Secs. 54-42 to 54-44. Original information in Superior Court. Bench warrant;
procedure on arrest; previous bond in Court of Common Pleas. Admissibility of
confession. Informations in cases appealed to Superior Court. Sections 54-42 to 54-44, inclusive, are repealed.
(1949 Rev., S. 8764-8766; 1963, P.A. 126, S. 2, 3; 1967, P.A. 656, S. 60; 1969, P.A. 803, S. 1; P.A. 73-116, S. 23; 73-667, S. 1, 2; P.A. 76-106, S. 1; 76-436, S. 536, 681; P.A. 77-452, S. 38, 72; 77-576, S. 39, 65; P.A. 80-313, S. 61; 80-483,
S. 136, 186.)
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Sec. 54-45. When grand jury is required. Selecting grand jury. Alternate
grand jurors. (a) The Superior Court may, when necessary, order a grand jury of eighteen electors of the judicial district where said court is sitting to be summoned, impaneled
and sworn to inquire after and present such offenses as are cognizable by said court.
Said court may, in its discretion, order one or two additional electors to be added to the
grand jury as alternate grand jurors. Such alternate jurors shall be sworn separately from
those constituting the regular panel and shall not counsel or confer with members of the
regular panel as to any matters before the grand jury unless they become a part of the
regular panel as hereinafter provided. They shall attend the sessions of the grand jury
and shall be seated with or near the members of the regular panel, with equal opportunity
to see and hear all matters adduced in the proceedings. If for any reason a grand juror
is unable to further perform his duty, the court may excuse him and, if any grand juror
is so excused or dies, the court may order that the alternate juror or, if more than one,
that one who is designated by lot drawn by the clerk of the Superior Court, shall become
a part of the regular panel and the inquiry shall then proceed as though such grand juror
had been a member of the regular panel from the beginning of the inquiry.
(b) No person shall be put to plea or held to trial for any crime the punishment of
which may be death or imprisonment for life, charged by the state before May 26, 1983,
unless an indictment has been found against him for such crime by a grand jury legally
impaneled and sworn, and no bill shall be presented by any grand jury unless at least
twelve of the jurors agree to it.
(1949 Rev., S. 8747; February, 1965, P.A. 173; P.A. 73-116, S. 1; 73-667, S. 1, 2; P.A. 78-280, S. 2, 127; P.A. 80-313,
S. 3; P.A. 83-210, S. 3, 5.)
History: 1965 act added provisions for alternate grand jurors; P.A. 73-116 added reference to judicial districts; P.A.
73-667 changed effective date of P.A. 73-116 from October 1, 1973, to April 25, 1973; P.A. 78-280 deleted reference to
counties; P.A. 80-313 divided section into Subsecs; P.A. 83-210 amended Subsec. (b) to require a grand jury indictment
for crimes punishable by death or imprisonment for life "charged by the state before May 26, 1983" to reflect the establishment of a probable cause hearing pursuant to Sec. 54-46a in place of a grand jury proceeding for persons accused of
such crimes.
See Sec. 1-25 re forms of oaths for jurors.
Powers and duties of grand jury. 1 C. 428. Where imprisonment for life or death is not penalty, no grand jury necessary.
3 C. 112. Inquiry before grand jury must be secret. 16 C. 467. Not necessary that accused be present. 21 C. 279. Quaere,
whether member of grand jury may be challenged for favor. 47 C. 106. If absolute disqualification is discovered after
indictment found, it may be pleaded in avoidance. Id. The endorsement of a "true bill" on an indictment cannot be contradicted by parol evidence on habeas corpus proceedings; 67 C. 553; and, in habeas corpus proceedings in United States
courts, failure to so endorse is not regarded. 160 U.S. 231. When required, an interpreter may be present in the grand jury
room. 106 C. 721. When an accused person is confined for a crime punishable by death or life imprisonment, it is the duty
of the court to order a grand jury; and this may be done before opening of term to which accused was bound over. Id., 719.
Court may select members of grand jury, when. 126 C. 64. In a general investigation by grand jury state's attorney may
be present to aid in examination of witnesses. Id., 66. Jury may have stenographer present. Id., 71. What evidence jury
may elicit. Id. Constitution does not protect a person from being questioned by grand jury but only gives immunity from
answering particular questions. Id., 72. History and nature of grand jury. Id. Cited. 135 C. 269. Requires an indictment by
a grand jury in all cases in which the penalty to be imposed may be life imprisonment. 144 C. 295. Grand jury in which 7
out of 18 are attorneys not in itself illegal where there is no evidence of an intentional and systematic exclusion of any
group. 146 C. 137. Cited. 146 C. 227; 153 C. 325. There is no federal constitutional impediment to dispensing entirely
with grand jury in state prosecutions. 155 C. 367. In absence of contrary evidence, presumption arises that selection of
grand jury was made without discrimination and fairly by officer in charge of selection. 158 C. 341. Cited. 159 C. 264.
Cited. 164 C. 402. Cited. 176 C. 270. Cited. 181 C. 268. Cited. 183 C. 299. Presence of counsel before grand jury discussed.
187 C. 281. Trial court's denial of the motion to quash the ordering of the second grand jury is not one of those few
presentence orders deemed final for purposes of appeal. 191 C. 27. During period between November 24, 1982, and May
26, 1983, statute provided authorization for use of grand juries in cases punishable by death or life imprisonment. 192 C.
671. Cited. Id., 700. Cited. 194 C. 416. Cited. 197 C. 280; Id., 507. Cited. 199 C. 163. Cited. 203 C. 641.
Cited. 10 CA 103. Cited. 27 CA 643; Id., 675.
Cited. 6 CS 221. Cited. 22 CS 6, 7. Person not given right to counsel before grand jury decision. This is not "critical
stage" in proceedings against him. 25 CS 61. Grand jury is not prohibited from receiving hearsay evidence. That such
evidence may have been considered by the grand jury would not entitle one who had been indicted to have the indictment
quashed. Id., 388, 389. Counsel for the accused may not accompany him before the grand jury. Id., 389. This section was
fully complied with by the court and its officers in summoning grand jury in absence of a showing that any of the members
were disqualified for any reason. 26 CS 211. Nature of grand jury discussed. Id., 213. Not the state's burden to prove that
the method of selection of grand jury was fair and nondiscriminatory. Id. Charge to grand jury that presumption of sanity
was adequate basis on which to find, so far as element of soundness of mind was concerned, probable cause to hold accused
for trial, was accurate. Id., 214. Constitutional right of accused to counsel does not include representation by counsel before
a grand jury. Id. Indictment insufficient in law may be attacked by demurrer. Provision that grand jurors come from county
where court sits is broad enough to comply with federal constitutional requirement that there must be no intentional or
systematic exclusion of group or class from grand jury. 29 CS 119. Exclusion of aliens from grand jury service does not
make statute unconstitutional since citizenship requirement bears rational relationship to demands of jury service. 35 CS
98. Cited. 36 CS 141. Cited. 45 CS 1.
Subsec. (a):
Grand jury transcript available to a defendant under this subsection is made available under the inherent supervisory
powers of the superior court and evidentiary uses of it by the defendant are restricted to impeaching a witness, attacking
the credibility of a witness or proving inconsistent statements of a witness. 187 C. 281. Cited. 204 C. 259.
Cited. 4 CA 544.
Subsec. (b):
Cited. 184 C. 597. Cited. 194 C. 692. Cited. 197 C. 247. Cited. 202 C. 18. Cited. 207 C. 276. Cited. 226 C. 601.
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Sec. 54-45a. Record of grand jury proceedings. Transcripts. (a) In any grand
jury proceeding ordered pursuant to the provisions of section 54-45, the official stenographer of the Superior Court or his assistant shall make a record of the proceedings
excluding the deliberations, which shall be confidential and filed with the court. Access
to the transcript shall be available only to the prosecutorial official or any person accused
of crime as a result of the grand jury investigation or the accused person's attorney. The
prosecutorial official or the person accused of a crime as a result of such grand jury
investigation or the accused person's attorney may obtain a copy of the transcript by
paying for it.
(b) The transcript of such proceedings may not be used as evidence in any proceeding against the accused except for the purpose of impeaching a witness, attacking the
credibility of a witness or proving inconsistent statements of a witness. The transcript
may also be used as evidence in a prosecution for perjury committed by a witness while
giving such testimony.
(P.A. 78-289, S. 1; P.A. 80-313, S. 4.)
History: P.A. 80-313 divided section into Subsecs. and reworded provisions.
Cited. 177 C. 677. Cited. 181 C. 268. Cited. 186 C. 476. Availability and use of grand jury transcripts discussed. 187
C. 281. Cited. 193 C. 350. Cited. 194 C. 469; Id., 530. Cited. 197 C. 698. Cited. 200 C. 323. Cited. 201 C. 534.
Cited. 10 CA 103.
Transcript may not be used to impeach a grand jury finding of a true bill. 36 CS 141. Cited. 42 CS 10. Cited. 45 CS 1.
Subsec. (b):
Cited. 198 C. 644. Statute governs indicting grand juries and expressly prohibits subsequent use of grand jury testimony.
250 C. 188.
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Sec. 54-46. Prosecution on complaint or information. For all crimes charged by
the state on or after May 26, 1983, the prosecution may be by complaint or information.
For all crimes punishable by death or imprisonment for life charged by the state before
May 26, 1983, the prosecution shall be by indictment.
(1949 Rev., S. 8775; P.A. 75-376; P.A. 76-336, S. 15; 76-436, S. 537, 681; P.A. 79-157; P.A. 80-313, S. 7; P.A. 83-210, S. 4, 5.)
History: P.A. 75-376 added provisions re trial on nolle prosequi; P.A. 76-336 clarified nolle provisions, substituting
"At any stage in such prosecution" for "In any such prosecution"; P.A. 76-436 removed from exception cases involving
nolle entered in common pleas court on matter bound over to superior court or upon recommendation of prosecutor that
bench warrant is being requested or issued by superior court for arrest for same transaction, reflecting transfer of all trial
jurisdiction to superior court, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 79-157 designated previous provisions as Subsecs. (a) and (b)
and added Subsec. (c) re effect of not guilty plea on privilege with respect to assignment for trial; P.A. 80-313 specified
prosecution by indictment required for all crimes punishable by death or life imprisonment and deleted former Subsecs.
(b) and (c) re nolle prosequi and assignment for trial; P.A. 83-210 amended the section to reflect the establishment of a
probable cause hearing to replace a grand jury proceeding by providing that prosecution by complaint or information would
apply to all crimes "charged by the state on or after May 26, 1983" and prosecution by indictment would only apply to
persons accused of crimes punishable by death or life imprisonment "charged by the state before May 26, 1983".
See Sec. 54-56b re right to dismissal or trial on nolle.
See Sec. 54-56c re request for privileged trial status.
This section is constitutional. 60 C. 94; 135 C. 262. Information may be amended after evidence has been offered. 35
C. 319. As to particularity required. 39 C. 230; 93 C. 646. Must charge all essential elements of crime; 72 C. 606; 73 C.
407; thus, specific intent must be charged. 66 C. 250; 80 C. 614; 81 C. 699. Charging offense in words of statute. 66 C. 9;
id., 657; 72 C. 606; 73 C. 18; 80 C. 321; 81 C. 696; 83 C. 304; 97 C. 730, 735; 99 C. 117; or of city ordinance. 60 C. 106;
88 C. 715; 91 C. 68. If effect is to include acts not in purview of statute, it is not sufficient; 82 C. 321; 93 C. 646; a more
particular description may limit proof. 80 C. 321. Necessity of negativing exception. 69 C. 198; 88 C. 353. Old rules as
to strictness relaxed; 81 C. 696; general rule as to certainty. 85 C. 322. Aider by verdict; 68 C. 512; 81 C. 696; amendable
defect not ground for new trial. 80 C. 614. Necessity of identifying person with reference to whom crime is committed;
66 C. 558; of correctly alleging date of crime. 81 C. 98. Alleging matters by legal effect; act of principal as act of agent.
69 C. 86. Allegation of former conviction. 68 C. 512; 94 C. 701; 96 C. 172. Against one as accessory. 82 C. 213. Conspiracy
and acts done in pursuance of it may be alleged in one count; 75 C. 206; so keeping disorderly house and one where lewd
persons resort, 66 C. 8; so keeping place for registering bets and selling pools. 66 C. 250. See note to section 54-61. Merger
defined; is a doctrine of very limited application. 99 C. 114; 108 C. 215. Identity of offenses. Id., 214. Cited. 151 C. 524.
Cited. 153 C. 325; Id., 451. There is no federal constitutional impediment to dispensing entirely with grand jury in state
prosecutions. 155 C. 367. Prosecution by information for infamous crime was not violation of defendant's rights under
U.S. constitution. 156 C. 391. Cited. 159 C. 264. Cited. 184 C. 597. Cited. 192 C. 671. Cited. 202 C. 443. Cited. 229 C. 691.
Cited. 22 CS 7. Not a denial of equal protection clause of fourteenth amendment of federal constitution to indict person
by an information in larceny case. 25 CS 509.
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Sec. 54-46a. Probable cause hearing for persons charged with crimes punishable by death or life imprisonment. (a) No person charged by the state, who has not
been indicted by a grand jury prior to May 26, 1983, shall be put to plea or held to trial
for any crime punishable by death or life imprisonment unless the court at a preliminary
hearing determines there is probable cause to believe that the offense charged has been
committed and that the accused person has committed it. The accused person may knowingly and voluntarily waive such preliminary hearing to determine probable cause.
(b) Unless waived by the accused person or extended by the court for good cause
shown, such preliminary hearing shall be conducted within sixty days of the filing of
the complaint or information in Superior Court. The court shall be confined to the rules
of evidence, except that written reports of expert witnesses shall be admissible in evidence and matters involving chain of custody shall be exempt from such rules. No motion
to suppress or for discovery shall be allowed in connection with such hearing. The
accused person shall have the right to counsel and may attend and, either individually
or by counsel, participate in such hearing, present argument to the court, cross-examine
witnesses against him and obtain a transcript of the proceedings at his own expense. At
the close of the prosecution's case, if the court finds that, based on the evidence presented
by the prosecution, probable cause exists, the accused person may make a specific offer
of proof, including the names of witnesses who would testify or produce the evidence
offered. The court shall not allow the accused person to present such evidence unless the
court determines that such evidence would be sufficient to rebut the finding of probable
cause.
(c) If, from the evidence presented pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, it
appears to the court that there is probable cause to believe that the accused person has
committed the offense charged, the court shall so find and approve the continuance of
the accused person's prosecution for that offense. A determination by the court that
there is not probable cause to require the accused person to be put to trial for the offense
charged shall not operate to prevent a subsequent prosecution of such accused person
for the same offense.
(P.A. 83-210, S. 1, 5; P.A. 87-260, S. 5.)
History: P.A. 87-260 amended Subsec. (a) to change the applicability of the requirement of a preliminary hearing from
a person charged by the state "on or after May 26, 1983" to a person charged by the state "who has not been indicted by
a grand jury prior to May 26, 1983".
Cited as P.A. 83-210, S. 1: Constitutional right to a probable cause hearing vested immediately for all defendants not
yet indicted on May 26, 1983. Portion of statute conferring right to probable cause hearing only on those charged on and
after May 26, 1983, is unconstitutional and therefore invalid. 192 C. 671. Cited. 200 C. 323. Cited. 201 C. 598. Validity
is not subject to constitutional attack as a violation of separation of powers. 203 C. 641. Cited. 206 C. 323. Cited. 210 C.
631; Id., 652. Cited. 211 C. 289. Cited. 213 C. 161; Id., 708. Cited. 214 C. 132; Id., 454; Id., 476; Id., 616. Cited. 218 C.
151; Id., 714. Cited. 219 C. 721. Cited. 220 C. 270. Cited. 221 C. 109. Cited. 222 C. 506. Cited. 223 C. 127. Cited. 224
C. 29. Cited. 228 C. 62. Probable cause hearing required by section applies only to criminal prosecutions, not to an action
for adjudication of delinquency. 229 C. 691. Cited. 233 C. 106. Cited. 234 C. 97. Cited. 237 C. 58. Cited. 240 C. 727; Id.,
743. Cited. 242 C. 409. Deprivation of counsel at a probable cause hearing constitutes procedural error for which harmless
error review is proper. 279 C. 493.
Cited. 7 CA 457. Cited. 26 CA 165. Cited. 28 CA 34. Cited. 29 CA 499. Cited. 30 CA 381. Cited. 34 CA 58; judgment
reversed, see 232 C. 537. Cited. 35 CA 762. Cited. 36 CA 250; Id., 364. Cited. 37 CA 404. Cited. 46 CA 545. Second
probable cause hearing which was held after the sixty-day time limit was valid because the first hearing was held within
the statutory time limit and the second hearing was scheduled based on defendant's request so that defendant could be
represented by counsel. 75 CA 223.
Cited as P.A. 83-210, S. 1. 40 CS 38. Cited. 42 CS 426. Cited. 43 CS 38; Id., 367.
Subsec. (a):
Cited. 204 C. 120. Cited. 209 C. 133. Cited. 210 C. 652.
Cited. 19 CA 571. Cited. 41 CA 809. Cited. 44 CA 790. By unconditionally accepting a plea deal and pleading guilty,
petitioner waived any challenge to court's jurisdiction over his person. 105 CA 124. Statute on its face contains terms "any
crime", "the offense" and "it" when mandating that defendant exposed to punishment of life imprisonment or death be
given preliminary hearing in probable cause. There is nothing in the statute that refers to crimes, offenses or an aggregation
of crimes or offenses, and petitioner has referred to no case law or other statute that has interpreted the statute to require
probable cause hearing when the aggregate of the charges exposes a defendant to 60 years imprisonment, but the crimes,
when considered individually, expose a defendant to less than 60 years on each charge. Id. When the state amends an
information and defendant no longer faces possibility of a life sentence, it is not improper for trial court to proceed without
affording defendant a hearing in probable cause. Id.
Subsec. (b):
Court concluded statute constitutional "... when read in conjunction with prosecution's ongoing constitutional duty to
disclose exculpatory material to a criminal defendant independent of a defense motion or request". 200 C. 323. Cited. 201
C. 598. Cited. 216 C. 492. No constitutional duty requires a court to entertain motions to suppress at a probable cause
hearing. 218 C. 151. Cited. 229 C. 716. Cited. 238 C. 588. Waiver of time period in which to hold hearing may be asserted
by the attorney for the defendant and does not require defendant personally to appear and be canvassed. 245 C. 301.
Legislature, in enacting subsection, required that probable cause hearing must be conducted within sixty days of filing
of the complaint or information unless waived by defendant or extended by court for good cause shown. 79 CA 535.
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Sec. 54-47. Investigations into commission of crime. Section 54-47 is repealed.
(1949 Rev., S. 8777; 1953, S. 3324d; 1969, P.A. 631, S. 2; 1971, P.A. 860; P.A. 73-116, S. 2; 73-667, S. 1, 2; P.A. 74-183, S. 139, 291; 74-186, S. 2, 12; P.A. 76-436, S. 10a, 538, 681; P.A. 78-280, S. 1, 127; P.A. 80-313, S. 5; P.A. 85-611,
S. 9.)
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Sec. 54-47a. Compelling testimony of witness. Immunity from prosecution. (a)
Whenever in the judgment of the Chief State's Attorney, a state's attorney or the deputy
chief state's attorney, the testimony of any witness or the production of books, papers
or other evidence of any witness (1) in any criminal proceeding involving narcotics,
arson, bribery, gambling, election law violations, felonious crimes of violence, any
violation which is an offense under the provisions of title 22a, corruption in the executive,
legislative or judicial branch of state government or in the government of any political
subdivision of the state, fraud by a vendor of goods or services in the medical assistance
program under Title XIX of the Social Security Act amendments of 1965, as amended,
any violation of chapter 949c, or any other class A, B or C felony or unclassified felony
punishable by a term of imprisonment in excess of five years for which the Chief State's
Attorney or state's attorney demonstrates that he has no other means of obtaining sufficient information as to whether a crime has been committed or the identity of the person
or persons who may have committed a crime, before a court or grand jury of this state
or (2) in any investigation conducted by an investigatory grand jury as provided in
sections 54-47b to 54-47g, inclusive, is necessary to the public interest, the Chief State's
Attorney, the state's attorney, or the deputy chief state's attorney, may, with notice to
the witness, after the witness has claimed his privilege against self-incrimination, make
application to the court for an order directing the witness to testify or produce evidence
subject to the provisions of this section.
(b) Upon the issuance of the order such witness shall not be excused from testifying
or from producing books, papers or other evidence in such case or proceeding on the
ground that the testimony or evidence required of him may tend to incriminate him or
subject him to a penalty or forfeiture. No such witness may be prosecuted or subjected to
any penalty or forfeiture for or on account of any transaction, matter or thing concerning
which he is compelled to testify or produce evidence, and no testimony or evidence so
compelled, and no evidence discovered as a result of or otherwise derived from testimony or evidence so compelled, may be used as evidence against him in any proceeding,
except that no witness shall be immune from prosecution for perjury or contempt committed while giving such testimony or producing such evidence. Whenever evidence is
objected to as inadmissible because it was discovered as a result of or otherwise derived
from compelled testimony or evidence, the burden shall be upon the person offering the
challenged evidence to establish a source independent of the compelled testimony or
evidence.
(1969, P.A. 631, S. 1; P.A. 74-183, S. 140, 291; 74-227, S. 1, 2; P.A. 76-436, S. 539, 681; P.A. 78-96, S. 3-5; P.A. 80-313, S. 6; P.A. 81-104; P.A. 85-611, S. 8; P.A. 87-350, S. 4, 6.)
History: P.A. 74-183 replaced circuit court with court of common pleas in accordance with reorganization of the judicial
system, effective December 31, 1974; P.A. 74-227 deleted reference to prosecuting attorneys, added references to chief
state's attorney, deputy chief state's attorneys, state referees, superior court judges and three-judge panels and extended
applicability of provisions to cases involving violation of election laws; P.A. 76-436 deleted references to court of common
pleas, reflecting transfer of all trial jurisdiction to superior court, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 78-96 applied provisions to
violations which are offenses under Title 25 provisions; P.A. 80-313 divided section into Subsecs. and made minor wording
changes in Subsec. (b); P.A. 81-104 provided that immunity from prosecution may be granted to any witness in a criminal
proceeding involving arson or bribery; P.A. 85-611 amended Subsec. (a) to replace reference to repealed Sec. 54-47 with
provision that testimony or evidence may be compelled "in any investigation conducted by an investigatory grand jury as
provided in sections 54-47b to 54-47g, inclusive"; P.A. 87-350 added provisions re criminal proceeding involving violation
of title 22a, corruption in executive, legislative or judicial branch of state government or in government of political subdivision of state, fraud by a vendor of goods or services in the medical assistance program under Title XIX of the Social
Security Act amendments of 1965, any violation of chapter 949c or any other class A, B or C felony or unclassified felony
punishable by a term of imprisonment in excess of five years for which chief state's attorney or state's attorney demonstrates
that he has no other means of obtaining sufficient information as to whether crime has been committed or identity of person
who may have committed a crime.
Section to be used to secure testimony for prosecution; as there is no other statutory authority granting immunity, there
is no basis for granting immunity to witness for the defense. 170 C. 206. Cited. 172 C. 542, 561. Assistant state's attorney
has authority pursuant to this section in conjunction with Sec. 51-278, to make applications for immunity grants. 174 C.
16. One who has been granted immunity is not incompetent witness, although fact of immunity may bear upon weight
given testimony of witness granted immunity. Id., 287. Cited. 191 C. 670. Cited. 201 C. 559. Cited. 202 C. 541. Cited.
204 C. 259. Defendant lacks standing to challenge procedure by which a witness has been immunized. 206 C. 203. Cited.
207 C. 98. Secs. 54-47a-54-47h also cited. Id. Cited. 213 C. 66. Cited. 221 C. 625. A grant of immunity pursuant to this
section includes both use immunity and transactional immunity. 298 C. 404.
Cited. 16 CA 679. Cited. 17 CA 395. Cited. 20 CA 447. Cited. 33 CA 521.
Cited. 45 CS 1.
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Sec. 54-47b. Investigatory grand jury. Definitions. For the purposes of sections
54-47a to 54-47h, inclusive:
(1) "Applicant" means any judge of the Superior Court, Appellate Court or Supreme
Court, the Chief State's Attorney or a state's attorney who makes an application to a
panel of judges for an investigation into the commission of a crime or crimes.
(2) "Crime or crimes" means (A) any crime or crimes involving corruption in the
executive, legislative or judicial branch of state government or in the government of
any political subdivision of the state, (B) fraud by a vendor of goods or services in the
medical assistance program under Title XIX of the Social Security Act Amendments
of 1965, as amended, (C) any violation of chapter 949c, (D) any violation of the election
laws of the state, (E) any felony involving the unlawful use or threatened use of physical
force or violence committed with the intent to intimidate or coerce the civilian population
or a unit of government, and (F) any other class A, B or C felony or any unclassified
felony punishable by a term of imprisonment in excess of five years for which the Chief
State's Attorney or state's attorney demonstrates that he or she has no other means of
obtaining sufficient information as to whether a crime has been committed or the identity
of the person or persons who may have committed a crime.
(3) "Investigatory grand jury" means a judge, constitutional state referee or any
three judges of the Superior Court, other than a judge designated by the Chief Justice
to serve on the panel, appointed by the Chief Court Administrator to conduct an investigation into the commission of a crime or crimes.
(4) "Panel of judges" or "panel" means a panel of three Superior Court judges designated by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court from time to time to receive applications
for investigations into the commission of crimes in accordance with the provisions of
sections 54-47a to 54-47h, inclusive, one of whom may be the Chief Court Administrator.
(P.A. 85-611, S. 1; P.A. 87-350, S. 1, 6; P.A. 02-97, S. 11.)
History: P.A. 87-350 added any violation of the election laws of the state or any unclassified felony punishable by a
term of imprisonment in excess of five years to definition of "crime or crimes", added "or state's attorney" after "chief
states attorney" and added "or the identity of the person or persons who may have committed a crime"; P.A. 02-97 amended
definition of "crime or crimes" in Subdiv. (2) by adding new Subpara. (E) re any felony involving the unlawful use or
threatened use of physical force or violence committed with the intent to intimidate or coerce the civilian population or a
unit of government, redesignating former Subpara. (E) as Subpara. (F) and making a technical change for purposes of
gender neutrality.
Cited. 202 C. 541. Cited. 204 C. 259. Cited. 207 C. 98. Secs. 54-47a-54-47h also cited. Id. Cited. 213 C. 66. Cited.
221 C. 625.
Cited. 16 CA 679. Cited. 17 CA 395. Cited. 20 CA 447.
Cited. 45 CS 1.
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Sec. 54-47c. Application for investigation into commission of crime. (a) Any
judge of the Superior Court, Appellate Court or Supreme Court, the Chief State's Attorney or a state's attorney may make application to a panel of judges for an investigation
into the commission of a crime or crimes whenever such applicant has reasonable belief
that the administration of justice requires an investigation to determine whether or not
there is probable cause to believe that a crime or crimes have been committed.
(b) Each application for an investigation into the commission of a crime or crimes
shall be made in writing upon oath or affirmation to a panel of judges. Each application
shall include the following information: (1) The identity of the applicant and his authority
to make such application; (2) a full and complete statement of the facts and circumstances
relied upon by the applicant to justify his reasonable belief that the investigation will
lead to a finding of probable cause that a crime or crimes have been committed; and (3)
a full and complete statement of the facts concerning all previous applications known
to the applicant, made to any panel of judges, for investigation of any one or more of the
same criminal offenses involving any of the same persons specified in the application,
including the action taken by the panel on each such application. The panel of judges
may require such additional testimony or documentary evidence in support of facts in
the application as it deems necessary. Such additional testimony shall be transcribed.
(c) If the application is made by the Chief State's Attorney or a state's attorney, it
shall also include (1) a full and complete statement of the status of the investigation
and of the evidence collected as of the date of such application, (2) if other normal
investigative procedures have been tried with respect to the alleged crime, a full and
complete statement specifying the other normal investigative procedures that have been
tried and the reasons such procedures have failed or the specific nature of the alleged
crime or the nature of the investigation that leads the applicant to reasonably conclude
that the use of normal investigative procedures would not result in the obtaining of
information that would advance the investigation or would fail to secure and preserve
evidence or testimony that might otherwise be compromised, (3) if other normal investigative procedures have not been tried, a full and complete statement of the reasons such
procedures reasonably appear to be unlikely to succeed if tried or be too dangerous to
employ, and (4) a full and complete statement of the reasons for the applicant's belief
that the appointment of an investigatory grand jury and the investigative procedures
employed by such investigatory grand jury will lead to a finding of probable cause that
a crime or crimes have been committed.
(d) The panel may approve the application and order an investigation into the commission of a crime or crimes if it finds that (1) the administration of justice requires an
investigation to determine whether or not there is probable cause to believe that a crime
or crimes have been committed, (2) if the application was made by the Chief State's
Attorney or a state's attorney, other normal investigative procedures with respect to the
alleged crime have been tried and have failed or reasonably appear to be unlikely to
succeed if tried or be too dangerous to employ or, due to the specific nature of the alleged
crime or the nature of the investigation, it is reasonable to conclude that the use of normal
investigative procedures would not result in the obtaining of information that would
advance the investigation or would fail to secure and preserve evidence or testimony
that might otherwise be compromised, and (3) the investigative procedures employed
by an investigatory grand jury appear likely to succeed in determining whether or not
there is probable cause to believe that a crime or crimes have been committed.
(P.A. 85-611, S. 2; P.A. 87-350, S. 2, 6; P.A. 98-48, S. 2; P.A. 03-273, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 87-350 added provision re transcription of additional testimony; P.A. 98-48 designated provisions of
Subsec. (b) re requirements of an application made by the Chief State's Attorney or a state's attorney as new Subsec. (c),
amended said Subsec. (c) to designate provisions re the use of other normal investigative procedures as Subdivs. (2) and
(3) and rephrase said provisions, add Subdiv. (1) requiring a statement of the status of the investigation and of the evidence
collected as of the date of the application and add Subdiv. (4) requiring a statement of the reasons for the applicant's belief
that the appointment of an investigatory grand jury and the investigative procedures employed by such grand jury will
lead to a finding of probable cause that a crime or crimes have been committed, and added new Subsec. (d) authorizing
the panel to approve the application and order an investigation if it makes certain findings and specifying said findings;
P.A. 03-273 amended Subsec. (c)(2) to add provision re statement that specifies the specific nature of the alleged crime
or the nature of the investigation that leads the applicant to reasonably conclude that the use of normal investigative
procedures would not result in the obtaining of information that would advance the investigation or would fail to secure
and preserve evidence or testimony that might otherwise be compromised and amended Subsec. (d)(2) to add provision
re finding that, due to the specific nature of the alleged crime or the nature of the investigation, it is reasonable to conclude
that the use of normal investigative procedures would not result in the obtaining of information that would advance the
investigation or would fail to secure and preserve evidence or testimony that might otherwise be compromised.
Cited. 202 C. 541. Cited. 204 C. 259. Cited. 206 C. 203. Cited. 207 C. 98. Secs. 54-47a-54-47h also cited. Id. Cited.
213 C. 66. Cited. 221 C. 625. Cited. 224 C. 29.
Cited. 16 CA 679. Cited. 17 CA 395. Cited. 20 CA 447.
Cited. 45 CS 1.
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Sec. 54-47d. Appointment of investigatory grand jury. Duration and scope of
investigation. (a) If the panel approves the application and orders an investigation into
the commission of a crime or crimes, the Chief Court Administrator shall (1) appoint
an investigatory grand jury to conduct the investigation, and (2) designate the court
location in the judicial district where any motions to quash and any contempt proceedings
shall be heard and any findings and records of the investigation shall be filed.
(b) Each order authorizing the investigation into the commission of a crime or
crimes by the panel shall specify: (1) The date of issuance of the order, (2) the period
of time within which the investigation is to be conducted, provided in no event shall the
investigation be longer than six months from the date the Chief Court Administrator
appoints the investigatory grand jury to conduct the investigation, unless an application
for an extension of time is filed and granted pursuant to subsection (c) of this section,
(3) the scope of the investigation, and (4) the panel's reasons for finding that (A) the
administration of justice requires an investigation to determine whether or not there is
probable cause to believe that a crime or crimes have been committed, (B) if the application was made by the Chief State's Attorney or a state's attorney, other normal investigative procedures with respect to the alleged crime have been tried and have failed or
reasonably appear to be unlikely to succeed if tried or be too dangerous to employ, or,
due to the specific nature of the alleged crime or the nature of the investigation, it is
reasonable to conclude that the use of normal investigative procedures would not result
in the obtaining of information that would advance the investigation or would fail to
secure and preserve evidence or testimony that might otherwise be compromised, and
(C) the investigative procedures employed by the investigatory grand jury appear likely
to succeed in determining whether or not there is probable cause to believe that a crime
or crimes have been committed. The panel shall retain a copy of the order and the original
application and shall transmit to the investigatory grand jury, appointed pursuant to
subsection (a) of this section, the original order and a copy of the application filed with
the panel.
