who is "either mentally deficient or too educationally retarded to benefit from school attendance" and require the court to find that such employment would be "favorable to the child's welfare" rather than "more favorable to his welfare than commitment to an institution" and amended Subsec. (i) to make technical changes; P.A. 99-26 amended Subsec. (i) to authorize the court to set "a minimum period of 12 months during which the child shall be placed in a residential facility operated by or under contract with said department, as determined by the Commissioner of Children and Families" rather than "a period of time during which the Department of Children and Families shall place such child out of his town of residence at the commencement of such child's commitment" and to authorize a petition for "modification of any such order" rather than for "temporary modification of any such order not to extend or reduce the term of such placement", added new Subsec. (j) re commitment and placement options for the sentencing court, placement options for the Commissioner of Children and Families and the use of a risk and needs assessment classification system by the commissioner, added Subsec. (k) re sight and sound separation of female offenders and prohibition on sharing of program activities, redesignated former Subsec. (j) as Subsec. (l) and made technical changes in Subsecs. (g) and (h) for purposes of gender neutrality, effective upon the filing with the Governor and the General Assembly of written certification by the Commissioner of Children and Families that the new Connecticut Juvenile Training School is operational (Revisor's note: Said written certification was filed with the Senate and House Clerks on September 20, 2001, and with the Governor on September 21, 2001); P.A. 01-211 amended Subsec. (d) to replace "full or partial restitution" with "resititution"; P.A. 02-132 amended Subsec. (c)(8) by replacing "Office of Alternative Sanctions" with "Court Support Services Division"; P.A. 03-208 amended Subsec. (c) to add provision authorizing the court to order counseling or participation in an animal cruelty prevention and education program as a condition of probation for a child convicted as delinquent for a violation of Sec. 53-247; P.A. 04-152 amended Subsec. (j) by adding references to "male" juvenile offenders and children and making a technical change and replaced former Subsec. (k) re female children committed to the Connecticut Juvenile Training School with new Subsec. (k) prohibiting female children from being placed in said school, effective May 21, 2004; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4 amended Subsec. (b) to insert new Subdiv. (1) and Subparas. (A) to (H) designators, and insert new Subdiv. (2) re imposition of penalty established in Sec. 30-89(b), for any violation of said Subsec., effective January 1, 2010.

      Sec. 46b-146. (Formerly Sec. 51-327). *(See end of section for amended version and effective date.) Erasure of police and court records. Whenever any child has been found delinquent or a member of a family with service needs, and has subsequently been discharged from the supervision of the Superior Court or from the custody of the Department of Children and Families or from the care of any other institution or agency to whom he has been committed by the court, such child, his parent or guardian, may file a petition with the Superior Court and, if such court finds that at least two years or, in the case of a child convicted as delinquent for the commission of a serious juvenile offense, four years have elapsed from the date of such discharge, that no subsequent juvenile proceeding has been instituted against such child, that such child has not been found guilty of a crime and that such child has reached sixteen years of age within such period, it shall order all police and court records pertaining to such child to be erased. Upon the entry of such an erasure order, all references including arrest, complaint, referrals, petitions, reports and orders, shall be removed from all agency, official and institutional files, and a finding of delinquency or that the child was a member of a family with service needs shall be deemed never to have occurred. The persons in charge of such records shall not disclose to any person information pertaining to the record so erased, except that the fact of such erasure may be substantiated where, in the opinion of the court, it is in the best interests of such child to do so. No child who has been the subject of such an erasure order shall be deemed to have been arrested ab initio, within the meaning of the general statutes, with respect to proceedings so erased. Copies of the erasure order shall be sent to all persons, agencies, officials or institutions known to have information pertaining to the delinquency or family with service needs proceedings affecting such child. Whenever a child is dismissed as not delinquent or as not being a member of a family with service needs, all police and court records pertaining to such charge shall be ordered erased immediately, without the filing of a petition.

      (1969, P.A. 794, S. 4; 1971, P.A. 204; P.A. 76-436, S. 30, 681; P.A. 77-452, S. 25, 72; P.A. 89-273, S. 6; P.A. 93-91, S. 1, 2; P.A. 95-225, S. 27; P.A. 98-256, S. 7.)

