Sec. 46b-120. (Formerly Sec. 51-301). *(See end of section for amended version
and effective date.) Definitions. The terms used in this chapter shall, in its interpretation
and in the interpretation of other statutes, be defined as follows:
(1) "Child" means any person under sixteen years of age, except that (A) for purposes of delinquency matters and proceedings, "child" means any person (i) under seventeen years of age who has not been legally emancipated, or (ii) seventeen years of
age or older who, prior to attaining seventeen years of age, has committed a delinquent
act and, subsequent to attaining seventeen years of age, (I) violates any order of the
Superior Court or any condition of probation ordered by the Superior Court with respect
to such delinquency proceeding, or (II) wilfully fails to appear in response to a summons
under section 46b-133 with respect to such delinquency proceeding, and (B) for purposes
of family with service needs matters and proceedings, child means a person under seventeen years of age;
(2) (A) "Youth" means any person sixteen or seventeen years of age who has not
been legally emancipated, and (B) "youth in crisis" means any person seventeen years
of age who has not been legally emancipated and who, within the last two years, (i) has
without just cause run away from the parental home or other properly authorized and
lawful place of abode, (ii) is beyond the control of the youth's parents, guardian or other
custodian, or (iii) has four unexcused absences from school in any one month or ten
unexcused absences in any school year;
(3) "Abused" means that a child or youth (A) has been inflicted with physical injury
or injuries other than by accidental means, (B) has injuries that are at variance with the
history given of them, or (C) is in a condition that is the result of maltreatment, including,
but not limited to, malnutrition, sexual molestation or exploitation, deprivation of necessities, emotional maltreatment or cruel punishment;
(4) A child may be found "mentally deficient" who, by reason of a deficiency of
intelligence that has existed from birth or from early age, requires, or will require, for
such child's protection or for the protection of others, special care, supervision and
control;
(5) (A) A child may be convicted as "delinquent" who has (i) while under sixteen
years of age, violated any federal or state law or municipal or local ordinance, except
an ordinance regulating behavior of a child in a family with service needs, (ii) wilfully
failed to appear in response to a summons under section 46b-133 or at any other court
hearing of which the child had notice, (iii) violated any order of the Superior Court,
except as provided in section 46b-148, or (iv) violated conditions of probation as ordered
by the court;
(B) A child may be convicted as "delinquent" who has (i) while sixteen years of
age, violated any federal or state law, other than (I) an infraction, (II) a violation, (III)
a motor vehicle offense or violation as defined in chapter 248, or (IV) a violation of a
municipal or local ordinance, (ii) wilfully failed to appear in response to a summons
under section 46b-133 or at any other court hearing of which the child had notice, (iii)
violated any order of the Superior Court, except as provided in section 46b-148, or (iv)
violated conditions of probation as ordered by the court;
(6) A child or youth may be found "dependent" whose home is a suitable one for
the child or youth, except for the financial inability of the child's or youth's parents,
parent or guardian, or other person maintaining such home, to provide the specialized
care the condition of the child or youth requires;
(7) "Family with service needs" means a family that includes a child or a youth
sixteen years of age who (A) has without just cause run away from the parental home
or other properly authorized and lawful place of abode, (B) is beyond the control of
the child's or youth's parent, parents, guardian or other custodian, (C) has engaged in
indecent or immoral conduct, (D) is a truant or habitual truant or who, while in school,
has been continuously and overtly defiant of school rules and regulations, or (E) is
thirteen years of age or older and has engaged in sexual intercourse with another person
and such other person is thirteen years of age or older and not more than two years older
or younger than such child or youth;
(8) A child or youth may be found "neglected" who (A) has been abandoned, (B)
is being denied proper care and attention, physically, educationally, emotionally or morally, (C) is being permitted to live under conditions, circumstances or associations injurious to the well-being of the child or youth, or (D) has been abused;
(9) A child or youth may be found "uncared for" who is homeless or whose home
cannot provide the specialized care that the physical, emotional or mental condition of
the child or youth requires. For the purposes of this section, the treatment of any child
or youth by an accredited Christian Science practitioner, in lieu of treatment by a licensed
practitioner of the healing arts, shall not of itself constitute neglect or maltreatment;
(10) "Delinquent act" means (A) the violation by a child under the age of sixteen
of any federal or state law or municipal or local ordinance, except an ordinance regulating
behavior of a child in a family with service needs, (B) the violation by a child sixteen
years of age of any federal or state law, other than (i) an infraction, (ii) a violation, (iii)
a motor vehicle offense or violation under chapter 248, or (iv) a violation of a municipal
or local ordinance, (C) wilful failure of a child to appear in response to a summons under
section 46b-133 or at any other court hearing of which the child has notice, (D) the
violation of any order of the Superior Court by a child, except as provided in section
46b-148, or (E) the violation of conditions of probation by a child as ordered by the
court;
(11) "Serious juvenile offense" means (A) the violation of, including attempt or
conspiracy to violate, (i) section 21a-277, 21a-278, 29-33, 29-34, 29-35, 53-21, 53-80a,
53-202b, 53-202c, 53-390 to 53-392, inclusive, 53a-54a to 53a-56a, inclusive, 53a-59
to 53a-60c, inclusive, 53a-70 to 53a-71, inclusive, 53a-72b, 53a-86, 53a-92 to 53a-94a, inclusive, 53a-95, 53a-101, 53a-102a, 53a-103a or 53a-111 to 53a-113, inclusive,
subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section 53a-122, subdivision (3) of subsection (a)
of section 53a-123, section 53a-134, 53a-135, 53a-136a, 53a-166 or 53a-167c, subsection (a) of section 53a-174, or section 53a-196a, 53a-211, 53a-212, 53a-216 or 53a-217b, by a child, or (ii) section 53a-56b or 53a-57 by a child under sixteen years of age,
or (B) running away, without just cause, from any secure placement other than home
while referred as a delinquent child to the Court Support Services Division or committed
as a delinquent child to the Commissioner of Children and Families for a serious juvenile
offense;
(12) "Serious juvenile offender" means any child convicted as delinquent for the
commission of a serious juvenile offense;
(13) "Serious juvenile repeat offender" means any child charged with the commission of any felony if such child has previously been convicted as delinquent or otherwise
convicted at any age for two violations of any provision of title 21a, 29, 53 or 53a that
is designated as a felony;
(14) "Alcohol-dependent" means a psychoactive substance dependence on alcohol
as that condition is defined in the most recent edition of the American Psychiatric Association's "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders"; and
(15) "Drug-dependent" means a psychoactive substance dependence on drugs as
that condition is defined in the most recent edition of the American Psychiatric Association's "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders". No child shall be classified as drug-dependent who is dependent (A) upon a morphine-type substance as an
incident to current medical treatment of a demonstrable physical disorder other than
drug dependence, or (B) upon amphetamine-type, ataractic, barbiturate-type, hallucinogenic or other stimulant and depressant substances as an incident to current medical
treatment of a demonstrable physical or psychological disorder, or both, other than drug
dependence.
(1949 Rev., S. 2802; 1959, P.A. 28, S. 52; 1967, P.A. 630, S. 1; 1969, P.A. 794, S. 1; 1971, P.A. 72, S. 14; P.A. 75-602, S. 1, 13; P.A. 76-436, S. 668, 681; P.A. 77-577, S. 4; P.A. 79-567, S. 1, 7; 79-581, S. 1; P.A. 80-401, S. 4; P.A. 85-226, S. 1; P.A. 87-373, S. 13; P.A. 90-161, S. 1, 6; 90-240, S. 2, 6; 90-325, S. 19, 32; P.A. 91-303, S. 11, 22; June Sp. Sess.
P.A. 92-1, S. 2; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-3; P.A. 93-91, S. 1, 2; 93-340, S. 16; P.A. 95-225, S. 9; P.A. 97-319, S. 18, 22; P.A.
98-256, S. 1; P.A. 00-177, S. 1, 5; P.A. 02-109, S. 1; 02-132, S. 18; P.A. 05-250, S. 1; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4, S. 73;
Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7, S. 69.)
*Note: On and after July 1, 2012, this section, as amended by section 82 of public
act 09-7 of the September special session, is to read as follows:
"Sec. 46b-120. (Formerly Sec. 51-301). Definitions. The terms used in this chapter shall, in its interpretation and in the interpretation of other statutes, be defined as
follows:
(1) "Child" means any person under sixteen years of age, except that (A) for purposes of delinquency matters and proceedings, "child" means any person (i) under eighteen years of age who has not been legally emancipated, or (ii) eighteen years of age or
older who, prior to attaining eighteen years of age, has committed a delinquent act and,
subsequent to attaining eighteen years of age, (I) violates any order of the Superior
Court or any condition of probation ordered by the Superior Court with respect to such
delinquency proceeding, or (II) wilfully fails to appear in response to a summons under
section 46b-133 with respect to such delinquency proceeding, and (B) for purposes of
family with service needs matters and proceedings, child means a person under eighteen
years of age;
(2) "Youth" means any person sixteen or seventeen years of age who has not been
legally emancipated;
(3) "Abused" means that a child or youth (A) has been inflicted with physical injury
or injuries other than by accidental means, (B) has injuries that are at variance with the
history given of them, or (C) is in a condition that is the result of maltreatment, including,
but not limited to, malnutrition, sexual molestation or exploitation, deprivation of necessities, emotional maltreatment or cruel punishment;
(4) A child may be found "mentally deficient" who, by reason of a deficiency of
intelligence that has existed from birth or from early age, requires, or will require, for
such child's protection or for the protection of others, special care, supervision and
control;
(5) (A) A child may be convicted as "delinquent" who has (i) while under sixteen
years of age, violated any federal or state law or municipal or local ordinance, except
an ordinance regulating behavior of a child in a family with service needs, (ii) wilfully
failed to appear in response to a summons under section 46b-133 or at any other court
hearing of which the child had notice, (iii) violated any order of the Superior Court,
except as provided in section 46b-148, or (iv) violated conditions of probation as ordered
by the court;
(B) A child may be convicted as "delinquent" who has (i) while sixteen or seventeen
years of age, violated any federal or state law, other than (I) an infraction, (II) a violation,
(III) a motor vehicle offense or violation as defined in chapter 248, or (IV) a violation
of a municipal or local ordinance, (ii) wilfully failed to appear in response to a summons
under section 46b-133 or at any other court hearing of which the child had notice, (iii)
violated any order of the Superior Court, except as provided in section 46b-148, or (iv)
violated conditions of probation as ordered by the court;
(6) A child or youth may be found "dependent" whose home is a suitable one for
the child or youth, except for the financial inability of the child's or youth's parents,
parent or guardian, or other person maintaining such home, to provide the specialized
care the condition of the child or youth requires;
(7) "Family with service needs" means a family that includes a child or a youth
who (A) has without just cause run away from the parental home or other properly
authorized and lawful place of abode, (B) is beyond the control of the child's or youth's
parent, parents, guardian or other custodian, (C) has engaged in indecent or immoral
conduct, (D) is a truant or habitual truant or who, while in school, has been continuously
and overtly defiant of school rules and regulations, or (E) is thirteen years of age or
older and has engaged in sexual intercourse with another person and such other person
is thirteen years of age or older and not more than two years older or younger than such
child or youth;
(8) A child or youth may be found "neglected" who (A) has been abandoned, (B)
is being denied proper care and attention, physically, educationally, emotionally or morally, (C) is being permitted to live under conditions, circumstances or associations injurious to the well-being of the child or youth, or (D) has been abused;
(9) A child or youth may be found "uncared for" who is homeless or whose home
cannot provide the specialized care that the physical, emotional or mental condition of
the child or youth requires. For the purposes of this section, the treatment of any child
or youth by an accredited Christian Science practitioner, in lieu of treatment by a licensed
practitioner of the healing arts, shall not of itself constitute neglect or maltreatment;
(10) "Delinquent act" means (A) the violation by a child under the age of sixteen
of any federal or state law or municipal or local ordinance, except an ordinance regulating
behavior of a child in a family with service needs, (B) the violation by a child sixteen
or seventeen years of age of any federal or state law, other than (i) an infraction, (ii) a
violation, (iii) a motor vehicle offense or violation under chapter 248, or (iv) a violation
of a municipal or local ordinance, (C) wilful failure of a child to appear in response to
a summons under section 46b-133 or at any other court hearing of which the child has
notice, (D) the violation of any order of the Superior Court by a child, except as provided
in section 46b-148, or (E) the violation of conditions of probation by a child as ordered
by the court;
(11) "Serious juvenile offense" means (A) the violation of, including attempt or
conspiracy to violate, (i) section 21a-277, 21a-278, 29-33, 29-34, 29-35, 53-21, 53-80a,
53-202b, 53-202c, 53-390 to 53-392, inclusive, 53a-54a to 53a-56a, inclusive, 53a-59
to 53a-60c, inclusive, 53a-70 to 53a-71, inclusive, 53a-72b, 53a-86, 53a-92 to 53a-94a, inclusive, 53a-95, 53a-101, 53a-102a, 53a-103a or 53a-111 to 53a-113, inclusive,
subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section 53a-122, subdivision (3) of subsection (a)
of section 53a-123, section 53a-134, 53a-135, 53a-136a, 53a-166 or 53a-167c, subsection (a) of section 53a-174, or section 53a-196a, 53a-211, 53a-212, 53a-216 or 53a-217b, by a child, or (ii) section 53a-56b or 53a-57 by a child under sixteen years of age,
or (B) running away, without just cause, from any secure placement other than home
while referred as a delinquent child to the Court Support Services Division or committed
as a delinquent child to the Commissioner of Children and Families for a serious juvenile
offense;
(12) "Serious juvenile offender" means any child convicted as delinquent for the
commission of a serious juvenile offense;
(13) "Serious juvenile repeat offender" means any child charged with the commission of any felony if such child has previously been convicted as delinquent or otherwise
convicted at any age for two violations of any provision of title 21a, 29, 53 or 53a that
is designated as a felony;
(14) "Alcohol-dependent" means a psychoactive substance dependence on alcohol
as that condition is defined in the most recent edition of the American Psychiatric Association's "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders"; and
(15) "Drug-dependent" means a psychoactive substance dependence on drugs as
that condition is defined in the most recent edition of the American Psychiatric Association's "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders". No child shall be classified as drug-dependent who is dependent (A) upon a morphine-type substance as an
incident to current medical treatment of a demonstrable physical disorder other than
drug dependence, or (B) upon amphetamine-type, ataractic, barbiturate-type, hallucinogenic or other stimulant and depressant substances as an incident to current medical
treatment of a demonstrable physical or psychological disorder, or both, other than drug
dependence."