(c) The investigatory grand jury may make an application to the panel of judges for
an extension of time within which to conduct its investigation or for an amendment to
the scope of its investigation. The application for extension or amendment shall set
forth the reasons for the necessity of such extension or amendment. No more than two
extensions or amendments of an order may be granted by the issuing panel. The period
of any extension shall be no longer than the panel deems necessary to achieve the purposes for which it was granted and in no event shall any extension be for a period longer
than six months.
(P.A. 85-611, S. 3; P.A. 87-350, S. 3, 6; P.A. 98-48, S. 3; P.A. 03-273, S. 2.)
History: P.A. 87-350 made technical changes in Subsec. (a) and deleted provision in Subsec. (c) requiring extension
or amendment to contain the findings thus far made; P.A. 98-48 amended Subsec. (b)(4) to insert Subpara. indicators and
add Subpara. (B) re the panel's reasons for finding that other normal investigative procedures have failed or are unlikely
to succeed if tried or be too dangerous to employ and Subpara. (C) re the panel's reasons for finding that the investigative
procedures employed by the investigatory grand jury appear likely to succeed in determining whether or not there is
probable cause to believe that a crime or crimes have been committed; P.A. 03-273 made a technical change in Subsec.
(a) and amended Subsec. (b)(4)(B) to add provision re finding that due to the specific nature of the alleged crime or the
nature of the investigation, it is reasonable to conclude that the use of normal investigative procedures would not result in
the obtaining of information that would advance the investigation or would fail to secure and preserve evidence or testimony
that might otherwise be compromised.
Cited. 202 C. 541. Cited. 204 C. 259. Cited. 206 C. 203. Cited. 207 C. 98. Secs. 54-47a-54-47h also cited. Id. Cited.
213 C. 66. Cited. 221 C. 625.
Cited. 16 CA 679. Cited. 17 CA 395. Cited. 20 CA 447. An application and order transmitted by an investigatory grand
jury panel pursuant to Subsec. (b) of this section are part of the record of the investigatory grand jury. 104 CA 398; judgment
reversed, see 293 C. 247.
Cited. 45 CS 1.
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Sec. 54-47e. Sealing of order and application. Summary of scope of investigation. Disclosure. Any order authorizing the investigation into the commission of a crime
or crimes and any application filed with the panel pursuant to section 54-47c or subsection (c) of section 54-47d shall be sealed. The panel shall submit to the Chief Court
Administrator a summary of the scope of the investigation, any recommendation as to
the court location at which any motions to quash and any contempt proceedings are to
be heard and the finding and record of the investigation are to be filed. Such summary
shall be public unless the panel determines, by majority vote, that such summary be
sealed for purposes of (1) ensuring the public safety of any individual, (2) ensuring that
the investigation would not be adversely affected or (3) complying with other provisions
of the general statutes or rules of court which prohibit disclosure of such information.
Any investigation by the investigatory grand jury shall be conducted in private, provided
the panel, by a majority vote, may order the investigation or any portion thereof to be
public when such disclosure or order is deemed by the panel to be in the public interest.
(P.A. 85-611, S. 4; P.A. 88-345, S. 2, 3.)
History: P.A. 88-345 deleted former provisions re discretionary disclosure of fact that matter has been referred to the
grand jury and added provisions re submission by panel of summary of scope of investigation, recommendation as to court
location and disclosure of such summary, effective June 7, 1988, and applicable to findings filed on or after June 7, 1988.
Cited. 202 C. 541. Cited. 204 C. 259. Does not apply to disclosure of material accumulated by grand jury investigation
convened under authority of repealed Sec. 54-47. 207 C. 98. Secs. 54-47a-54-47h cited. Id. Cited. 213 C. 66. Cited. 221
C. 625. The legislature has vested the grand jury and the panel with discretion to disclose evidence gathered as a result of
a grand jury investigation, however section is intended to remove such discretion with respect to the application for
investigatory grand jury and the panel's order. 293 C. 247.
Cited. 16 CA 679. Cited. 17 CA 395. Cited. 20 CA 447. The application for investigatory grand jury and panel's order
thereon must be sealed at onset of investigation and remain sealed unless, after investigation and filing of finding and
record of investigatory grand jury, a majority of panel deems their disclosure to be in public interest. 104 CA 398; judgment
reversed, see 293 C. 247.
Cited. 45 CS 1.
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Sec. 54-47f. Conduct of investigation. Testimony of witnesses. (a) The investigatory grand jury, in conducting the investigation, may (1) seek the assistance of the
Chief State's Attorney or state's attorney who filed the application, or his designee, (2)
appoint an attorney to provide assistance if a judge of the Superior Court, Appellate
Court or Supreme Court filed the application or (3) appoint any other attorney to provide
assistance when necessary in the interest of justice.
(b) The attendance of witnesses and the production of documents at such investigation may be compelled by subpoena, signed by any official authorized to issue such
process.
(c) If any witness properly summoned fails to appear or to produce any documents
included in the subpoena, or if he fails to answer any proper question, the investigatory
grand jury conducting the investigation may report the matter to the state's attorney for
the judicial district which has been designated in subsection (a) of section 54-47d unless
such state's attorney is the applicant or has been appointed to assist in such investigation,
in which case the investigatory grand jury shall report the matter to the Chief State's
Attorney, and such state's attorney or Chief State's Attorney, as the case may be, may
file a complaint setting forth the facts at any criminal session of the superior court in
such judicial district. The court shall thereupon issue a citation to the witness to appear
before the court and show cause why he should not be punished as for a contempt, and
if, after hearing, the court finds that he failed to appear without due cause or failed to
produce any document properly to be presented to the investigatory grand jury or failed
to answer any proper question in the course of the investigation, it may punish him as
it might a witness failing to appear, to produce a document properly to be considered
or to answer a proper question before the court.
(d) Witnesses may be examined by the investigatory grand jury conducting the
investigation or by any attorney or attorneys appointed by such investigatory grand jury
for such purpose. At the hearing, the official conducting the investigation shall inform
the witness that he has the right to have counsel present and to consult with such counsel.
(e) The official conducting the investigation shall inform any witness who is a target
of the investigation that he is a target and shall advise him that he has the right under
the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of Connecticut not to be
compelled to be a witness, or to give evidence, against himself.
(f) Any attorney appointed to assist in conducting the investigation shall disclose
to the investigatory grand jury any exculpatory information or material in his possession,
custody or control concerning any person who is a target of the investigation.
(g) An official stenographer of the Superior Court or his assistant shall record any
testimony taken at the investigation.
(P.A. 85-611, S. 5; P.A. 01-84, S. 24, 26.)
History: P.A. 01-84 made a technical change in Subsec. (b), effective July 1, 2001.
Cited. 202 C. 541. Cited. 204 C. 259. Cited. 207 C. 98. Secs. 54-47a-54-47h also cited. Id. Cited. 213 C. 66. Cited.
221 C. 625.
Cited. 16 CA 679. Cited. 17 CA 395. Cited. 20 CA 447.
Cited. 45 CS 1.
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Sec. 54-47g. Finding and record of investigation. Disclosure. Hearing. Access
to testimony. (a) Within sixty days of the conclusion of the investigation, the investigatory grand jury conducting such investigation shall file its finding with the court of the
judicial district designated by the Chief Court Administrator pursuant to subsection (a)
of section 54-47d, and shall file a copy of its finding with the panel and with the Chief
State's Attorney or a state's attorney if such Chief State's Attorney or state's attorney
made application for the investigation. The stenographer shall file any record of the
investigation with the court of the judicial district designated by the Chief Court Administrator pursuant to subsection (a) of section 54-47d and the panel and the Chief State's
Attorney or a state's attorney, if such Chief State's Attorney or state's attorney made
application for the investigation, shall have access to such record upon request made to
the clerk of the court without a hearing. Such finding shall state whether or not there is
probable cause to believe that a crime or crimes have been committed. Except as otherwise provided in this section, any part of the record of the investigation not disclosed
with the finding pursuant to subsection (b) of this section shall be sealed, provided any
person may file an application with the panel for disclosure of any such part of the
record. Upon receipt of such application, the panel shall, after notice, hold a hearing
and the panel, by a majority vote, may disclose any such part of the record when such
disclosure is deemed by the panel to be in the public interest, except that no part of the
record shall be disclosed which contains allegations of the commission of a crime by
an individual if the investigatory grand jury failed to find probable cause that such
individual committed such crime unless such individual requests the release of such
part of the record. Any person aggrieved by an order of the panel shall have the right
to appeal such order by filing a petition for review with the Appellate Court within
seventy-two hours from the issuance of such order.
(b) The finding of the investigation shall be open to public inspection and copying
at the court where it has been filed seven calendar days after it has been filed, unless
within that period the Chief State's Attorney or a state's attorney with whom the finding
was filed files a motion with the investigatory grand jury requesting that a part or all of
such finding not be so disclosed. The finding may include all or such part of the record
as the investigatory grand jury may determine, except that no part of the record shall
be disclosed which contains allegations of the commission of a crime by an individual
if the investigatory grand jury failed to find probable cause that such individual committed such crime unless such individual requests the release of such part of the record. In
such event as much of the finding as has not been sought to be withheld from disclosure
shall be disclosed promptly upon the expiration of said seven-calendar-day period.
(c) Within fifteen calendar days of the filing of such motion, the investigatory grand
jury shall conduct a hearing. The investigatory grand jury shall give written notice of
such hearing to the person filing such motion and any other person the investigatory
grand jury deems to be an interested party to the proceedings, which may include, but
not be limited to, persons who testified or were the subject of testimony before the
investigatory grand jury. Within five calendar days of the conclusion of the hearing, the
investigatory grand jury shall render its decision, and shall send copies thereof to all
those to whom it gave notice of the hearing. It shall deny any such motion unless it
makes specific findings of fact on the record that there is a substantial probability that
one of the following interests will be prejudiced by publicity that nondisclosure would
prevent, and that reasonable alternatives to nondisclosure cannot adequately protect that
interest: (1) The right of a person to a fair trial; (2) the prevention of potential defendants
from fleeing; (3) the prevention of subornation of perjury or tampering with witnesses;
or (4) the protection of the lives and reputations of innocent persons which would be
significantly damaged by the release of uncorroborated information. Any order of nondisclosure shall be drawn to protect the interest so found.
(d) Any person aggrieved by an order of the investigatory grand jury shall have the
right to appeal such order by filing a petition for review with the Appellate Court within
seventy-two hours from issuance of such order.
(e) The Appellate Court shall provide an expedited hearing on such petition in accordance with such rules as the judges of the Appellate Court may adopt, consistent
with the rights of the petitioner and the parties.
(f) Notwithstanding the existence of an order of nondisclosure under this section,
any witness may apply in writing to the presiding judge of the criminal session of the
court of the judicial district wherein the record of the investigation has been filed, or
his designee, for access to and a copy of the record of his own testimony. Any witness
shall be allowed access, at all reasonable times, to the record of his own testimony and
be allowed to obtain a copy of such record unless said judge or his designee finds after
a hearing and for good cause shown that it is not in the best interest of justice to allow
the witness to have access to and a copy of the record of his testimony.
(g) Notwithstanding the existence of an order of nondisclosure under this section,
the presiding judge of the criminal session of the court of the judicial district wherein
the record of the investigation has been filed, or his designee, shall grant any written
request of a person accused of a crime as a result of the investigation to have access, at
all reasonable times, to the record of his own testimony and to obtain a copy of such
record.
(P.A. 85-611, S. 6; P.A. 87-350, S. 5, 6; P.A. 88-148; 88-345, S. 1, 3; P.A. 05-288, S. 185.)
History: P.A. 87-350 added provisions re duty of stenographer to file copies of finding and record of investigation,
application of witness to presiding judge for access to record of investigation, right of witness to access at all reasonable
times to access of record of own testimony and granting written request by person accused of crime as result of investigation
to access of record of own testimony; P.A. 88-148 amended Subsec. (b) to authorize any witness to apply for and, unless
the presiding judge or his designee disallows it, to obtain a copy of the record of his own testimony, and amended Subsec.
(c) to require the presiding judge or his designee to grant the written request of a person accused of a crime as a result of
the investigation to obtain a copy of the record of his own testimony; P.A. 88-345 amended Subsec. (a) to permit person
to make application to panel for disclosure of record and panel to disclose any part of the record, except such part which
contains allegations re individual if grand jury failed to find probable cause and re right of appeal within 72 hours of order,
and added new provisions as Subsecs. (b) to (e), inclusive, re disclosure of finding, hearing on motion for nondisclosure,
specific findings of fact necessary for granting such motion, right of appeal of order of grand jury and expedited hearing
on petition by appellate court, relettering prior provisions accordingly, effective June 7, 1988, and applicable to findings
filed on or after June 7, 1988; P.A. 05-288 made a technical change in Subsec. (a), effective July 13, 2005.
Cited. 202 C. 541. Cited. 204 C. 259. Cited. 207 C. 98. Secs. 54-47a-54-47h also cited. Id. Cited. 213 C. 66. Cited.
219 C. 905. Cited. 221 C. 625. State's right of access to testimony of grand jury witness includes right to use that testimony
in its case-in-chief in subsequent criminal prosecution of that witness. To the extent that trial court's ruling is predicated
on grand juror's order of secrecy, it lacks support in record because defendant never established that he relied to his
detriment on grand juror's order of secrecy. 250 C. 188. The order and application are not part of the record of the grand
jury investigation and must be sealed pursuant to Sec. 54-47e since the legislature did not vest the grand jury or panel with
discretion to make public disclosure of the order and application. 293 C. 247.
Cited. 16 CA 679. Cited. 17 CA 395. Cited. 19 CA 230. Cited. 20 CA 447.
Cited. 45 CS 1.
Subsec. (a):
P.A. 88-345 Sec. 1(a) cited. 221 C. 625. Cited. 222 C. 331. Cited. 229 C. 178.
Initial determination of "public interest" left to grand jury panel. 20 CA 447. Cited. 43 CA 851.
Because prosecution has right of access under statute to record of testimony from investigatory grand jury proceedings,
it could provide to defendants, without request for hearing, those categories of materials normally subject to disclosure in
criminal cases, as such disclosure is very much part of prosecutorial function, although disclosure must be only for purpose
of pending criminal case and any discovery ordered by trial court pursuant to defense request should be accompanied by
protective order. 50 CS 23.
Subsec. (c):
The legislature intended for grand jury to have discretion as to whether to grant a motion to seal its report if there was
a substantial probability that the information in the report would prejudice a person's right to a fair trial to a degree that is
more than de minimis and that the prejudice could be prevented by nondisclosure. 293 C. 464. The "reasonable alternatives"
portion requires grand jury to consider alternatives to nondisclosure when the alternatives would protect the enumerated
interests in the first instance, but does not require grand jury to injure an enumerated interest through disclosure and then
craft remedies to cure that injury. Id. The phrase "innocent persons" does not include persons who have been arrested as
the result of grand jury's finding of probable cause. Id.
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Sec. 54-47h. Report. In January of each year, the panel of judges appointed pursuant to section 54-47b shall report to the Chief Court Administrator, who shall in turn
report to the Chief Justice, Governor and General Assembly, the following information
with respect to applications made during the preceding calendar year: (1) The number
of applications for an investigation into the commission of a crime or crimes filed with
the panel; (2) the number of applications approved by the panel; and (3) the number of
applications approved for extensions of time or amendments to the order.
(P.A. 85-611, S. 7.)
Cited. 202 C. 541. Cited. 204 C. 259. Cited. 207 C. 98. Cited. 213 C. 66. Appellate review under section must be
forwarded on an action brought to the trial court. There was no basis for appeal from determinations of grand jury panel
before effective date of P.A. 88-345, i.e. June 7, 1988. 221 C. 625.
Cited. 16 CA 679. Cited. 17 CA 395. Cited. 20 CA 447.
Cited. 45 CS 1.
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Sec. 54-47i. Authority of investigation ordered prior to October 1, 1985. (a)
The authority of any judge, state referee or three judges of the Superior Court to conduct
an inquiry to determine whether or not there is probable cause to believe that a crime
or crimes have been committed, where such inquiry was ordered prior to October 1,
1985, in accordance with section 54-47 of the general statutes, revision of 1958, revised
to January 1, 1985, shall continue until the conclusion of such inquiry and a final report
has been filed with the court pursuant to said section, and any action taken or caused to
be taken by such judge, state referee or three judges of the Superior Court pursuant to
such inquiry, otherwise valid, shall be valid notwithstanding that such action was or is
taken or caused to be taken on or after October 1, 1985, and any evidence obtained
pursuant to such inquiry, otherwise admissible, shall be admissible in any criminal prosecution of a person accused as a result of such inquiry notwithstanding that such evidence
was or is obtained on or after October 1, 1985.
(b) The appointment of any judge or referee after October 1, 1985, to replace a
judge or referee ordered to conduct an inquiry to determine whether or not probable
cause to believe that a crime or crimes have been committed, where such inquiry was
ordered prior to October 1, 1985, in accordance with section 54-47 of the general statutes,
revised to January 1, 1985, shall not be deemed to create a new inquiry and the authority
of such judge so appointed shall continue as provided in subsection (a) of this section.
(P.A. 86-317, S. 1, 2.)
P.A. 86-317 cited. 202 C. 189. P.A. 85-611 as clarified by P.A. 86-317 "did not revoke the authority of or alter the
procedures governing investigatory grand juries that had been properly authorized before October 1, 1985." Id. Section
validates any action taken or evidence obtained on or after October 1, 1985, pursuant to authority contained in former Sec.
54-47; considered to be clarifying. Id., 541. Cited (as P.A. 86-317, Sec. 1(a)). 207 C. 98. Cited. 213 C. 66.
Cited. 45 CS 1.
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Secs. 54-47j to 54-47z. Reserved for future use.
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Sec. 54-47aa. Ex parte court order to compel disclosure of certain telephone
and Internet records. (a) For the purposes of this section:
(1) "Basic subscriber information" means: (A) Name, (B) address, (C) local and
long distance telephone connection records or records of session times and durations,
(D) length of service, including start date, and types of services utilized, (E) telephone
or instrument number or other subscriber number or identity, including any assigned
Internet protocol address, and (F) means and source of payment for such service, including any credit card or bank account number;
(2) "Call-identifying information" means dialing or signaling information that identifies the origin, direction, destination or termination of each communication generated
or received by a subscriber or customer by means of any equipment, facility or service
of a telecommunications carrier;
(3) "Electronic communication service" means "electronic communication service" as defined in 18 USC 2510, as amended from time to time;
(4) "Law enforcement official" means the Chief State's Attorney, a state's attorney,
an inspector with the Division of Criminal Justice, a sworn member of the Division of
State Police within the Department of Public Safety or a sworn member of an organized
local police department;
(5) "Remote computing service" means "remote computing service" as defined in
section 18 USC 2711, as amended from time to time; and
(6) "Telecommunications carrier" means "telecommunications carrier" as defined
in 47 USC 1001, as amended from time to time.
(b) A law enforcement official may request an ex parte order from a judge of the
Superior Court to compel (1) a telecommunications carrier to disclose call-identifying
information pertaining to a subscriber or customer, or (2) a provider of electronic communication service or remote computing service to disclose basic subscriber information
pertaining to a subscriber or customer. The judge shall grant such order if the law enforcement official states a reasonable and articulable suspicion that a crime has been or is
being committed or that exigent circumstances exist and such call-identifying or basic
subscriber information is relevant and material to an ongoing criminal investigation.
The order shall state upon its face the case number assigned to such investigation, the
date and time of issuance and the name of the judge authorizing the order. The law
enforcement official shall have any ex parte order issued pursuant to this subsection
signed by the authorizing judge within forty-eight hours or not later than the next business day, whichever is earlier.
(c) A telecommunications carrier shall disclose call-identifying information and a
provider of electronic communication service or remote computing service shall disclose
basic subscriber information to a law enforcement official when an order is issued pursuant to subsection (b) of this section.
(d) Not later than forty-eight hours after the issuance of an order pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, the law enforcement official shall mail notice of the issuance of
such order to the subscriber or customer whose call-identifying information or basic
subscriber information is the subject of such order, except that such notification may
be delayed for a period of up to ninety days upon the execution of a written certification
of such official to the judge who authorized the order that there is reason to believe that
notification of the existence of the order may result in (1) endangering the life or physical
safety of an individual, (2) flight from prosecution, (3) destruction of or tampering with
evidence, (4) intimidation of potential witnesses, or (5) otherwise seriously jeopardizing
the investigation. The law enforcement official shall maintain a true copy of such certification. During such ninety-day period, the law enforcement official may request the
court to extend such period of delayed notification. Such period may be extended beyond
ninety days only upon approval of the court.
(e) A telecommunications carrier or provider of electronic communication service
or remote computing service that provides information pursuant to an order issued pursuant to subsection (b) of this section shall be compensated for the reasonable expenses
incurred in providing such information.
(f) Any telecommunications carrier or provider of electronic communication service or remote computing service that provides information in good faith pursuant to
an order issued pursuant to subsection (b) of this section shall be afforded the legal
protections provided under 18 USC 3124, as amended from time to time, with regard
to such actions.
(g) Not later than January fifteenth of each year, each law enforcement official shall
report to the Chief State's Attorney the information required by this subsection with
respect to each order issued pursuant to subsection (b) of this section in the preceding
calendar year. The Chief State's Attorney shall, based upon the reports filed by each
law enforcement official and not later than January thirty-first of each year, submit a
report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to criminal law and
procedure concerning orders issued pursuant to subsection (b) of this section in the
preceding calendar year. The report shall include the following information: (1) The
number of orders issued, (2) whether the order was directed to a telecommunications
carrier, provider of electronic communication service or provider of remote computing
service, (3) whether the information sought was call-identifying information or basic
subscriber information, (4) the statutory offense or offenses that were the subject of the
investigation, (5) the number of notifications that were delayed pursuant to subsection
(d) of this section, and the reason for such delayed notification, (6) the number of motions
to vacate an order that were filed, and the number of motions granted or denied, (7) the
number of investigations concluded and the final result of such investigations, and (8)
the status of any criminal prosecution resulting from the investigation.
(P.A. 05-182, S. 1, 2.)
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Sec. 54-48. Reward for arrest of capital offender or felon. When any crime
punishable by death or imprisonment for more than one year has been committed, the
Governor, upon application of the state's attorney for the judicial district in which it
has been committed, may offer, publicly, a reward not exceeding fifty thousand dollars,
to the person who gives information leading to the arrest and conviction of the guilty
person, or, if such guilty person has fled after conviction of a felony in a court of this
state, to the person who gives information leading to the arrest and detention of the
convicted felon, whether found within the state or elsewhere, which reward shall be
paid to the informer by the state, by order of the court before which such conviction is had.
(1949 Rev., S. 8269; P.A. 73-116, S. 3; 73-667, S. 1, 2; P.A. 77-604, S. 55, 84; P.A. 78-276; 78-280, S. 2, 127; P.A.
97-52.)
History: P.A. 73-116 substituted "Connecticut Correctional Institution, Somers" for "State Prison" and added reference
to judicial districts; P.A. 73-667 changed effective date of P.A. 73-116 from October 1, 1973, to April 25, 1973; P.A. 77-604 deleted specific reference to imprisonment at Somers referring instead to imprisonment "for more than one year";
P.A. 78-276 deleted reference to counties (as did P.A. 78-280) and increased maximum amount of reward from $3,000 to
$20,000; P.A. 97-52 increased the maximum amount of the reward to $50,000.
Does not recompense one who had wholly performed before the offer was made. 143 C. 462.
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Sec. 54-49. Reward for information as to high crime or crime resulting in
death of police officer or firefighter. (a) When any high crime has been committed in
any municipality, the chief executive officer of such municipality, as described in section
7-193, may offer, publicly, a reward not exceeding two thousand five hundred dollars,
to the person who gives information leading to the arrest and conviction of the guilty
person; which reward shall be paid to the informer by the municipality, by order of the
court before which such conviction is had.
(b) When any crime has been committed in any municipality which results in the
death of any police officer or firefighter, the chief executive officer of such municipality,
upon the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the legislative body of such municipality, or
when the legislative body is the town meeting, at least two-thirds of those present and
voting, may offer publicly, a reward not exceeding twenty thousand dollars, to the person
who gives information leading to the arrest and conviction of the guilty person, which
reward shall be paid to the informer by the municipality, by order of the court before
which such conviction is had.
(1949 Rev., S. 8270; P.A. 84-540, S. 5, 7; P.A. 93-425, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 84-540 added Subsec. (b) authorizing the chief executive officer of a municipality in which a crime has
been committed which results in the death of a police officer or firefighter, to offer a reward for information leading to
arrest and conviction of guilty person; P.A. 93-425 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting "town, its selectmen" and adding
"municipality, the chief executive officer of such municipality, as described in section 7-193", increasing reward from
amount not exceeding $200 to $2,500, and deleting "town" and substituting "municipality".
A high crime is an immoral and unlawful act, nearly allied and equal in guilt to a felony, but not coming strictly within
that denomination. 6 C. 417. Construction of section should be equitable. 39 C. 159. Offer of reward not barred until statute
of limitations has run against the crime. Id. City has no power to offer reward, when. 65 C. 300. Cited. 84 C. 374. Cited.
86 C. 437.
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Sec. 54-50. Reward for information as to unlawful disinterment of corpse. For
any violation of the provisions of section 53-334, the Governor, upon application of the
selectmen of the town where the offense has been committed, shall, publicly, offer a
reward, not exceeding two hundred dollars, for the apprehension of the guilty person;
and, if the offender is convicted, such reward shall be paid to the informer by the state,
upon order of the court before which the conviction is had.
(1949 Rev., S. 8271.)
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Sec. 54-51. Reward for information as to theft of motor vehicle, livestock or
poultry. Section 54-51 is repealed, effective October 1, 2003.
(1949 Rev., S. 8272; P.A. 74-338, S. 55, 94; P.A. 03-9, S. 1.)
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Sec. 54-52. Determination of claims to reward. When any reward is offered for
the recovery of stolen property, or for information which may lead to the conviction of
any criminal, or for both, the court before which conviction is had or the superior court
for the judicial district where the offense was committed, at a criminal term, may decide
upon the claims of the parties interested in such reward. If there is more than one claimant
for the reward, the court in which the conviction was secured or the court for the judicial
district wherein the offense was committed, or the presiding judge of such court, shall
determine who are justly entitled to the reward, and may apportion it equitably
among them.
(1949 Rev., S. 8268, 8273; P.A. 73-116, S. 24; 73-667, S. 1, 2; P.A. 76-436, S. 540, 681; P.A. 78-280, S. 1, 127.)
History: P.A. 73-116 added reference to judicial districts; P.A. 73-667 changed effective date of P.A. 73-116 from
October 1, 1973, to April 25, 1973; P.A. 76-436 deleted provision whereby presiding judge of court to which accused was
bound over determines amount of reward when accused forfeits his recognizance and authorized court for county or judicial
district where offense was committed to determine reward, reflecting transfer of all trial jurisdiction to superior court,
effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 78-280 deleted references to counties.
Averments in application. 39 C. 161. Party furnishing merely corroborative evidence, if necessary to conviction, may
be entitled to reward. Id., 162. The offer, unless otherwise limited, holds good until a prosecution would be barred by
statute of limitations. Id., 163. Policeman detecting burglar cannot demand reward. 51 C. 577. Statutes as to rewards give
rise to contractual rights. 78 C. 428. Cited. 143 C. 462.
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Sec. 54-53. Release by correctional officials. Each person detained in a community correctional center pursuant to the issuance of a bench warrant of arrest or for
arraignment, sentencing or trial for an offense not punishable by death shall be entitled
to bail and shall be released from such institution upon entering into a recognizance,
with sufficient surety, or upon posting cash bail as provided in section 54-66, for the
detained person's appearance before the court having cognizance of the offense, to be
taken by any person designated by the Commissioner of Correction at the institution
where the person is detained. The person so designated shall deliver the recognizance
or cash bail to the clerk of the appropriate court before the opening of the court on the
first court day thereafter. When cash bail in excess of ten thousand dollars is received
for a detained person accused of a felony, where the underlying facts and circumstances
of the felony involve the use, attempted use or threatened use of physical force against
another person, the person so designated shall prepare a report that contains (1) the
name, address and taxpayer identification number of the detained person, (2) the name,
address and taxpayer identification number of each person offering the cash bail, other
than a person licensed as a professional bondsman under chapter 533 or a surety bail
bond agent under chapter 700f, (3) the amount of cash received, and (4) the date the
cash was received. Not later than fifteen days after receipt of such cash bail, the person
so designated shall file the report with the Department of Revenue Services and mail a
copy of the report to the state's attorney for the judicial district in which the alleged
offense was committed and to each person offering the cash bail.
(1949 Rev., S. 8778; 1961, P.A. 517, S. 50; February, 1965, P.A. 606; 1969, P.A. 803, S. 2; P.A. 80-313, S. 17; P.A.
99-240, S. 15.)
History: 1961 act deleted obsolete reference to county commissioners; 1965 act made section applicable to person
awaiting arraignment or sentencing as well as trial, offered the alternative of posting cash bail and substituted present
provisions for taking bail for prior provision of taking by the court, a judge or clerk; 1969 act replaced jail administrator
with commissioner of correction, substituted references to community correctional centers for references to jails and
specified applicability to persons detained "pursuant to the issuance of a bench warrant"; P.A. 80-313 made minor changes
in wording; P.A. 99-240 added provisions requiring the person designated by the commissioner to prepare a report when
cash bail in excess of $10,000 is received for a detained person accused of a felony involving the use, attempted use or
threatened use of physical force against another person, specifying the contents of such report and requiring such designated
person not later than 15 days after receipt of such cash bail to file such report with the Department of Revenue Services
and mail a copy of such report to the appropriate state's attorney and each person offering the cash bail.
Not permitted to one under sentence for prior offense. K. 260. Sheriff may take bail and release prisoner. 2 D. 11. Not
the practice to issue a special order to clerk for commitment of prisoner to jail; there is a continuing order to that effect.
36 C. 251. Bail where state appeals; 65 C. 282; where accused appeals to supreme court and sentence is stayed. 71 C. 457.
Liabilities on bail bond. 83 C. 688. Nature of act of taking bail; law authorizing clerk to take bail will not permit him to
fix amount. 89 C. 301. Application to supreme court to admit accused to bail denied; procedure there must be to have
finding of facts made by referee unless they are admitted by state's attorney. 109 C. 738. Cited. 140 C. 326. In capital
cases refusal of bail must be restricted to cases where proof is evident or presumption great in accord with section 8 of
Article I of state's constitution. Burden of proof that proof is evident or presumption great in capital offenses as grounds
for refusing bail is on state and not met by fact of grand jury indictment. 159 C. 264.
Only an act of God or an act of law or an act of the obligee excuses a surety whose principal does not appear before
court. Sleepiness constitutes no reason for relaxation of the law. 23 CS 321.
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Sec. 54-53a. Detention of persons who have not made bail. (a) No person who
has not made bail may be detained in a community correctional center pursuant to the
issuance of a bench warrant of arrest or for arraignment, sentencing or trial for an offense
not punishable by death, for longer than forty-five days, unless at the expiration of the
forty-five days he is presented to the court having cognizance of the offense. On each
such presentment, the court may reduce, modify or discharge the bail, or may for cause
shown remand the person to the custody of the Commissioner of Correction. On the
expiration of each successive forty-five-day period, the person may again by motion be
presented to the court for such purpose.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, any person who
has not made bail and is detained in a community correctional center pursuant to the
issuance of a bench warrant of arrest or for arraignment, sentencing or trial for an offense
classified as a class D felony or as a misdemeanor, except a person charged with a crime
in another state and detained pursuant to chapter 964 or a person detained for violation
of his parole pending a parole revocation hearing, shall be presented to the court having
cognizance of the offense within thirty days of the date of his detention. On such presentment, the court may reduce, modify or discharge the bail or may for cause shown remand
the person to the custody of the Commissioner of Correction. On the expiration of each
successive thirty-day period, the person shall again be presented to the court for such
purpose.
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of this section, any
person who has not made bail may be heard by the court upon a motion for modification
of the bail at any time.
(1971, P.A. 513; P.A. 74-186, S. 1, 12; P.A. 80-313, S. 25; P.A. 82-244; P.A. 89-166.)
