Summary of Compliance with Committee Recommendations

Recommendation

Status

Comment

The Judicial Department should be responsible for the general courthouse security function.

Full

Public Act 00-99 assigned responsibility to the Judicial Department.

The cell-block function should be grouped with the prisoner transportation function.

Full

P.A. 00-99 put all court-related functions -- security, custody, and transportation -- under the Judicial Department, with the work to be performed by judicial marshals. As of January 2002, the department is using a pool of 905 individuals to staff 756 full-time equivalent judicial marshal positions, paid on a per diem basis with the amount dependent on the function performed. A permanent, full-time chief judicial marshal is in charge of operations in each of the 13 judicial districts. Other agency employees handle administrative tasks and training.

The Department of Correction (DOC) should take over responsibility for transporting prisoners to court and their custody within court lock-ups.

None

P.A. 00-99 transferred responsibility for transportation to the Judicial Department, but DOC retained authority over confined adult female prisoners.

Connecticut should offer a registration option allowing qualified individuals to serve original summonses, complaints, and post-judgment documents statewide.

None

P.A. 00-99 (modified by P.A. 01-9 June Special Session) created an appointment process for state marshals, with the number per county capped (for a total of 318) and jurisdiction limited geographically. At the end of 2001, all 252 individuals holding appointments as state marshals previously worked as deputy sheriffs.

State oversight of process servers should be given to the Judicial Department.

Partial

Originally, P.A. 00-99 placed the new 10-member State Marshal Commission, responsible for setting professional standards including training requirements and minimum fees for state marshals, in the Judicial Department for fiscal and budgetary purposes only. Subsequently, P.A. 01-9 June Special Session moved the commission into the Department of Administrative Services for administrative purposes only.

Statutes authorizing sheriffs to assist other parties with specific duties should be revised to eliminate references to sheriffs.

Full

P.A. 00-99 took care of this.

Changes made in the administration of courthouse security and prisoner transportation functions should be effective as early in FY 01 as possible.

Partial

P.A. 00-99 took effect in April 2000, but most provisions were not effective until December 1, 2000, after the statewide referendum eliminating county sheriffs from the constitution was approved.

Specific minimum standards for court security and prisoner transportation workers should be established and changes made in the applicant selection and training processes.

Full

P.A. 00-99 grandfathered in existing special deputy sheriffs as judicial marshals, but the chief court administrator had to establish employment standards by December 1, 2000, for future employees. Current standards require new applicants to be 18 years old, a U.S. citizen or lawful resident, have a high school diploma or its equivalent, hold a valid Connecticut drivers license, and undergo a criminal background check. Candidates selected as probationary judicial marshals must complete a physical exam and agility test, attend a 21-day training academy, and participate in a field-training program for the remainder of their one-year probationary period.

Specific minimum criteria for those who serve process should be established.

Full

P.A. 00-99 grandfathered in existing deputy sheriffs (and a few former deputy sheriffs) as state marshals, but the State Marshal Commission was to put standards in place by December 1, 2000, for new appointees. The current qualifications are: be an elector in the county where the vacancy exists, speak/write/read English, have resided in Connecticut at least one year, be 21 years old, have a high school diploma or its equivalent, be free of any mental or emotional disorder that may adversely affect performance, be of good moral character, hold a valid Connecticut drivers license, not be convicted of a felony, not be convicted of certain misdemeanors within five years prior to appointment, pass a written exam, complete required training, provide a $10,000 bond, and provide evidence of personal liability insurance.