(1949 Rev., S. 2802; 1959, P.A. 28, S. 52; 1967, P.A. 630, S. 1; 1969, P.A. 794, S. 1; 1971, P.A. 72, S. 14; P.A. 75-602, S. 1, 13; P.A. 76-436, S. 668, 681; P.A. 77-577, S. 4; P.A. 79-567, S. 1, 7; 79-581, S. 1; P.A. 80-401, S. 4; P.A. 85-226, S. 1; P.A. 87-373, S. 13; P.A. 90-161, S. 1, 6; 90-240, S. 2, 6; 90-325, S. 19, 32; P.A. 91-303, S. 11, 22; June Sp. Sess.
P.A. 92-1, S. 2; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-3; P.A. 93-91, S. 1, 2; 93-340, S. 16; P.A. 95-225, S. 9; P.A. 97-319, S. 18, 22; P.A.
98-256, S. 1; P.A. 00-177, S. 1, 5; P.A. 02-109, S. 1; 02-132, S. 18; P.A. 05-250, S. 1; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4, S. 73;
Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7, S. 69, 82.)
History: 1959 act amended definition of child and substituted circuit court for town, city, police or borough courts;
1967 act changed definition of dependent child's home from "poverty" to "financial instability" for "specialized care"
and redefined child; 1969 act redefined "delinquent" child, substituted "financial inability" for "financial instability" in
definition of "dependent" child, substituted educational and emotional deprivation for mental neglect in definition of
"neglected" child and deleted reference to living under evil associations of home conditions and redefined "uncared for"
child to delete reference to child whose home is unsuitable or who cannot support himself legally or without subjecting
himself to conditions prejudicial to normal development; 1971 act redefined "child" to omit those between 16 and 18 years
old who have been transferred from circuit court to superior court jurisdiction; P.A. 75-602 defined "youth", added reference
to "neglected" youths and "uncared for" youths and redefined "uncared for" to include reference to home which cannot
perform specialized care needed and to specify that treatment by Christian Science practitioner does not constitute neglect
or maltreatment; P.A. 76-436 replaced reference to juvenile court with reference to superior court, effective July 1, 1978;
P.A. 77-577 defined "abused" and added reference to abused child in definition of "neglected" child; P.A. 79-567 defined
"family with service needs" and amended definition of "delinquent" child accordingly; P.A. 79-581 defined "serious
juvenile offense" and "serious juvenile offender"; Sec. 17-53 temporarily renumbered as Sec. 51-301 and ultimately
transferred to Sec. 46b-120 in 1979, see note to Sec. 17-53; P.A. 80-401 changed effective date of P.A. 79-567 from July
1, 1980 to July 1, 1981; P.A. 85-226 amended definition of "delinquent" by deleting exception for order entered in matter
relating to a family with service needs; P.A. 87-373 redefined "serious juvenile offense" to include a violation of Sec. 21a-277 or 21a-278; P.A. 90-161 added definitions re "alcohol-dependent child" and "drug-dependent child"; P.A. 90-240
substituted "mentally deficient" for "defective", deleted the phrase "defect of intelligence" and substituted "truant or
habitual truant", as defined, for "habitually truant"; P.A. 90-325 changed effective date of P.A. 90-240 from July 1, 1990,
to July 1, 1991; P.A. 91-303 removed a cite to Sec. 10-198a for the definition of truant and habitual truant; June Sp. Sess.
P.A. 92-1 amended definition of "serious juvenile offense" to include a violation of Sec. 53a-217b; June Sp. Sess. P.A.
92-3 amended definition of "serious juvenile offense" to include violations of Secs. 29-35, 53a-94a, 53a-102a, 53a-103a,
53a-212 and 53a-216; P.A. 93-91 substituted commissioner and department of children and families for commissioner
and department of children and youth services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 93-340 amended definition of "family with
service needs" to add Subpara. (E) re a child who is 13 years of age or older and has engaged in sexual intercourse with
another person within a certain age range; P.A. 95-225 inserted Subdiv. indicators, revising Subpara. indicators accordingly
for statutory consistency, added definition of "delinquent act", amended the definition of "serious juvenile offense" to
include violations of Secs. 29-33, 29-34, 53-21, 53-202b and 53-202c and include running away from any secure placement
other than home while "referred as a delinquent child to the Office of Alternative Sanctions", amended the definition of
"serious juvenile offender" to replace "adjudicated a delinquent child" with "convicted as delinquent" and added definition
of "serious juvenile repeat offender"; P.A. 97-319 redefined "abused" to include exploitation of a child or youth, effective
July 1, 1997; P.A. 98-256 amended the definition of "child" in Subdiv. (1) to add definition of child for purposes of
delinquency matters, amended the definition of a child found "delinquent" in Subdiv. (5) to replace "found" with "convicted
as" and to include a child who has violated conditions of probation ordered by the court and amended the definition of
"serious juvenile offense" in Subdiv. (11) to include a violation of Sec. 53a-136a; P.A. 00-177 added new Subdiv. (3)
defining "youth in crisis", renumbered Subdivs. (3) to (15), inclusive, as (4) to (16), and made changes throughout section
for purposes of gender neutrality, effective July 1, 2001; P.A. 02-109 redefined "youth" in Subdiv. (2) by replacing "sixteen
to eighteen" with "sixteen or seventeen" years of age, redefined "youth in crisis" in Subdiv. (3) by inserting "youth" in
place of a specific age range and made technical changes, effective June 7, 2002; P.A. 02-132 made technical changes
throughout and replaced "Office of Alternative Sanctions" with "Court Support Services Division" in Subdiv. (12); P.A.
05-250 added exception re provisions of Sec. 46b-148 in Subdiv. (6)(B) and made technical changes, effective October
1, 2007; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4 redefined "child" for purposes of delinquency matters and proceedings to include children
under "eighteen" years of age, instead of "sixteen", and rewrote provisions, deleted definition of "youth in crisis" in former
Subdiv. (3) and renumbered existing Subdivs. accordingly, redefined a child who may be convicted as "delinquent",
"delinquent act", "serious juvenile offense", and "serious juvenile repeat offender", substituted "alcohol-dependent" for
"alcohol-dependent child" and "drug-dependent" for "drug-dependent child", and made technical changes, effective January 1, 2010; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7 redefined "child", "youth", "youth in crisis", "convicted as delinquent", "family
with service needs" and "delinquent act" and made technical changes, effective January 1, 2010, and further amended said
definitions to include children 17 years of age and deleted definition of "youth in crisis", effective July 1, 2012 (Revisor's
note: In Subdiv. (2), the words "who has not been legally emancipated" were inadvertently dropped from the version
effective July 1, 2012, and were restored editorially by the Revisors for accuracy).
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Sec. 46b-121. (Formerly Sec. 51-302). *(See end of section for amended version
of subsection (a) and effective date.) "Juvenile matters" defined. Authority of court.
*(a)(1) Juvenile matters in the civil session include all proceedings concerning uncared-for, neglected or dependent children and youths within this state, termination of parental
rights of children committed to a state agency, matters concerning families with service
needs, contested matters involving termination of parental rights or removal of guardian
transferred from the Probate Court and the emancipation of minors, but does not include
matters of guardianship and adoption or matters affecting property rights of any child
or youth over which the Probate Court has jurisdiction, except that appeals from probate
concerning adoption, termination of parental rights and removal of a parent as guardian
shall be included.
(2) Juvenile matters in the criminal session include all proceedings concerning delinquent children within this state and persons seventeen years of age and older who are
under the supervision of a juvenile probation officer while on probation or a suspended
commitment to the Department of Children and Families, for purposes of enforcing any
court orders entered as part of such probation or suspended commitment.
(b) (1) In juvenile matters, the Superior Court shall have authority to make and
enforce such orders directed to parents, including any person who acknowledges before
the court paternity of a child born out of wedlock, guardians, custodians or other adult
persons owing some legal duty to a child or youth therein, as the court deems necessary
or appropriate to secure the welfare, protection, proper care and suitable support of a
child or youth subject to the court's jurisdiction or otherwise committed to or in the
custody of the Commissioner of Children and Families. The Superior Court may order
a local or regional board of education to provide to the court educational records of a
child or youth for the purpose of determining the need for services or placement of the
child or youth. In proceedings concerning a child charged with a delinquent act or with
being from a family with service needs, records produced subject to such an order shall
be maintained under seal by the court and shall be released only after a hearing or with
the consent of the child. Educational records obtained pursuant to this section shall be
used only for dispositional purposes. In addition, with respect to proceedings concerning
delinquent children, the Superior Court shall have authority to make and enforce such
orders as the court deems necessary or appropriate to punish the child, deter the child
from the commission of further delinquent acts, assure that the safety of any other person
will not be endangered and provide restitution to any victim. The Superior Court shall
also have authority to grant and enforce temporary and permanent injunctive relief in
all proceedings concerning juvenile matters.