History: P.A. 74-186 made minor changes in wording and specified that presentment is to occur at the expiration of
each successive 45-day period; P.A. 80-313 made minor changes in wording, substituting "the" for "such" etc; P.A. 82-244 added Subsec. (b) requiring a bail review hearing every 30 days for persons charged with a class D felony or a
misdemeanor; P.A. 89-166 added Subsec. (c) providing that any person who has not made bail may be heard by the court
upon a motion for modification of the bail at any time.
See Sec. 51-180 re criminal terms and sessions of court.
See Sec. 51-180a re special session held when accused is confined for want of bail.
Cited. 169 C. 438. Section which requires review of bail every forty-five days for persons held in custody while
mandating procedure for implementing right to be released on bail, provides no sanction for a violation of that procedure.
Denial of any right created by this section is not a violation of fundamental constitutional right. 171 C. 395.
Cited. 29 CS 434. Provides no sanction in event of a violation; defendant not entitled to dismissal of information without
showing of prejudice. 43 CS 211.
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Secs. 54-54 and 54-55. Original information in Court of Common Pleas. Information in cases appealed to Court of Common Pleas. Sections 54-54 and 54-55 are
repealed.
(1949 Rev., S. 8767, 8768; 1961, P.A. 517, S. 71.)
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Sec. 54-56. Dismissal of information by court. All courts having jurisdiction of
criminal cases shall at all times have jurisdiction and control over informations and
criminal cases pending therein and may, at any time, upon motion by the defendant,
dismiss any information and order such defendant discharged if, in the opinion of the
court, there is not sufficient evidence or cause to justify the bringing or continuing of
such information or the placing of the person accused therein on trial.
(1949 Rev., S. 8769.)
Cited. 170 C. 337. In absence of statutory authority, court may not of its own motion dismiss a criminal prosecution
unless there is fundamental legal defect in information or indictment or constitutional defect such as denial of speedy trial
or illegality of arrest. 172 C. 608. Cited. 189 C. 42. Cited. 193 C. 602. Cited. 198 C. 435. Trial court did not abuse its
discretion having properly found "cause" to dismiss with prejudice. 200 C. 453. Cited. 204 C. 187. Cited. 207 C. 374.
Cited. 209 C. 225. Cited. 213 C. 708. Cited. 214 C. 657. Cited. 229 C. 716. Cited. 242 C. 409. Absent compliance with
section, trial court did not have authority to dismiss pending misdemeanor charge because, in trial court's view, case was
not sufficiently important to warrant time and expense of jury trial. 243 C. 690.
Cited. 4 CA 520. Cited. 5 CA 347. Cited. 7 CA 46. Cited. 11 CA 224. Insufficient cause "prong" of statute is inappropriate
basis for dismissal of information preceded by arrest warrant where no trial has yet been held. 19 CA 495. Cited. 20 CA
321. Cited. 21 CA 210. Cited. 24 CA 195. Cited. 29 CA 689. Cited. 40 CA 789. Cited. 45 CA 722.
Purpose and history of law. 13 CS 112. Cited. 21 CS 246. Resort to this section is not proper method to raise issue of
jurisdiction of court over person of defendant. 28 CS 512. Purpose of motion to dismiss is to prevent unchecked powers
by prosecuting attorney. 29 CS 118. Insufficient evidence and insufficient cause grounds of section may not be raised
through pretrial dismissal motion in case where defendant was arrested on warrant signed by a judge. 49 CS 248.
Motion to dismiss count having been previously granted, motion for directed verdict on that count was properly denied.
5 Conn. Cir. Ct. 78.
Subsec. (d):
Cited. 193 C. 474.
Subsec. (e):
Cited. 200 C. 440.
Subsec. (j):
Cited. 8 CA 607.
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Sec. 54-56a. (Formerly Sec. 54-2b). Pleading by mail in certain motor vehicle
cases. In any criminal action arising out of an alleged violation of the law relating to
motor vehicles, except a violation of section 14-219 specified in subsection (e) of said
section 14-219, appearances, pleas of not guilty and requests for trial by jury or court
may be made by or on behalf of the defendant by mailing such pleas and requests by
first-class mail, postage prepaid, to the clerk of the court in which such case is to be
tried, which pleas and requests shall be received by said clerk not later than the court
day next preceding the court day on which the defendant is to appear. Said pleas and
claims shall be filed on forms approved by the Office of the Chief Court Administrator.
(1963, P.A. 475; P.A. 74-183, S. 127, 291; P.A. 76-381, S. 3; 76-436, S. 519, 681; P.A. 77-452, S. 34, 72; P.A. 79-196; P.A. 85-446, S. 4, 6; P.A. 90-213, S. 12.)
History: P.A. 74-183 replaced circuit court with court of common pleas, reflecting reorganization of judicial system,
effective December 31, 1974; P.A. 76-381 amended section to specify applicability re actions arising out of alleged commission of an infraction; P.A. 76-436 and P.A. 77-452 replaced court of common pleas with superior court, reflecting transfer
of all trial jurisdiction to superior court, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 79-196 required that forms for filing pleas and claims
be approved by chief court administrator's office rather than by superior court judges; Sec. 54-2b transferred to Sec. 54-56a in 1981; P.A. 85-446 deleted references to procedures for an alleged commission of an infraction, effective October
1, 1986; P.A. 90-213 added exception for a violation of Sec. 14-219 specified in Subsec. (e) of said Sec. 14-219.
Annotation to former section 54-2b:
Cited. 29 CS 155.
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Sec. 54-56b. Right to dismissal or trial on nolle. A nolle prosequi may not be
entered as to any count in a complaint or information if the accused objects to the nolle
prosequi and demands either a trial or dismissal, except with respect to prosecutions in
which a nolle prosequi is entered upon a representation to the court by the prosecuting
official that a material witness has died, disappeared or become disabled or that material
evidence has disappeared or has been destroyed and that a further investigation is therefore necessary.
(P.A. 80-313, S. 30.)
History: (Revisor's note: This section was formerly part of Sec. 54-46. See Sec. 54-46 History re P.A. 80-313).
Cited as Sec. 54-46. 180 C. 153. The court must accept the entry of the nolle prosequi for the record unless it is persuaded
that prosecutor's exercise of discretion is clearly contrary to manifest public interest. 185 C. 199. Cited. 191 C. 27. Cited.
198 C. 435. Entry of nolles over defendant's objection fits within exception to rule of finality allowing appeal of interlocutory
trial court rulings that, if erroneous, cannot later be remedied. 209 C. 52. Gives a defendant right to have criminal charge
disposed of with finality by dismissal with prejudice. Id., 133. Cited. 214 C. 616. Cited. 233 C. 44. Cited. 240 C. 590. Trial
court properly allowed the entry of nolle prosequi based on the state's representations that a key witness against defendant
was unavailable due to the witness' intent to assert his fifth amendment privilege against self-incrimination, and the court
was not required to conduct an evidentiary hearing re the state's representations. 289 C. 598. The nolle prosequi functionally
converted into a dismissal without prejudice pursuant to Sec. 54-142a(c) after thirteen months had elapsed, therefore the
state was not barred from bringing charges against defendant four years later and defendant's right to a speedy trial was
not violated. Id.
Cited. 5 CA 347. Cited. 10 CA 217. Cited. 11 CA 224. Cited. 40 CA 705; judgment reversed, see 240 C. 590. Cited.
44 CA 162. Defendant's objection to entry of nolle made seven weeks after it had been entered was not timely and fell
outside limited jurisdiction retained by the court following entry of a nolle. 111 CA 397.
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Sec. 54-56c. Request for privileged trial status. If the accused enters a plea of
not guilty, the state's attorney, assistant state's attorney or deputy assistant state's attorney may, in accordance with rules adopted by the judges of the Superior Court, request
that the case be privileged with respect to assignment for trial.
(P.A. 80-313, S. 31.)
History: (Revisor's note: This section was formerly part of Sec. 54-46. See Sec. 54-46 History re P.A. 80-313).
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Sec. 54-56d. (Formerly Sec. 54-40). Competency to stand trial. (a) Competency requirement. Definition. A defendant shall not be tried, convicted or sentenced
while the defendant is not competent. For the purposes of this section, a defendant is
not competent if the defendant is unable to understand the proceedings against him or
her or to assist in his or her own defense.
(b) Presumption of competency. A defendant is presumed to be competent. The
burden of proving that the defendant is not competent by a preponderance of the evidence
and the burden of going forward with the evidence are on the party raising the issue.
The burden of going forward with the evidence shall be on the state if the court raises
the issue. The court may call its own witnesses and conduct its own inquiry.
(c) Request for examination. If, at any time during a criminal proceeding, it appears that the defendant is not competent, counsel for the defendant or for the state, or
the court, on its own motion, may request an examination to determine the defendant's
competency.
(d) Examination of defendant. Report. If the court finds that the request for an
examination is justified and that, in accordance with procedures established by the judges
of the Superior Court, there is probable cause to believe that the defendant has committed
the crime for which the defendant is charged, the court shall order an examination of
the defendant as to his or her competency. The court may (1) appoint one or more
physicians specializing in psychiatry to examine the defendant, or (2) order the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services to conduct the examination either (A)
by a clinical team consisting of a physician specializing in psychiatry, a clinical psychologist and one of the following: A clinical social worker licensed pursuant to chapter
383b or a psychiatric nurse clinical specialist holding a master's degree in nursing, or
(B) by one or more physicians specializing in psychiatry, except that no employee of
the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services who has served as a member
of a clinical team in the course of such employment for at least five years prior to October
1, 1995, shall be precluded from being appointed as a member of a clinical team. If
the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services is ordered to conduct the
examination, the commissioner shall select the members of the clinical team or the
physician or physicians. When performing an examination under this section, the examiners shall have access to information on treatment dates and locations in the defendant's
treatment history contained in the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services'
database of treatment episodes for the purpose of requesting a release of treatment information from the defendant. If the examiners determine that the defendant is not competent, the examiners shall then determine whether there is a substantial probability that
the defendant, if provided with a course of treatment, will regain competency within
the maximum period of any placement order under this section. If the examiners determine that there is a substantial probability that the defendant, if provided with a course
of treatment, will regain competency within the maximum period of any placement order
under this section, the examiners shall then determine whether the defendant appears to
be eligible for civil commitment, with monitoring by the Court Support Services Division, pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection (h) of this section. If the examiners determine that there is not a substantial probability that the defendant, if provided with a
course of treatment, will regain competency within the maximum period of any placement order under this section, the examiners shall then determine whether the defendant
appears to be eligible for civil commitment to a hospital for psychiatric disabilities
pursuant to subsection (m) of this section and make a recommendation to the court
regarding the appropriateness of such civil commitment. The court may authorize a
physician specializing in psychiatry, a clinical psychologist, a clinical social worker
licensed pursuant to chapter 383b or a psychiatric nurse clinical specialist holding a
master's degree in nursing selected by the defendant to observe the examination. Counsel
for the defendant may observe the examination. The examination shall be completed
within fifteen business days from the date it was ordered and the examiners shall prepare
and sign, without notarization, a written report and file such report with the court within
twenty-one business days of the date of the order. On receipt of the written report, the
clerk of the court shall cause copies to be delivered immediately to the state's attorney
and to counsel for the defendant.
(e) Hearing. Evidence. The court shall hold a hearing as to the competency of the
defendant not later than ten days after the court receives the written report. Any evidence
regarding the defendant's competency, including the written report, may be introduced
at the hearing by either the defendant or the state, except that no treatment information
contained in the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services' database of
treatment episodes may be included in the written report or introduced at the hearing
unless the defendant released the treatment information pursuant to subsection (d) of
this section. If the written report is introduced, at least one of the examiners shall be
present to testify as to the determinations in the report, unless the examiner's presence
is waived by the defendant and the state. Any member of the clinical team shall be
considered competent to testify as to the team's determinations. A defendant and the
defendant's counsel may waive the court hearing only if the examiners, in the written
report, determine without qualification that the defendant is competent. Nothing in this
subsection shall limit any other release or use of information from said database permitted by law.
(f) Court finding of competency or incompetency. If the court, after the hearing,
finds that the defendant is competent, the court shall continue with the criminal proceedings. If the court finds that the defendant is not competent, the court shall also find
whether there is a substantial probability that the defendant, if provided with a course
of treatment, will regain competency within the maximum period of any placement
order permitted under this section.
(g) Court procedure if finding that defendant will not regain competency. If,
at the hearing, the court finds that there is not a substantial probability that the defendant,
if provided with a course of treatment, will regain competency within the period of any
placement order under this section, the court shall follow the procedure set forth in
subsection (m) of this section.
(h) Court procedure if finding that defendant will regain competency. Placement of defendant for treatment or pending civil commitment proceedings. Progress report. (1) If, at the hearing, the court finds that there is a substantial probability
that the defendant, if provided with a course of treatment, will regain competency within
the period of any placement order under this section, the court shall either (A) order
placement of the defendant for treatment for the purpose of rendering the defendant
competent, or (B) order placement of the defendant at a treatment facility pending civil
commitment proceedings pursuant to subdivision (2) of this subsection.
(2) (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this subdivision, if the court
makes a finding pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection and does not order placement pursuant to subparagraph (A) of said subdivision, the court shall, on its own motion
or on motion of the state or the defendant, order placement of the defendant in the
custody of the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services at a treatment
facility pending civil commitment proceedings. The treatment facility shall be determined by the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services. Such order shall:
(i) Include an authorization for the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services to apply for civil commitment of such defendant pursuant to sections 17a-495 to
17a-528, inclusive; (ii) permit the defendant to agree to request voluntarily to be admitted
under section 17a-506 and participate voluntarily in a treatment plan prepared by the
Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services, and require that the defendant
comply with such treatment plan; and (iii) provide that if the application for civil commitment is denied or not pursued by the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction
Services, or if the defendant is unwilling or unable to comply with a treatment plan
despite reasonable efforts of the treatment facility to encourage the defendant's compliance, the person in charge of the treatment facility, or such person's designee, shall
submit a written progress report to the court and the defendant shall be returned to the
court for a hearing pursuant to subsection (k) of this section. Such written progress
report shall include the status of any civil commitment proceedings concerning the
defendant, the defendant's compliance with the treatment plan, an opinion regarding
the defendant's current competency to stand trial, the clinical findings of the person
submitting the report and the facts upon which the findings are based, and any other
information concerning the defendant requested by the court, including, but not limited
to, the method of treatment or the type, dosage and effect of any medication the defendant
is receiving. The Court Support Services Division shall monitor the defendant's compliance with any applicable provisions of such order. The period of placement and monitoring under such order shall not exceed the period of the maximum sentence which the
defendant could receive on conviction of the charges against such defendant, or eighteen
months, whichever is less. If the defendant has complied with such treatment plan and
any applicable provisions of such order, at the end of the period of placement and monitoring, the court shall approve the entry of a nolle prosequi to the charges against the
defendant or shall dismiss such charges.
(B) This subdivision shall not apply: (i) To any person charged with a class A felony,
a class B felony, except a violation of section 53a-122 that does not involve the use,
attempted use or threatened use of physical force against another person, or a violation
of section 14-227a, subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of section 53-21 or section 53a-56b, 53a-60d, 53a-70, 53a-70a, 53a-70b, 53a-71, 53a-72a or 53a-72b; (ii) to any person
charged with a crime or motor vehicle violation who, as a result of the commission of
such crime or motor vehicle violation, causes the death of another person; or (iii) unless
good cause is shown, to any person charged with a class C felony.
(i) Placement for treatment. Conditions. The placement of the defendant for treatment for the purpose of rendering the defendant competent shall comply with the following conditions: (1) The period of placement under the order or combination of orders
shall not exceed the period of the maximum sentence which the defendant could receive
on conviction of the charges against the defendant or eighteen months, whichever is
less; (2) the placement shall be either in the custody of the Commissioner of Mental
Health and Addiction Services, the Commissioner of Children and Families or the Commissioner of Developmental Services or, if the defendant or the appropriate commissioner agrees to provide payment, in the custody of any appropriate mental health facility
or treatment program which agrees to provide treatment to the defendant and to adhere
to the requirements of this section; and (3) the court shall order the placement, on either
an inpatient or an outpatient basis, which the court finds is the least restrictive placement
appropriate and available to restore competency. If outpatient treatment is the least
restrictive placement for a defendant who has not yet been released from a correctional
facility, the court shall consider whether the availability of such treatment is a sufficient
basis on which to release the defendant on a promise to appear, conditions of release,
cash bail or bond. If the court determines that the defendant may not be so released, the
court shall order treatment of the defendant on an inpatient basis at a mental health
facility or mental retardation facility. Not later than twenty-four hours after the court
orders placement of the defendant for treatment for the purpose of rendering the defendant competent, the examiners shall transmit information obtained about the defendant
during the course of an examination pursuant to subsection (d) of this section to the
health care provider named in the court's order.
(j) Progress reports re treatment. The person in charge of the treatment facility,
or such person's designee, shall submit a written progress report to the court (1) at least
seven days prior to the date of any hearing on the issue of the defendant's competency; (2)
whenever he or she believes that the defendant has attained competency; (3) whenever he
or she believes that there is not a substantial probability that the defendant will attain
competency within the period covered by the placement order; or (4) whenever, within
the first one hundred twenty days of the period covered by the placement order, he or
she believes that the defendant would be eligible for civil commitment pursuant to
subdivision (2) of subsection (h) of this section. The progress report shall contain: (A)
The clinical findings of the person submitting the report and the facts on which the
findings are based; (B) the opinion of the person submitting the report as to whether the
defendant has attained competency or as to whether the defendant is making progress,
under treatment, toward attaining competency within the period covered by the placement order; (C) the opinion of the person submitting the report as to whether the defendant appears to be eligible for civil commitment to a hospital for psychiatric disabilities
pursuant to subsection (m) of this section and the appropriateness of such civil commitment, if there is not a substantial probability that the defendant will attain competency
within the period covered by the placement order; and (D) any other information concerning the defendant requested by the court, including, but not limited to, the method
of treatment or the type, dosage and effect of any medication the defendant is receiving.
Not later than five business days after the court finds either that the defendant will not
attain competency within the period of any placement order under this section or that
the defendant has regained competency, the person in charge of the treatment facility,
or such person's designee, shall provide a copy of the written progress report to the
examiners who examined the defendant pursuant to subsection (d) of this section.
(k) Reconsideration of competency. Hearing. Involuntary medication. Appointment and duties of health care guardian. (1) When any placement order for
treatment is rendered or continued, the court shall set a date for a hearing, to be held
within ninety days, for reconsideration of the issue of the defendant's competency.
Whenever the court (A) receives a report pursuant to subsection (j) of this section which
indicates that (i) the defendant has attained competency, (ii) the defendant will not attain
competency within the remainder of the period covered by the placement order, (iii) the
defendant will not attain competency within the remainder of the period covered by the
placement order absent administration of psychiatric medication for which the defendant
is unwilling or unable to provide consent, or (iv) the defendant would be eligible for
civil commitment pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection (h) of this section, or (B)
receives a report pursuant to subparagraph (A)(iii) of subdivision (2) of subsection (h)
of this section which indicates that (i) the application for civil commitment of the defendant has been denied or has not been pursued by the Commissioner of Mental Health
and Addiction Services, or (ii) the defendant is unwilling or unable to comply with
a treatment plan despite reasonable efforts of the treatment facility to encourage the
defendant's compliance, the court shall set the matter for a hearing not later than ten
days after the report is received. The hearing may be waived by the defendant only if
the report indicates that the defendant is competent. The court shall determine whether
the defendant is competent or is making progress toward attainment of competency
within the period covered by the placement order. If the court finds that the defendant
is competent, the defendant shall be returned to the custody of the Commissioner of
Correction or released, if the defendant has met the conditions for release, and the court
shall continue with the criminal proceedings. If the court finds that the defendant is still
not competent but that the defendant is making progress toward attaining competency,
the court may continue or modify the placement order. If the court finds that the defendant is still not competent and will not attain competency within the remainder of the
period covered by the placement order absent administration of psychiatric medication
for which the defendant is unwilling or unable to provide consent, the court shall proceed
as provided in subdivisions (2), (3) and (4) of this subsection. If the court finds that
the defendant is eligible for civil commitment, the court may order placement of the
defendant at a treatment facility pending civil commitment proceedings pursuant to
subdivision (2) of subsection (h) of this section.
(2) If the court finds that the defendant will not attain competency within the remainder of the period covered by the placement order absent administration of psychiatric
medication for which the defendant is unwilling or unable to provide consent, and after
any hearing held pursuant to subdivision (3) of this subsection, the court may order
the involuntary medication of the defendant if the court finds by clear and convincing
evidence that: (A) To a reasonable degree of medical certainty, involuntary medication
of the defendant will render the defendant competent to stand trial, (B) an adjudication
of guilt or innocence cannot be had using less intrusive means, (C) the proposed treatment plan is narrowly tailored to minimize intrusion on the defendant's liberty and
privacy interests, (D) the proposed drug regimen will not cause an unnecessary risk to
the defendant's health, and (E) the seriousness of the alleged crime is such that the
criminal law enforcement interest of the state in fairly and accurately determining the
defendant's guilt or innocence overrides the defendant's interest in self-determination.
(3) (A) If the court finds that the defendant is unwilling or unable to provide consent
for the administration of psychiatric medication, and prior to deciding whether to order
the involuntary medication of the defendant under subdivision (2) of this subsection,
the court shall appoint a health care guardian who shall be a licensed health care provider
with specialized training in the treatment of persons with psychiatric disabilities to represent the health care interests of the defendant before the court. Notwithstanding the
provisions of section 52-146e, such health care guardian shall have access to the psychiatric records of the defendant. Such health care guardian shall file a report with the court
not later than thirty days after his or her appointment. The report shall set forth such
health care guardian's findings and recommendations concerning the administration
of psychiatric medication to the defendant, including the risks and benefits of such
medication, the likelihood and seriousness of any adverse side effects and the prognosis
with and without such medication. The court shall hold a hearing on the matter not later
than ten days after receipt of such health care guardian's report and shall, in deciding
whether to order the involuntary medication of the defendant, take into account such
health care guardian's opinion concerning the health care interests of the defendant.
(B) The court, in anticipation of considering continued involuntary medication of
the defendant under subdivision (4) of this subsection, shall order the health care guardian to file a supplemental report updating the findings and recommendations contained
in the health care guardian's report filed under subparagraph (A) of this subdivision.
(4) If, after the defendant has been found to have attained competency by means
of involuntary medication ordered under subdivision (2) of this subsection, the court
determines by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant will not remain competent absent the continued administration of psychiatric medication for which the defendant is unable to provide consent, and after any hearing held pursuant to subdivision
(3) of this subsection and consideration of the supplemental report of the health care
guardian, the court may order continued involuntary medication of the defendant if the
court finds by clear and convincing evidence that: (A) To a reasonable degree of medical
certainty, continued involuntary medication of the defendant will maintain the defendant's competency to stand trial, (B) an adjudication of guilt or innocence cannot be
had using less intrusive means, (C) the proposed treatment plan is narrowly tailored to
minimize intrusion on the defendant's liberty and privacy interests, (D) the proposed
drug regimen will not cause an unnecessary risk to the defendant's health, and (E) the
seriousness of the alleged crime is such that the criminal law enforcement interest of
the state in fairly and accurately determining the defendant's guilt or innocence overrides
the defendant's interest in self-determination. Continued involuntary medication ordered under this subdivision may be administered to the defendant while the criminal
charges against the defendant are pending and the defendant is in the custody of the
Commissioner of Correction or the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services. An order for continued involuntary medication of the defendant under this subdivision shall be reviewed by the court every one hundred eighty days while such order
remains in effect. The court shall order the health care guardian to file a supplemental
report for each such review. After any hearing held pursuant to subdivision (3) of this
subsection and consideration of the supplemental report of the health care guardian, the
court may continue such order if the court finds, by clear and convincing evidence,
that the criteria enumerated in subparagraphs (A) to (E), inclusive, of this subdivision
are met.
(5) The state shall hold harmless and indemnify any health care guardian appointed
by the court pursuant to subdivision (3) of this subsection from financial loss and expense
arising out of any claim, demand, suit or judgment by reason of such health care guardian's alleged negligence or alleged deprivation of any person's civil rights or other act
or omission resulting in damage or injury, provided the health care guardian is found
to have been acting in the discharge of his or her duties pursuant to said subdivision and
such act or omission is found not to have been wanton, reckless or malicious. The
provisions of subsections (b), (c) and (d) of section 5-141d shall apply to such health
care guardian. The provisions of chapter 53 shall not apply to a claim against such health
care guardian.
(l) Failure of defendant to return to treatment facility in accordance with terms
and conditions of release. If a defendant who has been ordered placed for treatment
on an inpatient basis at a mental health facility or mental retardation facility is released
from such facility on a furlough or for work, therapy or any other reason and fails to
return to the facility in accordance with the terms and conditions of the defendant's
release, the person in charge of the facility, or such person's designee, shall, within
twenty-four hours of the defendant's failure to return, report such failure to the prosecuting authority for the court location which ordered the placement of the defendant. Upon
receipt of such a report, the prosecuting authority shall, within available resources, make
reasonable efforts to notify any victim or victims of the crime for which the defendant
is charged of such defendant's failure to return to the facility. No civil liability shall be
incurred by the state or the prosecuting authority for failure to notify any victim or
victims in accordance with this subsection. The failure of a defendant to return to the
facility in which the defendant has been placed may constitute sufficient cause for the
defendant's rearrest upon order by the court.
(m) Release or placement of defendant who will not attain competency. Report
to court prior to release from placement. (1) If at any time the court determines that
there is not a substantial probability that the defendant will attain competency within
the period of treatment allowed by this section, or if at the end of such period the court
finds that the defendant is still not competent, the court shall consider any recommendation made by the examiners pursuant to subsection (d) of this section and any opinion
submitted by the treatment facility pursuant to subparagraph (C) of subsection (j) of
this section regarding eligibility for, and the appropriateness of, civil commitment to a
hospital for psychiatric disabilities and shall either release the defendant from custody
or order the defendant placed in the custody of the Commissioner of Mental Health and
Addiction Services, the Commissioner of Children and Families or the Commissioner
of Developmental Services. If the court orders the defendant placed in the custody of
the Commissioner of Children and Families or the Commissioner of Developmental
Services, the commissioner given custody, or the commissioner's designee, shall then
apply for civil commitment in accordance with sections 17a-75 to 17a-83, inclusive, or
17a-270 to 17a-282, inclusive. If the court orders the defendant placed in the custody
of the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services, the court may order
the commissioner, or the commissioner's designee, to apply for civil commitment in
accordance with sections 17a-495 to 17a-528, inclusive, or order the commissioner, or
the commissioner's designee, to provide services to the defendant in a less restrictive
setting, provided the examiners have determined in the written report filed pursuant to
subsection (d) of this section or have testified pursuant to subsection (e) of this section
that such services are available and appropriate. If the court orders the defendant placed
in the custody of the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services and orders
the commissioner to apply for civil commitment pursuant to this subsection, the court
may order the commissioner to give the court notice when the defendant is released
from the commissioner's custody if such release is prior to the expiration of the time
within which the defendant may be prosecuted for the crime with which the defendant
is charged, provided such order indicates when such time expires.
(2) The court shall hear arguments as to whether the defendant should be released
or should be placed in the custody of the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction
Services, the Commissioner of Children and Families or the Commissioner of Developmental Services.
(3) If the court orders the release of a defendant charged with the commission of a
crime that resulted in the death or serious physical injury, as defined in section 53a-3,
of another person, or with a violation of subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of section 53-21, subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of section 53a-60 or section 53a-60a, 53a-70, 53a-70a, 53a-70b, 53a-71, 53a-72a or 53a-72b, or orders the placement of such defendant
in the custody of the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services, the court
may, on its own motion or on motion of the prosecuting authority, order, as a condition of
such release or placement, periodic examinations of the defendant as to the defendant's
competency at intervals of not less than six months. Such an examination shall be conducted in accordance with subsection (d) of this section. Periodic examinations ordered
by the court under this subsection shall continue until the court finds that the defendant
has attained competency or until the time within which the defendant may be prosecuted
for the crime with which the defendant is charged, as provided in section 54-193 or 54-193a, has expired, whichever occurs first.
(4) Upon receipt of the written report as provided in subsection (d) of this section,
the court shall, upon the request of either party filed not later than thirty days after the
court receives such report, conduct a hearing as provided in subsection (e) of this section.
Such hearing shall be held not later than ninety days after the court receives such report.
If the court finds that the defendant has attained competency, the defendant shall be
returned to the custody of the Commissioner of Correction or released, if the defendant
has met the conditions for release, and the court shall continue with the criminal proceedings.
(5) The court shall dismiss, with or without prejudice, any charges for which a nolle
prosequi is not entered when the time within which the defendant may be prosecuted
for the crime with which the defendant is charged, as provided in section 54-193 or 54-193a, has expired. Notwithstanding the record erasure provisions of section 54-142a,
police and court records and records of any state's attorney pertaining to a charge which
is nolled or dismissed without prejudice while the defendant is not competent shall not
be erased until the time for the prosecution of the defendant expires under section 54-193 or 54-193a. A defendant who is not civilly committed as a result of an application
made by the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services, the Commissioner
of Children and Families or the Commissioner of Developmental Services pursuant to
this section shall be released. A defendant who is civilly committed pursuant to such
an application shall be treated in the same manner as any other civilly committed person.
(n) Payment of costs. The cost of the examination effected by the Commissioner
of Mental Health and Addiction Services and of testimony of persons conducting the
examination effected by the commissioner shall be paid by the Department of Mental
Health and Addiction Services. The cost of the examination and testimony by physicians
appointed by the court shall be paid by the Judicial Department. If the defendant is
indigent, the fee of the person selected by the defendant to observe the examination
and to testify on the defendant's behalf shall be paid by the Public Defender Services
Commission. The expense of treating a defendant placed in the custody of the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services, the Commissioner of Children and
Families or the Commissioner of Developmental Services pursuant to subdivision (2)
of subsection (h) of this section or subsection (i) of this section shall be computed and
paid for in the same manner as is provided for persons committed by a probate court
under the provisions of sections 17b-122, 17b-124 to 17b-132, inclusive, 17b-136 to
17b-138, inclusive, 17b-194 to 17b-197, inclusive, 17b-222 to 17b-250, inclusive, 17b-256, 17b-263, 17b-340 to 17b-350, inclusive, 17b-689b and 17b-743 to 17b-747, inclusive.
(o) Custody of defendant prior to hearing. Until the hearing is held, the defendant,
if not released on a promise to appear, conditions of release, cash bail or bond, shall
remain in the custody of the Commissioner of Correction unless hospitalized as provided
in sections 17a-512 to 17a-517, inclusive.
(p) Placement of violent defendant. This section shall not be construed to require
the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services to place any violent defendant in a mental institution which does not have the trained staff, facilities and security
to accommodate such a person.
(q) Defense of defendant prior to trial. This section shall not prevent counsel for
the defendant from raising, prior to trial and while the defendant is not competent, any
issue susceptible of fair determination.
(r) Credit for time in confinement on inpatient basis. Actual time spent in confinement on an inpatient basis pursuant to this section shall be credited against any
sentence imposed on the defendant in the pending criminal case or in any other case
arising out of the same conduct in the same manner as time is credited for time spent
in a correctional facility awaiting trial.
(1949 Rev., S. 8748; 1959, P.A. 523, S. 2; 1967, P.A. 670; 1969, P.A. 828, S. 213; P.A. 74-306, S. 1-4; P.A. 75-476,
S. 1-3, 6; P.A. 76-353; 76-436, S. 532, 681; P.A. 77-415, S. 1, 2; P.A. 78-280, S. 117, 127; P.A. 80-313, S. 32; P.A. 81-365; P.A. 83-183, S. 1-5; P.A. 84-506; P.A. 85-288; 85-613, S. 79, 154; P.A. 93-91, S. 1, 2; P.A. 94-27, S. 16, 17; P.A.
95-146; 95-257, S. 11, 58; P.A. 96-90; 96-180, S. 128, 166; 96-215, S. 3, 4; P.A. 98-88, S. 1, 2; P.A. 01-41; June 30 Sp.
Sess. P.A. 03-3, S. 13-17, 97; P.A. 04-28, S. 1; 04-76, S. 57; P.A. 05-19, S. 2, 3; P.A. 06-36, S. 1; P.A. 07-71, S. 1; 07-73, S. 2(b); 07-153, S. 1; P.A. 09-79, S. 1; P.A. 10-28, S. 1.)