      *Note: On and after January 1, 2010, this section, as amended by section 80 of public act 07-4 of the June special session, is to read as follows:

      "Sec. 46b-146. (Formerly Sec. 51-327). Erasure of police and court records. Whenever any child has been found to be delinquent or a member of a family with service needs, or has signed a statement of responsibility admitting to having committed a delinquent act or being a member of a family with service needs, and has subsequently been discharged from the supervision of the Superior Court or from the custody of the Department of Children and Families or from the care of any other institution or agency to whom the child has been committed by the court, such child, or the child's parent or guardian, may file a petition with the Superior Court and, if such court finds that at least two years or, in the case of a child convicted as delinquent for the commission of a serious juvenile offense, four years have elapsed from the date of such discharge, that no subsequent juvenile proceeding has been instituted against such child, that such child has not been found guilty of a crime and that such child has reached sixteen years of age within such period, it shall order all police and court records pertaining to such child to be erased. Upon the entry of such an erasure order, all references including arrest, complaint, referrals, petitions, reports and orders, shall be removed from all agency, official and institutional files, and a finding of delinquency or that the child was a member of a family with service needs shall be deemed never to have occurred. The persons in charge of such records shall not disclose to any person information pertaining to the record so erased, except that the fact of such erasure may be substantiated where, in the opinion of the court, it is in the best interests of such child to do so. No child who has been the subject of such an erasure order shall be deemed to have been arrested ab initio, within the meaning of the general statutes, with respect to proceedings so erased. Copies of the erasure order shall be sent to all persons, agencies, officials or institutions known to have information pertaining to the delinquency or family with service needs proceedings affecting such child. Whenever a child is dismissed as not delinquent or as not being a member of a family with service needs, all police and court records pertaining to such charge shall be ordered erased immediately, without the filing of a petition."

      (1969, P.A. 794, S. 4; 1971, P.A. 204; P.A. 76-436, S. 30, 681; P.A. 77-452, S. 25, 72; P.A. 89-273, S. 6; P.A. 93-91, S. 1, 2; P.A. 95-225, S. 27; P.A. 98-256, S. 7; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4, S. 80.)

      History: 1971 act made special provision requiring that records be erased immediately when child is dismissed as not delinquent, where previously same provisions applied for dismissal or adjudication as delinquent and added exception re substantiation of erasure; P.A. 76-436 replaced juvenile court with superior court and specified that erasure occurs if child has not been found guilty of a crime and he has reached age 16 within two years after his discharge, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 77-452 made no changes; Sec. 17-72a temporarily renumbered as Sec. 51-327 and ultimately transferred to Sec. 46b-146 in 1979, see note to Sec. 17-72a; P.A. 89-273 made provisions of section applicable to a child who is a member of a family with service needs; P.A. 93-91 substituted commissioner and department of children and families for commissioner and department of children and youth services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-225 increased from two years to four years the period of time that must elapse from the date of discharge; P.A. 98-256 specified that provision requiring four years to elapse from the date of discharge prior to erasure applied "in the case of a child convicted as delinquent for the commission of a serious juvenile offense" and established a period of two years for all other cases; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4 added "or has signed a statement of responsibility admitting to having committed a delinquent act or being a member of a family with service needs", inserted "to be" re found delinquent and made technical changes, effective January 1, 2010.

      Sec. 46b-149. *(See end of section for amended version of subsection (f) and effective date.) Family with service needs. Complaint. Review by probation officer. Referral for services. Filing of petition. Procedure. Hearing. Order. (a) Any selectman, town manager, police officer or welfare department of any town, city or borough, any probation officer or superintendent of schools, the Commissioner of Children and Families, any child-caring institution or agency approved or licensed by the Commissioner of Children and Families, any youth service bureau, a parent or foster parent of a child, or a child or the child's representative or attorney, who believes that the acts or omissions of a child are such that the child's family is a family with service needs, may file a written complaint setting forth those facts with the Superior Court which has venue over the matter.