(2) If any order for the payment of money is issued by the Superior Court, including
any order assessing costs issued under section 46b-134 or 46b-136, the collection of
such money shall be made by the court, except orders for support of children committed
to any state agency or department, which orders shall be made payable to and collected
by the Department of Administrative Services. If the Superior Court after due diligence
is unable to collect such moneys within six months, the court shall refer such case to
the Department of Administrative Services for collection as a delinquent account. In
juvenile matters, the Superior Court shall have authority to make and enforce orders
directed to persons liable hereunder on petition of the Department of Administrative
Services made to the court in the same manner as is provided in section 17b-745, in
accordance with the provisions of section 17b-81 or 17b-223, subsection (b) of section
17b-179 or section 17a-90, 46b-129 or 46b-130, and all of the provisions of section
17b-745 shall be applicable to such proceedings. Any judge hearing a juvenile matter
may make any other order in connection therewith that a judge of the Superior Court is
authorized to grant and such order shall have the same force and effect as any other
order of the Superior Court. In the enforcement of the court's orders, in connection with
any juvenile matter, the court may issue process for the arrest of any person, compel
attendance of witnesses and punish for contempt by a fine not exceeding one hundred
dollars or imprisonment not exceeding six months.
(1949 Rev., S. 2805; 1953, 1955, S. 1576d; 1969, P.A. 483; P.A. 75-171, S. 1, 2; 75-602, S. 3, 13; P.A. 76-436, S. 14,
681; P.A. 77-576, S. 41, 65; 77-614, S. 71, 610; P.A. 79-567, S. 2, 7; P.A. 80-70, S. 3; 80-401, S. 4; P.A. 82-472, S. 128,
183; P.A. 87-421, S. 9, 13; P.A. 89-219, S. 2, 10; 89-273, S. 1; P.A. 93-91, S. 1, 2; P.A. 95-225, S. 10; 95-254, S. 2; P.A.
98-256, S. 10; P.A. 00-170, S. 33, 42; 00-177, S. 2, 5; P.A. 06-196, S. 172; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4, S. 74; Sept. Sp. Sess.
P.A. 09-7, S. 70.)
*Note: On and after July 1, 2012, subsection (a) of this section, as amended by section
83 of public act 09-7 of the September special session, is to read as follows:
"(a)(1) Juvenile matters in the civil session include all proceedings concerning uncared-for, neglected or dependent children and youths within this state, termination of
parental rights of children committed to a state agency, matters concerning families with
service needs, contested matters involving termination of parental rights or removal of
guardian transferred from the Probate Court and the emancipation of minors, but does
not include matters of guardianship and adoption or matters affecting property rights
of any child or youth over which the Probate Court has jurisdiction, except that appeals
from probate concerning adoption, termination of parental rights and removal of a parent
as guardian shall be included.
(2) Juvenile matters in the criminal session include all proceedings concerning delinquent children within this state and persons eighteen years of age and older who are
under the supervision of a juvenile probation officer while on probation or a suspended
commitment to the Department of Children and Families, for purposes of enforcing any
court orders entered as part of such probation or suspended commitment."
(1949 Rev., S. 2805; 1953, 1955, S. 1576d; 1969, P.A. 483; P.A. 75-171, S. 1, 2; 75-602, S. 3, 13; P.A. 76-436, S. 14,
681; P.A. 77-576, S. 41, 65; 77-614, S. 71, 610; P.A. 79-567, S. 2, 7; P.A. 80-70, S. 3; 80-401, S. 4; P.A. 82-472, S. 128,
183; P.A. 87-421, S. 9, 13; P.A. 89-219, S. 2, 10; 89-273, S. 1; P.A. 93-91, S. 1, 2; P.A. 95-225, S. 10; 95-254, S. 2; P.A.
98-256, S. 10; P.A. 00-170, S. 33, 42; 00-177, S. 2, 5; P.A. 06-196, S. 172; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4, S. 74; Sept. Sp. Sess.
P.A. 09-7, S. 70, 83.)
History: 1969 act added exception re collection of money under support order by central collections division of finance
and control department for children committed to care of welfare commissioner and added provision re petitions to juvenile
court made by central collections division; P.A. 75-171 referred to children committed to "any state agency or department"
rather than specifically to welfare commissioner; P.A. 75-602 added references to youths, made specific reference to
children and youths in custody of children and youth services commissioner and specified that court has power to grant
and enforce injunctive relief; P.A. 76-436 amended section to transfer juvenile court's powers to superior court, effective
July 1, 1978; P.A. 77-576 included termination of parental rights of children committed to state agency and contested
termination of parental rights transferred from probate court as juvenile matters; P.A. 77-614 replaced central collections
division of finance and control department with department of administrative services; P.A. 79-567 specified that matters
concerning families with service needs are to be considered as juvenile matters; Sec. 17-59 temporarily renumbered as
Sec. 51-302 and ultimately transferred to Sec. 46b-121 in 1979, see note to Sec. 17-59; P.A. 80-70 updated sections referred
to in provisions re petition to court; P.A. 80-401 changed effective date of P.A. 79-567 from July 1, 1980, to July 1, 1981;
P.A. 82-472 replaced obsolete reference to "division" with "department of administrative services"; P.A. 87-421 removed
a reference to Sec. 17-295a which was repealed by the same act; P.A. 89-219 added provision requiring the assessment of
a fee of $200 whenever the services of the probation staff for juvenile matters is required; P.A. 89-273 included any order
assessing costs issued under Sec. 46b-134 or 46b-136 among orders for the payment of money which the court is responsible
for collecting on, required the court to refer any case where after due diligence it is unable to collect the moneys due within
six months to the department of administrative services for collection as a delinquent account, and added provision re the
authority of the court to enforce its orders through issuing process for the arrest of a person, compelling the attendance of
witnesses and punishing for contempt, formerly Sec. 46b-148(a); P.A. 93-91 substituted commissioner and department of
children and families for commissioner and department of children and youth services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-225 inserted Subsec. indicators, amended Subsec. (a) to provide that the matters specified constitute juvenile matters "in
the civil session", delete proceedings concerning "delinquent children" from such matters, include proceedings concerning
"the emancipation of minors" in such matters and add provision that juvenile matters in the criminal session include all
proceedings concerning delinquent children in the state and amended Subsec. (b) to add provision authorizing the court
in proceedings concerning delinquent children to make and enforce orders to punish the child, deter the child from the
commission of further delinquent acts, assure that the safety of any other person will not be endangered and provide
restitution to any victim; P.A. 95-254 added provision including probate appeals re matters involving termination of parental
rights, removal of parent as guardian and adoption; P.A. 98-256 amended Subsec. (a) to provide that juvenile matters in
the criminal session include proceedings concerning "persons sixteen years of age and older who are under the supervision
of a juvenile probation officer while on probation or a suspended commitment to the Department of Children and Families,
for purposes of enforcing any court orders entered as part of such probation or suspended commitment"; P.A. 00-170
amended Subsec. (b) to delete a requirement that the court impose a fee for probation staff services, effective July 1, 2000;
P.A. 00-177 extended provisions of section to youth in crisis and made technical changes in Subsec. (b) for purposes of
gender neutrality, effective July 1, 2001; P.A. 06-196 made technical changes in Subsec. (a), effective June 7, 2006; June
Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4 inserted Subdiv. designators (1) and (2) in Subsecs. (a) and (b), deleted references to "youth in crisis",
substituted "eighteen years of age" for "sixteen years of age", and made technical changes, effective January 1, 2010; Sept.
Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7 amended Subsec. (a)(2) to substitute "seventeen years of age" for "eighteen years of age" and amended
Subsec. (b)(1) to add provisions re court orders for local or regional boards of education to provide educational records,
and re maintenance, release and use of such records, effective January 1, 2010, and further amended Subsec. (a)(2) to
substitute "eighteen years of age" for "seventeen years of age", effective July 1, 2012.
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Sec. 46b-121k. Programs, services and facilities for juvenile offenders. (a)(1)
The Judicial Branch shall develop constructive programs for the prevention and reduction of delinquency and crime among juvenile offenders. To develop such programs,
the executive director of the Court Support Services Division within the Judicial Branch
shall cooperate with other agencies to encourage the establishment of new programs
and to provide a continuum of services for juvenile offenders who do not require secure
placement, including, but not limited to, juveniles classified pursuant to the risk assessment instrument described in section 46b-121i, as those who may be released with
structured supervision and those who may be released without supervision. When appropriate, the Judicial Branch shall coordinate such programs with the Department of Children and Families and the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.
(2) The programs shall be tailored to the type of juvenile, including the juvenile's
offense history, age, maturity and social development, gender, mental health, alcohol
dependency or drug dependency, need for structured supervision and other characteristics, and shall be culturally appropriate, trauma-informed and provided in the least restrictive environment possible in a manner consistent with public safety. The Judicial
Branch shall develop programs that provide: (A) Intensive general education, with an
individualized remediation plan for each juvenile; (B) appropriate job training and employment opportunities; (C) counseling sessions in anger management and nonviolent
conflict resolution; (D) treatment and prevention programs for alcohol dependency and
drug dependency; (E) mental health screening, assessment and treatment; (F) sexual
offender treatment; and (G) services for families of juveniles.
(b) The Judicial Branch may contract to establish regional secure residential facilities and regional highly supervised residential and nonresidential facilities for juveniles
referred by the court. Such facilities shall operate within contracted-for capacity limits.
Such facilities shall be exempt from the licensing requirements of section 17a-145.
(c) The Judicial Branch shall collaborate with private residential facilities providing
residential programs and with community-based nonresidential postrelease programs.
(d) The Judicial Branch, as part of a publicly bid contract for an alternative incarceration program, may include a requirement that the contractor provide for space necessary
for juvenile probation offices and other staff of the Court Support Services Division to
perform their duties.
(e) Any program developed by the Judicial Branch that is designed to prevent or
reduce delinquency and crime among juvenile offenders shall be gender specific, as
necessary, and shall comprehensively address the unique needs of a targeted gender
group.
(f) The Judicial Branch shall consult with the Commission on Racial and Ethnic
Disparity in the Criminal Justice System established pursuant to section 51-10c to address the needs of minorities in the juvenile justice system.
(P.A. 95-225, S. 6, 52; P.A. 98-256, S. 2; P.A. 01-181, S. 3; P.A. 02-132, S. 20; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4, S. 84; Sept.
Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7, S. 92.)
History: P.A. 95-225 effective July 1, 1996; P.A. 98-256 amended Subsec. (b) to replace "juveniles sentenced to
probation by the court" with "juveniles referred by the court"; P.A. 01-181 added Subsec. (d) re any program developed
by Office of Alternate Sanctions designed to prevent or reduce delinquency and crime among juvenile offenders to be
gender specific; P.A. 02-132 replaced "Office of Alternative Sanctions" with "Court Support Services Division" in Subsecs.
(a), (c) and (d), replaced "director" with "executive director of the Court Support Services Division" in Subsec. (a) and
replaced "Office of Alternative Sanctions" with "Judicial Department" in Subsec. (b); June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4 inserted
new Subdiv. (1) and (2) and Subpara. (A) to (G) designators in Subsec. (a), amended Subsec. (a)(1) re juveniles classified
pursuant to risk assessment instrument as those who may be released with or without supervision and coordination of
programs with Departments of Children and Families and Mental Health and Addiction Services, rewrote Subsec. (a)(2)
re programs and services, and inserted Subsec. (e) re consultation with Commission on Racial and Ethnic Disparity,
effective July 1, 2007; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7 substituted "Judicial Branch" for "Judicial Department" and "Court Support
Services Division", amended Subsec. (a) to insert "within the Judicial Branch", inserted new Subsec. (d) re requirement
in publicly bid contract for space necessary for juvenile probation offices and other staff to perform duties, and redesignated
existing Subsecs. (d) and (e) as Subsecs. (e) and (f), effective October 5, 2009.
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Sec. 46b-121m. Evaluation of the costs and benefits of programs serving juvenile offenders. Section 46b-121m is repealed, effective July 1, 2009.
(P.A. 00-172; P.A. 09-205, S. 12.)