History: 1959 act added provision re computation and payment of hospital expense during confinement; 1967 act
divided section into Subsecs., added qualification of inability to assist in his own defense to Subsecs. (a) and (c) and
authority of judge to act on his own motion in Subsec. (a), amended Subsec. (b) to make mandatory the appointment of at
least two psychiatrists rather than discretionary appointment of two or three physicians to examine accused and added
provisions re commitment to state hospital for mental illness for examination, re physician's witnessing of examination
and re filing of examination report; 1969 act added Subsec. (d) re maximum periods of commitment; P.A. 74-306 amended
Subsec. (b) to make judge's appointment of examiners optional rather than mandatory, to change number appointed from
"at least two" to "one or more", to replace provision re commitment to state hospital with provisions re commitment to
commissioner of mental health and examination by clinical team, to impose 15-day deadline for filing written report, to
require hearing and to specify when hearing may be waived, amended Subsecs. (c) and (d) to reflect changes in Subsec.
(b), imposing 15-day deadline for hearing in Subsec. (c) and provision re application of Sec. 17-197 in Subsec. (d), and
added Subsecs. (e) and (f) re commitment of violent person and re cost of examinations; P.A. 75-476 restated and clarified
Subsec. (b) adding procedural details and limiting examinations to a determination of accused's ability to understand
proceeding and assist in his own defense where previously determination was of accused's "mental condition", made
similar changes in Subsec. (c), eliminating references to insanity and mental defectiveness and deleting provision stating
that expenses are to be paid in same manner as expenses in superior court criminal prosecutions, and amended Subsec. (d)
to replace previous provisions re maximum commitment for period equaling maximum sentence for the particular crime
or for 25 years if case involves class A felony with maximum commitment period of 18 months, to make changes conforming
provisions to changes in Subsecs. (b) and (c) and to add provisions re hearing procedure and options to proceed with trial,
reconfine accused, etc.; P.A. 76-353 amended Subsec. (b) to set 10-day deadline for hearing where previously "prompt"
hearing was required, amended Subsec. (c) to add references to commissioner of mental retardation, to require hearing
within ten rather than 15 days and to add reference to possibility that accused will not be able to understand proceeding
and assist in his own defense within remainder of commitment period, amended Subsec. (d) to conform with changes in
Subsec. (c) and to restore optional maximum commitment for maximum period of sentence which may be imposed for
the crime he is accused of and repealed Subsecs. (e) and (f) by omission; P.A. 76-436 amended section to reflect substitution
of assistant state's attorneys for prosecuting attorneys, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 77-415 restated provisions, reorganized
Subsecs. and added Subsecs. (f) and (g) restoring provisions omitted by P.A. 76-353; P.A. 78-280 made technical grammatical change in Subsec. (b); P.A. 80-313 restated and reordered provisions, and revised subsection divisions but made no
substantive changes; Sec. 54-40 transferred to Sec. 54-56d in 1981; P.A. 81-365 replaced previous section which was
declared unconstitutional; P.A. 83-183 authorized placement of defendant in custody of children and youth services commissioner in Subsecs. (g), (i), (l) and (m) and specified that court may order treatment at mental retardation facilities in
Subsec. (i); P.A. 84-506 amended Subsec. (d) to require the examiner to "prepare and sign, without notarization" a written
report and file it with the court within 10 days of the examination, amended Subsec. (g) to replace provision requiring
court to either release the defendant or place him in the custody of the commissioner of mental health, children and youth
services or mental retardation with provision that the court shall "follow the procedure set forth in Subsec. (m)", added a
new Subsec. (l) re the responsibilities of the person in charge of a treatment facility and the prosecuting authority when a
defendant fails to return to such facility, and relettered remaining Subsecs. accordingly; P.A. 85-288 amended Subsec.
(m) to provide that the court shall dismiss, with or without prejudice, any charges for which a nolle prosequi is not entered
when the time within which the defendant may be prosecuted for the crime with which he is charged has expired; P.A. 85-613 made technical change in Subsec. (m), substituting reference to chapter 368t for reference to chapter 365a; 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. 94-27 amended Subsec. (m) to delete reference to Secs. 17a-580 to 17a-603,
inclusive, effective July 1, 1994; P.A. 95-146 amended Subsec. (d) to revise the composition of the clinical team by
replacing "a psychiatric social worker" with "one of the following: A clinical independent social worker certified pursuant
to chapter 383b or a psychiatric nurse clinical specialist holding a master's degree in nursing", to add exception re appointment of an employee of the Department of Mental Health as a member of a clinical team, to revise the list of professionals
authorized to observe the examination by deleting "a psychiatric social worker" and adding "a clinical independent social
worker certified pursuant to chapter 383b or a psychiatric nurse clinical specialist holding a master's degree in nursing"
and to require the report to be filed within 21 business days of the "date of the order" rather than within 10 days of the
"completion of the examination"; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Mental Health with Commissioner and Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 96-90 amended Subsec. (m)
to delete references to Secs. 17a-450 to 17a-484, inclusive, 17a-540 to 17a-550, inclusive, 17a-560 to 17a-576, inclusive,
17a-615 to 17a-618, inclusive, and 46a-11a to 46a-11g, inclusive; P.A. 96-180 made technical changes in Subsec. (d) by
replacing references to "clinical independent social worker certified pursuant to chapter 383b" with "clinical social worker
licensed pursuant to chapter 383b", effective June 3, 1996; P.A. 96-215 amended Subsec. (b) by deleting "clear and
convincing" evidence and inserting "preponderance of the" evidence in lieu thereof, effective June 4, 1996; (Revisor's
note: In 1997 the references to "17b-115 to 17b-138" and "17b-689 to 17b-693, inclusive," in Subsec. (n) were changed
editorially by the Revisors to "17b-116 to 17b-138" and "17b-689, 17b-689b", respectively, to reflect the repeal of certain
sections by Sec. 164 of June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-2); P.A. 98-88 amended Subsec. (k) to designate existing provisions as
Subdiv. (1), redesignating former Subdivs. (1) and (2) as Subparas. (A) and (B), respectively, adding Subpara. (C) re a
report that the defendant will not attain competency absent administration of psychiatric medication for which the defendant
is unwilling or unable to provide consent and adding provision requiring the court to proceed as provided in Subdivs. (2)
and (3) if it finds that the defendant will not attain competency absent administration of psychiatric medication for which
the defendant is unwilling or unable to provide consent, to add new Subdiv. (2) authorizing the court to order the involuntary
medication of the defendant if it makes certain findings by clear and convincing evidence, and to add new Subdiv. (3)
requiring the appointment of a licensed health care provider to represent the health care interests of the defendant if the
defendant is unable to provide consent for the administration of psychiatric medication, requiring such person to file a
report with the court setting forth his findings and recommendations re the administration of psychiatric medication to the
defendant and requiring the court to hold a hearing on the matter and consider such person's opinion in deciding whether
to order the involuntary medication of the defendant, and amended Subsec. (m) to authorize a court when it releases a
defendant charged with a crime that resulted in the death or serious physical injury of another person to order periodic
examinations of the defendant, set forth the procedure for conducting such an examination and a subsequent hearing by
the court, require the continuation of criminal proceedings if the defendant is found to have attained competency, specify
the duration of such periodic examinations and add references to Sec. 54-193a; P.A. 01-41 amended Subsec. (k) to designate
as "a health care guardian" the person appointed in Subdiv. (3) to represent the health care interests of the defendant, add
Subdiv. (4) re indemnification of health care guardians and make technical changes in Subdivs. (1) and (2); June 30 Sp.
Sess. P.A. 03-3 amended Subsec. (d) by adding provision re whether defendant appears eligible for civil commitment with
monitoring by Court Support Services Division pursuant to Subsec. (h)(2), adding Subdiv. and Subpara. designators and
making technical changes, amended Subsec. (h) by designating existing provisions as Subdiv. (1) and amending said
Subdiv. by designating provisions re ordering placement for treatment as Subpara. (A) and adding Subpara. (B) re ordering
placement at treatment facility pending civil commitment proceedings, and by adding Subdiv. (2) re placement of defendant
in custody of Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services at treatment facility pending civil commitment
proceedings, amended Subsec. (j) by adding Subdiv. (4) re report whenever defendant has been placed for treatment pending
civil commitment proceedings and application for civil commitment is denied or not pursued and by making technical
changes, amended Subsec. (m) by adding provision re if court orders placement of defendant in custody of Commissioner
of Mental Health and Addiction Services and by making technical changes, and amended Subsec. (n) by adding reference
to Subsec. (h)(2), effective August 20, 2003, and, in repealing Secs. 17b-19, 17b-62 to 17b-65, inclusive, 17b-116, 17b-116a, 17b-116b, 17b-117, 17b-120, 17b-121, 17b-123, 17b-134, 17b-135, 17b-220, 17b-259 and 17b-287, also authorized
deletion of internal references to said sections in this section, effective March 1, 2004; P.A. 04-28 amended Subsec. (d)
by changing "or" to "and" re determinations of probability that defendant will regain competency and whether defendant
appears eligible for civil commitment, effective April 28, 2004; P.A. 04-76 amended Subsec. (n) by deleting references
to Secs. 17b-118b and 17b-221 that were repealed by the same act; (Revisor's note: In 2005, a reference in Subsec. (m)
to Sec. 17a-283 was changed editorially by the Revisors to Sec. 17a-282 to reflect the repeal of Sec. 17a-283 by P.A. 04-54); P.A. 05-19 amended Subsec. (k)(1) by adding Subpara. (D) re denial of application for civil commitment of defendant
and amended Subsec. (p) by deleting provision re state policeman to guard violent defendant after necessary placement
in facility; P.A. 06-36 amended Subsec. (d) by adding provision re action of examiners upon determination of substantial
probability that defendant will regain competency within maximum period of placement order, amended Subsec. (h)(2)
by adding provision re request for voluntary admission under Sec. 17a-506, replacing provision re defendant ceasing
voluntary participation in treatment plan with provision re defendant unwilling or unable to comply with treatment plan
despite reasonable efforts of treatment facility to encourage compliance, deleting reference to Subsec. (j) and adding
provision re contents of written progress report, amended Subsec. (j)(4) by adding provision re first 120 days of period
covered by placement order, replacing "has been placed for treatment pending civil commitment proceedings" with "would
be eligible for civil commitment" and deleting provision re application for civil commitment is denied or not pursued,
amended Subsec. (k)(1) by replacing "has been placed for treatment pending civil commitment proceedings" with "would
be eligible for civil commitment", deleting provision re application for civil commitment is denied or not pursued, adding
provision re receipt of report pursuant to Subsec. (h)(2)(A)(iii) and adding provision re placement order upon finding that
defendant is eligible for civil commitment, amended Subsec. (k)(3) by inserting "unwilling or" and made technical changes
throughout section; P.A. 07-71 amended Subsec. (k) by making a conforming change in Subdiv. (1), making a technical
change in Subdiv. (2), designating existing provisions of Subdiv. (3) as Subdiv. (3)(A) and making a technical change
therein, adding Subdiv. (3)(B) re supplemental report of health care guardian, adding new Subdiv. (4) re continued involuntary medication of defendant and redesignating existing Subdiv. (4) as Subdiv. (5); pursuant to P.A. 07-73 "Commissioner
of Mental Retardation" was changed editorially by the Revisors to "Commissioner of Developmental Services", effective
October 1, 2007; P.A. 07-153 amended Subsec. (d) by adding provision re examiners' determination and recommendation
re civil commitment of incompetent defendant to hospital for psychiatric disabilities, amended Subsec. (j) by adding new
Subpara. (C) requiring progress report to contain opinion re eligibility for and appropriateness of such commitment and
redesignating existing Subpara. (C) as Subpara. (D), made technical changes in Subsec. (k) and amended Subsec. (m) by
adding provision re consideration of examiners' recommendation and treatment facility opinion re such commitment,
distinguishing between commitment procedures applicable to placement of defendant in custody of Commissioner of
Children and Families or Commissioner of Developmental Services and commitment procedures applicable to placement
of defendant in custody of Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services and authorizing the court to order the
latter commissioner to provide services in a less restrictive setting; P.A. 09-79 amended Subsec. (d) to add provision re
examiners' access to information on treatment dates and locations in department's database of treatment episodes for
purpose of obtaining release of information from defendant and to provide that examination be completed within 15 business
days, rather than 15 days, amended Subsec. (e) to add provision re exclusion of treatment information in database of
treatment episodes unless defendant released the information and to provide that nothing in subsection shall limit other
release or use of information from said database permitted by law, amended Subsec. (i) to require evaluators to transmit
information obtained about defendant not later than 24 hours after court orders placement, amended Subsec. (j) to require
person in charge of treatment facility or designee to provide written progress report to examiners not later than 5 business
days after court finds defendant will not attain competency within period of placement order or defendant has regained
competency, and made technical changes, effective June 2, 2009; P.A. 10-28 amended Subsec. (i) to substitute "examiners"
for "evaluators" and "examination" for "evaluation", and amended Subsec. (m) to divide existing provisions into Subdivs.
(1) to (5), to add provision allowing court to order commissioner to give court notice prior to committed defendant's release
if release is prior to expiration of time within which defendant may be prosecuted in Subdiv. (1), to add provision re
violation of Sec. 53-21(a)(2), 53a-60(a)(2), 53a-60a, 53a-70, 53a-70a, 53a-70b, 53a-71, 53a-72a or 53a-72b, provide that
periodic examinations occur at intervals of not less than 6 months and reposition provision re continuation of periodic
examinations in Subdiv. (3), and to add "record" re erasure in Subdiv. (5).
See Sec. 17a-543a re appointment of special limited conservator for and administration of medication to defendant
placed in custody of Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services.
See Sec. 17a-566 re required examination of persons convicted of certain crimes for signs of mental illness.
Annotations to former section 54-40:
Cited. 134 C. 45. Cited. 161 C. 20. A person who is "insane" within the meaning of the rule exempting mentally disabled
persons from execution is not necessarily "insane" within the meaning of the rules precluding incompetent persons from
trial, conviction and sentencing. 169 C. 13. Cited. 171 C. 454. Cited. 193 C. 526.
Cited. 6 CA 476.
Cited. 14 CS 33.
Commitment hereunder operates in all particulars as civil commitment by probate court and committed person's assets
must be used for his support. 5 Conn. Cir. Ct. 542. This section applies to those already committed at time of enactment
and is not ex post facto as it is not a criminal statute. Id.
Subsec. (e):
Cited. 198 C. 273.
Annotations to present section:
Cited. 186 C. 476. Cited. 189 C. 61. Cited. 192 C. 520. Cited. 198 C. 598. Cited. 199 C. 359. Cited. 200 C. 224. Cited.
205 C. 673. Cited. 210 C. 304. Cited. 222 C. 312. Cited. 224 C. 29; Id., 907. Cited. 225 C. 524. Cited. 227 C. 930. Cited.
229 C. 228. Cited. 230 C. 572. Cited. 233 C. 44; Id., 813. Cited. 235 C. 671.
Cited. 5 CA 79. Cited. 6 CA 476. Cited. 8 CA 491. Cited. 9 CA 587. Cited. 14 CA 140; Id., 586. Cited. 17 CA 602.
Cited. 22 CA 199; Id., 477. Cited. 25 CA 741. Cited. 28 CA 360; judgment reversed, see 229 C. 529; Id., 548. Cited. 30
CA 428. Cited. 32 CA 553. Cited. 36 CA 641. Cited. 54 CA 361. Defendant is presumed competent and burden to show
otherwise is on party alleging incompetence. 62 CA 367. Trial court did not improperly fail to order competency hearing
in light of court's observations of defendant at trial and various evaluation reports from mental health facility in which he
had been treated, all of which concluded that he was competent to stand trial and that he was engaging in a deliberate
pattern of behavior to delay his trial. Trial court did not abuse its discretion in determining defendant was malingering in
order to delay trial and that competency hearing under section was not required. 81 CA 294. Although defense counsel
expressed concerns about defendant's competency, court had opportunity to observe defendant on numerous occasions
and did not abuse its discretion by denying defendant's motion for a competency evaluation. 113 CA 651.
Cited. 44 CS 101.
Subsec. (a):
Cited. 192 C. 383. Cited. 223 C. 557. Cited. 230 C. 109. Cited. 237 C. 633.
Cited. 34 CA 236. Cited. 36 CA 135. No abuse of discretion in finding defendant competent to stand trial. 68 CA 470.
Subsec. (b):
Cited. 237 C. 633.
Subsec. (c):
Cited. 192 C. 383. Cited. 237 C. 633.
Cited. 20 CA 212. Cited. 36 CA 135.
Subsec. (d):
Cited. 192 C. 383. Cited. 237 C. 633.
Subsec. (e):
Cited. 214 C. 476.
Subsec. (i):
Placements for treatment must be treated cumulatively for purposes of applying the 18-month time limitation. 288 C. 610.
Subsec. (k):
Discussion of whether trial court correctly used standards set forth in statute in determining whether to order forced
medication of defendant to render him competent to stand trial. Confirmation that statute makes it mandatory to appoint
a licensed health care provider to represent health care interests of defendant if court finds that defendant is unable to
provide consent for involuntary medication. 70 CA 488.
Subsec. (m):
The term "defendant" includes a respondent in a juvenile matter. 291 C. 556.
Unconditional release under statute is a reasonable legislative determination. 22 CA 199.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) | (Return to List of Chapters) | (Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 54-56e. (Formerly Sec. 54-76p). Accelerated pretrial rehabilitation. (a)
There shall be a pretrial program for accelerated rehabilitation of persons accused of a
crime or crimes or a motor vehicle violation or violations for which a sentence to a term
of imprisonment may be imposed, which crimes or violations are not of a serious nature.
(b) The court may, in its discretion, invoke such program on motion of the defendant
or on motion of a state's attorney or prosecuting attorney with respect to a defendant
(1) who, the court believes, will probably not offend in the future, (2) who has no previous
record of conviction of a crime or of a violation of section 14-196, subsection (c) of
section 14-215, section 14-222a, subsection (a) of section 14-224 or section 14-227a,
(3) who has not been adjudged a youthful offender within the preceding five years under
the provisions of sections 54-76b to 54-76n, inclusive, and (4) who states under oath, in
open court or before any person designated by the clerk and duly authorized to administer
oaths, under the penalties of perjury that the defendant has never had such program
invoked in the defendant's behalf, provided the defendant shall agree thereto and provided notice has been given by the defendant, on a form approved by rule of court, to
the victim or victims of such crime or motor vehicle violation, if any, by registered or
certified mail and such victim or victims have an opportunity to be heard thereon. In
determining whether to grant an application under this section with respect to a person
who has been adjudged a youthful offender under the provisions of sections 54-76b
to 54-76n, inclusive, more than five years prior to the date of such application, and
notwithstanding the provisions of section 54-76l, the court shall have access to the
youthful offender records of such person and may consider the nature and circumstances
of the crime with which such person was charged as a youth. Any defendant who makes
application for participation in such program shall pay to the court an application fee
of thirty-five dollars.
(c) This section shall not be applicable: (1) To any person charged with a class A
felony, a class B felony, except a violation of section 53a-122 that does not involve the
use, attempted use or threatened use of physical force against another person, or a violation of section 14-227a, subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of section 53-21, section 53a-56b, 53a-60d, 53a-70, 53a-70a, 53a-70b, 53a-71, 53a-72a, 53a-72b, 53a-90a, 53a-196e
or 53a-196f, (2) to any person charged with a crime or motor vehicle violation who, as
a result of the commission of such crime or motor vehicle violation, causes the death
of another person, (3) to any person accused of a family violence crime as defined in
section 46b-38a who (A) is eligible for the pretrial family violence education program
established under section 46b-38c, or (B) has previously had the pretrial family violence
education program invoked in such person's behalf, (4) to any person charged with a
violation of section 21a-267 or 21a-279 who (A) is eligible for the pretrial drug education
program established under section 54-56i, or (B) has previously had the pretrial drug
education program invoked in such person's behalf, (5) unless good cause is shown, to
any person charged with a class C felony, or (6) to any person charged with a violation
of section 9-359 or 9-359a.
(d) Except as provided in subsection (e) of this section, any defendant who enters
such program shall pay to the court a participation fee of one hundred dollars. Any
defendant who enters such program shall agree to the tolling of any statute of limitations
with respect to such crime and to a waiver of the right to a speedy trial. Any such
defendant shall appear in court and shall, under such conditions as the court shall order,
be released to the custody of the Court Support Services Division, except that, if a
criminal docket for drug-dependent persons has been established pursuant to section
51-181b in the judicial district, such defendant may be transferred, under such conditions
as the court shall order, to the court handling such docket for supervision by such court.
If the defendant refuses to accept, or, having accepted, violates such conditions, the
defendant's case shall be brought to trial. The period of such probation or supervision,
or both, shall not exceed two years. If the defendant has reached the age of sixteen years
but has not reached the age of eighteen years, the court may order that as a condition
of such probation the defendant be referred for services to a youth service bureau established pursuant to section 10-19m, provided the court finds, through an assessment by
a youth service bureau or its designee, that the defendant is in need of and likely to
benefit from such services. When determining any conditions of probation to order for
a person entering such program who was charged with a misdemeanor that did not
involve the use, attempted use or threatened use of physical force against another person
or a motor vehicle violation, the court shall consider ordering the person to perform
community service in the community in which the offense or violation occurred. If the
court determines that community service is appropriate, such community service may
be implemented by a community court established in accordance with section 51-181c
if the offense or violation occurred within the jurisdiction of a community court established by said section. If the defendant is charged with a violation of section 46a-58,
53-37a, 53a-181j, 53a-181k or 53a-181l, the court may order that as a condition of such
probation the defendant participate in a hate crimes diversion program as provided in
subsection (e) of this section. If a defendant is charged with a violation of section 53-247, the court may order that as a condition of such probation the defendant 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 defendant.
(e) If the court orders the defendant to participate in a hate crimes diversion program
as a condition of probation, the defendant shall pay to the court a participation fee of
four hundred twenty-five dollars. No person may be excluded from such program for
inability to pay such fee, provided (1) such person files with the court an affidavit of
indigency or inability to pay, (2) such indigency or inability to pay is confirmed by the
Court Support Services Division, and (3) the court enters a finding thereof. The Judicial
Department shall contract with service providers, develop standards and oversee appropriate hate crimes diversion programs to meet the requirements of this section. Any
defendant whose employment or residence makes it unreasonable to attend a hate crimes
diversion program in this state may attend a program in another state which has standards
substantially similar to, or higher than, those of this state, subject to the approval of the
court and payment of the application and program fees as provided in this section. The
hate crimes diversion program shall consist of an educational program and supervised
community service.
(f) If a defendant released to the custody of the Court Support Services Division
satisfactorily completes such defendant's period of probation, such defendant may apply
for dismissal of the charges against such defendant and the court, on finding such satisfactory completion, shall dismiss such charges. If the defendant does not apply for
dismissal of the charges against such defendant after satisfactorily completing such
defendant's period of probation, the court, upon receipt of a report submitted by the Court
Support Services Division that the defendant satisfactorily completed such defendant's
period of probation, may on its own motion make a finding of such satisfactory completion and dismiss such charges. If a defendant transferred to the court handling the criminal docket for drug-dependent persons satisfactorily completes such defendant's period
of supervision, the court shall release the defendant to the custody of the Court Support
Services Division under such conditions as the court shall order or shall dismiss such
charges. Upon dismissal, all records of such charges shall be erased pursuant to section
54-142a. An order of the court denying a motion to dismiss the charges against a defendant who has completed such defendant's period of probation or supervision or terminating the participation of a defendant in such program shall be a final judgment for purposes
of appeal.
(P.A. 73-641, S. 1, 2; P.A. 74-38; P.A. 76-53; 76-179; P.A. 79-581, S. 11; 79-585, S. 10, 15; P.A. 81-446, S. 4; P.A.
82-9; P.A. 83-534, S. 7; P.A. 85-350, S. 2; 85-374; P.A. 87-343, S. 3, 4; P.A. 87-567, S. 5, 7; P.A. 88-145; P.A. 89-219,
S. 7, 10; P.A. 91-24, S. 6; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-6, S. 116, 117; P.A. 93-138; P.A. 95-142, S. 4; 95-154; 95-225, S. 31;
P.A. 97-248, S. 10, 12; P.A. 98-81, S. 16, 20; 98-208, S. 1, 2; P.A. 99-148, S. 3, 4; 99-187, S. 5; P.A. 00-72, S. 4, 12; 00-196, S. 39; 00-209, S. 5; P.A. 01-16; 01-84, S. 19, 26; P.A. 02-132, S. 34; P.A. 03-208, S. 2; P.A. 04-139, S. 9; P.A. 05-235, S. 5; P.A. 07-217, S. 192; P.A. 10-43, S. 22.)
History: P.A. 74-38 transferred power to invoke accelerated rehabilitation program from state's attorney or prosecuting
attorney to the court and replaced provision which made section inapplicable to persons accused of class A, B or C felony
with provision specifying that section is inapplicable in such cases "unless good cause is shown"; P.A. 76-53 clarified
provision requiring that crime victims be given opportunity to express their views by specifying notice procedure; P.A.
76-179 required that candidate for rehabilitation state under oath that he has not previously had the program invoked on
his behalf; P.A. 79-581 rendered provisions inapplicable to youths previously adjudged youthful offenders; P.A. 79-585
substituted office of adult probation for commission on adult probation; Sec. 54-76p transferred to Sec. 54-56e in 1981;
P.A. 81-446 excluded persons charged with a violation of Sec. 14-227a from the provisions of this section; P.A. 82-9
substituted "in the future" for "again" and added provision re erasure of records pursuant to Sec. 54-142a upon dismissal;
P.A. 83-534 excluded persons charged with a violation of Sec. 53a-56b or 53a-60d from the provisions of this section;
P.A. 85-350 added provision that if the defendant does not apply for dismissal of the charges against him after satisfactory
completion of the program the court may on its own motion make a finding of satisfactory completion and dismiss the
charges; P.A. 85-374 added provision that certain court orders are final judgments for purposes of appeal; P.A. 87-343
made persons accused of a motor vehicle violation for which a sentence to a term of imprisonment may be imposed eligible
for the program; P.A. 87-567 specified that section will not apply to persons accused of a family violence crime who are
eligible for pretrial family education program established under Sec. 46b-38c or who have previously had pretrial family
violence education program invoked in their behalf; P.A. 88-145 precluded from the program an accused who has a previous
record of conviction of "a violation of section 14-196, subsection (c) of section 14-215, section 14-222a, subsection (a)
of section 14-224 or section 14-227a", and made a technical change to conform with the changes made by P.A. 87-343 by
requiring the accused to give notice to the victim or victims of such crime "or motor vehicle violation"; P.A. 89-219
established an application fee of $25 and a participation fee of $100; P.A. 91-24 added provision permitting the defendant
to make a sworn statement "before any person designated by the clerk and duly authorized to administer oaths"; May Sp.
Sess. P.A. 92-6 increased application fee from $25 to $35; P.A. 93-138 made persons accused of more than one crime or
motor vehicle violation eligible for the program; P.A. 95-142 made ineligible for the program any person charged with a
violation of Sec. 53-21(2), 53a-70, 53a-70a, 53a-70b, 53a-71, 53a-72a or 53a-72b; P.A. 95-154 made ineligible for the
program any person charged with a class A or B felony and any person who has previously been adjudged a youthful
offender for the commission of a class B felony, however provision re youthful offenders failed to take effect because of
irreconcilable conflict with P.A. 95-225, the provisions of that act having taken precedence; P.A. 95-225 made ineligible
for the program any person who has previously been adjudged a youthful offender where formerly a "youth" who has
previously been adjudged a youthful offender was ineligible unless good cause was shown, and added provision authorizing
the court to order certain defendants be referred for services to a youth service bureau as a condition of probation if the
court finds that they are in need of and likely to benefit from such services; P.A. 97-248 authorized the transfer of a
defendant to the court handling the criminal docket for drug-dependent persons if such a docket has been established in
the judicial district, specified that the period of probation or supervision or both not exceed two years and provided that
if a defendant transferred to the court handling the criminal docket for drug-dependent persons satisfactorily completes
his period of supervision the court shall release the defendant to the Office of Adult Probation or dismiss the charges,
effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 98-81 after "who has not been adjudged a youthful offender" added "on or after October 1,
1995", effective May 22, 1998; P.A. 98-208 inserted Subsec., Subdiv. and Subpara. indicators and added Subsec. (c)(2)
making provisions inapplicable to any person charged with a crime or motor vehicle violation who, as a result of the
commission of such crime or motor vehicle violation, causes the death of another person, effective July 1, 1998; P.A. 99-148 added Subsec. (c)(4) making provisions inapplicable to any person charged with a violation of Sec. 21a-267 or 21a-279 who is eligible for the pretrial drug education program under Sec. 54-56i or has previously had such program invoked
in such person's behalf and made provisions of section gender neutral, effective July 1, 1999; P.A. 99-187 amended Subsec.
(d) to add provision authorizing the court to order as a condition of probation that the defendant participate in the zero-tolerance drug supervision program established pursuant to Sec. 53a-39d and to make technical changes for purposes of
gender neutrality; P.A. 00-72 amended Subsec. (d) to add exception re amount of the participation fee and add provision
authorizing the court to order participation in a hate crimes diversion program as a condition of probation for defendants
charged with a violation of Sec. 46a-58, 53-37a, 53a-181j, 53a-181k or 53a-181l, added new Subsec. (e) re hate crimes
diversion program and redesignated former Subsec. (e) as Subsec. (f), effective July 1, 2001; P.A. 00-196 amended Subsec.
(d) to add provisions requiring the court to consider ordering a person charged with a misdemeanor that did not involve
the use, attempted use or threatened use of physical force against another person or a motor vehicle violation to perform
community service as a condition of probation and authorizing such community service to be implemented by a community
court if the offense or violation occurred within the jurisdiction of a community court, which provisions were formerly
incorporated in Sec. 53a-28(e) and were deleted therefrom by same public act; P.A. 00-209 amended Subsec. (b)(3) to
replace condition that defendant "has not previously been adjudged a youthful offender on or after October 1, 1995," with
condition that defendant "has not been adjudged a youthful offender within the preceding five years", and to add provision
that in determining whether to grant an application for a person who has been adjudged a youthful offender more than five
years prior to the date of the application, the court shall have access to the youthful offender records of such person and
may consider the crime such person was charged with as a youth; P.A. 01-16 amended Subsec. (c)(1) to add exception re
eligibility of any person charged with a violation of Sec. 53a-122 that does not involve the use, attempted use or threatened
use of physical force against another person and to make a technical change; P.A. 01-84 amended Subsec. (c)(1) to replace
reference to "subdivision (2) of section 53-21" with "subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of section 53-21", effective July 1,
2001; P.A. 02-132 replaced "Office of Adult Probation" with "Court Support Services Division" in Subsecs. (d), (e) and
(f) and replaced "Office of Adult Probation" with "Judicial Department" re authority for contracting with service providers
in Subsec. (e); P.A. 03-208 amended Subsec. (d) to add provision authorizing the court to order counseling or participation
in an animal cruelty prevention and education program for a defendant charged with a violation of Sec. 53-247; P.A. 04-139 amended Subsec. (c)(1) to make section inapplicable to a person charged with a violation of Sec. 53a-90a, 53a-196e
or 53a-196f; P.A. 05-235 added Subsec. (c)(6) making section inapplicable to any person charged with a violation of Sec.
9-359 or 9-359a, effective July 1, 2005, and applicable to elections, primaries and referenda held on or after September 1,
2005; P.A. 07-217 made a technical change in Subsec. (d), effective July 12, 2007; P.A. 10-43 amended Subsec. (d) to
delete provision authorizing court to order as condition of probation that defendant participate in zero-tolerance drug
supervision program.
Annotation to former section 54-76p:
Cited. 36 CS 527. Found error in denial of application for accelerated rehabilitation; detailed discussion in dissent. 37
CS 767.
Annotations to present section:
Denial of application for accelerated rehabilitation not a final judgment from which right of appeal lies. 189 C. 92, 95
(Diss. Op.). Claim to a dismissal of charges based on successful completion of conditions imposed under statute is interlocutory and review of claim not deemed proper as an exception to the ground rule requiring final judgment; exceptions
discussed. 194 C. 650. Cited. 206 C. 512. Cited. 219 C. 752. Cited. 222 C. 331.
Denial of application for accelerated rehabilitation is not appealable following plea of nolo contendere. 2 CA 219.
"Crime" means a single criminal act or transaction out of which one or more criminal charges might arise; determinative
criterion governing statute is whether changes arise out of same act or transaction. 6 CA 505. Cited. 8 CA 273. Cited. 9
CA 631; judgment reversed, see 205 C. 352; Id., 686. Cited. 23 CA 559. Defendant charged with more than one single
criminal act or transaction is ineligible for accelerated rehabilitation. 25 CA 235. Cited. 27 CA 635. Section is mandatory
in nature; failure to complete satisfactorily the period of pretrial probation requires that case be returned to docket for trial.