      (b) The court shall refer a complaint filed under subsection (a) of this section to a probation officer, who shall promptly determine whether it appears that the alleged facts, if true, would be sufficient to meet the definition of a family with service needs, provided a complaint alleging that a child is a truant or habitual truant shall not be determined to be insufficient to meet the definition of a family with service needs solely because it was filed during the months of April, May or June. If such probation officer so determines, the probation officer shall, after an initial assessment, promptly refer the child and the child's family to a suitable community-based program or other service provider, or to a family support center as provided in section 46b-149e, for voluntary services. If the child and the child's family are referred to a community-based program or other service provider and the person in charge of such program or provider determines that the child and the child's family can no longer benefit from its services, such person shall inform the probation officer, who shall, after an appropriate assessment, either refer the child and the child's family to a family support center for additional services or determine whether or not to file a petition with the court under subsection (c) of this section. If the child and the child's family are referred to a family support center and the person in charge of the family support center determines that the child and the child's family can no longer benefit from its services, such person shall inform the probation officer, who may file a petition with the court in the manner prescribed in subsection (c) of this section. The probation officer shall inform the complainant in writing of the probation officer's action under this subsection. If it appears that the allegations are not true, or that the child's family does not meet the definition of a family with service needs, the probation officer shall inform the complainant in writing of such finding.

      (c) A petition alleging that a family constitutes a family with service needs shall be verified and filed with the Superior Court which has venue over the matter. The petition shall set forth plainly: (1) The facts which bring the child within the jurisdiction of the court; (2) the name, date of birth, sex and residence of the child; (3) the name and residence of the child's parent or parents, guardian or other person having control of the child; and (4) a prayer for appropriate action by the court in conformity with the provisions of this section.

      (d) When a petition is filed under subsection (c) of this section, the court may issue a summons to the child and the child's parents, guardian or other person having control of the child to appear in court at a specified time and place. The summons shall be signed by a judge or by the clerk or assistant clerk of the court, and a copy of the petition shall be attached to it. Whenever it appears to the judge that orders addressed to an adult, as set forth in section 46b-121, are necessary for the welfare of such child, a similar summons shall be issued and served upon such adult if he or she is not already in court. Service of summons shall be made in accordance with section 46b-128. The court may punish for contempt, as provided in section 46b-121, any parent, guardian or other person so summoned who fails to appear in court at the time and place so specified. If a petition is filed under subsection (c) of this section alleging that a family is a family with service needs because a child is a truant or habitual truant, the court may not dismiss such petition solely because it was filed during the months of April, May or June.

      (e) When a petition is filed under subsection (c) of this section alleging that a family constitutes a family with service needs because it includes a child who has been habitually truant, the court shall order that the local or regional board of education for the town in which the child resides, or the private school in the case of a child enrolled in a private school, shall cause an educational evaluation of such child to be performed if no such evaluation has been performed within the preceding year. Any costs incurred for the performance of such evaluation shall be borne by such local or regional board of education or such private school.

      *(f) If it appears from the allegations of a petition or other sworn affirmations that there is: (1) A strong probability that the child may do something that is injurious to himself prior to court disposition; (2) a strong probability that the child will run away prior to the hearing; or (3) a need to hold the child for another jurisdiction, a judge may vest temporary custody of such child in some suitable person or agency. No nondelinquent juvenile runaway from another state may be held in a state-operated detention home in accordance with the provisions of sections 46b-151 to 46b-151g, inclusive, Interstate Compact on Juveniles. A hearing on temporary custody shall be held not later than ten days after the date on which a judge signs an order of temporary custody. Following such hearing, the judge may order that the child's temporary custody continue to be vested in some suitable person or agency. Any expenses of temporary custody shall be paid in the same manner as provided in subsection (b) of section 46b-129.

      (g) If a petition is filed under subsection (c) of this section and it appears that the interests of the child or the family may be best served, prior to adjudication, by a referral to community-based or other services, the judge may permit the matter to be continued for a reasonable period of time not to exceed six months, which time period may be extended by an additional three months for cause. If it appears at the conclusion of the continuance that the matter has been satisfactorily resolved, the judge may dismiss the petition.