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Sec. 46b-122. (Formerly Sec. 51-303). Juvenile matters separated from other
court business if practicable. Exclusion of persons from hearing; exception for
victim in delinquency proceedings. Pilot program to increase public access to certain proceedings. (a) All matters which are juvenile matters, as provided in section
46b-121, shall be kept separate and apart from all other business of the Superior Court
as far as is practicable, except matters transferred under the provisions of section 46b-127, which matters shall be transferred to the regular criminal docket of the Superior
Court. Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, any judge hearing a juvenile
matter may, during such hearing, exclude from the room in which such hearing is held
any person whose presence is, in the court's opinion, not necessary, except that in delinquency proceedings, any victim shall not be excluded unless, after hearing from the
parties and the victim and for good cause shown, which shall be clearly and specifically
stated on the record, the judge orders otherwise. For the purposes of this section, "victim"
means a person who is the victim of a delinquent act, a parent or guardian of such person,
the legal representative of such person or an advocate appointed for such person pursuant
to section 54-221.
(b) The Judicial Department shall establish, in a superior court for juvenile matters
location designated by the Chief Court Administrator, a pilot program to increase public
access to proceedings in which a child is alleged to be uncared for, neglected, abused
or dependent or is the subject of a petition for termination of parental rights. In any
proceeding under this subsection, the judge may order on a case-by-case basis that such
proceeding be kept separate and apart and heard in accordance with subsection (a) of
this section, upon motion of any party for good cause shown. After consultation with
the Juvenile Access Pilot Program Advisory Board established pursuant to section 6 of
public act 09-194*, the Judicial Department shall adopt policies and procedures for the
operation of the pilot program.
(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect the confidentiality of records
of cases of juvenile matters as set forth in section 46b-124.
(P.A. 76-436, S. 8, 681; P.A. 77-576, S. 42, 65; P.A. 78-379, S. 10, 27; P.A. 95-225, S. 11; P.A. 03-202, S. 7; P.A. 05-169, S. 1; P.A. 09-194, S. 5.)
*Note: Section 6 of public act 09-194 is special in nature and therefore has not been codified but remains in full force
and effect according to its terms.
History: P.A. 77-576 deleted requirement that juvenile matters be dealt with in facilities separate from other superior
court business and authorized hearing of family matters in same facilities as juvenile matters but at separate times to protect
confidentiality; P.A. 78-379 deleted provision which authorized hearing of family matters in same facilities as juvenile
matters and added provisions which authorized judge to exclude from hearing room persons whose presence is unnecessary
and prohibited use of room regularly used for criminal business for hearing of juvenile matter; Sec. 51-303 transferred to
Sec. 46b-122 in 1979 and other sections referred to in provisions revised where necessary to reflect their transfer; P.A.
95-225 deleted reference to matters transferred under Sec. "46b-126", reflecting elimination of transfer provisions from
Sec. 46b-126 by same public act, added provision prohibiting exclusion in delinquency proceedings of any victim of the
delinquent act, the parents or guardian of the victim and any victim advocate unless the judge specifically orders otherwise,
deleted prohibition on hearing a juvenile matter in a room regularly used for the transaction of criminal business and deleted
obsolete provisions re transfer of matters from the juvenile court; P.A. 03-202 replaced "shall" with "may" re excluding
persons from hearing room and made technical changes; P.A. 05-169 amended exception re exclusion of persons from
hearing room by replacing provision re victim of delinquent act, parents or guardian of victim and victim advocate with
provision re victim, adding provision re hearing from the parties and the victim and re good cause shown and stated on
the record, defining "victim" to mean a person who is the victim of a delinquent act, a parent, guardian or legal representative
of such person or an advocate appointed for such person, and making technical changes; P.A. 09-194 designated existing
provisions as Subsec. (a), added exception therein for Subsec. (b), added Subsec. (b) establishing pilot program increasing
public access to proceedings in which child is allegedly uncared for, neglected, abused or dependent or subject of petition
for termination of parental rights and added Subsec. (c) re confidentiality of records of juvenile matters.
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Sec. 46b-127. (Formerly Sec. 51-308). *(See end of section for amended version
of subsection (c) and effective date.) Transfer of child charged with a felony to the
regular criminal docket. (a) The court shall automatically transfer from the docket for
juvenile matters to the regular criminal docket of the Superior Court the case of any
child charged with the commission of a capital felony, a class A or B felony or a violation
of section 53a-54d, provided such offense was committed after such child attained the
age of fourteen years and counsel has been appointed for such child if such child is
indigent. Such counsel may appear with the child but shall not be permitted to make
any argument or file any motion in opposition to the transfer. The child shall be arraigned
in the regular criminal docket of the Superior Court at the next court date following
such transfer, provided any proceedings held prior to the finalization of such transfer
shall be private and shall be conducted in such parts of the courthouse or the building
wherein court is located as shall be separate and apart from the other parts of the court
which are then being held for proceedings pertaining to adults charged with crimes. The
file of any case so transferred shall remain sealed until the end of the tenth working day
following such arraignment unless the state's attorney has filed a motion pursuant to
this subsection, in which case such file shall remain sealed until the court makes a
decision on the motion. A state's attorney may, not later than ten working days after
such arraignment, file a motion to transfer the case of any child charged with the commission of a class B felony or a violation of subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of section 53a-70 to the docket for juvenile matters for proceedings in accordance with the provisions
of this chapter. The court sitting for the regular criminal docket shall, after hearing and
not later than ten working days after the filing of such motion, decide such motion.
(b) Upon motion of a prosecutorial official and order of the court, the case of any
child charged with the commission of a class C or D felony or an unclassified felony
shall be transferred from the docket for juvenile matters to the regular criminal docket
of the Superior Court, provided such offense was committed after such child attained
the age of fourteen years and the court finds ex parte that there is probable cause to
believe the child has committed the act for which he is charged. The file of any case so
transferred shall remain sealed until such time as the court sitting for the regular criminal
docket accepts such transfer. The court sitting for the regular criminal docket may return
any such case to the docket for juvenile matters not later than ten working days after
the date of the transfer for proceedings in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
The child shall be arraigned in the regular criminal docket of the Superior Court by the
next court date following such transfer, provided any proceedings held prior to the
finalization of such transfer shall be private and shall be conducted in such parts of the
courthouse or the building wherein court is located as shall be separate and apart from
the other parts of the court which are then being held for proceedings pertaining to adults
charged with crimes.
*(c) Upon the effectuation of the transfer, such child shall stand trial and be sentenced, if convicted, as if such child were seventeen years of age. Such child shall receive
credit against any sentence imposed for time served in a juvenile facility prior to the
effectuation of the transfer. A child who has been transferred may enter a guilty plea to
a lesser offense if the court finds that such plea is made knowingly and voluntarily. Any
child transferred to the regular criminal docket who pleads guilty to a lesser offense
shall not resume such child's status as a juvenile regarding such offense. If the action
is dismissed or nolled or if such child is found not guilty of the charge for which such
child was transferred or of any lesser included offenses, the child shall resume such
child's status as a juvenile until such child attains the age of seventeen years.
(d) Any child transferred to the regular criminal docket of the Superior Court who
is detained shall be in the custody of the Commissioner of Correction upon the finalization of such transfer. A transfer shall be final (1) upon the expiration of ten working
days after the arraignment if no motion has been filed by the state's attorney pursuant
to subsection (a) of this section or, if such motion has been filed, upon the decision of
the court to deny such motion, or (2) upon the court accepting the transfer pursuant to
subsection (b) of this section. Any child returned to the docket for juvenile matters who
is detained shall be in the custody of the Judicial Department.
(e) The transfer of a child to a Department of Correction facility shall be limited to
the provisions of subsection (d) of this section and said subsection shall not be construed
to permit the transfer of or otherwise reduce or eliminate any other population of juveniles in detention or confinement within the Judicial Department or the Department of
Children and Families.
(P.A. 75-620, S. 1-4; P.A. 76-194, S. 3; 76-436, S. 18, 19, 20, 681; P.A. 79-581, S. 3; P.A. 83-402, S. 2; P.A. 86-185,
S. 2; P.A. 90-136, S. 2; 90-187, S. 2, 3; July Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-2, S. 6; P.A. 95-225, S. 13; P.A. 97-4, S. 1, 2; 97-319, S.
21, 22; P.A. 98-256, S. 3; P.A. 04-127, S. 2; 04-148, S. 1; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4, S. 75; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7, S. 71, 122.)
*Note: On and after July 1, 2012, subsection (c) of this section, as amended by section
84 of public act 09-7 of the September special session, is to read as follows:
"(c) Upon the effectuation of the transfer, such child shall stand trial and be sentenced, if convicted, as if such child were eighteen years of age. Such child shall receive
credit against any sentence imposed for time served in a juvenile facility prior to the
effectuation of the transfer. A child who has been transferred may enter a guilty plea to
a lesser offense if the court finds that such plea is made knowingly and voluntarily. Any
child transferred to the regular criminal docket who pleads guilty to a lesser offense
shall not resume such child's status as a juvenile regarding such offense. If the action
is dismissed or nolled or if such child is found not guilty of the charge for which such
child was transferred or of any lesser included offenses, the child shall resume such
child's status as a juvenile until such child attains the age of eighteen years."
(P.A. 75-620, S. 1-4; P.A. 76-194, S. 3; 76-436, S. 18, 19, 20, 681; P.A. 79-581, S. 3; P.A. 83-402, S. 2; P.A. 86-185,
S. 2; P.A. 90-136, S. 2; 90-187, S. 2, 3; July Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-2, S. 6; P.A. 95-225, S. 13; P.A. 97-4, S. 1, 2; 97-319, S.
21, 22; P.A. 98-256, S. 3; P.A. 04-127, S. 2; 04-148, S. 1; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4, S. 75; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7, S. 71,
84, 122.)
History: P.A. 76-194 required that child "be sentenced, if convicted" as if he were sixteen; P.A. 76-436 revised provisions
to reflect transfer of juvenile court duties to superior court, substituting references to criminal and juvenile dockets for
references to said courts, etc., effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 79-581 clarified and qualified circumstances under which matters
transferred from juvenile to criminal docket and deleted requirements that transfer is contingent upon investigation finding
that no suitable institution for care of children exists to which child in question may be committed and that court facilities
for criminal sessions and institutions for those sixteen or over are suitable for child's care and confinement and deleted
former Subsecs. (b) and (c) re establishment of maximum security facility for care and treatment of children under superior
court jurisdiction and re court-ordered evaluation to determine whether institutions for children or institutions for those
sixteen and over are more suitable for care and treatment of child in question; Sec. 17-60b temporarily renumbered as Sec.