45 CA 722. Court's appraisal of sufficiency of required apology to victim upheld, where defendant initiated other litigation
that may have been impacted by wording of apology. 108 CA 605. Mere arrest of defendant, without more, was not
sufficient ground to terminate defendant's accelerated rehabilitation. 110 CA 814.
Mere arrest of defendant, without more, is an insufficient ground for revoking his eligibility for dismissal of charges
pursuant to accelerated rehabilitation program. 37 CS 853. Cited. Id., 864. Denial of application for accelerated rehabilitation not a final judgment from which right of appeal lies. 38 CS 552. Cited. Id., 689. Cited. 41 CS 454.
Subsec. (a):
After defendant's completion of program, court must act affirmatively by making a finding of satisfactory completion
in order to dismiss charges against defendant and state's failure to terminate his status in the program during period of
probation does not require court to dismiss the underlying charge. 98 CA 111. The legislature's use of both the singular
"crime" and the plural "crimes" reflects the legislature's intent that the statute may be invoked with respect to a defendant
accused of either one crime or multiple crimes, regardless of whether those crimes are temporally or otherwise related.
110 CA 442.
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Sec. 54-56f. (Formerly Sec. 54-5). Requirements of sureties of the peace. Any
judge of the Superior Court may, from his personal knowledge or upon complaint of
another, require sureties of the peace and good behavior from any person who threatens
to beat or kill another or resists or abuses any officer in the execution of his office or
contends with angry words or, by any unlawful act, terrifies or disturbs any person.
When any person complains on oath to a judge of the Superior Court that he has just
cause to fear that another will imprison, beat or kill the complainant, or procure others
to do so, and that he is under fear of bodily harm, such judge may, if he believes such
person has just cause for such fear, require sureties of the peace and good behavior from
the person so complained of. Upon refusal of the person so required to find sureties of
the peace in any of such cases, such judge may commit him to a community correctional
center to remain until he is discharged by due course of law or until the next term of the
superior court having criminal jurisdiction in such judicial district, which may make
further order relating to the subject matter of any such offense; but, in all cases in which
any person so complains on oath, such judge shall require of him a sufficient bond to
prosecute his complaint to effect; and, if the person complained of is discharged by such
judge for want of probable cause, the complainant shall pay all the expenses of such
prosecution and such judge shall tax the same against the complainant and issue execution against him therefor, and the same when collected shall be paid into the hands of
such judge, to be by him paid to those to whom the same may be due.
(1949 Rev., S. 8729; 1959, P.A. 28, S. 205; 1963, P.A. 642, S. 59; 1967, P.A. 656, S. 59; P.A. 73-116, S. 15; 73-667,
S. 1, 2; P.A. 74-183, S. 129, 291; P.A. 76-436, S. 520, 681; P.A. 78-280, S. 1, 127.)
History: 1959 act substituted circuit court judge for trial justice and deleted provision for person who abuses justice of
the peace; 1963 act deleted specification commitment be to jail "in county"; 1967 act changed court "session" to court
"term"; P.A. 73-116 replaced "jail" with "community correctional center" and added reference to judicial districts; P.A.
73-667 changed effective date of P.A. 73-116 from October 1, 1973, to April 25, 1973; P.A. 74-183 replaced circuit court
with court of common pleas, reflecting reorganization of judicial system, effective December 31, 1974; P.A. 76-436
replaced court of common pleas with superior court, reflecting transfer of all trial jurisdiction to superior court, effective
July 1, 1978; P.A. 78-280 deleted reference to counties; Sec. 54-5 transferred to Sec. 54-56f in 1981.
Annotations to former section 54-5:
Bond void in part is void in toto. 7 C. 239. Justice authorized to take recognizance for good behavior and also to appear
before higher court. 15 C. 149. Accused may be brought before and tried by another justice than the one issuing warrant.
59 C. 386. Cited. 60 C. 431.
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Sec. 54-56g. Pretrial alcohol education program. (a) There shall be a pretrial
alcohol education program for persons charged with a violation of section 14-227a, 14-227g, 15-132a, 15-133, 15-140l or 15-140n. Upon application by any such person for
participation in such program and payment to the court of an application fee of one
hundred dollars and a nonrefundable evaluation fee of one hundred dollars, the court
shall, but only as to the public, order the court file sealed, provided such person states
under oath, in open court or before any person designated by the clerk and duly authorized to administer oaths, under penalties of perjury that: (1) If such person is charged
with a violation of section 14-227a, such person has not had such program invoked in
such person's behalf within the preceding ten years for a violation of section 14-227a,
(2) if such person is charged with a violation of section 14-227g, such person has never
had such program invoked in such person's behalf for a violation of section 14-227a or
14-227g, (3) such person has not been convicted of a violation of section 53a-56b or
53a-60d, a violation of subsection (a) of section 14-227a before or after October 1, 1981,
or a violation of subdivision (1) or (2) of subsection (a) of section 14-227a on or after
October 1, 1985, and (4) such person has not been convicted in any other state at any
time of an offense the essential elements of which are substantially the same as section
53a-56b or 53a-60d or subdivision (1) or (2) of subsection (a) of section 14-227a. Unless
good cause is shown, a person shall be ineligible for participation in such pretrial alcohol
education program if such person's alleged violation of section 14-227a or 14-227g
caused the serious physical injury, as defined in section 53a-3, of another person. The
application fee imposed by this subsection shall be credited to the Criminal Injuries
Compensation Fund established by section 54-215. The evaluation fee imposed by this
subsection shall be credited to the pretrial account established under section 54-56k.
(b) The court, after consideration of the recommendation of the state's attorney,
assistant state's attorney or deputy assistant state's attorney in charge of the case, may,
in its discretion, grant such application. If the court grants such application, the court
shall refer such person to the Court Support Services Division for assessment and confirmation of the eligibility of the applicant and to the Department of Mental Health and
Addiction Services for evaluation. The Court Support Services Division, in making its
assessment and confirmation, may rely on the representations made by the applicant
under oath in open court with respect to convictions in other states of offenses specified
in subsection (a) of this section. Upon confirmation of eligibility and receipt of the
evaluation report, the defendant shall be referred to the Department of Mental Health
and Addiction Services by the Court Support Services Division for placement in an
appropriate alcohol intervention program for one year, or be placed in a state-licensed
substance abuse treatment program. The alcohol intervention program shall include a
ten-session intervention program and a fifteen-session intervention program. Any person who enters the pretrial alcohol education program shall agree: (1) To the tolling of
the statute of limitations with respect to such crime, (2) to a waiver of such person's
right to a speedy trial, (3) to complete ten or fifteen counseling sessions in an alcohol
intervention program or successfully complete a substance abuse treatment program of
not less than twelve sessions pursuant to this section dependent upon the evaluation
report and the court order, (4) to commence participation in an alcohol intervention
program or substance abuse treatment program not later than ninety days after the date
of entry of the court order unless granted a delayed entry into a program by the court,
(5) upon completion of participation in the alcohol intervention program, to accept placement in a substance abuse treatment program upon the recommendation of a provider
under contract with the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services pursuant
to subsection (f) of this section or placement in a state-licensed substance abuse treatment
program which meets standards established by the Department of Mental Health and
Addiction Services, if the Court Support Services Division deems it appropriate, and
(6) if ordered by the court, to participate in at least one victim impact panel. The suspension of the motor vehicle operator's license of any such person pursuant to section 14-227b shall be effective during the period such person is participating in the pretrial
alcohol education program, provided such person shall have the option of not commencing the participation in such program until the period of such suspension is completed.
If the Court Support Services Division informs the court that the defendant is ineligible
for such program and the court makes a determination of ineligibility or if the program
provider certifies to the court that the defendant did not successfully complete the assigned program or is no longer amenable to treatment and such person does not request,
or the court denies, program reinstatement under subsection (e) of this section, the court
shall order the court file to be unsealed, enter a plea of not guilty for such defendant
and immediately place the case on the trial list. If such defendant satisfactorily completes
the assigned program, such defendant may apply for dismissal of the charges against
such defendant and the court, on reviewing the record of the defendant's participation
in such program submitted by the Court Support Services Division and on finding such
satisfactory completion, shall dismiss the charges. If the defendant does not apply for
dismissal of the charges against such defendant after satisfactorily completing the assigned program the court, upon receipt of the record of the defendant's participation in
such program submitted by the Court Support Services Division, may on its own motion
make a finding of such satisfactory completion and dismiss the charges. Upon motion of
the defendant and a showing of good cause, the court may extend the one-year placement
period for a reasonable period for the defendant to complete the assigned program. A
record of participation in such program shall be retained by the Court Support Services
Division for a period of ten years from the date the court grants the application for
participation in such program. The Court Support Services Division shall transmit to
the Department of Motor Vehicles a record of participation in such program for each
person who satisfactorily completes such program. The Department of Motor Vehicles
shall maintain for a period of ten years the record of a person's participation in such
program as part of such person's driving record. The Court Support Services Division
shall transmit to the Department of Environmental Protection the record of participation
of any person who satisfactorily completes such program who has been charged with a
violation of the provisions of section 15-132a, 15-133, 15-140l or 15-140n. The Department of Environmental Protection shall maintain for a period of ten years the record of
a person's participation in such program as a part of such person's boater certification
record.
(c) At the time the court grants the application for participation in the pretrial alcohol
education program, such person shall also pay to the court a nonrefundable program fee
of three hundred fifty dollars if such person is ordered to participate in the ten-session
intervention program and a nonrefundable program fee of five hundred dollars if such
person is ordered to participate in the fifteen-session intervention program. If the court
grants the application for participation in the pretrial alcohol education program and
such person is ordered to participate in a substance abuse treatment program, such person
shall be responsible for the costs associated with participation in such program. No
person may be excluded from either program for inability to pay such fee or cost, provided (1) such person files with the court an affidavit of indigency or inability to pay,
(2) such indigency or inability to pay is confirmed by the Court Support Services Division, and (3) the court enters a finding thereof. If the court finds that a person is indigent
or unable to pay for a treatment program, the costs of such program shall be paid from
the pretrial account established under section 54-56k. If the court finds that a person is
indigent or unable to pay for an intervention program, the court may waive all or any
portion of the fee for such intervention program. If the court denies the application, such
person shall not be required to pay the program fee. If the court grants the application
and such person is later determined to be ineligible for participation in such pretrial
alcohol education program or fails to complete the assigned program, the program fee
shall not be refunded. All program fees shall be credited to the pretrial account established under section 54-56k.
(d) If a person returns to court with certification from a program provider that such
person did not successfully complete the assigned program or is no longer amenable to
treatment, the provider, to the extent practicable, shall include a recommendation to the
court as to whether a ten-session intervention program, a fifteen-session intervention
program or placement in a state-licensed substance abuse treatment program would best
serve such person's needs. The provider shall also indicate whether the current program
referral was an initial referral or a reinstatement to the program.
(e) When a person subsequently requests reinstatement into an alcohol intervention
program or a substance abuse treatment program and the Court Support Services Division verifies that such person is eligible for reinstatement into such program and thereafter the court favorably acts on such request, such person shall pay a nonrefundable
program fee of one hundred seventy-five dollars if ordered to complete a ten-session
intervention program or two hundred fifty dollars if ordered to complete a fifteen-session
intervention program, as the case may be. Unless good cause is shown, such fees shall
not be waived. If the court grants a person's request to be reinstated into a treatment
program, such person shall be responsible for the costs, if any, associated with being
reinstated into the treatment program. All program fees collected in connection with a
reinstatement to an intervention program shall be credited to the pretrial account established under section 54-56k. No person shall be permitted more than two program reinstatements pursuant to this subsection.
(f) The Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services shall contract with
service providers, develop standards and oversee appropriate alcohol programs to meet
the requirements of this section. Said department shall adopt regulations, in accordance
with chapter 54, to establish standards for such alcohol programs. Any person ordered
to participate in a treatment program shall do so at a state-licensed treatment program
which meets the standards established by said department. Any defendant whose employment or residence makes it unreasonable to attend an alcohol intervention program
or a substance abuse treatment program in this state may attend a program in another
state which has standards substantially similar to, or higher than, those of this state,
subject to the approval of the court and payment of the application, evaluation and
program fees and treatment costs, as appropriate, as provided in this section.
(g) The court may, as a condition of granting such application, require that such
person participate in a victim impact panel program approved by the Court Support
Services Division of the Judicial Department. Such victim impact panel program shall
provide a nonconfrontational forum for the victims of alcohol-related or drug-related
offenses and offenders to share experiences on the impact of alcohol-related or drug-related incidents in their lives. Such victim impact panel program shall be conducted
by a nonprofit organization that advocates on behalf of victims of accidents caused by
persons who operated a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor
or any drug, or both. Such organization may assess a participation fee of not more than
seventy-five dollars on any person required by the court to participate in such program,
provided such organization shall offer a hardship waiver when it has determined that
the imposition of a fee would pose an economic hardship for such person.
(h) The provisions of this section shall not be applicable in the case of any person
charged with a violation of section 14-227a while operating a commercial motor vehicle,
as defined in section 14-1.
(P.A. 81-446, S. 1; P.A. 82-408, S. 1; 82-472, S. 166, 183; P.A. 83-508, S. 1, 5; 83-571, S. 1; P.A. 85-350, S. 3; 85-417; 85-529, S. 1, 4; 85-596, S. 3; P.A. 86-403, S. 91, 132; P.A. 89-110, S. 1-3; 89-219, S. 8, 10; 89-314, S. 4, 5; P.A. 91-24, S. 7; 91-243; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-6, S. 81, 117; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 94-135, S. 8; P.A. 95-257, S. 5, 58; P.A.
96-180, S. 129, 166; P.A. 97-309, S. 14, 23; 97-322, S. 7, 9; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-8, S. 32, 88; P.A. 98-81, S. 11; P.A.
99-255, S. 3; P.A. 01-201, S. 2, 3; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-8, S. 9, 13; P.A. 02-132, S. 35; May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-1, S.
117; P.A. 03-244, S. 11, 13; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, S. 177; P.A. 04-217, S. 19; 04-250, S. 2; P.A. 06-130, S. 21; P.A.
07-167, S. 42; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4, S. 20; P.A. 09-140, S. 14; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3, S. 54; P.A. 10-18, S. 24; 10-30, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 82-408 added "before or after October 1, 1982" after "14-227a" in Subsec. (a), in Subsec. (b) changed
"grants" to "may, in its discretion, grant" and eliminated provision that license suspension shall be ineffective during period
of participation in program and reversed upon satisfactory completion of program, in Subsec. (d) changed "office of adult
probation" to "Connecticut alcohol and drug abuse commission" and "Connecticut alcohol and drug abuse commission"
to "service providers" and in Subsec. (e) after "fund" added "from which all moneys except administrative costs, shall be
transferred to the Connecticut alcohol and drug abuse commission"; P.A. 82-472 changed date applicable to violations of
Sec. 14-227a from October 1, 1982, to October 1, 1981; P.A. 83-508 repealed provision establishing alcohol education
and treatment revolving fund from which moneys shall be transferred to Connecticut alcohol and drug abuse commission
for education and treatment programs and provided that $200 fee shall be credited to the general fund instead of being
deposited in revolving fund and that any balance in the revolving fund on July 1, 1983, shall be transferred to the general
fund; P.A. 83-571 amended Subsec. (b) to provide that a person who enters the system agrees to accept more intensive
treatment or other forms of education or treatment or to participate in additional meetings or counseling sessions if the
office of adult probation deems it appropriate, to provide that the case of a defendant "no longer amenable to treatment
under such program" shall be placed on the trial list, and to replace the provision that a defendant's "case shall be brought
to trial" with provision that the court shall "enter a plea of not guilty for such defendant and immediately place the case
on the trial list", to require the office of adult probation to transmit to the department of motor vehicles a record of
participation for each person who satisfactorily completes such program and to require the department of motor vehicles
to maintain for 7 years a record of a person's participation in the program, and amended Subsec. (c) to increase the fee for
participation from $200 to $250; P.A. 85-350 amended Subsec. (a) to provide that unless good cause is shown a person is
ineligible for the program if his violation caused the serious physical injury of another person, and amended Subsec. (b)
to provide that if the defendant does not apply for dismissal of the charges against him after satisfactory completion of the
program the court may on its own motion make a finding of satisfactory completion and dismiss the charges; P.A. 85-417
replaced references to office of adult probation with references to bail commission; P.A. 85-529 amended Subsec. (a) to
establish an application fee of $15 and provide that said fee be credited to the criminal injuries compensation fund; P.A.
85-596 amended Subsec. (a) to exclude persons convicted of a violation of "subsection (a)" of section 14-227a before or
after October 1, 1981, or "a violation of subdivision (1) or (2) of subsection (a) of section 14-227a on or after October 1,
1985"; P.A. 86-403 made technical change in Subsec. (b); P.A. 89-110 amended Subsec. (a) to exclude persons convicted
of a violation of Sec. 53a-56b or 53a-60d or convicted in any other state at any time of an offense the essential elements
of which are substantially the same as Sec. 53a-56b, 53a-60d or 14-227a(a)(1) or (2), amended Subsec. (b) to authorize
the bail commission to rely on the representations made by the applicant re convictions in other states, and amended Subsec.
(d) to authorize a defendant to attend an alcohol education and treatment program in another state under certain conditions;
P.A. 89-219 amended Subsec. (a) to raise the application fee from $15 to $50; P.A. 89-314 amended Subsec. (b) to add
proviso that a person whose license has been suspended pursuant to Sec. 14-227b shall have the option of not commencing
participation in the program until the period of such suspension is completed; P.A. 91-24 amended Subsec. (a) to add
provision permitting the person to make a sworn statement "before any person designated by the clerk and duly authorized
to administer oaths"; P.A. 91-243 amended Subsec. (b) to make technical language changes to clarify the role of the
Connecticut alcohol and drug abuse commission in the pretrial alcohol education system and repealed obsolete Subsec.
(e) re transfer of moneys in alcohol education and treatment fund to general fund; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-6 amended Subsec.
(c) to raise fee from $250 to $350; P.A. 93-381 replaced Connecticut alcohol and drug abuse commission and executive
director with department and commissioner of public health and addiction services, respectively, effective July 1, 1993;
P.A. 94-135 amended Subsec. (b) to provide referral to bail commissioner for assessment and confirmation of eligibility
for program, and amended Subsec. (c) to require payment of nonrefundable program fee at time court grants application
and to specify that payment of such fee is not required if court denies application, but that fee is not refundable if ineligibility
is determined at a later time or applicant does not complete the program; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 96-180 made technical change in Subsec. (d), substituting "department" for "commission", effective June 3, 1996; P.A. 97-309 and June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-8 both changed eight meetings or counseling
sessions to ten counseling sessions in Subsec. (b) and in Subsec. (c) increased the program fee from $350 to $425, effective
July 1, 1997; P.A. 97-322 revised effective date of P.A. 97-309 but without affecting this section; P.A. 98-81 amended
Subsecs. (a) and (b) by changing "information or complaint" to "court file"; P.A. 99-255 amended Subsec. (b) to require
a person who enters the system to agree to participate in at least fifteen counseling sessions if such person was charged
with a violation of Sec. 14-227a(a)(2) and had a blood alcohol ratio of 0.16% or more of alcohol, by weight, amended
Subsec. (c) to establish a program fee of $600 if the person was charged with a violation of Sec. 14-227a(a)(2) and had a
blood alcohol ratio of 0.16% or more of alcohol, by weight, and made technical changes for purposes of gender neutrality
(Revisor's note: In Subsec. (b) a reference to "sixteen-hundredths of one per cent of more of alcohol" was changed editorially
by the Revisors to "sixteen-hundredths of one per cent or more of alcohol" for consistency with language in Subsec. (c));
P.A. 01-201 added Subsec. (b)(5) requiring a person who enters the system to agree to participate in at least one victim
impact panel if ordered by the court and added Subsec. (e) to authorize the court to require participation in a victim impact
panel program as a condition of granting the application, specify the nature of the program and the organization that will
conduct the program and authorize the organization to assess a participation fee; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-8 amended Subsec.
(c) by changing "General Fund" to "pretrial account", effective July 1, 2001; P.A. 02-132 replaced "Bail Commission"
with "Court Support Services Division" in Subsecs. (b) and (c); May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-1 amended Subsec. (a) to require
a pretrial alcohol education system for persons charged with a violation of Sec. 14-227g and a nonrefundable evaluation
fee of $100, to require the court to order the court file sealed provided there is a statement under oath that, if such person
is charged with a violation of Sec. 14-227a, such person has not had such system invoked in his or her behalf within the
preceding 10 years for a violation of said section, and, if such person is charged with a violation of Sec. 14-227g, such
person has never had such system invoked in his or her behalf for a violation of Sec. 14-227a or 14-227g, and to make
technical changes, amended Subsec. (b) to require the court to refer applicants to the Department of Mental Health and
Addiction Services for evaluation, to require any person who enters the system to agree to complete ten or fifteen counseling
sessions in an alcohol intervention program dependent upon the evaluation report and the court order and to make technical
changes, amended Subsec. (c) to require payment to the court of a nonrefundable program fee of $325 if such person is
ordered to participate in the ten-session program and a nonrefundable program fee of $500 if such person is ordered to
participate in the fifteen-session program and to make technical changes, and amended Subsec. (d) to add provision re
payment of the evaluation fee, effective July 1, 2002; P.A. 03-244 amended Subsec. (a) to include reference to Secs. 15-133, 15-140l and 15-140n and amended Subsec. (b) to provide for transmittal of the record of participation to the Department
of Environmental Protection for persons who violated Sec. 15-133, 15-140l or 15-140n; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6
amended Subsec. (a) to restore existing statutory language inadvertently omitted in the drafting of public act 03-244; P.A.
04-217 added Subsec. (f) providing section not applicable where person charged with violation of Sec. 14-227a while
operating commercial motor vehicle, effective January 1, 2005; P.A. 04-250 amended Subsec. (a) to make technical
changes, amended Subsec. (b) to authorize the placement of the defendant in a state-licensed substance abuse treatment
program, add as an alternative in Subdiv. (3) successful completion of a substance abuse treatment program of not less
than twelve sessions, add in Subdiv. (4) that the person agrees to accept placement in a treatment program "upon completion
of participation in the alcohol intervention program" and replace in Subdiv. (4) "placement in a treatment program which
has standards substantially similar to, or higher than, a program of a provider under contract with the Department of Mental
Health and Addiction Services" with "placement in a state-licensed treatment program which meets standards established
by" said department, amended Subsec. (c) to replace "application for participation in the pretrial alcohol education system"
with "application for participation in the alcohol intervention program", add provision that if the court grants participation
in a treatment program the person is responsible for the costs associated with participation in such program, add provision
that if the court finds a person is indigent or unable to pay for a treatment program the costs of such program shall be paid
from the pretrial account established under Sec. 54-56k and make technical changes and amended Subsec. (d) to require
any person ordered to participate in a treatment program to do so at a state-licensed treatment program which meets the
standards established by said department and replace "an alcohol program" with "an alcohol intervention program or a
treatment program"; P.A. 06-130 amended Subsec. (f) by making section inapplicable to holders of commercial driver's
licenses, effective July 1, 2006; P.A. 07-167 amended Subsec. (f) by deleting provision re holder of a commercial driver's
license, effective July 1, 2007; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4 amended Subsec. (e) to increase fee from $25 to $75 and to permit
a waiver where fee would pose economic hardship; P.A. 09-140 amended Subsecs. (a) and (b) by adding references to
Sec. 15-132a and making a technical change, effective July 1, 2009; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3 amended Subsec. (a) by
replacing pretrial alcohol education system with pretrial alcohol education program, increasing application fee from $50
to $100 and specifying that evaluation fee shall be credited to pretrial account established under Sec. 54-56k, amended
Subsec. (b) by providing that alcohol intervention program shall include 10-session and 15-session intervention programs,
adding new Subdiv. (4) re commencing participation in program not later than 90 days after date of entry of court order,
redesignating existing Subdivs. (4) and (5) as Subdivs. (5) and (6), adding provision re entry of not guilty plea for any
person who does not pursue or who is denied program reinstatement by the court under Subsec. (e), extending from 7 to
10 years the record retention requirements re program participation for Departments of Motor Vehicles and Environmental
Protection and making a technical change, amended Subsec. (c) by increasing alcohol intervention program fee from $325
to $350 and deleting "such evaluation and" re fees credited to pretrial account, added new Subsec. (d) re recommendations
from program providers re persons who do not successfully complete assigned program, added new Subsec. (e) re reinstatement into intervention or treatment program and redesignated existing Subsecs. (d) to (f) as Subsecs. (f) to (h), effective
January 1, 2010; P.A. 10-18 amended Subsecs. (a) to (c) by replacing references to "system" with references to "program";
P.A. 10-30 made technical changes and substituted references to "program" for references to "system", amended Subsec.
(b) to substitute "ten years from the date the court grants the application for participation in such program" for "seven
years from the date of application", amended Subsec. (c) to allow waiver of fees if court finds person indigent or unable
to pay for intervention program, and amended Subsec. (f) to reference treatment costs, effective July 1, 2010.
Trial court might reasonably have determined that defendant lost her eligibility to continue in the system of alcohol
education when, shortly after she had been admitted, she again operated her vehicle while intoxicated. 200 C. 102. Pretrial
alcohol education program cited. Id., 615.
Cited. 39 CA 11. Cited. 45 CA 722. Program is a pretrial diversionary program designed to avoid trial and therefore
court did not abuse its discretion in denying application for participation in program after jury selection had commenced.
86 CA 751.
Cited as P.A. 81-446, S. 1. 37 CS 767. Cited. 38 CS 675; Id., 689.
Subsec. (f):
Defendant was ineligible for pretrial alcohol education program because she was the holder of a commercial driver's
license at the time she was charged with violating Sec. 14-227a concerning operation of a motor vehicle while under the
influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs. 110 CA 836.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) | (Return to List of Chapters) | (Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 54-56h. Consideration of defendant's contribution to Criminal Injuries
Compensation Fund or of community service work hours. Payment of monetary
contribution to fund. (a) The court may, in the disposition of any criminal or motor
vehicle case, including a dismissal or the imposition of a sentence, consider the fact that
the defendant has made a monetary contribution to the Criminal Injuries Compensation
Fund established under section 54-215 or a contribution of community service work
hours to a private nonprofit charity or other nonprofit organization.
(b) In entering a nolle prosequi, the state's attorney, assistant state's attorney or
deputy assistant state's attorney in charge of the case may consider the fact that the
defendant has made a monetary contribution to the Criminal Injuries Compensation
Fund or a contribution of community service work hours to a private nonprofit charity
or other nonprofit organization.
(c) A monetary contribution made by a defendant to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund as provided in this section may be paid to either the clerk of the court or
the Office of Victim Services.
(P.A. 91-85; P.A. 97-257, S. 7, 13; P.A. 06-152, S. 9.)
History: P.A. 97-257 added references to contributions to "Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund established under
section 54-215", effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 06-152 made a technical change in Subsec. (b) and added Subsec. (c) re
payment of monetary contribution to Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund, effective July 1, 2006.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) | (Return to List of Chapters) | (Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 54-56i. Pretrial drug education program. (a) There is established a pretrial
drug education program for persons charged with a violation of section 21a-267 or 21a-279. The drug education program shall include a ten-session drug intervention program,
a fifteen-session drug intervention program and a substance abuse treatment program.
(b) Upon application by any such person for participation in such program and
payment to the court of an application fee of one hundred dollars and a nonrefundable
evaluation fee of one hundred dollars, the court shall, but only as to the public, order
the court file sealed provided such person states under oath, in open court or before any
person designated by the clerk and duly authorized to administer oaths, under penalties
of perjury, that such person has never had such program invoked in such person's behalf.
A person shall be ineligible for participation in such pretrial drug education program if
such person has previously participated in the eight-session, ten-session or fifteen-session drug education program, or substance abuse treatment program established under
this section or the pretrial community service labor program established under section
53a-39c. The evaluation and application fee imposed by this subsection shall be credited
to the pretrial account established under section 54-56k.
(c) The court, after consideration of the recommendation of the state's attorney,
assistant state's attorney or deputy assistant state's attorney in charge of the case, may,
in its discretion, grant such application. If the court grants such application, the court
shall refer such person to the Court Support Services Division for confirmation of the
eligibility of the applicant and to the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services for evaluation.
(d) Upon confirmation of eligibility and receipt of the evaluation required pursuant
to subsection (c) of this section, such person shall be referred to the Department of Mental
Health and Addiction Services by the Court Support Services Division for placement in
the drug education program. Participants in the drug education program shall receive
appropriate drug intervention services or substance abuse treatment program services,
as recommended by the evaluation conducted pursuant to subsection (c) of this section,
and ordered by the court. Placement in the drug education program pursuant to this
section shall not exceed one year. Persons receiving substance abuse treatment program
services in accordance with the provisions of this section shall only receive such services
at state licensed substance abuse treatment program facilities that are in compliance
with all state standards governing the operation of such facilities. Any person who enters
the program shall agree: (1) To the tolling of the statute of limitations with respect to
such crime; (2) to a waiver of such person's right to a speedy trial; (3) to complete
participation in the ten-session drug intervention program, fifteen-session drug intervention program or substance abuse treatment program, as recommended by the evaluation
conducted pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, and ordered by the court; (4) to
commence participation in the drug education program not later than ninety days after
the date of entry of the court order unless granted a delayed entry into the program by the
court; and (5) upon completion of participation in the pretrial drug education program, to
accept placement in a treatment program upon the recommendation of a provider under
contract with the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services or placement in
a treatment program that has standards substantially similar to, or higher than, a program
of a provider under contract with the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services if the Court Support Services Division deems it appropriate. The Court Support
Services Division shall require as a condition of participation in the drug education
program that any person participating in the ten-session drug intervention program or
the substance abuse treatment program also participate in the community service labor
program, established pursuant to section 53a-39c, for not less than five days; and that
any person participating in the fifteen-session drug intervention program also participate
in said community service labor program, for not less than ten days.
(e) If the Court Support Services Division informs the court that such person is
ineligible for the program and the court makes a determination of ineligibility or if the
program provider certifies to the court that such person did not successfully complete
the assigned program and such person did not request, or the court denied, reinstatement
in the program under subsection (i) of this section, the court shall order the court file to
be unsealed, enter a plea of not guilty for such person and immediately place the case
on the trial list.
(f) If such person satisfactorily completes the assigned program, such person may
apply for dismissal of the charges against such person and the court, on reviewing the
record of such person's participation in such program submitted by the Court Support
Services Division and on finding such satisfactory completion, shall dismiss the charges.
If such person does not apply for dismissal of the charges against such person after
satisfactorily completing the assigned program, the court, upon receipt of the record of
such person's participation in such program submitted by the Court Support Services
Division, may on its own motion make a finding of such satisfactory completion and
dismiss the charges. Upon motion of such person and a showing of good cause, the court
may extend the placement period for a reasonable period for such person to complete
the assigned program. A record of participation in such program shall be retained by
the Court Support Services Division for a period of ten years from the date the court
grants the application for participation in the program.
(g) At the time the court grants the application for participation in the pretrial drug
education program, such person shall pay to the court a nonrefundable program fee of
three hundred fifty dollars if such person is ordered to participate in the ten-session drug
intervention program or five hundred dollars if such person is ordered to participate
in the fifteen-session drug intervention program. If the court orders participation in
a substance abuse treatment program, such person shall be responsible for the costs
associated with such program. No person may be excluded from any such program for
inability to pay such fee or cost, provided (1) such person files with the court an affidavit
of indigency or inability to pay, (2) such indigency or inability to pay is confirmed by
the Court Support Services Division, and (3) the court enters a finding thereof. The court
may waive all or any portion of such fee depending on such person's ability to pay. If
the court finds that a person is indigent or unable to pay for a treatment program, the
costs of such program shall be paid from the pretrial account established under section
54-56k. If the court denies the application, such person shall not be required to pay the
program fee. If the court grants the application, and such person is later determined to
be ineligible for participation in such pretrial drug education program or fails to complete
the assigned program, the program fee shall not be refunded. All program fees shall be
credited to the pretrial account established under section 54-56k.
(h) If a person returns to court with certification from a program provider that such
person did not successfully complete the assigned program or is no longer amenable to
treatment, the provider, to the extent practicable, shall include a recommendation to
the court as to whether a ten-session drug intervention program, a fifteen-session drug
intervention program or placement in a substance abuse treatment program would best
serve such person's needs. The provider shall also indicate whether the current program
referral was an initial referral or a reinstatement to the program.