      (h) If the court finds, based on clear and convincing evidence, that the family of a child is a family with service needs, the court may, in addition to issuing any orders under section 46b-121: (1) Refer the child to the Department of Children and Families for any voluntary services provided by said department or, if the family is a family with service needs solely as a result of a finding that a child is a truant or habitual truant, to the authorities of the local or regional school district or private school for services provided by such school district or such school, which services may include summer school, or to community agencies providing child and family services; (2) order the child to remain in the child's own home or in the custody of a relative or any other suitable person (A) subject to the supervision of a probation officer, or (B) in the case of a family which is a family with service needs solely as a result of a finding that a child is a truant or habitual truant, subject to the supervision of a probation officer and the authorities of the local or regional school district or private school; (3) if the family is a family with service needs as a result of the child engaging in sexual intercourse with another person and such other person is thirteen years of age or older and not more than two years older or younger than such child, (A) refer the child to a youth service bureau or other appropriate service agency for participation in a program such as a teen pregnancy program or a sexually transmitted disease program, and (B) require such child to perform community service such as service in a hospital, an AIDS prevention program or an obstetrical and gynecological program; or (4) upon a finding that there is no less restrictive alternative, commit the child to the care and custody of the Commissioner of Children and Families for an indefinite period not to exceed eighteen months. The child shall be entitled to representation by counsel and an evidentiary hearing. If the court issues any order which regulates future conduct of the child, parent or guardian, the child, parent or guardian, shall receive adequate and fair warning of the consequences of violation of the order at the time it is issued, and such warning shall be provided to the child, parent or guardian, to his or her attorney and to his or her legal guardian in writing and shall be reflected in the court record and proceedings.

      (i) (1) The Commissioner of Children and Families may petition the court for an extension of a commitment under this section on the grounds that an extension would be in the best interest of the child. The court shall give notice to the child and the child's parent or guardian at least fourteen days prior to the hearing upon such petition. The court may, after hearing and upon finding that such extension is in the best interest of the child and that there is no suitable less restrictive alternative, continue the commitment for an additional indefinite period of not more than eighteen months. (2) The Commissioner of Children and Families may at any time petition the court to discharge a child committed under this section, and any child committed to the commissioner under this section, or the parent or guardian of such child, may at any time but not more often than once every six months petition the court which committed the child to revoke such commitment. The court shall notify the child, the child's parent or guardian and the commissioner of any petition filed under this subsection, and of the time when a hearing on such petition will be held. Any order of the court made under this subsection shall be deemed a final order for purposes of appeal, except that no bond shall be required and no costs shall be taxed on such appeal.

      (P.A. 79-567, S. 3, 7; P.A. 80-401, S. 1, 4; P.A. 85-226, S. 3; P.A. 88-214, S. 1, 4; P.A. 89-273, S. 8; P.A. 90-240, S. 3, 6; 90-325, S. 19, 32; P.A. 91-303, S. 12, 22; P.A. 92-167, S. 2, 3; P.A. 93-91, S. 1, 2; 93-340, S. 17; 93-435, S. 26, 95; May 25 Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-1, S. 94, 130; P.A. 95-339, S. 6, 8; P.A. 96-178, S. 11, 18; P.A. 98-183, S. 5; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4, S. 30.)

      *Note: On and after July 1, 2004, or upon the enactment of the Interstate Compact for Juveniles by thirty-five jurisdictions, whichever is later, subsection (f) of this section, as amended by section 4 of public act 03-255, is to read as follows:

      "(f) If it appears from the allegations of a petition or other sworn affirmations that there is: (1) A strong probability that the child may do something that is injurious to himself prior to court disposition; (2) a strong probability that the child will run away prior to the hearing; or (3) a need to hold the child for another jurisdiction, a judge may vest temporary custody of such child in some suitable person or agency. No nondelinquent juvenile runaway from another state may be held in a state-operated detention home in accordance with the provisions of section 46b-151h, the Interstate Compact for Juveniles. A hearing on temporary custody shall be held not later than ten days after the date on which a judge signs an order of temporary custody. Following such hearing, the judge may order that the child's temporary custody continue to be vested in some suitable person or agency. Any expenses of temporary custody shall be paid in the same manner as provided in subsection (b) of section 46b-129."

      (P.A. 79-567, S. 3, 7; P.A. 80-401, S. 1, 4; P.A. 85-226, S. 3; P.A. 88-214, S. 1, 4; P.A. 89-273, S. 8; P.A. 90-240, S. 3, 6; 90-325, S. 19, 32; P.A. 91-303, S. 12, 22; P.A. 92-167, S. 2, 3; P.A. 93-91, S. 1, 2; 93-340, S. 17; 93-435, S. 26, 95; May 25 Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-1, S. 94, 130; P.A. 95-339, S. 6, 8; P.A. 96-178, S. 11, 18; P.A. 98-183, S. 5; P.A. 03-255, S. 4; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4, S. 30.)