51-308 and ultimately transferred to Sec. 46b-127 in 1979; P.A. 83-402 qualified reference to commission of murder in
Subdiv. (1) by specifying murder "under sections 53a-54a to 53a-54d, inclusive" and required that written findings be
made rather than an investigation prior to transfer; P.A. 86-185 added provision that a transfer order shall be a final judgment
for purposes of appeal; P.A. 90-136 excluded from the provisions of Subdiv. (2) a child referred for the commission of
the class A felony of murder, added provisions re the rights of the child and the procedure applicable at the hearing,
authorized credit against any sentence imposed for time served in a juvenile facility prior to transfer, authorized a child to
plead guilty to a lesser offense and provided that a child who so pleads shall not resume his juvenile status re said offense,
and replaced a reference to a finding of "innocent" with a finding of "not guilty"; P.A. 90-187 added provision requiring
a transferred child to be maintained in a facility for children and youth rather than in a correctional facility until he is 16
years of age or sentenced, whichever occurs first, effective July 1, 1991; July Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-2 designated existing
provisions re children required to be transferred to the regular criminal docket as Subsec. (a) and amended said Subsec.
to add a new Subdiv. (2) requiring the transfer of any child referred for the violation of certain firearm-related offenses,
renumbering the remaining Subdivs. accordingly, to exclude from Subdivs. (3) and (4) any child referred for a violation
of any provision specified in Subdiv. (2), to add provision requiring the prosecuting authority for juvenile matters to
consider whether the child is a person with mental retardation or suffers from a substantial mental disorder in deciding
whether to seek the transfer of the child under Subdiv. (2) and to add provision authorizing the child to file a notice of
intent to request a hearing under Subsec. (c), designated existing provisions re probable cause hearing as Subsec. (b), added
Subsec. (c) re a hearing for a child referred pursuant to Subsec. (a)(2) at which he may present evidence that he should not
be transferred to the regular criminal docket and the factors that must be proven at such hearing to avoid such a transfer,
deleted the provision that a transfer order is a final judgment for purposes of appeal and designated existing provisions re
post-transfer procedures as Subsec. (d); P.A. 95-225 substantially revised section by deleting former Subsecs. (a), (b) and
(c), adding new Subsec. (a) re automatic transfer of a child charged with the commission of a capital felony, a class A or
B felony or a violation of section 53a-54d, adding new Subsec. (b) re transfer of a child charged with a class C or D felony
or an unclassified felony and redesignating former Subsec. (d) re post-transfer procedures as Subsec. (c); P.A. 97-4 amended
Subsec. (c) to delete provision that prohibited a child being placed in a correctional facility and required the child to be
maintained in a facility for children and youth until he attains the age of 16 years or until he is sentenced, whichever occurs
first, added Subsec. (d) providing that a child transferred to the regular criminal docket shall be in the custody of the
Commissioner of Correction upon the finalization of the transfer and specifying when a transfer is final, and added Subsec.
(e) limiting the transfer of children and juveniles to a Department of Correction facility, effective March 20, 1997; P.A.
97-319 amended Subsec. (a) by adding provision re appointment of counsel for indigent child, effective July 1, 1997; P.A.
98-256 amended Subsec. (a) to require the file of a transferred case to remain sealed "until the end of the tenth working
day following such arraignment" rather than "until the tenth day following such arraignment" and to replace "disposition"
with "proceedings", amended Subsec. (b) to provide that the case shall be transferred upon "order of the court" rather than
upon "approval by the court", to establish a deadline for a court to return a case to the docket for juvenile matters of "not
later than ten working days after the date of the transfer" and to require arraignment "by the next court date" rather than
"at the next court date" and amended Subsec. (c) to make provision mandating that a child resume his status as a juvenile
when found not guilty of the transferred charge also apply when found not guilty of any lesser included offenses; P.A. 04-127 amended Subsecs. (a) and (b) by adding provisions re privacy and location of proceedings held prior to finalization
of transfer and made a technical change in Subsec. (a); P.A. 04-148 amended Subsec. (a) to authorize the transfer of the
case of a child charged with a violation of Sec. 53a-70(a)(2) to the docket for juvenile matters; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4
amended Subsec. (c) to substitute "eighteen years" for "sixteen years" re age of child and make technical changes, effective
January 1, 2010; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7 amended Subsec. (b) to replace "juvenile prosecutor" with "prosecutorial
official", effective October 5, 2009, amended Subsec. (c) to substitute "seventeen years" for "eighteen years" re age of
child, effective January 1, 2010, and further amended Subsec. (c) to substitute "eighteen years" for "seventeen years" re
age of child, effective July 1, 2012.
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Sec. 46b-129. (Formerly Sec. 51-310). *(See end of section for added subsection (r) and effective date.) Commitment of child or youth. Petition for neglected,
uncared-for, dependent child or youth. Hearing re temporary custody, order to
appear or petition. Review of permanency plan. Cost of care and maintenance
of child or youth; reimbursement. Revocation of commitment. Applicability of
provisions re placement of child from another state and Interstate Compact on the
Placement of Children. (a) Any selectman, town manager, or town, city or borough
welfare department, any probation officer, or the Commissioner of Social Services,
the Commissioner of Children and Families or any child-caring institution or agency
approved by the Commissioner of Children and Families, a child or such child's representative or attorney or a foster parent of a child, having information that a child or
youth is neglected, uncared-for or dependent, may file with the Superior Court that has
venue over such matter a verified petition plainly stating such facts as bring the child
or youth within the jurisdiction of the court as neglected, uncared-for or dependent,
within the meaning of section 46b-120, the name, date of birth, sex and residence of the
child or youth, the name and residence of such child's parents or guardian, and praying
for appropriate action by the court in conformity with the provisions of this chapter.
Upon the filing of such a petition, except as otherwise provided in subsection (k) of
section 17a-112, the court shall cause a summons to be issued requiring the parent or
parents or the guardian of the child or youth to appear in court at the time and place
named, which summons shall be served not less than fourteen days before the date of
the hearing in the manner prescribed by section 46b-128, and the court shall further give
notice to the petitioner and to the Commissioner of Children and Families of the time
and place when the petition is to be heard not less than fourteen days prior to the hearing
in question.
(b) If it appears from the specific allegations of the petition and other verified affirmations of fact accompanying the petition and application, or subsequent thereto, that
there is reasonable cause to believe that (1) the child or youth is suffering from serious
physical illness or serious physical injury or is in immediate physical danger from the
child's or youth's surroundings, and (2) that as a result of said conditions, the child's
or youth's safety is endangered and immediate removal from such surroundings is necessary to ensure the child's or youth's safety, the court shall either (A) issue an order to
the parents or other person having responsibility for the care of the child or youth to
appear at such time as the court may designate to determine whether the court should
vest the child's or youth's temporary care and custody in a person related to the child
or youth by blood or marriage or in some other person or suitable agency pending
disposition of the petition, or (B) issue an order ex parte vesting the child's or youth's
temporary care and custody in a person related to the child or youth by blood or marriage
or in some other person or suitable agency. A preliminary hearing on any ex parte custody
order or order to appear issued by the court shall be held not later than ten days after
the issuance of such order. The service of such orders may be made by any officer
authorized by law to serve process, or by any probation officer appointed in accordance
with section 46b-123, investigator from the Department of Administrative Services,
state or local police officer or indifferent person. Such orders shall include a conspicuous
notice to the respondent written in clear and simple language containing at least the
following information: (i) That the order contains allegations that conditions in the home
have endangered the safety and welfare of the child or youth; (ii) that a hearing will be
held on the date on the form; (iii) that the hearing is the opportunity to present the
parents' position concerning the alleged facts; (iv) that an attorney will be appointed
for parents who cannot afford an attorney; (v) that such parents may apply for a court-appointed attorney by going in person to the court address on the form and are advised
to go as soon as possible in order for the attorney to prepare for the hearing; (vi) that
such parents, or a person having responsibility for the care and custody of the child or
youth, may request the Commissioner of Children and Families to investigate placing
the child or youth with a person related to the child or youth by blood or marriage who
might serve as a licensed foster parent or temporary custodian for such child or youth.
The commissioner, where practicable, shall investigate such relative or relatives prior
to the preliminary hearing and provide a report to the court at such hearing as to such
relative's suitability; and (vii) if such parents have any questions concerning the case
or appointment of counsel, any such parent is advised to go to the court or call the clerk's
office at the court as soon as possible. Upon application for appointed counsel, the court
shall promptly determine eligibility and, if the respondent is eligible, promptly appoint
counsel. The expense for any temporary care and custody shall be paid by the town in
which such child or youth is at the time residing, and such town shall be reimbursed for
such expense by the town found liable for the child's or youth's support, except that
where a state agency has filed a petition pursuant to the provisions of subsection (a) of
this section, the agency shall pay such expense. The agency shall give primary consideration to placing the child or youth in the town where such child or youth resides. The
agency shall file in writing with the clerk of the court the reasons for placing the child
or youth in a particular placement outside the town where the child or youth resides.
Upon issuance of an ex parte order, the court shall provide to the commissioner and the
parent or guardian specific steps necessary for each to take to address the ex parte order
for the parent or guardian to retain or regain custody of the child or youth. Upon the
issuance of such order, or not later than sixty days after the issuance of such order, the
court shall make a determination whether the Department of Children and Families
made reasonable efforts to keep the child or youth with his or her parents or guardian
prior to the issuance of such order and, if such efforts were not made, whether such
reasonable efforts were not possible, taking into consideration the child's or youth's
best interests, including the child's or youth's health and safety.
(c) The preliminary hearing on the order of temporary custody or order to appear
or the first hearing on a petition filed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall be
held in order for the court to: (1) Advise the parent or guardian of the allegations contained in all petitions and applications that are the subject of the hearing and the parent's
or guardian's right to counsel pursuant to subsection (b) of section 46b-135; (2) assure
that an attorney, and where appropriate, a separate guardian ad litem has been appointed
to represent the child or youth in accordance with subsection (b) of section 46b-123e
and sections 46b-129a and 46b-136; (3) upon request, appoint an attorney to represent
the respondent when the respondent is unable to afford representation, in accordance
with subsection (b) of section 46b-123e; (4) advise the parent or guardian of the right
to a hearing on the petitions and applications, to be held not later than ten days after the
date of the preliminary hearing if the hearing is pursuant to an order of temporary custody
or an order to show cause; (5) accept a plea regarding the truth of such allegations; (6)
make any interim orders, including visitation, that the court determines are in the best
interests of the child or youth. The court, after a hearing pursuant to this subsection,
shall order specific steps the commissioner and the parent or guardian shall take for the
parent or guardian to regain or to retain custody of the child or youth; (7) take steps to
determine the identity of the father of the child or youth, including ordering genetic
testing, if necessary, and order service of the petition and notice of the hearing date, if
any, to be made upon him; (8) if the person named as the father appears, and admits
that he is the father, provide him and the mother with the notices that comply with section
17b-27 and provide them with the opportunity to sign a paternity acknowledgment and
affirmation on forms that comply with section 17b-27. Such documents shall be executed
and filed in accordance with chapter 815y and a copy delivered to the clerk of the superior
court for juvenile matters; (9) in the event that the person named as a father appears and
denies that he is the father of the child or youth, advise him that he may have no further
standing in any proceeding concerning the child, and either order genetic testing to
determine paternity or direct him to execute a written denial of paternity on a form
promulgated by the Office of the Chief Court Administrator. Upon execution of such
a form by the putative father, the court may remove him from the case and afford him
no further standing in the case or in any subsequent proceeding regarding the child or
youth until such time as paternity is established by formal acknowledgment or adjudication in a court of competent jurisdiction; (10) identify any person or persons related to
the child or youth by blood or marriage residing in this state who might serve as licensed
foster parents or temporary custodians and order the Commissioner of Children and
Families to investigate and determine, not later than thirty days after the preliminary
hearing, the appropriateness of placement of the child or youth with such relative or
relatives; and (11) in accordance with the provisions of the Interstate Compact on the
Placement of Children pursuant to section 17a-175, identify any person or persons related to the child or youth by blood or marriage residing out of state who might serve
as licensed foster parents or temporary custodians, and order the Commissioner of Children and Families to investigate and determine, within a reasonable time, the appropriateness of placement of the child or youth with such relative or relatives.
(d) (1) (A) If not later than thirty days after the preliminary hearing, or within a
reasonable time when a relative resides out of state, the Commissioner of Children and
Families determines that there is not a suitable person related to the child or youth by
blood or marriage who can be licensed as a foster parent or serve as a temporary custodian, and the court has not granted temporary custody to a person related to the child
or youth by blood or marriage, any person related to the child or youth by blood or
marriage may file, not later than ninety days after the date of the preliminary hearing,
a motion to intervene for the limited purpose of moving for temporary custody of such
child or youth. If a motion to intervene is timely filed, the court shall grant such motion
except for good cause shown.
(B) Any person related to a child or youth may file a motion to intervene for purposes
of seeking temporary custody of a child or youth more than ninety days after the date
of the preliminary hearing. The granting of such motion shall be solely in the court's
discretion, except that such motion shall be granted absent good cause shown whenever
the child's or youth's most recent placement has disrupted or is about to disrupt.