(i) When a person subsequently requests reinstatement into a drug intervention program or a substance abuse treatment program and the Court Support Services Division
verifies that such person is eligible for reinstatement into such program and thereafter
the court favorably acts on such request, such person shall pay a nonrefundable program
fee of one hundred seventy-five dollars if ordered to complete a ten-session drug intervention program or two hundred fifty dollars if ordered to complete a fifteen-session
drug intervention program, as the case may be. Unless good cause is shown, such fees
shall not be waived. If the court grants a person's request to be reinstated into a substance
abuse treatment program, such person shall be responsible for the costs, if any, associated
with being reinstated into the treatment program. All program fees collected in connection with a reinstatement to a drug intervention program shall be credited to the pretrial
account established under section 54-56k. No person shall be permitted more than two
program reinstatements pursuant to this subsection.
(j) The Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services shall develop standards and oversee appropriate drug education programs to meet the requirements of
this section and may contract with service providers to provide such programs. The
department shall adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, to establish standards
for such drug education programs.
(k) Any person whose employment or residence or schooling makes it unreasonable
to attend a drug intervention program or substance abuse treatment program in this state
may attend a program in another state that has standards similar to, or higher than, those
of this state, subject to the approval of the court and payment of the program fee or costs
as provided in this section.
(P.A. 97-248, S. 7, 12; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-8, S. 76, 88; P.A. 99-148, S. 1, 4; 99-215, S. 21, 29; June Sp. Sess.
P.A. 01-8, S. 10, 13; P.A. 02-132, S. 36; P.A. 07-148, S. 17; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3, S. 55; P.A. 10-18, S. 25, 26; 10-30, S. 2.)
History: P.A. 97-248 effective July 1, 1997; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-8 amended Subsec. (a) to change the deadline
for establishing the program from October 1, 1997 to January 1, 1998, effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 99-148 amended Subsec.
(a) to make program available to any person charged with a violation of Sec. 21a-279 rather than a violation of only
"subsection (c)" of said section, added Subsec. (d)(4) requiring the person to accept placement in a treatment program,
amended Subsec. (g) to reduce the program fee from $600 to $350, added new Subsec. (i) to authorize a person to attend
a drug program in another state under certain circumstances, and made technical changes for purposes of gender neutrality,
effective July 1, 1999; P.A. 99-215 amended Subsec. (b) by deleting "such information or complaint to be filed as a sealed
information or complaint" and substituting "the court file sealed" and amended Subsec. (e) by deleting "information or
complaint" and substituting "court file", effective June 29, 1999; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-8 amended Subsec. (g) by changing
"General Fund" to "pretrial account", effective July 1, 2001; P.A. 02-132 replaced "Bail Commission" with "Court Support
Services Division" in Subsecs. (c) to (g) and made technical changes in Subsec. (h); P.A. 07-148 amended Subsec. (a) by
deleting reference to pilot research drug education program under Sec. 17a-715; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3 amended Subsec.
(a) by specifying that drug education program includes a 10-session and 15-session drug intervention program and a drug
treatment program and removing provision re date for establishment of program, amended Subsec. (b) by adding provision
re $100 application and evaluation fees, specifying that previous participation in 8, 10 or 15-session drug program or
substance abuse treatment under section are grounds for ineligibility in pretrial drug education program and specifying
that evaluation and application fees shall be credited to pretrial account, amended Subsec. (c) by adding provision re referral
to Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services for evaluation, amended Subsec. (d) by adding provision re receipt
of appropriate services at state licensed facilities for duration not to exceed 1 year, deleting former Subdiv. (3), adding
new Subdivs. (3) and (4) re participants agreeing to complete participation in program as recommended by evaluation and
to commence participation in program not later than 90 days after date of entry of court order, redesignating existing
Subdiv. (4) as Subdiv. (5) and adding therein "upon completion of participation in the pretrial drug education program",
and revising provision re participation in community service labor program, amended Subsec. (e) by adding "and such
person did not pursue or the court denied reinstatement in the program under subsection (i) of this section", amended
Subsec. (f) by extending record retention requirements at Court Support Services Division from 7 to 10 years, amended
Subsec. (g) to specify $350 fee for 10-session drug intervention program, $500 fee for 15-session drug intervention program,
that when court orders participation in a drug treatment program, participant shall be responsible for costs associated with
such program and that all program fees shall not be refunded and shall be credited to pretrial account, added new Subsec.
(h) re recommendations from program providers when participants do not complete assigned program, added new Subsec.
(i) re reinstatement into drug intervention program or substance abuse treatment program, redesignated existing Subsecs.
(h) and (i) as Subsecs. (j) and (k) and amended the latter to change "drug program" to "drug intervention program" and
add "or substance abuse treatment program", effective January 1, 2010; P.A. 10-18 made technical changes in Subsecs.
(d) and (g); P.A. 10-30 made technical changes, amended Subsec. (d) to substitute "Court Support Services Division" for
"department", amended Subsec. (f) to substitute "date the court grants the application for participation in the program"
for "date of application", amended Subsec. (g) to provide that costs of program be paid from pretrial account if court finds
that person is indigent or unable to pay for treatment program, and amended Subsecs. (g) and (k) to reference costs, effective
July 1, 2010.
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Sec. 54-56j. Pretrial school violence prevention program. (a) There shall be a
school violence prevention program for students of a public or private secondary school
charged with an offense involving the use or threatened use of physical violence in or
on the real property comprising a public or private elementary or secondary school or
at a school-sponsored activity as defined in subsection (h) of section 10-233a. Upon
application by any such person for participation in such program, the court shall, but
only as to the public, order the court file sealed, provided such person states under
oath, in open court or before any person designated by the clerk and duly authorized to
administer oaths, under penalties of perjury that such person has never had such system
invoked in such person's behalf and that such person has not been convicted of an offense
involving the threatened use of physical violence in or on the real property comprising
a public or private elementary or secondary school or at a school-sponsored activity as
defined in subsection (h) of section 10-233a, and that such person has not been convicted
in any other state at any time of an offense the essential elements of which are substantially the same as such an offense.
(b) The court, after consideration of the recommendation of the state's attorney,
assistant state's attorney or deputy assistant state's attorney in charge of the case, may,
in its discretion, grant such application. If the court grants such application, it shall refer
such person to the Court Support Services Division for assessment and confirmation
of the eligibility of the applicant. The Court Support Services Division, in making its
assessment and confirmation, may rely on the representations made by the applicant
under oath in open court with respect to convictions in other states of offenses specified
in subsection (a) of this section. As a condition of eligibility for participation in such
program, the student and the parents or guardian of such student shall certify under
penalty of false statement that, to the best of such person's knowledge and belief, such
person does not possess any firearms, dangerous weapons, controlled substances or
other property or materials the possession of which is prohibited by law or in violation
of the law. Upon confirmation of eligibility, the defendant shall be referred to the Court
Support Services Division for evaluation and placement in an appropriate school violence prevention program for one year.
(c) Any person who enters the program shall agree: (1) To the tolling of the statute
of limitations with respect to such crime, (2) to a waiver of the right to a speedy trial,
(3) to participate in a school violence prevention program offered by a provider under
contract with the Court Support Services Division pursuant to subsection (g) of this
section, and (4) to successfully complete the assigned program. If the Court Support
Services Division informs the court that the defendant is ineligible for the program and
the court makes a determination of ineligibility or if the program provider certifies to
the court that the defendant did not successfully complete the assigned program, the
court shall order the court file to be unsealed, enter a plea of not guilty for such defendant
and immediately place the case on the trial list.
(d) The Court Support Services Division shall monitor the defendant's participation
in the assigned program and the defendant's compliance with the orders of the court
including, but not limited to, maintaining contact with the student and officials of the
student's school.
(e) If such defendant satisfactorily completes the assigned program and one year
has elapsed since the defendant was placed in the program, such defendant may apply
for dismissal of the charges against such defendant and the court, on reviewing the
record of such defendant's participation in such program submitted by the Court Support
Services Division and on finding such satisfactory completion, shall dismiss the charges.
If the defendant does not apply for dismissal of the charges against the defendant after
satisfactorily completing the assigned program and one year has elapsed since the defendant was placed in the program, the court, upon receipt of the record of the defendant's
participation in such program submitted by the Court Support Services Division, may on
its own motion make a finding of such satisfactory completion and dismiss the charges.
(f) The cost of participation in such program shall be paid by the parent or guardian
of such student, except that no student shall be excluded from such program for inability
to pay such cost provided (1) the parent or guardian of such student files with the court
an affidavit of indigency or inability to pay, and (2) the court enters a finding thereof.
(g) The Court Support Services Division shall contract with service providers, develop standards and oversee appropriate school violence prevention programs to meet
the requirements of this section.
(h) The school violence prevention program shall consist of at least eight group
counseling sessions in anger management and nonviolent conflict resolution.
(P.A. 99-259, S. 2, 3; P.A. 10-43, S. 23.)
History: P.A. 99-259 effective January 1, 2000; P.A. 10-43 replaced "Bail Commission" and "Office of Alternative
Sanctions" with "Court Support Services Division", effective May 18, 2010.
See Sec. 46b-133e re suspension of delinquency proceedings for participation in school violence prevention program.
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Sec. 54-56k. Pretrial account. (a) There is established an account to be known as
the pretrial account. The account shall contain any moneys required by law to be deposited in the account and shall be a separate, nonlapsing account of the General Fund.
Investment earnings credited to the account shall become part of the assets of the account.
Any balance remaining in said account at the end of any fiscal year shall be carried
forward in the account for the next fiscal year.
(b) There shall be deposited in the pretrial account all evaluation fees collected
pursuant to subsection (a) of section 54-56g and subsection (b) of section 54-56i and
all program fees collected pursuant to subsections (c) and (e) of section 54-56g and
subsections (g) and (i) of section 54-56i and funds appropriated in subsection (a) of
section 47 of special act 01-1 of the June special session.
(c) Amounts in the pretrial account shall be available to fund the cost of operating
the pretrial alcohol and drug education programs established under sections 54-56g and
54-56i.
(June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-8, S. 8, 13; P.A. 10-30, S. 6.)
History: June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-8 effective July 1, 2001; P.A. 10-30 amended Subsec. (b) to reference evaluation fees
collected pursuant to Secs. 54-56g(a) and 54-56i(b) and program fees collected pursuant to Secs. 54-56g(e) and 54-56i(i),
effective July 1, 2010.
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Sec. 54-56l. Pretrial supervised diversionary program for persons with psychiatric disabilities. (a) There shall be a supervised diversionary program for persons
with psychiatric disabilities accused of a crime or crimes or a motor vehicle violation
or violations for which a sentence to a term of imprisonment may be imposed, which
crimes or violations are not of a serious nature. For the purposes of this section, "psychiatric disability" means a mental or emotional condition, other than solely substance
abuse, that (1) has substantial adverse effects on the defendant's ability to function, and
(2) requires care and treatment.
(b) A person shall be ineligible for participation in such supervised diversionary
program if such person (1) is ineligible to participate in the pretrial program for accelerated rehabilitation under subsection (c) of section 54-56e, or (2) has twice previously
participated in such supervised diversionary program.
(c) Upon application by any such person for participation in such program, the court
shall, but only as to the public, order the court file sealed provided such person states
under oath, in open court or before any person designated by the clerk and duly authorized to administer oaths, under penalties of perjury, that such person has not had such
program invoked in such person's behalf more than once. Court personnel shall provide
notice, on a form approved by rule of court, to any victim of such crime or motor vehicle
violation, by registered or certified mail, that such person has applied for the program
and that such victim has an opportunity to be heard by the court on the matter.
(d) The court shall refer such person to the Court Support Services Division for
confirmation of eligibility and assessment of the person's mental health condition. The
prosecuting attorney shall provide the division with a copy of the police report in the
case to assist the division in its assessment. The division shall determine if the person
is amenable to treatment and if appropriate services and treatment are available. If the
division determines that the person is amenable to treatment and that appropriate services
and treatment are available, it shall develop a treatment plan tailored to the person and
shall present it to the court.
(e) Upon confirmation of eligibility and consideration of the treatment plan presented by the Court Support Services Division, the court may grant such application. If
the court grants the application, such person shall be referred to the division. The division
shall collaborate with the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services to place
such person in a program that provides appropriate community supervision, treatment
and services. The person shall be subject to the supervision of a probation officer who
has a reduced caseload and specialized training in working with persons with psychiatric
disabilities.
(f) The Court Support Services Division shall establish policy and procedures to
require division employees to notify any victim of the person admitted to the program
of any conditions ordered by the court that directly affect the victim and of such person's
scheduled court appearances with respect to the case.
(g) Any person who enters the program shall agree: (1) To the tolling of the statute
of limitations with respect to such crime or violation; (2) to a waiver of such person's
right to a speedy trial; and (3) to any conditions that may be established by the division
concerning participation in the supervised diversionary program including conditions
concerning participation in meetings or sessions of the program.
(h) If the Court Support Services Division informs the court that such person is
ineligible for the program and the court makes a determination of ineligibility or if the
division certifies to the court that such person did not successfully complete the assigned
program, the court shall order the court file to be unsealed, enter a plea of not guilty for
such person and immediately place the case on the trial list.
(i) If such person satisfactorily completes the assigned program, such person may
apply for dismissal of the charges against such person and the court, on reviewing the
record of such person's participation in such program submitted by the Court Support
Services Division and on finding such satisfactory completion, shall dismiss the charges.
If such person does not apply for dismissal of the charges against such person after
satisfactorily completing the assigned program, the court, upon receipt of the record of
such person's participation in such program submitted by the Court Support Services
Division, may on its own motion make a finding of such satisfactory completion and
dismiss the charges. Except as provided in subsection (j) of this section, upon dismissal,
all records of such charges shall be erased pursuant to section 54-142a. An order of the
court denying a motion to dismiss the charges against a person who has completed such
person's period of probation or supervision or terminating the participation of a person
in such program shall be a final judgment for purposes of appeal.
(j) The Court Support Services Division shall develop and maintain a database of
information concerning persons admitted to the supervised diversionary program that
shall be available to the state police and organized local police departments for use
by sworn police officers when responding to incidents involving such persons. Such
information shall include the person's name, date of birth, Social Security number,
the violation or violations with which the person was charged, the dates of program
participation and whether a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument was involved in
the violation or violations for which the program was granted. The division shall enter
such information in the database upon such person's entry into the program, update such
information as necessary and retain such information for a period of five years after the
date of such person's entry into the program.
(k) The Court Support Services Division, in collaboration with the Department of
Mental Health and Addiction Services, shall develop standards and oversee appropriate
treatment programs to meet the requirements of this section and may contract with
service providers to provide such programs.
(l) The Court Support Services Division shall retain the police report provided to
it by the prosecuting attorney and the record of supervision including the dates of supervision and shall provide such information to the court, prosecuting attorney and defense
counsel whenever a court is considering whether to grant an application by such person
for participation in the supervised diversionary program for a second time.
(Jan. Sp. Sess. P.A. 08-1, S. 41.)
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Sec. 54-56m. Mediation programs. (a) There shall be established, in the geographical area of the Superior Court for the towns of Berlin, New Britain, Newington,
Rocky Hill and Wethersfield, the geographical area of the Superior Court for the towns
of Bethlehem, Middlebury, Naugatuck, Prospect, Southbury, Watertown, Wolcott,
Woodbury and Waterbury, and such other geographical areas of the Superior Court as
the Chief Court Administrator may designate, programs of mediation wherein the court
may refer a criminal prosecution to mediation for resolution. For the purposes of this
section, "mediation" means the process where two or more persons to a dispute agree
to meet with an impartial third party to work toward a resolution of the dispute which
is satisfactory to all parties in accordance with principles of mediation commonly used
in labor management disputes.
(b) If mediation is successful, the prosecuting authority, upon recommendation of
the family relations counselor or mediation officer, shall enter a nolle prosequi and the
prosecution shall be terminated and the defendant released from custody.
(c) If mediation is unsuccessful or the defendant fails to comply with the terms of
any mediation agreement, the family relations counselor or mediation officer shall notify
the prosecuting authority and prosecution of the defendant may be initiated.
(d) There shall be established, in the two geographical areas of the Superior Court
enumerated in subsection (a) of this section and in such other geographical areas of
the Superior Court as the Chief Court Administrator may designate, units to provide
mediation services in cases referred by the court to mediation. In addition, mediation
services in cases referred by the court to mediation may also be provided by private
agencies under contract with the Judicial Department.
(P.A. 82-383, S. 1; P.A. 85-344; P.A. 95-225, S. 48, 52; P.A. 02-132, S. 37.)
History: P.A. 85-344 made mediation programs permanent rather than "pilot" programs and authorized instituting
programs in geographical areas beyond those initially involved in pilot programs; P.A. 95-225 amended Subsec. (d) to
add provision authorizing mediation services to also be provided by private agencies under contract with the Judicial
Department, effective June 28, 1995; P.A. 02-132 made technical changes in Subsec. (a), changed family relations officer
to family relations counselor in Subsecs. (b) and (c) and deleted reference to the Family Division of the Superior Court,
added provision re other geographical areas designated by the Chief Court Administrator and made technical changes in
Subsec. (d).
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Sec. 54-57. Joinder of offenses of the same character. Whenever two or more
cases are pending at the same time against the same party in the same court for offenses
of the same character, counts for such offenses may be joined in one information unless
the court orders otherwise.
(1949 Rev., S. 8770.)
Court may compel state to elect between counts; 75 C. 201; 81 C. 1; or direct jury to find separately on each count. 34
C. 299. Effect of general verdict. 34 C. 299; 70 C. 73. Where same offense is charged in different counts. 74 C. 525. Where
one count only is good. 66 C. 255. Right of accused to call for separate verdicts. 83 C. 298. Relation of counts to each
other. 96 C. 427. One count charging two accused as principals may properly be joined with a second count charging one
as principal and the other as accessory. 98 C. 460. Refusal to compel state to elect between counts held proper. Id., 461.
Cited. 126 C. 84. Whether there shall be separate trials on different counts joined in indictment or information lies within
trial court's discretion. 134 C. 109. Whenever two or more cases are pending at the same time against the same party in
the same court for offenses of the same character, counts for such offenses may be joined in one information. 169 C. 566.
Whether joinder of indictments and informations is controlled by statute or Sec. 829 of the 1978 Practice Book discussed.
Since rule regulates court procedure and does not infringe on any substantive right, rule controlled and court did not abuse
its discretion by ordering joinder of two informations not of the same character. 187 C. 292. Cited. 204 C. 714. Cited. 205
C. 61. Cited. 209 C. 458. Cited. 210 C. 78. Cited. 215 C. 538. Cited. 216 C. 647. Cited. 234 C. 324. Cited. 235 C. 748.
Cited. 236 C. 112. Joinder of manslaughter count and risk of injury to minor count permissible when factors weighed. 243
C. 523. Defendant did not suffer substantial prejudice by consolidation of charges against him because the evidence in
both cases would have been cross admissible at separate trials to show a common scheme or plan on the part of the defendant.
287 C. 608.
Cited. 10 CA 503; Id., 624; Id., 709. Cited. 14 CA 526; Id., 710. Cited. 15 CA 161. Cited. 18 CA 406; Id., 482. Cited.
19 CA 48. Cited. 24 CA 502. Cited. 28 CA 645. Cited. 33 CA 133. 25 CA 181; Id., 503. Cited. 28 CA 645. Cited. 33 CA
133. Cited. 35 CA 781. Cited. 36 CA 805. Cited. 37 CA 437. Cited. 41 CA 584. Cited. 42 CA 382. Cited. 43 CA 527; Id.,
680. Cited. 45 CA 207. Joinder permitted where defendant holding knife injured victim while attacking her because physical
harm not brutal or shocking. 59 CA 529. Consolidation of three informations for trial ameliorated by court's explicit
instruction to jury that offenses should be considered separately. Id. Trial court is authorized by statute and rule to order
a joint trial of charges against the same defendant. 70 CA 462. Joinder was proper because evidence relating to each crime
would have been admissible in each separate trial to prove a common plan or scheme. 87 CA 150. Defendant was not
subject to substantial injustice or deprived of due process when trial court granted state's motion for joinder because the
matters were not so complex as to confuse a jury. 112 CA 711.
Where defendants were put to plea on a single information charging similar offenses concerning different complainants,
court did not abuse its discretion in making such joinder. 2 Conn. Cir. Ct. 514. Cited. Id., 585.
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Sec. 54-58. Description of money in complaint or information. When it is necessary to describe any bill issued by the United States or by any national banking association or to describe any United States coin issued as money, it shall be a sufficient description to set forth in the complaint or information that the same is lawful money of the
United States, and the value thereof, which value need not be proved as alleged.
(1949 Rev., S. 8771.)
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Sec. 54-59. Statement of ownership, partnership or joint tenancy in indictment, information or complaint. When in any indictment, information or complaint
it is necessary to state the ownership of any property owned or possessed by more persons
than one, it shall be sufficient to name one of them, and to state such property to belong
to him and another or others, as the case may be; or, if it is necessary to mention for
any purpose any partners, joint tenants, coparceners, tenants in common or trustees of
joint stock companies, not incorporated by the laws of this state, it shall be sufficient
to describe them in like manner.
(1949 Rev., S. 8772.)
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Sec. 54-60. Allegations in criminal cases. Whenever any indictment, information
or complaint is pending before any court, a conviction may be had for any offense
sufficiently alleged therein or for an attempt to commit such offense, and the accused
may be convicted or such court may accept a plea of guilty for any of such offenses.
(1949 Rev., S. 8774.)
Cited. 94 C. 706. State may designate an accused by an alias; motion to expunge "The Cowboy" as such an alias from
indictment held properly denied. 98 C. 460. A plea of guilty to a specific criminal charge, which is relevant to the circumstances in a civil action, may be admissible as a verbal admission in such civil action. 147 C. 625. Cited. Id., 704.
Section is constitutionally sufficient to put a criminal defendant on notice he can be convicted of attempt to commit
crime charged as well as any included lesser offenses. 39 CA 267.
Court will not allow party to enter a plea of guilty until satisfied that it is freely made and that the party making it
understands its import and effect. If accused did not understand the charge against him, judgment should be opened and
defendant allowed to withdraw plea of guilty. 23 CS 176.
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Sec. 54-61. Complaints for offenses specified in special acts, ordinances and
bylaws. In any complaint or other process for an offense against the provisions of a
special act or of an ordinance or bylaw of any town, city or borough, it shall be sufficient
to set forth the offense in the same manner as in the case of an offense against the
provisions of a public act.
(1949 Rev., S. 8786.)
If an offense is created by statute, it is sufficient to set it forth in the words of the statute. 60 C. 106; 88 C. 715. See
note to section 54-46.
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Sec. 54-62. Allegation of previous conviction. When, in any criminal complaint
or information, it is necessary to set out a previous conviction for a similar offense, such
previous conviction shall be held to be sufficiently alleged by naming the date when,
the town or city where, the crime for which and the court wherein such conviction
was had.
(1949 Rev., S. 8785.)
Defects may be cured by verdict. 68 C. 512. Former convictions should be set up in information or complaint. Id.; 94
C. 703; 96 C. 172. Information should be in two parts, each signed by the prosecutor, and the offense charged set out in
one part and the prior conviction in another; the plea of accused to entire information should be taken in absence of the
jury, and the trial should proceed on the first part only of the information; if a verdict of guilty is rendered, the trial should
then proceed on the second part of the information. Id., 171. Cited. 147 C. 296. To prove prior conviction it is necessary
to show it by record of valid subsisting final judgment of rendering court. 151 C. 213.
Cited. 45 CA 369.
Cited. 24 CS 362.
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Sec. 54-63. Mode of informing against larceny by embezzlement. In any complaint or information for the crime of larceny by embezzlement, when it is unknown
to the informing officer whether the total sum taken and appropriated was taken and
appropriated at one or different times, it shall be sufficient to charge the total sum taken
by the accused as having been taken at one and the same time.
(1949 Rev., S. 8788; P.A. 80-313, S. 57.)
History: P.A. 80-313 applied provisions to complaints or informations for crime of "larceny by" embezzlement, reflecting change in official term for the offense.
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Sec. 54-63a. Definitions. As used in sections 54-63a to 54-63g, inclusive, and
section 54-64a, "arrested person" means a person taken into custody for violation of
any law, ordinance, regulation or bylaw of the state or of any town, city, borough, district
or municipal corporation or authority, and "Court Support Services Division" means
the division of the Judicial Department established pursuant to section 51-1d.
(1967, P.A. 549, S. 1; P.A. 02-132, S. 38.)
History: P.A. 02-132 replaced definition of "Bail Commission" with definition of "Court Support Services Division"
and made technical changes.
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Sec. 54-63b. Pretrial release of arrested persons. Duties of Court Support Services Division. Uniform weighted release criteria. (a) The duties of the Court Support
Services Division shall include: (1) To promptly interview, prior to arraignment, any
person referred by the police pursuant to section 54-63c or by a judge. Such interview
shall include, but not be limited to, information concerning the accused person, his or
her family, community ties, prior criminal record and physical and mental condition;
(2) to seek independent verification of information obtained during the interview, if
practicable; (3) to determine, as provided in section 54-63d, or to make recommendations on request of any judge, concerning the terms and conditions of the release of
arrested persons from custody pending final disposition of their cases; (4) to prepare a
written report on all persons interviewed and, upon request and pursuant to the procedures established under subsection (f) of section 54-63d, provide copies of the report to
the court, defense counsel and state's attorney. Such report shall contain the information
obtained during the interview and verification process, the person's prior criminal record, where possible, and the determination or recommendation of the commissioner
pursuant to section 54-63d concerning the terms and conditions of the release of the
persons so interviewed; (5) to give prior notice of each required court appearance to
each person released following an interview by a bail commissioner; (6) to supervise
pursuant to the direction of the court those persons released on nonfinancial conditions;
(7) to inform the court and the state's attorney of any failure to comply with terms and
conditions of release, including the arrest of persons released under its supervision; (8)
to monitor, evaluate and provide information concerning terms and conditions of release
and the release criteria established under subdivision (2) of subsection (c) of this section,
to prepare periodic reports on its activities, and to provide such other information as is
needed to assist in the improvement of the pretrial release process; (9) to perform such
other functions as the Chief Court Administrator may, from time to time, assign.
(b) The Court Support Services Division shall establish written uniform weighted
release criteria based upon the premise that the least restrictive condition or conditions
of release necessary to insure the appearance in court of the defendant is the pretrial
release alternative of choice. Such criteria shall be based on, but not be limited to, the
following considerations: (1) The nature and circumstances of the offense insofar as
they are relevant to the risk of nonappearance; (2) the defendant's record of previous
convictions; (3) the defendant's past record of appearance in court after being admitted
to bail; (4) the defendant's family ties; (5) the defendant's employment record; (6) the
defendant's financial resources, character and mental condition; and (7) the defendant's
community ties.
(1967, P.A. 549, S. 2; 1969, P.A. 826, S. 1; P.A. 74-183, S. 141, 291; P.A. 76-436, S. 541, 681; P.A. 78-280, S. 118,
127; P.A. 80-313, S. 58; P.A. 81-437, S. 3, 12; P.A. 99-186, S. 11; P.A. 02-132, S. 39.)
History: 1969 act amended Subsec. (b) to authorize appointment of assistant chief bail commissioners and assistant
bail commissioners and added provision empowering chief judge of circuit court to appoint additional bail commissioners;
P.A. 74-183 revised provisions to reflect transfer of circuit court functions to court of common pleas, adding Subsec. (d)
continuing bail commissioners for the balance of their terms, effective December 31, 1974; P.A. 76-436 amended section
to reflect transfer of all trial jurisdiction to superior court, replacing references to former circuits with references to geographical areas, replacing chief judge of common pleas court with chief court administrator or his designee, etc., effective July
1, 1978; P.A. 78-280 added provision in Subsec. (b) authorizing judges to fill vacancies in bail commissioners' offices;
P.A. 80-313 substituted reference to Sec. 54-63d for reference to Sec. 54-63c in Subsec. (a); P.A. 81-437 replaced previous
provisions concerning the bail commission and chief bail commissioner, expanding duties and placing office of the bail
commission within the judicial department; P.A. 99-186 amended Subsec. (a) to make a technical change in a statutory
reference; P.A. 02-132 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting provision re Office of the Bail Commission within the Judicial
Department, adding provision re duties of the Court Support Services Division and, in Subdiv. (5), replacing "the Bail
Commission" with "a bail commissioner", deleted former Subsecs. (b), (c) and (d) re Chief Bail Commissioner, Assistant
Chief Bail Commissioner and appointment of bail commissioners and other personnel and added new Subsec. (b) re uniform
weighted release criteria.
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Sec. 54-63c. Release by law enforcement officer. (a) Except in cases of arrest
pursuant to a bench warrant of arrest in which the court or a judge thereof has indicated
that bail should be denied or ordered that the officer or indifferent person making such
arrest shall, without undue delay, bring such person before the clerk or assistant clerk
of the superior court for the geographical area under section 54-2a, when any person is
arrested for a bailable offense, the chief of police, or the chief's authorized designee,
of the police department having custody of the arrested person shall promptly advise
such person of the person's rights under section 54-1b, and of the person's right to be
interviewed concerning the terms and conditions of release. Unless the arrested person
waives or refuses such interview, the police officer shall promptly interview the arrested
person to obtain information relevant to the terms and conditions of the person's release
from custody, and shall seek independent verification of such information where necessary. At the request of the arrested person, the person's counsel may be present during
the interview. No statement made by the arrested person in response to any question
during the interview related to the terms and conditions of release shall be admissible
as evidence against the arrested person in any proceeding arising from the incident for
which the conditions of release were set. After such a waiver, refusal or interview, the
police officer shall promptly order release of the arrested person upon the execution of
a written promise to appear or the posting of such bond as may be set by the police
officer, except that no condition of release set by the court or a judge thereof may be
modified by such officer and no person shall be released upon the execution of a written
promise to appear or the posting of a bond without surety if the person is charged with
the commission of a family violence crime, as defined in section 46b-38a, and in the
commission of such crime the person used or threatened the use of a firearm.
(b) If the person is charged with the commission of a family violence crime, as
defined in section 46b-38a, and the police officer does not intend to impose nonfinancial
conditions of release pursuant to this subsection, the police officer shall, pursuant to the
procedure set forth in subsection (a) of this section, promptly order the release of such
person upon the execution of a written promise to appear or the posting of such bond
as may be set by the police officer. If such person is not so released, the police officer
shall make reasonable efforts to immediately contact a bail commissioner to set the
conditions of such person's release pursuant to section 54-63d. If, after making such
reasonable efforts, the police officer is unable to contact a bail commissioner or contacts
a bail commissioner but such bail commissioner is unavailable to promptly perform
such bail commissioner's duties pursuant to section 54-63d, the police officer shall,
pursuant to the procedure set forth in subsection (a) of this section, order the release of
such person upon the execution of a written promise to appear or the posting of such
bond as may be set by the police officer and may impose nonfinancial conditions of
release which may require that the arrested person do one or more of the following:
(1) Avoid all contact with the alleged victim of the crime, (2) comply with specified
restrictions on the person's travel, association or place of abode that are directly related
to the protection of the alleged victim of the crime, or (3) not use or possess a dangerous
weapon, intoxicant or controlled substance. Any such nonfinancial conditions of release
shall be indicated on a form prescribed by the Judicial Branch and sworn to by the
police officer. Such form shall articulate (A) the efforts that were made to contact a bail
commissioner, (B) the specific factual basis relied upon by the police officer to impose
the nonfinancial conditions of release, and (C) if the arrested person was non-English-speaking, that the services of a translation service or interpreter were used. A copy
of that portion of the form that indicates the nonfinancial conditions of release shall
immediately be provided to the arrested person. A copy of the entire form shall be
provided to counsel for the arrested person at arraignment. Any nonfinancial conditions
of release imposed pursuant to this subsection shall remain in effect until the arrested
person is presented before the Superior Court pursuant to subsection (a) of section 54-1g. On such date, the court shall conduct a hearing pursuant to section 46b-38c at which
the defendant is entitled to be heard with respect to the issuance of a protective order.
(c) When cash bail in excess of ten thousand dollars is received for a detained person
accused of a felony, where the underlying facts and circumstances of the felony involve
the use, attempted use or threatened use of physical force against another person, the
police officer shall prepare a report that contains (1) the name, address and taxpayer
identification number of the accused person, (2) the name, address and taxpayer identification number of each person offering the cash bail, other than a person licensed as a
professional bondsman under chapter 533 or a surety bail bond agent under chapter
700f, (3) the amount of cash received, and (4) the date the cash was received. Not later
than fifteen days after receipt of such cash bail, the police officer shall file the report
with the Department of Revenue Services and mail a copy of the report to the state's
attorney for the judicial district in which the alleged offense was committed and to each
person offering the cash bail.