      History: P.A. 80-401 changed applicable date in Subsec. (e) from August 1, 1980, to July 1, 1981, and added exception re detention of nondelinquent juvenile runaways from other states and deleted court's power to order child to do work in public buildings and on public properties in Subsec. (g), effective July 1, 1981; P.A. 85-226 amended Subsec. (g) by adding provision re adequate and fair warning to child of consequences of violation of order; P.A. 88-214 amended Subsec. (e) by providing that no delinquent juvenile runaway from another state may be held in a state-operated detention home, where previously such detention was permissible; P.A. 89-273 inserted a new Subsec. (e) re the performance of an educational evaluation of a habitually truant child and redesignated the remaining Subsecs. accordingly; P.A. 90-240 in Subsec. (b) provided that certain complaints not be insufficient because of the month in which they are filed, in Subsec. (d) provided that certain petitions not be dismissed because of the month in which they are filed, in Subsec. (c) required the court to order private schools to do and pay for educational evaluations for certain children and in Subsec. (h) provided for the referral of certain children to school authorities in Subdiv. (1) and in Subdiv. (2) provided for certain children to be subject to the supervision of a probation officer and school authorities; P.A. 90-325 changed effective date of P.A. 90-240 from July 1, 1990, to July 1, 1991; P.A. 91-303 in Subsec. (h)(1) added referral to community agencies providing child and family services; P.A. 92-167 amended Subsec. (h) by substituting "eighteen months" for "two years"; P.A. 93-91 substituted commissioner and department of children and families for commissioner and department of children and youth services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 93-340 added Subsec. (h)(4) re judicial dispositions authorized when the child has engaged in sexual intercourse with another person within a certain age range; P.A. 93-435 amended Subsec. (i)(1) by reducing the time for an additional commitment period from 24 to 18 months and made technical changes, effective June 28, 1993; May 25 Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-1 amended Subsec. (h) by making technical change, effective July 1, 1994; P.A. 95-339 amended Subsec. (a) to substitute agencies sanctioned by Commissioner of Education for agencies sanctioned by Commissioner of Children and Families, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 96-178 amended Subsec. (a) to add "approved or licensed by the Commissioner of Children and Families" after "child-caring institution or agency" and deleted "approved or licensed by the Commissioner of Education" after "youth service bureau", effective July 1, 1996; P.A. 98-183 amended Subsec. (d) by adding provision re punishment for contempt of any parent, guardian or other person who fails to appear in court, amended Subsec. (f) to delete obsolete provisions re state-operated detention homes and amended Subsec. (h) to add references to conduct of parent or guardian; P.A. 03-255 amended Subsec. (f) to replace reference to "sections 46b-151 to 46b-151g, inclusive, Interstate Compact on Juveniles" with reference to "section 46b-151h, the Interstate Compact for Juveniles", effective July 1, 2004, or upon enactment of the Interstate Compact for Juveniles by thirty-five jurisdictions, whichever is later; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4 amended Subsec. (b) by replacing former provisions re referral with consent to service provider with provisions re assessment and referral to service provider or family support center for voluntary services and deleting former provisions re right of complainant to file a petition, amended Subsec. (g) by adding reference to petition filed under Subsec. (c) and replacing provision re continuance for period not to exceed 3 months with provision re continuance for reasonable period of time not to exceed 6 months and permitting extension thereof by an additional 3 months for cause, amended Subsec. (h) by adding provisions re commitment of child upon finding that there is no less restrictive alternative and re child's right to representation by counsel and an evidentiary hearing, amended Subsec. (i)(1) by adding provision re extension of commitment upon finding that there is no suitable less restrictive alternative and made technical changes throughout section.

      Sec. 46b-149b. *(See end of section for amended version and effective date.) Immunity of police officer or municipal official from personal liability. Protocol for intervention and assistance in youths in crisis matters. (a) Any police officer or any official of a municipal or community agency, who in the course of such police officer's or official's employment under subsection (d) of section 17a-15 or section 46b-120, 46b-121, 46b-149, 46b-149a, 46b-150f or 46b-150g provides assistance to a child or a family in need thereof, shall not be liable to such child or such family for civil damages for any personal injuries which result from the voluntary termination of service by the child or the family.