(C) A relative shall appear in person, with or without counsel, and shall not be
entitled to court appointed counsel or the assignment of counsel by the Chief Child
Protection Attorney except as provided in section 46b-136.
(2) Upon the granting of intervenor status to such relative of the child or youth, the
court shall issue an order directing the Commissioner of Children and Families to conduct an assessment of such relative and to file a written report with the court not later
than forty days after such order, unless such relative resides out of state, in which case
the assessment shall be ordered and requested in accordance with the provisions of the
Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children, pursuant to section 17a-175. The court
may also request such relative to release such relative's medical records, including any
psychiatric or psychological records and may order such relative to submit to a physical
or mental examination. The expenses incurred for such physical or mental examination
shall be paid as costs of commitment are paid. Upon receipt of the assessment, the court
shall schedule a hearing on such relative's motion for temporary custody not later than
fifteen days after the receipt of the assessment. If the Commissioner of Children and
Families, the child's or youth's attorney or guardian ad litem, or the parent or guardian
objects to the vesting of temporary custody in such relative, the agency or person objecting at such hearing shall be required to prove by a fair preponderance of the evidence
that granting temporary custody of the child or youth to such relative would not be in
the best interests of such child or youth.
(3) If the court grants such relative temporary custody during the period of such
temporary custody, such relative shall be subject to orders of the court, including, but
not limited to, providing for the care and supervision of such child or youth and cooperating with the Commissioner of Children and Families in the implementation of treatment
and permanency plans and services for such child or youth. The court may, on motion of
any party or the court's own motion, after notice and a hearing, terminate such relative's
intervenor status if such relative's participation in the case is no longer warranted or
necessary.
(4) Any person related to a child or youth may file a motion to intervene for purposes
of seeking permanent guardianship of a child or youth more than ninety days after the
date of the preliminary hearing. The granting of such motion to intervene shall be solely
in the court's discretion, except that such motion shall be granted absent good cause
shown whenever the child's or youth's most recent placement has disrupted or is about
to disrupt. The court may, in the court's discretion, order the Commissioner of Children
and Families to conduct an assessment of such relative granted intervenor status pursuant
to this subdivision.
(e) If any parent or guardian fails, after service of such order, to appear at the preliminary hearing, the court may enter or sustain an order of temporary custody.
(f) Upon request, or upon its own motion, the court shall schedule a hearing on the
order for temporary custody or the order to appear to be held not later than ten days
after the date of the preliminary hearing. Such hearing shall be held on consecutive days
except for compelling circumstances or at the request of the parent or guardian.
(g) At a contested hearing on the order for temporary custody or order to appear,
credible hearsay evidence regarding statements of the child or youth made to a mandated
reporter or to a parent may be offered by the parties and admitted by the court upon a
finding that the statement is reliable and trustworthy and that admission of such statement
is reasonably necessary. A signed statement executed by a mandated reporter under oath
may be admitted by the court without the need for the mandated reporter to appear
and testify unless called by a respondent or the child, provided the statement: (1) Was
provided at the preliminary hearing and promptly upon request to any counsel appearing
after the preliminary hearing; (2) reasonably describes the qualifications of the reporter
and the nature of his contact with the child; and (3) contains only the direct observations
of the reporter, and statements made to the reporter that would be admissible if the
reporter were to testify to them in court and any opinions reasonably based thereupon.
If a respondent or the child gives notice at the preliminary hearing that he intends to
cross-examine the reporter, the person filing the petition shall make the reporter available
for such examination at the contested hearing.
(h) If any parent or guardian fails, after due notice of the hearing scheduled pursuant
to subsection (g) of this section and without good cause, to appear at the scheduled date
for a contested hearing on the order of temporary custody or order to appear, the court
may enter or sustain an order of temporary custody.
(i) When a petition is filed in said court for the commitment of a child or youth, the
Commissioner of Children and Families shall make a thorough investigation of the case
and shall cause to be made a thorough physical and mental examination of the child or
youth if requested by the court. The court after hearing may also order a thorough physical or mental examination, or both, of a parent or guardian whose competency or ability
to care for a child or youth before the court is at issue. The expenses incurred in making
such physical and mental examinations shall be paid as costs of commitment are paid.
(j) Upon finding and adjudging that any child or youth is uncared-for, neglected or
dependent, the court may commit such child or youth to the Commissioner of Children
and Families. Such commitment shall remain in effect until further order of the court,
except that such commitment may be revoked or parental rights terminated at any time
by the court, or the court may vest such child's or youth's legal guardianship in any
private or public agency that is permitted by law to care for neglected, uncared-for or
dependent children or youths or with any other person or persons found to be suitable
and worthy of such responsibility by the court, including, but not limited to, any relative
of such child or youth by blood or marriage. If the court determines that the commitment
should be revoked and the child's or youth's legal guardianship should vest in someone
other than the respondent parent, parents or former guardian, or if parental rights are
terminated at any time, there shall be a rebuttable presumption that an award of legal
guardianship upon revocation to, or adoption upon termination of parental rights by,
any relative who is licensed as a foster parent for such child or youth, or who is, pursuant
to an order of the court, the temporary custodian of the child or youth at the time of the
revocation or termination, shall be in the best interests of the child or youth and that such
relative is a suitable and worthy person to assume legal guardianship upon revocation or
to adopt such child or youth upon termination of parental rights. The presumption may
be rebutted by a preponderance of the evidence that an award of legal guardianship to,
or an adoption by, such relative would not be in the child's or youth's best interests and
such relative is not a suitable and worthy person. The court shall order specific steps
that the parent must take to facilitate the return of the child or youth to the custody of
such parent. The commissioner shall be the guardian of such child or youth for the
duration of the commitment, provided the child or youth has not reached the age of
eighteen years or, in the case of a child or youth in full-time attendance in a secondary
school, a technical school, a college or a state-accredited job training program, provided
such child or youth has not reached the age of twenty-one years, by consent of such
youth, or until another guardian has been legally appointed, and in like manner, upon
such vesting of the care of such child or youth, such other public or private agency or
individual shall be the guardian of such child or youth until such child or youth has
reached the age of eighteen years or, in the case of a child or youth in full-time attendance
in a secondary school, a technical school, a college or a state-accredited job training
program, until such child or youth has reached the age of twenty-one years or until
another guardian has been legally appointed. The commissioner may place any child
or youth so committed to the commissioner in a suitable foster home or in the home of
a person related by blood or marriage to such child or youth or in a licensed child-caring
institution or in the care and custody of any accredited, licensed or approved child-caring agency, within or without the state, provided a child shall not be placed outside
the state except for good cause and unless the parents or guardian of such child are
notified in advance of such placement and given an opportunity to be heard, or in a
receiving home maintained and operated by the Commissioner of Children and Families.
In placing such child or youth, the commissioner shall, if possible, select a home, agency,
institution or person of like religious faith to that of a parent of such child or youth, if
such faith is known or may be ascertained by reasonable inquiry, provided such home
conforms to the standards of said commissioner and the commissioner shall, when placing siblings, if possible, place such children together. As an alternative to commitment,
the court may place the child or youth in the custody of the parent or guardian with
protective supervision by the Commissioner of Children and Families subject to conditions established by the court. Upon the issuance of an order committing the child or
youth to the Commissioner of Children and Families, or not later than sixty days after
the issuance of such order, the court shall determine whether the Department of Children
and Families made reasonable efforts to keep the child or youth with his or her parents
or guardian prior to the issuance of such order and, if such efforts were not made, whether
such reasonable efforts were not possible, taking into consideration the child's or youth's
best interests, including the child's or youth's health and safety.
(k) (1) Nine months after placement of the child or youth in the care and custody
of the commissioner pursuant to a voluntary placement agreement, or removal of a
child or youth pursuant to section 17a-101g or an order issued by a court of competent
jurisdiction, whichever is earlier, the commissioner shall file a motion for review of a
permanency plan. Nine months after a permanency plan has been approved by the court
pursuant to this subsection, the commissioner shall file a motion for review of the permanency plan. Any party seeking to oppose the commissioner's permanency plan, including a relative of a child or youth by blood or marriage who has intervened pursuant to
subsection (d) of this section and is licensed as a foster parent for such child or youth
or is vested with such child's or youth's temporary custody by order of the court, shall
file a motion in opposition not later than thirty days after the filing of the commissioner's
motion for review of the permanency plan, which motion shall include the reason therefor. A permanency hearing on any motion for review of the permanency plan shall be
held not later than ninety days after the filing of such motion. The court shall hold
evidentiary hearings in connection with any contested motion for review of the permanency plan. The commissioner shall have the burden of proving that the proposed permanency plan is in the best interests of the child or youth. After the initial permanency
hearing, subsequent permanency hearings shall be held not less frequently than every
twelve months while the child or youth remains in the custody of the Commissioner of
Children and Families. The court shall provide notice to the child or youth, the parent
or guardian of such child or youth, and any intervenor of the time and place of the court
hearing on any such motion not less than fourteen days prior to such hearing.
(2) At a permanency hearing held in accordance with the provisions of subdivision
(1) of this subsection, the court shall approve a permanency plan that is in the best
interests of the child or youth and takes into consideration the child's or youth's need
for permanency. The child's or youth's health and safety shall be of paramount concern
in formulating such plan. Such permanency plan may include the goal of (A) revocation
of commitment and reunification of the child or youth with the parent or guardian, with
or without protective supervision; (B) transfer of guardianship; (C) long-term foster
care with a relative licensed as a foster parent; (D) filing of termination of parental rights
and adoption; or (E) another planned permanent living arrangement ordered by the court,
provided the Commissioner of Children and Families has documented a compelling
reason why it would not be in the best interest of the child or youth for the permanency
plan to include the goals in subparagraphs (A) to (D), inclusive, of this subdivision.
Such other planned permanent living arrangement may include, but not be limited to,
placement of a child or youth in an independent living program or long term foster care
with an identified foster parent.
(3) At a permanency hearing held in accordance with the provisions of subdivision
(1) of this subsection, the court shall review the status of the child, the progress being
made to implement the permanency plan, determine a timetable for attaining the permanency plan, determine the services to be provided to the parent if the court approves a
permanency plan of reunification and the timetable for such services, and determine
whether the commissioner has made reasonable efforts to achieve the permanency plan.
The court may revoke commitment if a cause for commitment no longer exists and it
is in the best interests of the child or youth.
(4) If the court approves the permanency plan of adoption: (A) The Commissioner
of Children and Families shall file a petition for termination of parental rights not later
than sixty days after such approval if such petition has not previously been filed; (B)
the commissioner may conduct a thorough adoption assessment and child-specific recruitment; and (C) the court may order that the child be photo-listed within thirty days
if the court determines that such photo-listing is in the best interest of the child. As used in
this subdivision, "thorough adoption assessment" means conducting and documenting
face-to-face interviews with the child, foster care providers and other significant parties
and "child specific recruitment" means recruiting an adoptive placement targeted to
meet the individual needs of the specific child, including, but not limited to, use of the
media, use of photo-listing services and any other in-state or out-of-state resources that
may be used to meet the specific needs of the child, unless there are extenuating circumstances that indicate that such efforts are not in the best interest of the child.
(l) The Commissioner of Children and Families shall pay directly to the person or
persons furnishing goods or services determined by said commissioner to be necessary
for the care and maintenance of such child or youth the reasonable expense thereof,
payment to be made at intervals determined by said commissioner; and the Comptroller
shall draw his or her order on the Treasurer, from time to time, for such part of the
appropriation for care of committed children or youths as may be needed in order to
enable the commissioner to make such payments. The commissioner shall include in the
department's annual budget a sum estimated to be sufficient to carry out the provisions of
this section. Notwithstanding that any such child or youth has income or estate, the
commissioner may pay the cost of care and maintenance of such child or youth. The
commissioner may bill to and collect from the person in charge of the estate of any child
or youth aided under this chapter, or the payee of such child's or youth's income, the
total amount expended for care of such child or youth or such portion thereof as any
such estate or payee is able to reimburse, provided the commissioner shall not collect
from such estate or payee any reimbursement for the cost of care or other expenditures
made on behalf of such child or youth from (1) the proceeds of any cause of action
received by such child or youth; (2) any lottery proceeds due to such child or youth; (3)
any inheritance due to such child or youth; (4) any payment due to such child or youth
from a trust other than a trust created pursuant to 42 USC 1396p, as amended from time
to time; or (5) the decedent estate of such child or youth.