(d) No police officer shall set the terms and conditions of a person's release, set a
bond for a person or release a person from custody under this section unless the police
officer has first checked the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) computerized
index of criminal justice information to determine if such person is listed in such index.
(e) If the arrested person has not posted bail, the police officer shall immediately
notify a bail commissioner.
(f) The chief, acting chief, superintendent of police, the Commissioner of Public
Safety, any captain or lieutenant of any local police department or the Division of State
Police within the Department of Public Safety or any person lawfully exercising the
powers of any such officer may take a written promise to appear or a bond with or
without surety from an arrested person as provided in subsection (a) of this section, or
as fixed by the court or any judge thereof, may administer such oaths as are necessary
in the taking of promises or bonds and shall file any report required under subsection
(c) of this section.
(1967, P.A. 549, S. 3; 1969, P.A. 826, S. 2; P.A. 74-183, S. 142, 291; P.A. 76-336, S. 3; 76-436, S. 542, 681; P.A. 79-216, S. 2; P.A. 80-313, S. 14; P.A. 99-186, S. 8; 99-240, S. 16; P.A. 00-196, S. 41; P.A. 03-173, S. 1; P.A. 07-123, S. 1.)
History: 1969 act transferred duty to notify arrested person of his rights, etc. from bail commissioner to chief of police
or his designee and added provisions re bail commissioner's investigation and decision re release on bail in Subsec. (a);
P.A. 74-183 amended section to reflect transfer of circuit court functions to court of common pleas, effective December
1, 1974; P.A. 76-336 deleted provisions which implied officer's or bail commissioner's right to deny release on bail if he
"finds custody to be necessary to provide reasonable assurance of such person's appearance in court"; P.A. 76-436 reworded
exception in Subsec. (a) to clearly distinguish between bench warrants and arrest warrants in which court or judge has set
conditions of release, replaced references to prosecuting attorneys with references to various categories of state's attorneys
and deleted references to court of common pleas, reflecting transfer of all trial jurisdiction to superior court, effective July
1, 1978; P.A. 79-216 rephrased exception in Subsec. (a) to replace reference to condition of release with specific orders
of judge or court re denial of bail, etc. and further amended subsection to specify that officer or bail commissioner may
not modify condition of release set by court or judge; P.A. 80-313 deleted detailed provisions re bail procedure formerly
comprising latter part of Subsec. (a) and Subsecs. (b) to (f), restated remaining provisions of Subsec. (a) and added new
Subsec. (b) containing general statement of police officers' powers; P.A. 99-186 amended Subsec. (a) to prohibit the release
of a person on the execution of a written promise to appear or the posting of a bond without surety if such person is charged
with the commission of a family violence crime in which such person used or threatened the use of a firearm and to make
technical changes for purposes of gender neutrality; P.A. 99-240 amended Subsec. (a) to add provisions requiring the
police officer to prepare a report when cash bail in excess of $10,000 is received for a person accused of a felony involving
the use, attempted use or threatened use of physical force against another person, specifying the contents of such report
and requiring such police officer not later than 15 days after receipt of such cash bail to file such report with the Department
of Revenue Services and mail a copy of such report to the state's attorney and each person offering the cash bail and
amended Subsec. (b) to require any of the specified officials authorized to take action under said Subsec. to file any report
required under Subsec. (a); P.A. 00-196 made technical changes in Subsec. (a); P.A. 03-173 amended Subsec. (a) to add
provision prohibiting a police officer setting the terms and conditions of a person's release, setting a bond for a person or
releasing a person from custody unless the officer first checks the National Crime Information Center computerized index
of criminal justice information to determine if such person is listed in such index; P.A. 07-123 amended Subsec. (a) to
provide that no statement made by arrested person in response to any question during the interview related to terms and
conditions of release shall be admissible as evidence against arrested person in any proceeding arising from the incident
for which conditions of release were set, added new Subsec. (b) specifying procedure for release of a person charged
with a family violence crime, authorizing police officer to impose nonfinancial conditions of release for such person and
specifying types of nonfinancial conditions that may be imposed, procedure for their imposition and their duration, designated existing provisions re procedure when cash bail in excess of $10,000 is received as Subsec. (c), designated existing
provision requiring police officer to first check National Crime Information Center computerized index of criminal justice
information as Subsec. (d) and amended same to make a technical change, designated existing provision requiring police
officer to immediately notify a bail commissioner if arrested person has not posted bail as Subsec. (e), and redesignated
existing Subsec. (b) re authority and duties of police personnel as Subsec. (f) and amended same to make a technical change.
See Sec. 54-1g re time for arraignment.
See Sec. 54-64c re notice of required appearance after release on bond or promise to appear.
See Sec. 54-69b re court's authority to modify conditions of release.
See Sec. 54-71a re lack of liability of bail commissioners, police department employees and others in action for damages
on account of a person's release.
Exclusionary effects of Sec. 54-1c do not apply to violations of this statute. 195 C. 505. Trial court may issue a criminal
protective order at defendant's arraignment after consideration of oral argument and family violence intervention unit's
report; trial court is required to hold, at defendant's request at arraignment, a subsequent hearing within a reasonable period
of time at which the state will be required to prove the continued necessity of the order by a fair preponderance of the
evidence, which may include reliable hearsay testimony, and defendant will have an opportunity to proffer relevant evidence; legislature did not intend for Subsec. (b) and Sec. 46b-38c to entitle defendant to an evidentiary hearing beyond
consideration of parties' arguments and unit's report prior to the initial issuance of a criminal protective order at arraignment,
which may occur within hours of the alleged incident of family violence. 294 C. 1.
Cited. 28 CS 313.
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Sec. 54-63d. Release by bail commissioner. Information, files and reports held
by Court Support Services Division. (a) Upon notification by a police officer pursuant
to section 54-63c that an arrested person has not posted bail, a bail commissioner shall
promptly conduct an interview and investigation as specified in subdivisions (1) and
(2) of subsection (a) of section 54-63b and, based upon the criteria established pursuant
to subsection (b) of section 54-63b and except as provided in subsection (b) of this
section, the bail commissioner shall promptly order release of such person on the first
of the following conditions of release found sufficient to provide reasonable assurance
of the person's appearance in court: (1) Upon the execution of a written promise to
appear without special conditions; (2) upon the execution of a written promise to appear
with any of the nonfinancial conditions as specified in subsection (c) of this section; (3)
upon the execution of a bond without surety in no greater amount than necessary; or (4)
upon the execution of a bond with surety in no greater amount than necessary. If the
person is unable to meet the conditions of release ordered by the bail commissioner, the
bail commissioner shall so inform the court in a report prepared pursuant to subdivision
(4) of subsection (a) of section 54-63b.
(b) No person shall be released upon the execution of a written promise to appear
or the execution of a bond without surety if the person is charged with the commission
of a family violence crime, as defined in section 46b-38a, and in the commission of
such crime the person used or threatened the use of a firearm.
(c) In addition to or in conjunction with any of the conditions enumerated in subdivisions (1) to (4), inclusive, of subsection (a) of this section, the bail commissioner may
impose nonfinancial conditions of release, which may require that the arrested person
do any of the following: (1) Remain under the supervision of a designated person or
organization; (2) comply with specified restrictions on the person's travel, association
or place of abode; (3) not engage in specified activities, including the use or possession
of a dangerous weapon, an intoxicant or controlled substance; (4) avoid all contact with
an alleged victim of the crime and with a potential witness who may testify concerning
the offense; or (5) satisfy any other condition that is reasonably necessary to assure the
appearance of the person in court. Any of the conditions imposed under subsection (a)
of this section and this subsection by the bail commissioner shall be effective until the
appearance of such person in court.
(d) The police department shall promptly comply with the order of release of the
bail commissioner, except that if the department objects to the order or any of its conditions, the department shall promptly so advise a state's attorney or assistant state's
attorney, the bail commissioner and the arrested person. The state's attorney or assistant
state's attorney may authorize the police department to delay release, until a hearing
can be had before the court then sitting for the geographical area which includes the
municipality in which the arrested person is being detained or, if the court is not then
sitting, until the next sitting of said court. When cash bail in excess of ten thousand
dollars is received for a detained person accused of a felony, where the underlying facts
and circumstances of the felony involve the use, attempted use or threatened use of
physical force against another person, the police department shall prepare a report that
contains (1) the name, address and taxpayer identification number of the accused person,
(2) the name, address and taxpayer identification number of each person offering the
cash bail, other than a person licensed as a professional bondsman under chapter 533
or a surety bail bond agent under chapter 700f, (3) the amount of cash received, and (4)
the date the cash was received. Not later than fifteen days after receipt of such cash bail,
the police department shall file the report with the Department of Revenue Services and
mail a copy of the report to the state's attorney for the judicial district in which the
alleged offense was committed and to each person offering the cash bail.
(e) Except as provided in subsections (f) and (g) of this section, all information
provided to the Court Support Services Division shall be for the sole purpose of determining and recommending the conditions of release, and shall otherwise be confidential and retained in the files of the Court Support Services Division, and not be subject
to subpoena or other court process for use in any other proceeding or for any other
purpose.
(f) The Court Support Services Division shall establish written procedures for the
release of information contained in reports and files of the Court Support Services Division, such procedures to be approved by the executive committee of the judges of the
Superior Court. Such procedures shall allow access to (1) nonidentifying information
by qualified persons for purposes of research related to the administration of criminal
justice; (2) all information provided to the Court Support Services Division by probation
officers for the purposes of compiling presentence reports; and (3) all information provided to the Court Support Services Division concerning any person convicted of a
crime and held in custody by the Department of Correction.
(g) Any files and reports held by the Court Support Services Division may be accessed and disclosed by employees of the division in accordance with policies and
procedures adopted by the Chief Court Administrator.
(1967, P.A. 549, S. 4; P.A. 80-313, S. 15; P.A. 81-437, S. 4, 12; P.A. 82-383, S. 3; P.A. 95-225, S. 32; 95-261, S. 2;
P.A. 97-53; P.A. 98-90, S. 3; P.A. 99-186, S. 9; 99-187, S. 1; 99-240, S. 17; P.A. 00-196, S. 42; P.A. 02-132, S. 40; P.A.
10-43, S. 24.)
History: P.A. 80-313 designated previous provisions as Subsec. (c), inserting new Subsecs. (a) and (b) containing
provisions formerly found in Subsecs. (a) and (b) of Sec. 54-63b; P.A. 81-437 amended provisions concerning investigation
by bail commissioner and criteria for release and added provisions re financial conditions of release and added new Subsec.
(d) re written procedures for release of information in reports and files of office of the bail commission; P.A. 82-383
amended Subsec. (a) to provide that a term or condition of release recommended by a bail commissioner may include a
term of supervision; P.A. 95-225 and 95-261 both amended Subsec. (c) to add exception for Subsec. (e) and added nearly
identical provisions as new Subsec. (e) authorizing the Office of the Bail Commission to disclose reports and files to the
Office of Adult Probation for the purposes of conducting investigations and supervising persons placed on probation; P.A.
97-53 amended Subsec. (a)(1) by adding "without special conditions" after "appear", added Subsec. (a)(2) re nonfinancial
conditions as specified in Subsec. (b), renumbering existing Subdivs. (2) and (3) as Subdivs. (3) and (4), changing "financial"
conditions of release to "the" conditions of release, and deleting provisions re bail commissioner's recommendation to the
court, added Subsec. (b) re nonfinancial conditions and redesignated existing Subsecs. (b) to (e), inclusive, as Subsecs. (c)
to (f), inclusive; P.A. 98-90 added Subsec. (f)(2) and (3) authorizing the Office of the Bail Commission to disclose files
and reports to the Family Division of the Superior Court for the purpose of preparing written or oral reports and to agencies
and organizations under contract with the Office of Alternative Sanctions for the purpose of monitoring arrested persons,
respectively; P.A. 99-186 amended Subsec. (a) to add provision that the release of a person by the bail commissioner is
subject to the exception in Subsec. (b), added new Subsec. (b) to prohibit the release of a person on the execution of a
written promise to appear or the execution of a bond without surety if such person is charged with the commission of a
family violence crime in which such person used or threatened the use of a firearm, relettering former Subdivs. (b) to (f)
as Subdivs. (c) to (g), respectively, and made technical changes to revise statutory references and make provisions gender
neutral; P.A. 99-187 amended former Subsec. (b) to add new Subdiv. (4) providing that the arrested person may be required
as a condition of release to participate in the zero-tolerance drug supervision program established under Sec. 53a-39d,
renumbering existing Subdivs. (4) and (5) as Subdivs. (5) and (6), respectively, and to make a technical change for purposes
of gender neutrality; P.A. 99-240 amended former Subsec. (c) to add provisions requiring the police department to prepare
a report when cash bail in excess of $10,000 is received for a detained person accused of a felony involving the use,
attempted use or threatened use of physical force against another person, specifying the contents of such report and requiring
such police department not later than 15 days after receipt of such cash bail to file such report with the Department of
Revenue Services and mail a copy of such report to the state's attorney and each person offering the cash bail; P.A. 00-196 made technical changes in Subsec. (b); P.A. 02-132 amended Subsec. (a) by making technical and conforming changes,
amended Subsecs. (e) and (f) by replacing "Office of the Bail Commission" and "Chief Bail Commissioner" with "Court
Support Services Division" and deleted former Subsec. (g)(1), (2) and (3) re disclosure of files and reports held by Office
of the Bail Commission, replacing "Office of the Bail Commission" with "Court Support Services Division" and adding
provision re access and disclosure in accordance with policies and procedures adopted by the Chief Court Administrator;
P.A. 10-43 amended Subsec. (c) to delete former Subdiv. (4) re participation in zero-tolerance drug supervision program
and redesignate existing Subdivs. (5) and (6) as Subdivs. (4) and (5).
See Secs. 53a-222, 53a-222a re criminal penalties for violation of certain conditions of release.
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Sec. 54-63e. Bond or promise conditioned on appearance. Whenever any arrested person is released upon his written promise to appear or upon bond without or
with surety, such promise or bond shall be conditioned that he shall appear before the
Superior Court. Any promise or bond without or with surety, and any fee paid for a
bond with surety, shall also cover any appearance of such person, unless modified, and
if modified any such fee which has been paid shall be credited toward the fee of any
increased or new bond with surety.
(1967, P.A. 549, S. 5; P.A. 74-183, S. 143, 291; P.A. 76-106, S. 2; 76-436, S. 543, 681; P.A. 77-452, S. 37, 72.)
History: P.A. 74-183 replaced circuit court with court of common pleas, reflecting reorganization of judicial system,
effective December 31, 1974; P.A. 76-106 added provisions re acceptance or modification of release conditions by superior
court where accused previously entered into bond set by common pleas court in connection with same offense or offenses;
P.A. 76-436 amended section to reflect transfer of all trial jurisdiction to superior court, omitting provisions added by P.A.
76-106 rendered obsolete by the change, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 77-452 confirmed omission of P.A. 76-106 provisions.
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Sec. 54-63f. Release after conviction and pending sentence or appeal. A person
who has been convicted of any offense, except a violation of section 53a-54a, 53a-54b,
53a-54c or 53a-54d or any offense involving the use, attempted use or threatened use
of physical force against another person, and is either awaiting sentence or has given
oral or written notice of such person's intention to appeal or file a petition for certification
or a writ of certiorari may be released pending final disposition of the case, unless the
court finds custody to be necessary to provide reasonable assurance of such person's
appearance in court, upon the first of the following conditions of release found sufficient
by the court to provide such assurance: (1) Upon such person's execution of a written
promise to appear, (2) upon such person's execution of a bond without surety in no
greater amount than necessary, (3) upon such person's execution of a bond with surety
in no greater amount than necessary, (4) upon such person's deposit, with the clerk of
the court having jurisdiction of the offense with which such person stands convicted or
any assistant clerk of such court who is bonded in the same manner as the clerk or any
person or officer authorized to accept bail, a sum of money equal to the amount called
for by the bond required by the court, or (5) upon such person's pledge of real property,
the equity of which is equal to the amount called for by the bond required by the court,
provided the person pledging such property is the owner of such property. When cash
bail is offered, such bond shall be executed and the money shall be received in lieu of
a surety or sureties upon such bond. Such cash bail shall be retained by the clerk of such
court until a final order of the court disposing of the same is passed, provided, if such
bond is forfeited, the clerk of such court shall pay the money to the payee named therein,
according to the terms and conditions of the bond.
(1967, P.A. 549, S. 14; P.A. 89-47; P.A. 98-51; P.A. 00-200, S. 5.)
History: P.A. 89-47 added Subdivs. (4) and (5) authorizing release upon the deposit of a sum of money or upon the
pledge of real property, respectively, and added provisions re the execution of the bond when cash bail is offered and the
retention and disposition of such cash bail; P.A. 98-51 prohibited the release of a person convicted of violating Sec. 53a-54a, 53a-54b, 53a-54c or 53a-54d; P.A. 00-200 prohibited the release of a person convicted of "any offense involving the
use, attempted use or threatened use of physical force against another person" and made technical changes.
Bail hereunder is entirely disconnected from preconviction bail and presumption of innocence and should be granted
with great caution. 159 C. 264. Section violates separation of powers provision contained in article second of the Connecticut
constitution, as amended by article eighteen of the amendments, insofar as it prohibits trial court from releasing on bail
any person who has been convicted of an offense "involving the use, attempted use or threatened use of physical force
against another person" because it presents significant interference with the orderly functioning of Superior Court's judicial
role. 261 C. 492.
Supreme Court's determination of unconstitutionality in 261 C. 492 should be applied retroactively, as it could have
impact on a defendant's sentence. 89 CA 729.
Cited. 29 CS 339.
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Sec. 54-63g. Appeal from court order re release. Any accused person or the
state, aggrieved by an order of the Superior Court concerning release, may petition the
Appellate Court for review of such order. Any such petition shall have precedence over
any other matter before said Appellate Court and any hearing shall be heard expeditiously with reasonable notice.
(1967, P.A. 549, S. 17; 1972, P.A. 108, S. 13; P.A. 74-183, S. 144, 291; P.A. 76-436, S. 544, 681; June Sp. Sess. P.A.
83-29, S. 17, 82.)
History: 1972 act replaced circuit court with court of common pleas, effective September 1, 1972, except that courts
with cases pending retain jurisdiction; P.A. 74-183 replaced circuit court with court of common pleas, replaced appellate
division of common pleas court with superior court and required hearing be "heard expeditiously with reasonable notice"
rather than "held on one-day notice to the parties concerned", effective December 31, 1974; P.A. 76-436 replaced court
of common pleas with superior court and deleted provisions re superior court's power to review common pleas court orders,
leaving supreme court with sole power of review, reflecting transfer of all trial jurisdiction to superior court, effective July
1, 1978; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-29 deleted reference to supreme court and substituted appellate court in lieu thereof.
Appeal from refusal of bail in capital case allowed and new hearing ordered to determine whether case falls in constitutional exception to bail in capital case where proof is evident or presumption great. 159 C. 264. Cited. 222 C. 331. Cited.
230 C. 441. Cited. 233 C. 44. Cited. 237 C. 339. Cited. 240 C. 623.
Cited. 9 CA 74. Cited. 34 CA 46. Cited. 43 CA 851. Existence of this statute, a legislatively created remedy, precludes
the use of a writ of error to review an order concerning release. 110 CA 653.
Cited. 6 Conn. Cir. Ct. 21, 167, 536, 549.
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Sec. 54-64. Police officials and clerks of court to take promise to appear or
bond. Section 54-64 is repealed.
(1949 Rev., S. 8779; 1959, P.A. 28, S. 151; 1961, P.A. 203, S. 1; 1967, P.A. 549, S. 11; P.A. 74-183, S. 145, 291; P.A.
76-436, S. 545, 681; P.A. 77-614, S. 486, 610; P.A. 79-216, S. 3; P.A. 80-313, S. 61.)
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Sec. 54-64a. Release by judicial authority. (a)(1) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, when any arrested person is presented before the Superior Court,
said court shall, in bailable offenses, promptly order the release of such person upon
the first of the following conditions of release found sufficient to reasonably assure the
appearance of the arrested person in court: (A) Upon his execution of a written promise
to appear without special conditions, (B) upon his execution of a written promise to
appear with nonfinancial conditions, (C) upon his execution of a bond without surety
in no greater amount than necessary, (D) upon his execution of a bond with surety in no
greater amount than necessary. In addition to or in conjunction with any of the conditions
enumerated in subparagraphs (A) to (D), inclusive, of this subdivision the court may,
when it has reason to believe that the person is drug-dependent and where necessary,
reasonable and appropriate, order the person to submit to a urinalysis drug test and to
participate in a program of periodic drug testing and treatment. The results of any such
drug test shall not be admissible in any criminal proceeding concerning such person.
(2) The court may, in determining what conditions of release will reasonably assure
the appearance of the arrested person in court, consider the following factors: (A) The
nature and circumstances of the offense, (B) such person's record of previous convictions, (C) such person's past record of appearance in court after being admitted to bail,
(D) such person's family ties, (E) such person's employment record, (F) such person's
financial resources, character and mental condition and (G) such person's community
ties.
(b) (1) When any arrested person charged with the commission of a class A felony,
a class B felony, except a violation of section 53a-86 or 53a-122, a class C felony, except
a violation of section 53a-87, 53a-152 or 53a-153, or a class D felony under sections
53a-60 to 53a-60c, inclusive, section 53a-72a, 53a-95, 53a-103, 53a-103a, 53a-114,
53a-136 or 53a-216, or a family violence crime, as defined in section 46b-38a, is presented before the Superior Court, said court shall, in bailable offenses, promptly order
the release of such person upon the first of the following conditions of release found
sufficient to reasonably assure the appearance of the arrested person in court and that
the safety of any other person will not be endangered: (A) Upon such person's execution
of a written promise to appear without special conditions, (B) upon such person's execution of a written promise to appear with nonfinancial conditions, (C) upon such person's
execution of a bond without surety in no greater amount than necessary, (D) upon such
person's execution of a bond with surety in no greater amount than necessary. In addition
to or in conjunction with any of the conditions enumerated in subparagraphs (A) to (D),
inclusive, of this subdivision, the court may, when it has reason to believe that the person
is drug-dependent and where necessary, reasonable and appropriate, order the person
to submit to a urinalysis drug test and to participate in a program of periodic drug testing
and treatment. The results of any such drug test shall not be admissible in any criminal
proceeding concerning such person.
(2) The court may, in determining what conditions of release will reasonably assure
the appearance of the arrested person in court and that the safety of any other person
will not be endangered, consider the following factors: (A) The nature and circumstances
of the offense, (B) such person's record of previous convictions, (C) such person's past
record of appearance in court after being admitted to bail, (D) such person's family ties,
(E) such person's employment record, (F) such person's financial resources, character
and mental condition, (G) such person's community ties, (H) the number and seriousness
of charges pending against the arrested person, (I) the weight of the evidence against
the arrested person, (J) the arrested person's history of violence, (K) whether the arrested
person has previously been convicted of similar offenses while released on bond, and
(L) the likelihood based upon the expressed intention of the arrested person that such
person will commit another crime while released.
(3) When imposing conditions of release under this subsection, the court shall state
for the record any factors under subdivision (2) of this subsection that it considered and
the findings that it made as to the danger, if any, that the arrested person might pose to
the safety of any other person upon the arrested person's release that caused the court
to impose the specific conditions of release that it imposed.
(c) If the court determines that a nonfinancial condition of release should be imposed
pursuant to subparagraph (B) of subdivision (1) of subsection (a) or (b) of this section,
the court shall order the pretrial release of the person subject to the least restrictive
condition or combination of conditions that the court determines will reasonably assure
the appearance of the arrested person in court and, with respect to the release of the
person pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, that the safety of any other person will
not be endangered, which conditions may include an order that the arrested person do
one or more of the following: (1) Remain under the supervision of a designated person
or organization; (2) comply with specified restrictions on such person's travel, association or place of abode; (3) not engage in specified activities, including the use or possession of a dangerous weapon, an intoxicant or a controlled substance; (4) provide sureties
of the peace pursuant to section 54-56f under supervision of a designated bail commissioner; (5) avoid all contact with an alleged victim of the crime and with a potential
witness who may testify concerning the offense; (6) maintain employment or, if unemployed, actively seek employment; (7) maintain or commence an educational program;
(8) be subject to electronic monitoring; or (9) satisfy any other condition that is reasonably necessary to assure the appearance of the person in court and that the safety of any
other person will not be endangered. The court shall state on the record its reasons for
imposing any such nonfinancial condition.
(d) If the arrested person is not released, the court shall order him committed to the
custody of the Commissioner of Correction until he is released or discharged in due
course of law.
(e) The court may require that the person subject to electronic monitoring pursuant
to subsection (c) of this section pay directly to the electronic monitoring service provider
a fee for the cost of such electronic monitoring services. If the court finds that the person
subject to electronic monitoring is indigent and unable to pay the costs of electronic
monitoring services, the court shall waive such costs. Any contract entered into by the
Judicial Branch and the electronic monitoring service provider shall include a provision
stating that the total cost for electronic monitoring services shall not exceed five dollars
per day. Such amount shall be indexed annually to reflect the rate of inflation.
(1961, P.A. 38; 1963, P.A. 11; 1967, P.A. 549, S. 12; P.A. 74-183, S. 146, 291; P.A. 76-436, S. 546, 681; P.A. 77-452,
S. 39, 72; P.A. 80-313, S. 16; P.A. 81-437, S. 9, 12; P.A. 89-390, S. 13, 37; P.A. 90-213, S. 51; 90-261, S. 9; P.A. 91-406,
S. 13, 29; P.A. 99-186, S. 5; 99-187, S. 2; P.A. 00-141, S. 2, 3; P.A. 01-84, S. 25, 26; P.A. 03-278, S. 107; Jan. Sp. Sess.
P.A. 08-1, S. 25; P.A. 10-43, S. 25.)
History: 1963 act added authority for taking a bond when court was not in criminal session by any one authorized under
Sec. 54-64; 1967 act, effective October 1, 1968, provided for alternatives to bond with surety and provided for making
release arrangements when accused is presented before court, see Sec. 54-63c for procedure on arrest; P.A. 74-183 replaced
circuit court with court of common pleas, effective December 31, 1974; P.A. 76-436 replaced court of common pleas with
superior court, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 77-452 deleted wording which implies power to refuse accused bail if "custody
is found to be necessary to provide reasonable assurance of his appearance", effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 80-313 restated
existing provisions and required that arrested person who is not released be committed to custody of commissioner of
correction until released or discharged in due course of law; P.A. 81-437 added provision distinguishing between two types
of release upon execution of written promise to appear without special conditions and with nonfinancial conditions; P.A.
89-390 added provisions authorizing the court to order a drug-dependent person to submit to a urinalysis drug test and
participate in a program of periodic drug testing and treatment and specifying that the results of any such drug test shall
be inadmissible in a criminal proceeding concerning such person; P.A. 90-213 designated former provisions re conditions
of release and drug testing as Subsec. (a) and amended said Subsec. to provide that the court find the condition of release
sufficient to reasonably assure "that the safety of any other person will not be endangered", added Subsec. (b) authorizing
the court to consider certain enumerated factors in determining the conditions of release that will reasonably assure the
appearance of the arrested person in court and that the safety of any other person will not be endangered, added Subsec.
(c) specifying conditions the court is authorized to order the arrested person to satisfy when a nonfinancial condition of
release is imposed, and designated former provisions re the commitment to the custody of the commissioner of correction
of an arrested person who is not released as Subsec. (d); P.A. 90-261 designated former provisions of Subsec. (a) Subsec.
(a)(1) and amended said Subdiv. to delete provision requiring court to find the condition of release sufficient to reasonably
assure that the safety of any other person will not be endangered and to redesignate Subdivs. (1) to (4) as Subparas. (A)
to (D), respectively, redesignated former Subsec. (b) as Subsec. (a)(2) and amended said Subdiv. to redesignate Subdivs.
(1) to (7) as Subparas. (A) to (G), respectively, and to delete former Subdiv. (8) re number and seriousness of pending
charges, Subdiv. (9) re weight of the evidence, Subdiv. (10) re history of violence, Subdiv. (11) re previous convictions
of similar offenses committed while released on bond and Subdiv. (12) re likelihood of commission of another crime while
released, added new Subsec. (b) consisting of Subdivs. (1) and (2) being identical to former Subsecs. (a) and (b), respectively,
as enacted by P.A. 90-213, but made provisions applicable to persons charged with certain serious specified felonies, and
amended Subsec. (c) to revise internal references and provide that the requirement that the condition of release reasonably
assure that the safety of any other person will not be endangered is applicable "with respect to the release of the person
pursuant to subsection (b) of this section"; P.A. 91-406 substituted "Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section,
when" for "when" at the beginning of Subsec. (a)(1); P.A. 99-186 amended Subsec. (b) to make provisions applicable to
a person charged with the commission of a family violence crime as defined in Sec. 46b-38a; P.A. 99-187 added new
Subsec. (c)(4) providing that the arrested person may be ordered as a condition of release to participate in the zero-tolerance drug supervision program established under Sec. 53a-39d, renumbering Subdivs. (4) to (8) as Subdivs. (5) to
(9), respectively, and making technical changes for purposes of gender neutrality; P.A. 00-141 added new Subsec. (c)(9)
re electronic monitoring, redesignating former Subdiv. (9) as Subdiv. (10), and added Subsec. (e) re electronic monitoring
services; P.A. 01-84 amended Subsec. (b)(1) to delete reference to Sec. 53a-72b as a class D felony since violation of said
section was reclassified as a class C felony by June Sp. Sess. P.A. 99-2, and to make technical changes for purposes of
gender neutrality, effective July 1, 2001; P.A. 03-278 made technical changes in Subsec. (e), effective July 9, 2003; Jan.
Sp. Sess. P.A. 08-1 amended Subsec. (b) to add Subdiv. (3) requiring court to state for the record any factors under Subdiv.
(2) that it considered and the findings that it made re danger, if any, that arrested person might pose to safety of any other
person upon release that caused the court to impose the specific conditions of release that it imposed, effective January
25, 2008; P.A. 10-43 amended Subsec. (c) to delete former Subdiv. (4) re participation in zero-tolerance drug supervision
program and redesignate existing Subdivs. (5) to (10) as Subdivs. (4) to (9).
See Sec. 18-100f re release by Commissioner of Correction.
See Secs. 53a-222, 53a-222a re criminal penalties for violation of certain conditions of release.
Cited. 201 C. 115. Cited. 222 C. 331. Section affords Superior Court judge broad discretion in fixing nonfinancial
conditions of defendant's release for purpose of ensuring, inter alia, the safety of others, including restrictions on entering
a specific place of abode and on having contact with alleged victim of the crime with which defendant has been charged.
273 C. 418.
Cited. 22 CA 199.
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Sec. 54-64b. Release following arrest on court warrant. (a) When any person
is arrested on a bench warrant of arrest issued by order of the Superior Court or, when
said court is not in session, by a judge thereof, in which the court or judge issuing the
warrant indicated that bail should be denied or ordered that the person to be arrested
should be brought before a clerk or assistant clerk of the Superior Court, the officer or
indifferent person making the arrest shall without undue delay bring the arrested person
before the clerk or assistant clerk of the superior court for the geographical area where
the offense is alleged to have been committed during the office hours of the clerk and
if the clerk's office is not open, the officer or indifferent person shall, without undue
delay, bring the arrested person to a community correctional center within the geographical area where the offense is alleged to have been committed or, if there is no such
correctional center within such geographical area, to the nearest community correctional
center, or the Connecticut Correctional Institution, Niantic, as the case may be. The
clerk or assistant clerk or a person designated by the Commissioner of Correction shall
thereupon advise the arrested person of his rights under section 54-1b, and, when the
court or judge has not indicated that bail should be denied, shall order the arrested person
to enter into the condition of release pursuant to the condition fixed by the judge or
court conditioned that the arrested person shall appear before the superior court having
criminal jurisdiction in and for the geographical area to answer to the bench warrant of
arrest and information filed in the case. Upon the failure of the arrested person to enter
into the condition of release fixed by the court or judge or if the person has been arrested
for an offense which is not bailable, the clerk or assistant clerk or the person designated
by the Commissioner of Correction shall issue a mittimus committing the arrested person
to a community correctional center, or the Connecticut Correctional Institution, Niantic,
as the case may be, until he is discharged by due course of law.
(b) When any person is arrested on a bench warrant of arrest issued by order of the
Superior Court or by a judge thereof, in which the court or judge has not indicated that
bail should be denied or has not ordered that the officer or indifferent person making
such arrest shall without undue delay bring such person before the clerk or assistant
clerk of the superior court for the geographical area, the officer or indifferent person
making the arrest shall without undue delay, comply with the provisions of sections 54-63c and 54-63d in setting the conditions of release for the person or persons arrested
under the warrant.