      (b) Each municipal police department and the Division of State Police within the Department of Public Safety shall implement a uniform protocol for providing intervention and assistance in matters involving youths in crisis. Such uniform protocol shall be developed by the Police Officer Standards and Training Council established under section 7-294b.

      (P.A. 80-401, S. 3; P.A. 02-109, S. 4; P.A. 03-257, S. 4.)

      *Note: On and after January 1, 2010, this section, as amended by section 82 of public act 07-4 of the June special session, is to read as follows:

      "Sec. 46a-149b. Immunity of police officer or municipal official from personal liability. Any police officer or any official of a municipal or community agency, who in the course of such police officer's or official's employment under subsection (d) of section 17a-15 or section 46b-120, 46b-121, 46b-149 or 46b-149a provides assistance to a child or a family in need thereof, shall not be liable to such child or such family for civil damages for any personal injuries which result from the voluntary termination of service by the child or the family."

      (P.A. 80-401, S. 3; P.A. 02-109, S. 4; P.A. 03-257, S. 4; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4, S. 82.)

      History: P.A. 02-109 extended provisions to employment under Secs. 46b-150f and 46b-150g; P.A. 03-257 designated existing provisions as Subsec. (a), making a technical change therein, and added Subsec. (b) re protocol for intervention and assistance in matters involving youths in crisis; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4 deleted former Subsec. (b) re protocol for youth in crisis, deleted Subsec. (a) designator and deleted references to Secs. 46b-150f and 46b-150g, effective January 1, 2010.

      Sec. 46b-149e. Family support centers. (a) For the purposes of this section, "family support center" means a community-based service center for children and families against whom a complaint has been filed with the Superior Court under section 46b-149 that provides multiple services, or access to such services, for the purpose of preventing such children and families from having further involvement with the court as families with service needs.

      (b) The Court Support Services Division shall contract with one or more private providers, or with one or more youth service bureaus, or both, to develop a network of family support centers. Each family support center shall provide, or ensure access to, appropriate services that shall include, but not be limited to, screening and assessment, crisis intervention, family mediation, educational evaluations and advocacy, mental health treatment and services, including gender specific trauma treatment and services, resiliency skills building, access to positive social activities, short-term respite care and access to services available to children in the juvenile justice system. The Court Support Services Division shall conduct an independent evaluation of each family support center to measure the quality of the services delivered and the outcomes for the children and families served by such center.

      (June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4, S. 31.)

      Sec. 46b-149f. Child of family with service needs who violates valid court order or is at risk of immediate physical harm. (a) When a child whose family has been adjudicated as a family with service needs in accordance with section 46b-149 violates any valid order which regulates future conduct of the child made by the court following such an adjudication, a probation officer, on receipt of a complaint setting forth facts alleging such a violation, or on the probation officer's own motion on the basis of his or her knowledge of such a violation, may file a petition with the court alleging that the child has violated a valid court order and setting forth the facts claimed to constitute such a violation. The child shall be entitled to representation by counsel and an evidentiary hearing on the allegations contained in the petition. Upon a finding by the court that the child has violated a valid court order, the court may (1) order the child to remain in such child's home or in the custody of a relative or any other suitable person, subject to the supervision of a probation officer, (2) upon a finding that there is no less restrictive alternative appropriate to the needs of the child and the community, enter an order that directs or authorizes a peace officer or other appropriate person to place the child in a staff-secure facility under the auspices of the Court Support Services Division for a period not to exceed forty-five days, with court review every fifteen days to consider whether continued placement is appropriate, at the end of which period the child shall be returned to the community and may be subject to the supervision of a probation officer, or (3) order that the child be committed to the care and custody of the Commissioner of Children and Families for a period not to exceed eighteen months and that the child cooperate in such care and custody.