(m) The commissioner, a parent or the child's attorney may file a motion to revoke
a commitment, and, upon finding that cause for commitment no longer exists, and that
such revocation is in the best interests of such child or youth, the court may revoke the
commitment of such child or youth. No such motion shall be filed more often than once
every six months.
(n) Upon service on the parent, guardian or other person having control of the child
or youth of any order issued by the court pursuant to the provisions of subsections (b)
and (j) of this section, the child or youth concerned shall be surrendered to the person
serving the order who shall forthwith deliver the child or youth to the person, agency,
department or institution awarded custody in the order. Upon refusal of the parent,
guardian or other person having control of the child or youth to surrender the child or
youth as provided in the order, the court may cause a warrant to be issued charging the
parent, guardian or other person having control of the child or youth with contempt of
court. If the person arrested is found in contempt of court, the court may order such
person confined until the person complies with the order, but for not more than six
months, or may fine such person not more than five hundred dollars, or both.
(o) A foster parent, prospective adoptive parent or relative caregiver shall receive
notice and have the right to be heard for the purposes of this section in Superior Court
in any proceeding concerning a foster child living with such foster parent, prospective
adoptive parent or relative caregiver. A foster parent, prospective adoptive parent or
relative caregiver who has cared for a child or youth shall have the right to be heard and
comment on the best interests of such child or youth in any proceeding under this section
which is brought not more than one year after the last day the foster parent, prospective
adoptive parent or relative caregiver provided such care.
(p) Upon motion of any sibling of any child committed to the Department of Children and Families pursuant to this section, such sibling shall have the right to be heard
concerning visitation with, and placement of, any such child. In awarding any visitation
or modifying any placement, the court shall be guided by the best interests of all siblings
affected by such determination.
(q) The provisions of section 17a-152, regarding placement of a child from another
state, and section 17a-175, regarding the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children, shall apply to placements pursuant to this section.
(1949 Rev., S. 2634, subs. (a)-(e); 1949, 1953, 1955, S. 1469d, subs. (a)-(e); 1957, P.A. 50; 1959, P.A. 293; 1967,
P.A. 698; 1969, P.A. 794, S. 7; 1971, P.A. 150; 184; 231; 253; 1972, P.A. 127, S. 24; 294, S. 18; P.A. 73-205, S. 5; 73-546, S. 2; 73-625, S. 3, 4; P.A. 74-251, S. 10, 11; P.A. 75-420, S. 4, 6; 75-492, S. 1, 2; 75-602, S. 4, 13; P.A. 76-436, S.
16, 668, 681; P.A. 77-272; 77-273; 77-614, S. 71, 521, 587, 610; P.A. 78-223, S. 1, 2; 78-303, S. 85, 136; P.A. 79-423;
79-579; 79-631, S. 84, 111; P.A. 80-483, S. 121, 186; P.A. 82-181, S. 1, 2; P.A. 84-449, S. 5, 7; P.A. 93-91, S. 1, 2; 93-262, S. 1, 87; P.A. 95-238, S. 4; P.A. 96-246, S. 20, 21; P.A. 97-319, S. 19, 22; P.A. 98-185; 98-241, S. 5, 18; June Sp.
Sess. P.A. 98-1, S. 102, 121; P.A. 00-137, S. 2, 3, 15; P.A. 01-142, S. 6-8; 01-149, S. 1; 01-195, S. 37, 38, 181; June Sp.
Sess. P.A. 01-2, S. 33, 69; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-9, S. 129, 131; May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-7, S. 29, 30; P.A. 03-243, S. 2;
P.A. 06-102, S. 9; 06-196, S. 173; P.A. 07-159, S. 5; 07-174, S. 3; 07-203, S. 1; P.A. 09-185, S. 3.)
*Note: On and after October 1, 2010, this section is amended by section 4 of public
act 09-194 to add subsection (r) as follows:
"(r) In any proceeding under this section, the Department of Children and Families
shall provide notice to every attorney of record for each party involved in the proceeding
when the department seeks to transfer a child or youth in its care, custody or control to
an out-of-state placement."
(1949 Rev., S. 2634, subs. (a)-(e); 1949, 1953, 1955, S. 1469d, subs. (a)-(e); 1957, P.A. 50; 1959, P.A. 293; 1967,
P.A. 698; 1969, P.A. 794, S. 7; 1971, P.A. 150; 184; 231; 253; 1972, P.A. 127, S. 24; 294, S. 18; P.A. 73-205, S. 5; 73-546, S. 2; 73-625, S. 3, 4; P.A. 74-251, S. 10, 11; P.A. 75-420, S. 4, 6; 75-492, S. 1, 2; 75-602, S. 4, 13; P.A. 76-436, S.
16, 668, 681; P.A. 77-272; 77-273; 77-614, S. 71, 521, 587, 610; P.A. 78-223, S. 1, 2; 78-303, S. 85, 136; P.A. 79-423;
79-579; 79-631, S. 84, 111; P.A. 80-483, S. 121, 186; P.A. 82-181, S. 1, 2; P.A. 84-449, S. 5, 7; P.A. 93-91, S. 1, 2; 93-262, S. 1, 87; P.A. 95-238, S. 4; P.A. 96-246, S. 20, 21; P.A. 97-319, S. 19, 22; P.A. 98-185; 98-241, S. 5, 18; June Sp.
Sess. P.A. 98-1, S. 102, 121; P.A. 00-137, S. 2, 3, 15; P.A. 01-142, S. 6-8; 01-149, S. 1; 01-195, S. 37, 38, 181; June Sp.
Sess. P.A. 01-2, S. 33, 69; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-9, S. 129, 131; May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-7, S. 29, 30; P.A. 03-243, S. 2;
P.A. 06-102, S. 9; 06-196, S. 173; P.A. 07-159, S. 5; 07-174, S. 3; 07-203, S. 1; P.A. 09-185, S. 3; 09-194, S. 4.)
History: 1959 act specified that commissioner is to pay cost of child's care and maintenance and collect cost of care
and maintenance from child's estate or income in Subsec. (d); 1967 act added "dependent child" to classification of children
within section and added custody by private or public agency to Subsec. (c); 1969 act rephrased provisions and rearranged
Subsecs., authorized filing in Subsec. (a) by town manager, local welfare department and commission on youth services,
deleting authority for parent or guardian, Long Lane School and Connecticut State Farm for Women to file and added
provisions in Subsec. (c) re physical and/or mental examinations of parents or guardians; 1971 acts authorized application
by person who acknowledges paternity of a child born out of wedlock in Subsec. (f), added Subsec. (g) re surrender of
child upon court order, rephrased provision in Subsec. (e) re recovery of costs of child's care and maintenance and specified
in Subsec. (b) who may serve orders for temporary custody; 1972 acts changed age at which child's guardianship terminates
from 21 to 18, reflecting changed age of majority, in Subsec. (d) and referred to annual rather than biennial budgets in
Subsec. (e); P.A. 73-205 authorized court to order child's parent or person responsible for child to show cause why temporary
custody should not be vested in suitable agency or person pending hearing and specified that hearing must be held within
10 days from issuance of order in Subsec. (b); P.A. 73-546 rephrased provision in Subsec. (e) re recovery of costs of child's
care and maintenance; P.A. 73-625 extended period of guardianship until child is twenty-one where he is in full-time
attendance in secondary or technical school, college or state-accredited job training program in Subsec. (d); P.A. 74-251
authorized commitments to commissioner of children and youth services after April 1, 1975, in Subsecs. (a) and (d); P.A.
75-420 replaced welfare commissioner with commissioner of social services generally; P.A. 75-492 deleted reference to
welfare commissioner and authorized filing by child, his representative, attorney or foster parent in Subsec. (a); P.A. 75-602 applied provisions to youths, included in Subsec. (a) reference to "dependent" children and substituted children and
youth services commissioner for welfare commissioner in Subsec. (c); P.A. 76-436 deleted references to superior court
for references to juvenile court where appearing, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 77-272 added proviso in Subsec. (d) re
conditions which must be met for out-of-state placements; P.A. 77-273 added Subsec. (h) re standing of foster parent;
P.A. 77-614 and P.A. 78-303 replaced central collections division of finance and control department with department of
administrative services in Subsec. (b) and, effective January 1, 1979, replaced references to social services commissioner
with references to human resources commissioner; P.A. 78-223 specified commissioner in Subsec. (e) as commissioner
"of the department to which the child or youth is committed"; P.A. 79-423 added exception in Subsec. (b) re payment of
expenses of temporary care and custody by state agencies; P.A. 79-579 deleted reference to human resources commissioner
in Subsec. (d), placed limitations on period of commitment in that Subsec., inserted new Subsec. (e) re procedure when
expiration of commitment period is near to revoke or extend commitment or terminate parental rights, relettering former
Subsecs. (e) to (h) accordingly, and amended Subsec. (i), formerly (h), to apply with regard to revocation of commitments;
P.A. 79-631 and P.A. 80-483 made technical changes to reflect final deletion of extraneous references to commissioner
of human resources; Sec. 17-62 temporarily renumbered as Sec. 51-310 and ultimately transferred to Sec. 46b-129 in 1979,
(see note to Sec. 17-62) and references to other sections within provisions revised as necessary by the Revisors to reflect
their transfer; P.A. 82-181 amended Subsecs. (d) and (e) by reducing the maximum period of commitment from 2 years
to 18 months; P.A. 84-449 amended Subsec. (a) by adding "except as otherwise provided in subsection (e) of section 17-43a"; P.A. 93-91 substituted commissioner and department of children and families for commissioner and department of
children and youth services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 93-262 authorized substitution of commissioner and department
of social services for commissioner and department of human resources, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-238 amended
Subsecs. (d) and (e) to change the maximum period of commitment from 18 months to 12 months and amended Subsec.
(e) to require that the court determine the appropriateness of continued efforts to reunify the child or youth with his family;
P.A. 96-246 amended Subsec. (b) by adding provision requiring court to provide commissioner and parent with specific
steps for parent to facilitate return of child to custody of parent or maintain custody of child and amended Subsec. (g) by
permitting attorney who represented child in prior or pending hearing, attorney appointed by Superior Court and attorney
retained by child over fourteen to make application for revocation of commitment; P.A. 97-319 amended Subsec. (d) to
add provision re court orders of steps the parent must take to facilitate return of a child or youth to the custody of the parent
and provision re placement of siblings and alternatives to commitment, effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 98-185 amended
Subsec. (i) by providing standing to foster parents to comment on the best interest of the child or youth; P.A. 98-241
substantially revised section, amending provisions re allegations of petition, preliminary hearing on ex parte custody order
or hearing on petition, notice re rights of parents re hearing, consideration of placement of child in town where child resides,
necessary steps for parent to regain custody of child, intervention by grandparents, and contested hearing on order of
temporary custody, adding new Subsecs. (c) to (h), inclusive, and redesignating former Subsecs. (c), (d), (f), (h) and (i) as
Subsecs. (i), (j), (l), (n) and (o); replaced former Subsec. (e) with new Subsec. (k) re filing of permanency plan and
motion to extend or revoke commitment by Commissioner of Children and Families, basis for determination by court, and
determination by court, and replaced former Subsec. (g) with new Subsec. (m) re motion to revoke commitment; June Sp.
Sess. P.A. 98-1 made technical changes in Subsec. (b), effective July 1, 1998; P.A. 00-137 changed reference in Subsec.