(c) The clerk or assistant clerk and the person designated by the Commissioner of
Correction may take a written promise to appear on a bond without or with surety from
an arrested person in accordance with the conditions of release fixed by the court or
judge and may administer such oaths as are necessary in the taking of promises or bonds.
(P.A. 80-313, S. 13; P.A. 85-309.)
History: (Revisor's note: This section was formerly part of Sec. 54-2a. See Sec. 54-2a History re P.A. 80-313); P.A. 85-309 amended Subsec. (a) to authorize commitment of person under arrest to Connecticut Correctional Institution, Niantic.
Cited. 187 C. 6. Cited. 195 C. 505. Cited. 201 C. 115. Cited. 236 C. 388.
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Sec. 54-64c. Notice of appearance after release. The person taking any promise
or bond shall give the person released a copy of the promise or bond, which shall notify
the person of the time when and the place where he is next to appear and of the penalty
for failure so to appear.
(P.A. 80-313, S. 18.)
History: (Revisor's note: This section was formerly Sec. 54-63c(c). See Sec. 54-63c History re P.A. 80-313).
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Sec. 54-64d. Release of person taken into custody on a capias. (a) When any
person is taken into custody on a capias issued by order of the Superior Court, the proper
officer or state police officer taking the person into custody shall, without undue delay,
bring such person before the court that issued the capias.
(b) If a courthouse lockup operated by the Judicial Branch is available at the court
that issued the capias and is operational at the time the proper officer or state police
officer brings the person taken into custody to the court, the proper officer or state police
officer shall transfer the custody of such person to a judicial marshal at the court unless
such person requires medical attention or there is insufficient space for such person at
such lockup.
(1) If the court is in session, the judicial marshal shall present such person before
the court. If the court is not in session but the clerk's office is open, the judicial marshal
shall present such person before the clerk or assistant clerk or a person designated by
the Chief Court Administrator.
(2) If the court is not in session and the clerk's office is closed, and such person
indicates to the judicial marshal that he or she can meet the conditions of release fixed
by the court, the judicial marshal shall, without undue delay, either (A) transport such
person to a community correctional center within the judicial district or, if there is no
community correctional center within the judicial district, to the nearest community
correctional center, for the purpose of entering into the condition of release fixed by the
court, or (B) if more expedient, hold the person in custody until the clerk's office is
open or the next session of the court, for the purpose of entering into the condition of
release fixed by the court. If such person does not indicate to the judicial marshal that
he or she can meet the conditions of release fixed by the court, the judicial marshal shall
hold the person in custody until the clerk's office is open or the next session of the court,
for the purpose of entering into the condition of release fixed by the court.
(c) If a courthouse lockup operated by the Judicial Branch is not available at the
court that issued the capias, or is available but is not operational or has insufficient
space, the proper officer or state police officer taking the person into custody shall,
without undue delay, transport such person to a community correctional center within
the judicial district or, if there is no community correctional center within the judicial
district, to the nearest community correctional center for the purpose of entering into
the condition of release fixed by the court.
(d) The clerk or assistant clerk or a person designated by the Commissioner of
Correction or by the Chief Court Administrator shall order the person taken into custody
on the capias to enter into the condition of release fixed by the court on the condition
that such person shall appear before the next session of the superior court that issued
the capias. Upon the failure of such person to enter into the condition of release fixed
by the court, the person shall be held in the correctional center pursuant to the capias
until the next session of the court.
(P.A. 87-102; P.A. 03-224, S. 15; P.A. 05-152, S. 8.)
History: P.A. 03-224 added provisions re transfer of custody to judicial marshal if courthouse lockup is available and
operational and added provision re designation by Chief Court Administrator, effective July 2, 2003; P.A. 05-152 divided
section into Subsecs. (a), (b) and (d), amended Subsec. (a) by adding provision re person taken into custody by a state
police officer and making a technical change, amended Subsec. (b) by adding provisions re transfer of custody by state
police officer, making technical changes and replacing provisions re duties of proper officer with Subdivs. (1) and (2) re
duties of judicial marshal, added Subsec. (c) re duties of proper officer or state police officer if courthouse lockup is not
available, is not operational or has insufficient space, and made technical changes in Subsec. (d).
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Sec. 54-64e. Noncriminal behavior as condition of release. Notice of conditions
of release and sanctions for violation. (a) When any person is released pursuant to
the provisions of sections 54-63a to 54-63g, inclusive, or sections 54-64a to 54-64c,
inclusive, it shall be a condition of such release that the person released not commit a
federal, state or local crime during the period of release.
(b) When any person is released pursuant to the provisions of sections 54-63a to
54-63g, inclusive, or sections 54-64a to 54-64c, inclusive, such person shall be notified
in writing at the time of release: (1) Of the condition specified in subsection (a) of this
section and any additional conditions of release; (2) that violation of any condition of
release may result in the imposition of different or additional conditions of release; (3)
that if he is released with respect to an offense for which a term of imprisonment of ten
or more years may be imposed and the court finds that he has violated any condition of
release and the safety of any other person is endangered while he is on release, his release
may be revoked; and (4) that any crime committed while on release may subject him
to enhanced penalties pursuant to section 53a-40b.
(P.A. 90-213, S. 52, 56.)
Cited. 222 C. 331.
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Sec. 54-64f. Violation of conditions of release. Imposition of different or additional conditions. Revocation of release. (a) Upon application by the prosecuting authority alleging that a defendant has violated the conditions of the defendant's release,
the court may, if probable cause is found, order that the defendant appear in court for
an evidentiary hearing upon such allegations. An order to appear shall be served upon
the defendant by any law enforcement officer delivering a copy to the defendant personally, or by leaving it at the defendant's usual place of abode with a person of suitable
age and discretion then residing therein, or mailing it by registered or certified mail to
the last-known address of the defendant.
(b) If the court, after an evidentiary hearing at which hearsay or secondary evidence
shall be admissible, finds by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant has violated reasonable conditions imposed on the defendant's release it may impose different
or additional conditions upon the defendant's release. If the defendant is on release with
respect to an offense for which a term of imprisonment of ten or more years may be
imposed and the court, after an evidentiary hearing at which hearsay or secondary evidence shall be admissible, finds by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant
has violated reasonable conditions of the defendant's release and that the safety of any
other person is endangered while the defendant is on release, it may revoke such release.
(c) If the defendant is on release with respect to an offense for which a term of
imprisonment of ten or more years may be imposed and the court, after an evidentiary
hearing at which hearsay or secondary evidence shall be admissible, finds by clear and
convincing evidence that the safety of any other person is endangered while the defendant is on release and that there is probable cause to believe that the defendant has
committed a federal, state or local crime while on release, there shall be a rebuttable
presumption that the defendant's release should be revoked.
(d) The revocation of a defendant's release pursuant to this section shall cause any
bond posted in the criminal proceeding to be automatically terminated and the surety
to be released.
(P.A. 90-213, S. 53; P.A. 99-240, S. 11.)
History: P.A. 99-240 made hearsay or secondary evidence admissible at an evidentiary hearing and made technical
changes for purposes of gender neutrality.
See Secs. 53a-222, 53a-222a re criminal penalties for violation of certain conditions of release.
Cited. 220 C. 922. Cited. 222 C. 331. Cited. 224 C. 29.
Subsec. (c):
As applied to defendant statute did not violate right of bail provision of Conn. Const. Art I Sec. 8 as amended by Art.
XVII. 222 C. 331.
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Sec. 54-64g. Surveillance of serious felony offenders released on bond. Not
later than January 1, 2000, the office of the Chief State's Attorney shall, in consultation
with the Commissioner of Public Safety and the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association,
develop protocols for the surveillance by state police officers or municipal police officers, or both, of persons charged with the commission of a serious felony offense, as
defined in section 54-82t, who are released on bond.
(P.A. 99-240, S. 10.)
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Sec. 54-65. Procedure when principal intends to abscond. Any surety in a recognizance in criminal proceedings, who believes that his principal intends to abscond,
shall apply to a judge of the Superior Court, produce his bail bond or evidence of his
being a surety, and verify the reason of his application by oath or otherwise. Thereupon,
the judge shall immediately grant a mittimus, directed to a proper officer or indifferent
person, commanding him immediately to arrest the principal and commit him to a community correctional center. The Community Correctional Center Administrator shall
receive the principal and retain him in a community correctional center until discharged
by due order of law. The surrender of the principal shall be a full discharge of the surety
upon his bond or recognizance.
(1949 Rev., S. 8780; P.A. 81-410, S. 12; P.A. 90-288, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 81-410 replaced previous provision re rights of surety with the language of former Sec. 52-319; P.A. 90-288 made provision re application to a judge by a surety who believes his principal intends to abscond mandatory rather
than discretionary.
Right of person giving bail to retake prisoner; arrest of prisoner in another state no defense to action on hand. 16 Wall.
371; 160 U.S. 246. Cited. 140 C. 326. Dissent held statute was unconstitutional as violative of due process clauses of state
and federal constitutions. 175 C. 147. Cited. Id., 149. Has no application to facts of case. 199 C. 537.
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Sec. 54-65a. Forfeiture of bond for failure to appear. Issuance of rearrest warrant or capias. Termination or reinstatement of bond. Rebate to surety. (a) Whenever an arrested person is released upon the execution of a bond with surety in an amount
of five hundred dollars or more and such bond is ordered forfeited because the principal
failed to appear in court as conditioned in such bond, the court shall, at the time of
ordering the bond forfeited: (1) Issue a rearrest warrant or a capias directing a proper
officer to take the defendant into custody, (2) provide written notice to the surety on the
bond that the principal has failed to appear in court as conditioned in such bond, except
that if the surety on the bond is an insurer, as defined in section 38a-660, the court shall
provide such notice to such insurer and not to the surety bail bond agent, as defined in
section 38a-660, and (3) order a stay of execution upon the forfeiture for six months.
When the principal whose bond has been forfeited is returned to custody pursuant to
the rearrest warrant or a capias within six months of the date such bond was ordered
forfeited, the bond shall be automatically terminated and the surety released and the
court shall order new conditions of release for the defendant in accordance with section
54-64a. When the principal whose bond has been forfeited returns to court voluntarily
within five business days of the date such bond was ordered forfeited, the court may,
in its discretion, and after finding that the defendant's failure to appear was not wilful,
vacate the forfeiture order and reinstate the bond. Such stay of execution shall not prevent
the issuance of a rearrest warrant or a capias.
(b) Whenever an arrested person, whose bond has been forfeited, is returned to the
jurisdiction of the court within one year of the date such bond was ordered forfeited,
the surety on such bond shall be entitled to a rebate of that portion of the forfeited amount
as may be fixed by the court or as may be established by a schedule adopted by rule of
the judges of the court.
(P.A. 77-455; P.A. 79-461; P.A. 84-123, S. 3; P.A. 87-343, S. 1; P.A. 96-96; 96-164, S. 2; P.A. 99-62; P.A. 03-202, S. 21.)
History: P.A. 79-461 amended Subsec. (a) to specify applicability where bond is $500 or more and to add provisions
re stay of execution on forfeiture; P.A. 84-123 amended Subsec. (a) to authorize a court to issue a capias for a defendant
who fails to appear in court and to delete reference to issuance of a mittimus; P.A. 87-343 amended Subsec. (a) to provide
automatic reinstatement of the bond and release of the surety when the arrested person is returned to custody within six
months of the bond forfeiture; P.A. 96-96 amended Subsec. (a) to provide that when the "principal", rather than the "arrested
person", is returned to custody "pursuant to the rearrest warrant or a capias" within six months of the forfeiture the bond
shall be automatically "terminated", rather than "reinstated", and "the court shall order new conditions of release for the
defendant in accordance with section 54-64a" and to add provision that when the principal returns to court voluntarily
within two business days of the forfeiture, the court may vacate the forfeiture order and reinstate the bond if it finds the
failure to appear was not wilful; P.A. 96-164 amended Subsec. (a) to extend from two to five business days the period
after the date of forfeiture within which if the principal returns to court voluntarily the court may vacate the forfeiture order
and reinstate the bond; P.A. 99-62 added new Subsec. (a)(2) requiring the court to provide written notice to the surety on
the bond that the principal has failed to appear in court as conditioned in such bond, renumbering former Subdiv. (2) as
Subdiv. (3); P.A. 03-202 amended Subsec. (a)(2) by adding provision re notice to insurer that is the surety on the bond,
effective April 1, 2004.
Statute can coexist with common law right of bail bondsman to apprehend and surrender his principal; nothing in
wording of statute abrogates that right. 199 C. 537.
This section and Sec. 54-66 do not expressly provide for, or preclude, the granting of rebate to a depositor of cash bail
when defendant has been returned to the jurisdiction more than six months after the bond is called, but it is within the
power of Connecticut courts to ensure defendant's appearance and thus trial court's award of such a rebate was proper.
68 CA 849.
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Sec. 54-66. Acceptance and disposition of bail. Pledge of real property as lien.
Forfeiture of bond for failure to appear. Issuance of rearrest warrant or capias.
Termination or reinstatement of bond. (a) In any criminal case in which a bond is
allowable or required and the amount thereof has been determined, the accused person,
or any person in the accused person's behalf, (1) may deposit, with the clerk of the court
having jurisdiction of the offense with which the accused stands charged or any assistant
clerk of such court who is bonded in the same manner as the clerk or any person or
officer authorized to accept bail, a sum of money equal to the amount called for by such
bond, or (2) may pledge real property, the equity of which is equal to the amount called
for by such bond, provided the person pledging such property is the owner of such
property, and such accused person shall thereupon be admitted to bail. When cash bail
is offered, such bond shall be executed and the money shall be received in lieu of a
surety or sureties upon such bond. Such cash bail shall be retained by the clerk of such
court until a final order of the court disposing of the same is passed; provided, if such
bond is forfeited, the clerk of such court shall pay the money to the payee named therein,
according to the terms and conditions of the bond. When cash bail in excess of ten
thousand dollars is received for a person accused of a felony, where the underlying facts
and circumstances of the felony involve the use, attempted use or threatened use of
physical force against another person, the clerk of such court shall prepare a report that
contains (A) the name, address and taxpayer identification number of the accused person,
(B) the name, address and taxpayer identification number of each person offering the
cash bail, other than a person licensed as a professional bondsman under chapter 533
or a surety bail bond agent under chapter 700f, (C) the amount of cash received, and
(D) the date the cash was received. Not later than fifteen days after receipt of such cash
bail, the clerk of such court shall file the report with the Department of Revenue Services
and mail a copy of the report to the state's attorney for the judicial district in which the
court is located and to each person offering the cash bail.
(b) When real property is pledged, the pledge shall constitute a lien on the real
property upon the filing of a notice of lien in the office of the town clerk of the town in
which the property is located. The lien shall be in an amount equal to the bond set by
the court. The notice of lien shall be on a form prescribed by the Office of the Chief
Court Administrator. Upon order of forfeiture of the underlying bond, the state's attorney
for the judicial district in which the forfeiture is ordered shall refer the matter to the
Attorney General and the Attorney General may, on behalf of the state, foreclose such
lien in the same manner as a mortgage. The lien created by this subsection shall expire
six years after the forfeiture is ordered unless the Attorney General commences an action
to foreclose it within that period of time and records a notice of lis pendens in evidence
thereof on the land records of the town in which the property is located. If the bond has
not been ordered forfeited, the clerk of the court shall authorize the recording of a release
of such lien upon final disposition of the criminal matter or upon order of the court. The
release shall be on a form prescribed by the Office of the Chief Court Administrator.
(c) Whenever an accused person is released upon the deposit by a person on behalf
of the accused person of a sum of money equal to the amount called for by such bond
or upon the pledge by a person on behalf of the accused person of real property, the
equity of which is equal to the amount called for by such bond, and such bond is ordered
forfeited because the accused person failed to appear in court as conditioned in such
bond, the court shall, at the time of ordering the bond forfeited: (1) Issue a rearrest
warrant or a capias directing a proper officer to take the accused person into custody,
(2) provide written notice to the person who offered cash bail or pledged real property
on behalf of the accused person that the accused person has failed to appear in court as
conditioned in such bond, and (3) order a stay of execution upon the forfeiture for six
months. When the accused person whose bond has been forfeited is returned to custody
pursuant to the rearrest warrant or a capias within six months of the date such bond was
ordered forfeited, the bond shall be automatically terminated and the person who offered
cash bail or pledged real property on behalf of the accused person shall be released from
such obligation and the court shall order new conditions of release for the accused person
in accordance with section 54-64a. When the accused person whose bond has been
forfeited returns to court voluntarily within five business days of the date such bond
was ordered forfeited, the court may, in its discretion, and after finding that the accused
person's failure to appear was not wilful, vacate the forfeiture order and reinstate the
bond. Such stay of execution shall not prevent the issuance of a rearrest warrant or a
capias.
(1949 Rev., S. 8781; 1959, P.A. 28, S. 152; P.A. 81-246; P.A. 93-265, S. 1; P.A. 99-240, S. 14; P.A. 01-186, S. 18.)
History: 1959 act deleted references to trial justices and included assistant court clerk; P.A. 81-246 permitted the accused
person to pledge real property in order to be admitted to bail; P.A. 93-265 added Subsec. (b) to provide that the pledge of
real property constitutes a lien on the property when a notice of lien is filed and to specify the procedure for the foreclosure
or release of such lien; P.A. 99-240 amended Subsec. (a) to add provisions requiring the clerk of the court to prepare a
report when cash bail in excess of $10,000 is received for a person accused of a felony involving the use, attempted use
or threatened use of physical force against another person, specifying the contents of such report and requiring said clerk
not later than 15 days after receipt of such cash bail to file such report with the Department of Revenue Services and mail
a copy of such report to the state's attorney and each person offering the cash bail; P.A. 01-186 added Subsec. (c) re
forfeiture of bond for failure to appear, issuance of rearrest warrant or capias, stay of execution upon forfeiture of bond
for six months from date bond ordered forfeited, automatic termination of bond if accused is returned to custody as result
of rearrest warrant or capias and reinstatement of bond if accused returns to court voluntarily within 5 business days of
order of forfeiture.
Cash bail remains in custody of court until order for return is made, even though accused has appeared and been
discharged; garnishment of such a fund. 96 C. 358. Cited. 119 C. 25.
Cited. 25 CA 643. This section and Sec. 54-65a do not expressly provide for, or preclude, granting of rebate to a
depositor of cash bail when defendant has been returned to the jurisdiction more than six months after the bond is called,
but it is within the power of Connecticut courts to ensure defendant's appearance and thus trial court's award of such a
rebate was proper. 68 CA 849.
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Sec. 54-66a. Automatic termination of bail bonds. Any bail bond posted in any
criminal proceeding in this state shall be automatically terminated and released whenever the defendant: (1) Is granted accelerated rehabilitation pursuant to section 54-56e;
(2) is granted admission to the pretrial alcohol education program pursuant to section
54-56g; (3) is granted admission to the pretrial family violence education program pursuant to section 46b-38c; (4) is granted admission to the community service labor program
pursuant to section 53a-39c; (5) is granted admission to the pretrial drug education
program pursuant to section 54-56i; (6) has the complaint or information filed against
such defendant dismissed; (7) is acquitted; (8) is sentenced by the court; (9) is granted
admission to the pretrial school violence prevention program pursuant to section 54-56j;
or (10) is charged with a violation of section 29-33 and prosecution has been suspended
pursuant to subsection (h) of section 29-33.
(P.A. 79-469; P.A. 86-118; P.A. 90-288, S. 2; P.A. 91-218; P.A. 92-139; 92-256, S. 5; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-11, S.
50, 70; P.A. 97-287, S. 14; P.A. 98-21, S. 1; 98-59, S. 2, 3; P.A. 01-186, S. 9; P.A. 10-18, S. 27; 10-30, S. 5.)
History: P.A. 86-118 added provision re the termination and release of a bail bond upon defendant's admission to the
pretrial alcohol education system; P.A. 90-288 added provision re the termination and release of a bail bond upon defendant's
admission to the pretrial family violence education program; P.A. 91-218 replaced provisions requiring the automatic
termination and release of a bail bond whenever a defendant has a fine imposed by the court, whether or not a stay is had
or the fine is vacated by the court, or is sentenced by the court but a stay of execution or other delay of imposition of sentence
is granted with provisions requiring such automatic termination and release whenever a defendant has the complaint or
information filed against him dismissed, is acquitted or is convicted; P.A. 92-139 amended Subdiv. (6) by deleting "is
convicted" and inserting "is sentenced by the court"; P.A. 92-256 and May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-11 changed effective date
of P.A. 92-139 from October 1, 1992, to May 27, 1992; P.A. 97-287 added new Subdiv. (4) re automatic termination and
release of a bail bond when the defendant is granted admission to the community service labor program pursuant to Sec.
53a-39c, renumbering the remaining Subdivs. accordingly; P.A. 98-21 added new Subdiv. (5) re automatic termination
and release of a bail bond when the defendant is granted admission to the pretrial drug education program pursuant to Sec.
54-56i, renumbering the remaining Subdivs. accordingly; P.A. 98-59 revised effective date of P.A. 98-21, but without
affecting this section; P.A. 01-186 made a technical change for purposes of gender neutrality in Subsec. (6) and added
Subdivs. (9) and (10) re automatic termination of bail bond when defendant is granted admission into pretrial school
violence prevention program or is charged with violation of Sec. 29-33 and prosecution is suspended; P.A. 10-18 amended
Subdiv. (2) by replacing "system" with "program"; P.A. 10-30 made identical change as P.A. 10-18, effective July 1, 2010.
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Sec. 54-67. When attorneys not allowed to give bonds. No attorney-at-law may
give any bond or recognizance in any criminal action or proceeding in which he is
interested as attorney.
(1949 Rev., S. 8782; P.A. 80-313, S. 19.)
History: P.A. 80-313 substituted "may" for "shall".
Bond for costs on an appeal, given by appellant's attorney, not within prohibition of this statute. 61 C. 500.
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Sec. 54-68. Persons charged with gaming to give bonds. Section 54-68 is repealed.
(1949 Rev., S. 8789.; P.A. 76-336, S. 10.)
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Sec. 54-69. Motion of parties to modify conditions of release. (a) Whenever in
any criminal prosecution the state's attorney for any judicial district or the assistant
state's attorney is of the opinion that the bond without or with surety given by any
accused person is excessive or insufficient in amount or security, or that the written
promise of such person to appear is inadequate, or whenever any accused person alleges
that the amount or security of the bond given by such accused person is excessive,
such state's attorney or assistant state's attorney or the accused person may bring an
application to the court in which the prosecution is pending or to any judge thereof,
alleging such excess, insufficiency, or inadequacy, and, after notice as hereinafter provided and hearing, such judge shall in bailable offenses continue, modify or set conditions of release upon the first of the following conditions of release found sufficient to
provide reasonable assurance of the appearance of the accused in court: (1) Upon such
person's execution of a written promise to appear, (2) upon such person's execution of
a bond without surety in no greater amount than necessary, (3) upon such person's
execution of a bond with surety in no greater amount than necessary.
(b) No hearing upon any such application shall be had until a copy of such application, together with a notice of the time and place of hearing thereon, has been served
upon the surety or sureties upon such bond, if any, and upon the appropriate bail commissioner and, in the case of an application by an accused person, upon any such state's
attorney, or, in the case of the application by any such state's attorney, upon the accused
person.
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b) of this section, a hearing may
be had on an application by any such state's attorney without a copy of such application
and notice of the hearing being served upon the surety or sureties upon such bond, if
any, the appropriate bail commissioner and the accused person if the accused person is
charged with the commission of a family violence crime, as defined in section 46b-38a,
or a violation of section 53a-181c, 53a-181d, 53a-181e, 53a-223 or 53a-223b and is
being presented at the next sitting of the Superior Court as required by section 54-1g.
(1949 Rev., S. 8790; 1961, P.A. 517, S. 72; 1967, P.A. 549, S. 13; 656, S. 61; P.A. 74-183, S. 147, 291; P.A. 76-436,
S. 548, 681; P.A. 78-280, S. 1, 127; P.A. 80-313, S. 23; P.A. 99-186, S. 6; P.A. 02-127, S. 5.)
History: 1961 act substituted circuit court for court of common pleas; 1967 acts included bond without surety or written
promise as alternative to bond with surety, effective October 1, 1968, and allowed presentation of application to judge at
any time rather than only when court is not in session; P.A. 74-183 replaced circuit court with court of common pleas and
added reference to judicial districts, effective December 31, 1974; P.A. 76-436 deleted specific mention of common pleas
court and replaced references to prosecuting attorneys with references to state's attorneys and assistant state's attorneys,
reflecting transfer of all trial jurisdiction to superior court, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 78-280 deleted reference to counties;
P.A. 80-313 restated provision to delete implication that judge has power to deny bail for bailable offenses if "he finds
custody to be necessary to provide reasonable assurance of the appearance of the accused in court"; P.A. 99-186 inserted
Subsec. indicators, added new Subsec. (c) to permit a hearing to be held on an application by a state's attorney without
serving a copy of the application and notice of the hearing on the surety or sureties on the bond, the bail commissioner
and the accused person, as required by Subsec. (b), if the accused person is charged with the commission of a family
violence crime, as defined in Sec. 46b-38a, or a violation of Sec. 53a-110b, 53a-181c, 53a-181d or 53a-181e and is being
presented at the next court date as required by Sec. 54-1g, and made technical changes for purposes of gender neutrality;
P.A. 02-127 amended Subsec. (c) to include a violation of Sec. 53a-223b.
Bond includes recognizance. 110 C. 173. Cited. 140 C. 326. Cited. 222 C. 331. Cited. 241 C. 413.
Cited. 4 Conn. Cir. Ct. 116.
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Sec. 54-69a. Motion of bail commissioner to modify conditions of release. A
bail commissioner who has reason to believe that a person released under any of the
provisions of sections 54-63a to 54-63g, inclusive, 54-64a, 54-64b and 54-69 intends
not to appear in court as required by the conditions of release may apply to a judge of
the court before which the person is required to appear, and verify by oath or otherwise
the reason for his belief, and request that the person be brought before the court in order
that the conditions of his release be reviewed. Upon finding reasonable grounds that the
released person intends not to appear, the judge shall forthwith issue a capias directed
to a proper officer or indifferent person, commanding him forthwith to arrest and bring
the person to the court for a hearing to review the conditions of release. Such hearing
shall be upon due notice as provided in section 54-69.
(1967, P.A. 549, S. 16; P.A. 80-313, S. 24.)
History: P.A. 80-313 updated list of applicable sections and made minor changes in wording.
Cited. 222 C. 331.
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Sec. 54-69b. Authority of court to modify conditions of release. The provisions
of any promise or bond taken under section 54-63c or section 54-63d may at any time
be modified by the court or any judge thereof as provided in section 54-69.
(P.A. 80-313, S. 22.)
History: (Revisor's note: This section was formerly Sec. 54-63c(d). See Sec. 54-63c History re P.A. 80-313).
Cited. 222 C. 331.
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Sec. 54-70. Compromise of forfeited bonds. Section 54-70 is repealed.
(1949 Rev., S. 8791; 1959, P.A. 28, S. 193; 1963, P.A. 642, S. 66; P.A. 73-116, S. 32; 73-667, S. 1, 2; P.A. 78-280, S.
4, 119, 127; P.A. 83-279, S. 3, 4.)
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Sec. 54-71. Mistake in form of recognizance. No recognizance given by the accused in a criminal prosecution for his appearance before any court may be discharged
for any mistake in form, if its terms are in substantial compliance with the requirements
of law.
(1949 Rev., S. 8792; P.A. 80-313, S. 20.)
History: P.A. 80-313 substituted "may" for "shall".
Cited. 45 C. 352. Bond should receive liberal construction. 48 C. 59. Cited. 222 C. 331.
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Sec. 54-71a. No civil liability for release. No bail commissioner, no employee of
any police department, no state's attorney or assistant state's attorney and no municipality may be held liable in a civil action for damages on account of the release of any
person under any of the provisions of sections 54-63a to 54-63g, inclusive, 54-64a, 54-64b and 54-69.
(P.A. 80-313, S. 21.)
History: (Revisor's note: This section was formerly Sec. 54-63c(f). See Sec. 54-63c History re P.A. 80-313).
Cited. 222 C. 331.
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Sec. 54-72. Fines and forfeitures; prosecutions; liability of corporation. All
fines, forfeitures and penalties, unless otherwise expressly disposed of by law, if imposed
on any person by the Superior Court, shall belong to the state. When a fine, penalty or
forfeiture is imposed by any statute as a punishment for any offense, and any part thereof
is given to the person aggrieved or to him who sues therefor and the other part to the
state, all proper informing officers shall make presentment of such offense to the court
having cognizance thereof; and the whole of such fine, penalty or forfeiture shall in such
case belong to the state. Whenever any corporation has incurred a penalty or forfeiture or
is liable to a fine, the state's attorney in the judicial district wherein such corporation
is located or has its principal place of business in this state may bring a civil action under
the provisions of this section, in the name of the state, to recover such penalty, forfeiture
or fine. The court shall render judgment, under the limitations of law, for the recovery
of such penalty, forfeiture or fine, and issue execution therefor.
(1949 Rev., S. 8776; 1959, P.A. 28, S. 153; 152, S. 80; 1963, P.A. 642, S. 67; P.A. 73-116, S. 4; 73-667, S. 1, 2; P.A.
74-183, S. 148, 291; P.A. 76-436, S. 549, 681; P.A. 78-280, S. 1, 127.)
History: 1959 acts deleted references to fines imposed by trial justices, included circuit court and deleted provision for
fines belonging to county, county government having been abolished; 1963 act deleted obsolete provision for fines imposed
by common pleas court; P.A. 73-116 added reference to judicial districts; P.A. 73-667 changed effective date of P.A. 73-116 from October 1, 1973, to April 25, 1973; P.A. 74-183 replaced circuit court with court of common pleas, effective
December 31, 1974; P.A. 76-436 deleted reference to power of court of common pleas to impose fines, forfeitures and
penalties and deleted provision whereby jurisdiction was to be determined according to maximum penalty, forfeiture or
fine which may be imposed, reflecting transfer of all trial jurisdiction to superior court, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 78-280 deleted reference to counties.
See Sec. 51-56a re accounting for receipts by court clerks or executors.
Defendants in qui tam actions, if acquitted, entitled to costs. 2 R. 137. When may be brought in name of informer and
town treasurer. 5 C. 291. Form of judgment in such case. Id. When state may prosecute for whole penalty. 7 C. 185. Court
has no control over disposition of fines; statute controls. 18 C. 442. Cited. 222 C. 331.
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Sec. 54-73. Collection and disposition of forfeitures. The state's attorney in the
judicial district in which any forfeiture to the state accrues shall collect and pay it to the
State Treasurer; and, if in the opinion of the court the plaintiff is an improper person to
collect it, a separate execution may be issued in favor of the state.
(1949 Rev., S. 8773; 1959, P.A. 152, S. 81; P.A. 73-116, S. 5; 73-667, S. 1, 2; P.A. 78-280, S. 2, 127.)
History: 1959 act deleted provision for forfeiture to county, county government having been abolished; P.A. 73-116
added reference to judicial districts; P.A. 73-667 changed effective date of P.A. 73-116 from October 1, 1973, to April 25,
1973; P.A. 78-280 deleted reference to counties.
Cited. 222 C. 331.
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Sec. 54-74. Remission of fine. Any judge of the Superior Court may remit any
fine, if in his judgment such course will tend to the reformation of offenders or the
furtherance of the ends of justice.
(1949 Rev., S. 8740; 1959, P.A. 28, S. 154; 1963, P.A. 642, S. 68; P.A. 74-183, S. 149, 291; P.A. 76-436, S. 550, 681.)
History: 1959 act substituted circuit court for trial justice or municipal court; 1963 act removed common pleas court
from purview of section; P.A. 74-183 replaced circuit court with court of common pleas, effective December 31, 1974;
P.A. 76-436 removed court of common pleas from purview of section, reflecting transfer of all trial jurisdiction to superior
court, effective July 1, 1978.
Cited. 222 C. 331. Cited. 231 C. 514.
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Sec. 54-75. Employment of detectives. Section 54-75 is repealed.
(1949 Rev., S. 8783; 1953, S. 3325d; 1961, P.A. 517, S. 73; 1967, P.A. 260; P.A. 73-122, S. 26, 27.)
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Sec. 54-76. Transferred to Chapter 886, Sec. 51-286c.
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Sec. 54-76a. Procedure at hearing in probable cause. Section 54-76a is repealed.
(1959, P.A. 548; February, 1965, P.A. 321; P.A. 76-336, S. 5; P.A. 78-280, S. 126, 127; 78-331, S. 54, 58.)
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