      (b) When a child whose family has been adjudicated as a family with service needs in accordance with section 46b-149 is believed to be at risk of immediate physical harm from the child's surroundings or other circumstances, a probation officer, on receipt of a complaint setting forth facts alleging such risk, or on the probation officer's own motion on the basis of his or her knowledge of such risk, may file a petition with the court alleging that the child is at risk of immediate physical harm and setting forth the facts claimed to constitute such risk. If it appears from the specific allegations of the petition and other verified affirmations of fact accompanying the petition, or subsequent thereto, that there is probable cause to believe that (1) the child is in imminent risk of physical harm from the child's surroundings, (2) as a result of such condition, the child's safety is endangered and immediate removal from such surroundings is necessary to ensure the child's safety, and (3) there is no less restrictive alternative available, the court shall enter an order directing the placement of the child in a staff-secure facility under the auspices of the Court Support Services Division for a period not to exceed forty-five days, with court review every fifteen days to consider whether continued placement is appropriate, at the end of which period the child shall either be (A) returned to the community for appropriate services, or (B) committed to the Department of Children and Families for a period not to exceed eighteen months. Any such child shall be entitled to the same procedural protections as are afforded to a delinquent child.

      (c) No child shall be held prior to a hearing on a petition under this section for more than twenty-four hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. For the purposes of this section, "staff-secure facility" means a residential facility (1) that does not include construction features designed to physically restrict the movements and activities of juvenile residents who are placed therein, (2) that may establish reasonable rules restricting entrance to and egress from the facility, and (3) in which the movements and activities of individual juvenile residents may, for treatment purposes, be restricted or subject to control through the use of intensive staff supervision.

      (June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4, S. 32.)

      Sec. 46b-150. Emancipation of minor. Procedure. Notice. Attorney General as party. Any minor who has reached such minor's sixteenth birthday and is residing in this state, or any parent or guardian of such minor, may petition the superior court for juvenile matters or the probate court for the district in which either the minor or the parents or guardian of such minor resides for a determination that the minor named in the petition be emancipated. The petition shall be verified and shall state plainly: (1) The facts which bring the minor within the jurisdiction of the court, (2) the name, date of birth, sex and residence of the minor, (3) the name and residence of the minor's parent, parents or guardian, and (4) the name of the petitioner and the petitioner's relationship to the minor. Upon the filing of the petition in the Superior Court, the court shall cause a summons to be issued to the minor and the minor's parent, parents or guardian, in the manner provided in section 46b-128. Service on an emancipation petition filed in the superior court for juvenile matters pursuant to this section shall not be required on the petitioning party. Upon the filing of the petition in the Probate Court, the court shall assign a time, not later than thirty days thereafter, and a place for hearing such petition. The court shall cause a citation and notice to be served on the minor and the minor's parent, if the parent is not the petitioner, by personal service or service at the minor's place of abode and the parent's place of abode, at least seven days prior to the hearing date, by a state marshal, constable or indifferent person. The court shall direct notice by first class mail to the parent, if the parent is the petitioner. The court shall order such notice as it directs to: (A) The Commissioner of Children and Families, (B) the Attorney General, and (C) other persons having an interest in the minor. The Attorney General may file an appearance and shall be and remain a party to the action if the child is receiving or has received aid or care from the state, or if the child is receiving child support enforcement services, as defined in subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of section 46b-231.

      (P.A. 79-397, S. 1; P.A. 98-219, S. 8; P.A. 00-99, S. 92, 154; P.A. 01-148, S. 3; 01-195, S. 40, 181; P.A. 06-149, S. 9; P.A. 07-184, S. 7.)

      History: P.A. 98-219 added provisions allowing Probate Court to have concurrent jurisdiction with Superior Court re emancipation petitions; P.A. 00-99 replaced reference to sheriff and deputy sheriff with state marshal, effective December 1, 2000; P.A. 01-148 added provision re service on emancipation petition not required on petitioning party and made technical changes for purposes of gender neutrality; P.A. 01-195 made technical changes for purposes of gender neutrality, effective July 11, 2001; P.A. 06-149 inserted Subpara. designators (A) and (C), added Subpara. (B) re Attorney General, and provided that Attorney General may file appearance and shall be and remain a party if child is receiving or has received aid or care from the state or is receiving child support enforcement services, effective January 1, 2007; P.A. 07-184 substituted "first class mail" for "certified mail" and added "by personal service or service at the minor's place of abode and the parent's place of abode".

      Sec. 46b-150f*. Youth in crisis. Petition. Court orders. Violations. (a) Any selectman, town manager, police officer or welfare department of any town, city or borough, any probation officer, any superintendent of schools, any child-caring institution or agency approved or licensed by the Commissioner of Children and Families, any youth service bureau, a parent or foster parent of a youth, or a representative of youth, who believes that the acts or omissions of a youth are such that such youth is a youth in crisis may file a written complaint setting forth those facts with the Superior Court which has venue over the matter.

      (b) A petition alleging that a youth is a youth in crisis shall be verified and filed with the Superior Court which has venue over the matter. The petition shall set forth plainly: (1) The facts which bring the youth within the jurisdiction of the court; (2) the name, date of birth, sex and residence of the youth; (3) the name and residence of the parent or parents, guardian or other person having control of the youth; and (4) a prayer for appropriate action by the court in conformity with the provisions of this section.

      (c) Upon determination that a youth is a youth in crisis in accordance with policies established by the Chief Court Administrator, the court may make and enforce orders, including, but not limited to, orders: (1) Directing the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles to suspend the motor vehicle operator's license of the youth in crisis for a period of time, as directed by the court, but not to exceed one year; (2) requiring work or specified community service; (3) mandating that the youth in crisis attend an educational program in the local community approved by the court; (4) requiring mental health services; (5) referring the youth in crisis to a youth service bureau, provided one exists in the local community; and (6) reviewing the option of emancipation, pursuant to section 46b-150, of the youth in crisis or the parent or guardian of such youth in crisis. A youth in crisis found to be in violation of any order under this section shall not be considered to be delinquent and shall not be punished by the court by incarceration in any state-operated detention facility or correctional facility.

      (d) The Judicial Department may use any funds appropriated for purposes of this chapter for costs incurred by the department or the court pursuant to this section.

      (P.A. 00-177, S. 3, 5; P.A. 01-195, S. 100, 181; P.A. 02-109, S. 5; P.A. 03-257, S. 5; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4, S. 123.)

      *Note: This section is repealed, effective January 1, 2010.

      Sec. 46b-150g*. Duties of police officer re youth in crisis. (a) Any police officer who receives a report from the parent or guardian of a youth in crisis, as defined in subparagraph (A) of subdivision (3) of section 46b-120, shall attempt to locate the youth in crisis. If the officer locates such youth in crisis, such officer shall report the location of the youth to the parent or guardian in accordance with the provisions of federal and state law after such officer determines that such report does not place the youth in any physical or emotional harm. In addition, the police officer shall respond in one of the following ways: (1) Transport the youth in crisis to the home of the child's parent or guardian or a suitable and worthy adult; (2) refer the youth in crisis to the probate court in the district where the youth in crisis is located, provided the probate judge for such probate court is willing to accept the referral; (3) hold the youth in crisis in protective custody for a maximum period of twelve hours until the officer can determine a more suitable disposition of the matter, provided (A) the youth in crisis is not held in any cell designed or used for adults, and (B) the officer may release the youth in crisis to the parent or guardian of the youth if the officer determines that returning the youth does not place the youth in any physical or emotional harm; (4) transport or refer a youth in crisis to any public or private agency serving children, with or without the agreement of the youth in crisis; (5) refer the youth in crisis to a youth service bureau, provided one exists in the local community; or (6) if the police officer is unable to transport, refer or hold the youth in crisis pursuant to subdivisions (1) to (5), inclusive, of this subsection, refer the youth in crisis to the superior court for juvenile matters in the district where the youth in crisis is located. If a youth in crisis is transported or referred to an agency pursuant to this section, such agency shall provide temporary services to the youth in crisis unless or until the parent or guardian of the youth in crisis at any time refuses to agree to those services.

      (b) Any police officer acting in accordance with the provisions of this section shall be deemed to be acting in the course of the police officer's official duties.

      (P.A. 00-177, S. 4, 5; P.A. 03-257, S. 3; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4, S. 123.)

      *Note: This section is repealed, effective January 1, 2010.

      Sec. 46b-150h*. Youth in crisis pilot program in Middletown probate district. (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 46b-150f and 46b-150g, the Probate Court Administrator shall establish, within available appropriations, a pilot program in the probate district of Middletown for the purpose of exercising jurisdiction over and administering youth in crisis cases arising in said district in which the youths in crisis are not truants.

      (b) On or before January 1, 2005, the Probate Court Administrator shall report, in accordance with section 11-4a, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to the judiciary and the select committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to children, with respect to the status and effectiveness of the pilot program established pursuant to subsection (a) of this section.

      (P.A. 03-257, S. 2; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4, S. 123.)

      *Note: This section is repealed, effective January 1, 2010.