(a) from Subsec. (d) to Subsec. (k) of Sec. 17a-112, made technical changes in Subsec. (d), and in Subsec. (e) deleted "and
enter a default" after "order of temporary custody" and added Subsec. (k)(3)(F) providing that if permanency plan identifies
adoption as option, thorough adoption assessment and child specific recruitment is required, and defining "thorough
adoption assessment" and "child specific recruitment", relettered former (F) as (G), and added provision to Subsec.
(k)(3)(G) that at permanency plan hearing, court shall review status of child, progress made to implement permanency
plan and determine timetable for attaining permanency plan, and deleted Subsec. (k)(4) re revocation of commitment by
operation of law, following dismissal of termination petition, or denial of motion to transfer guardianship; P.A. 01-142
amended Subsec. (j) by deleting provisions re 12-month commitment period and extension, providing that commitment
shall remain in effect until further order of the court pursuant to Subsec. (k), and making technical changes for purposes
of gender neutrality, amended Subsec. (k) by changing review of permanency plan to 9 months after placement in custody
of commissioner or removal of child or youth by order of court whichever is earlier, deleting former provisions re 10 and
12-month periods and extension, giving party 30 days to file motion in opposition to permanency plan or the maintaining
or revocation of commitment and requiring hearing to be held within 90 days of filing motion, requiring evidentiary hearing
re any contested motion, adding provisions re burden of proof and subsequent permanency hearings, requiring court to
find by clear and convincing evidence that efforts to reunite child with parents is inappropriate, making child or youth's
health and safety to be of paramount concern in formulating permanency plan, deleting provisions re thorough adoption
assessment and child specific recruitment, requiring commissioner to document compelling reason why goals in Subdiv.
(3)(A) to (D) are not in best interest of child, requiring permanency hearing to determine whether commissioner has made
reasonable efforts to achieve permanency plan and making conforming and technical changes, amended Subsec. (o) by
changing "standing" to "right to be heard" for foster parents in matters re placement or revocation of commitment of foster
child; P.A. 01-149 added Subsec. (p) re right to be heard of sibling of child committed to Department of Children and
Families concerning visitation with and placement of such child and re court guided by best interest of all siblings in
awarding visitation or modifying placement; P.A. 01-195 made technical changes in Subsecs. (a) and (k), effective July
11, 2001; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-2 amended Subsec. (k) by adding provisions, designated as Subdiv. (5), thorough adoption
assessment and child-specific recruitment; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-9 revised effective date of June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-2 but
without affecting this section; May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-7 amended Subsec. (b) to add provision requiring the court upon
issuance of order, or not later than 60 days thereafter, to make a determination whether the Department of Children and
Families made reasonable efforts to keep the child or youth with his or her parents or guardian prior to the issuance of
such order and, if such efforts were not made, whether such reasonable efforts were not possible considering the best
interests of the child or youth and to make technical changes and amended Subsec. (j) to add provision requiring the court
upon issuance of an order committing the child or youth to the Commissioner of Children and Families, or not later than
60 days thereafter, to make a determination whether the Department of Children and Families made reasonable efforts to
keep the child or youth with his or her parents or guardian prior to the issuance of such order and, if such efforts were not
made, whether such reasonable efforts were not possible considering the best interests of the child or youth and to make
technical changes, effective August 15, 2002; P.A. 03-243 added Subsec. (q) re application of Secs. 17a-152 and 17a-175
to placements pursuant to section; P.A. 06-102 made technical changes, amended Subsec. (j) to delete reference to provisions
of Subsec. (k) re order of the court, amended Subsec. (k)(1) to delete references to motion to maintain or revoke commitment,
require that motion for review include reason therefor, and substitute burden of proving that permanency plan is in best
interests of child or youth for burden of establishing that commitment should be maintained, deleted former Subsec. (k)(2)
re court hearing on reunification, redesignated existing Subsec. (k)(3) to (5) as (k)(2) to (4), amended Subsec. (k)(2) to
substitute "reunification" for "placement", amended Subsec. (k)(3) to require court to determine services to be provided
to parent if court approves permanency plan of reunification and timetable for services, delete provision re court to maintain
commitment if in best interests of child or youth, and substitute "may" for "shall" re revocation of commitment, amended
Subsec. (k)(4) to require commissioner to petition for termination of parental rights not later than 60 days after permanency
plan of adoption is approved if petition not previously filed, amended Subsec. (m) to substitute "interests" for "interest
and welfare", and amended Subsec. (o) to reference motion for review of permanency plan (Revisor's note: In Subsec. (j),
the word "youth" in the phrase "neglected, uncared-for or dependent children or youth" was replaced editorially by the
Revisors with "youths" for consistency with P.A. 06-196); P.A. 06-196 made technical changes in Subsec. (l), effective
June 7, 2006; P.A. 07-159 amended Subsec. (d) by adding provision re parent's or guardian's right to counsel pursuant to
Sec. 46b-135(b) in Subdiv. (1) and references to Sec. 46b-123e(b) in Subdivs. (2) and (3) and by deleting "as determined
by the court" in Subdiv. (3), effective July 1, 2007; P.A. 07-174 amended Subsec. (o) to apply provisions to prospective
adoptive parents and relative caregivers, change right to notice and to be heard "on a motion for review of a permanency plan
and in matters concerning the placement or revocation of commitment of a foster child" to "in any proceeding concerning a
foster child living with such foster parent, prospective adoptive parent or relative caregiver", and eliminate requirement
that former foster parent must have cared for a child or youth for "not less than six months" in order to have right to be
heard and comment on best interests of the child or youth; P.A. 07-203 amended Subsec. (l) by adding proviso limiting
commissioner's ability to collect reimbursement from the estate of a child or youth for his or her care and maintenance
and making a conforming change, effective July 10, 2007; P.A. 09-185 amended Subsec. (b) by adding provisions re
placement of a child with person related by blood or marriage and re investigation of the suitability of placement with a
relative, and by expanding notice to respondent on orders for a preliminary hearing re placement with a relative, deleted
former Subsec. (c) re grandparent motion to intervene, redesignated existing Subsec. (d) as Subsec. (c) and amended same
by adding Subdivs. (10) and (11) re court's responsibilities during a preliminary hearing re identification of relatives who
might serve as foster parents or temporary custodians, added new Subsec. (d) re procedures for a relative to intervene in
temporary custody or permanent guardianship proceeding, standard for granting motion to intervene, assessment of a
relative granted intervenor status, requirements for a relative granted temporary custody and termination of a relative's
intervenor status, amended Subsec. (f) by replacing "show cause" with "appear", amended Subsec. (j) by replacing "care
and personal custody" with "legal guardianship", adding provisions re standard for awarding legal guardianship to a relative
and inserting reference to persons related by marriage, amended Subsec. (k) by adding provision re ability of certain
relatives to oppose a permanency plan and deleting reference to certified relative caregiver, and made conforming and
technical changes, effective June 29, 2009; P.A. 09-194 added Subsec. (r) re notification to attorneys of record of department's motion to transfer a child or youth to out-of-state placement, effective October 1, 2010.
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Sec. 46b-133. (Formerly Sec. 51-314). Arrest of child. Release or detention of
arrested child. Alcohol or drug testing or treatment as condition of release. Admission of child to overpopulated juvenile detention center. (a) Nothing in this part shall
be construed as preventing the arrest of a child, with or without a warrant, as may be
provided by law, or as preventing the issuance of warrants by judges in the manner
provided by section 54-2a, except that no child shall be taken into custody on such
process except on apprehension in the act, or on speedy information, or in other cases
when the use of such process appears imperative. Whenever a child is arrested and
charged with a crime, such child may be required to submit to the taking of his photograph, physical description and fingerprints. Notwithstanding the provisions of section
46b-124, the name, photograph and custody status of any child arrested for the commission of a capital felony or class A felony may be disclosed to the public.
(b) Whenever a child is brought before a judge of the Superior Court, such judge
shall immediately have the case proceeded upon as a juvenile matter. Such judge may
admit the child to bail or release the child in the custody of the child's parent or parents,
the child's guardian or some other suitable person to appear before the Superior Court
when ordered. If detention becomes necessary, such detention shall be in the manner
prescribed by this chapter, provided the child shall be placed in the least restrictive
environment possible in a manner consistent with public safety.
(c) Upon the arrest of any child by an officer, such officer (1) may release the child
to the custody of the child's parent or parents, guardian or some other suitable person
or agency, (2) at the discretion of the officer, release the child to the child's own custody,
or (3) immediately turn the child over to a juvenile detention center. When a child is
arrested for the commission of a delinquent act and the child is not placed in detention
or referred to a diversionary program, an officer shall serve a written complaint and
summons on the child and the child's parent, guardian or some other suitable person or
agency. If such child is released to the child's own custody, the officer shall make
reasonable efforts to notify, and to provide a copy of a written complaint and summons
to, the parent or guardian or some other suitable person or agency prior to the court date
on the summons. If any person so summoned wilfully fails to appear in court at the time
and place so specified, the court may issue a warrant for the child's arrest or a capias
to assure the appearance in court of such parent, guardian or other person. If a child
wilfully fails to appear in response to such a summons, the court may order such child
taken into custody and such child may be charged with the delinquent act of wilful
failure to appear under section 46b-120. The court may punish for contempt, as provided
in section 46b-121, any parent, guardian or other person so summoned who wilfully
fails to appear in court at the time and place so specified.
(d) The court or detention supervisor may turn such child over to a youth service
program created for such purpose, if such course is practicable, or such child may be
detained pending a hearing which shall be held on the business day next following the
child's arrest. No child shall be detained after such hearing or held in detention pursuant
to a court order unless it appears from the available facts that there is probable cause to
believe that the child has committed the acts alleged, there is no less restrictive alternative
available and that there is (1) a strong probability that the child will run away prior to
the court hearing or disposition, (2) a strong probability that the child will commit or
attempt to commit other offenses injurious to the child or to the community prior to the
court disposition, (3) probable cause to believe that the child's continued residence in
the child's home pending disposition poses a risk to the child or the community because
of the serious and dangerous nature of the act or acts the child is alleged to have committed, (4) a need to hold the child for another jurisdiction, (5) a need to hold the child to
assure the child's appearance before the court, in view of the child's previous failure to
respond to the court process, or (6) the child has violated one or more of the conditions
of a suspended detention order. Such probable cause may be shown by sworn affidavit
in lieu of testimony. No child shall be released from detention who is alleged to have
committed a serious juvenile offense except by order of a judge of the Superior Court.
Any child confined in a community correctional center or lockup shall be held in an
area separate and apart from any adult detainee, except in the case of a nursing infant,
and no child shall at any time be held in solitary confinement. When a female child is
held in custody, she shall, as far as possible, be in the charge of a woman attendant.
(e) The police officer who brings a child into detention shall have first notified, or
made a reasonable effort to notify, the parents or guardian of the child in question of
the intended action and shall file at the detention center a signed statement setting forth
the alleged delinquent conduct of the child. Unless the arrest was for a serious juvenile
offense or unless an order not to release is noted on the take into custody order, arrest
warrant or order to detain, the child may be released by a detention supervisor to the
custody of the child's parent or parents, guardian or some other suitable person or agency.
(f) In conjunction with any order of release from detention the court may, when it
has reason to believe a child is alcohol-dependent or drug-dependent as defined in section
46b-120, and where necessary, reasonable and appropriate, order the child to participate
in a program of periodic alcohol or drug testing and treatment as a condition of such
release. The results of any such alcohol or drug test shall be admissible only for the
purposes of enforcing the conditions of release from detention.
(g) Whenever the population of a juvenile detention center equals or exceeds the
maximum capacity for such center, as determined by the Judicial Branch, the detention
supervisor in charge of intake shall admit only a child who: (1) Is charged with the
commission of a serious juvenile offense, (2) is the subject of an order to detain or an
outstanding court order to take such child into custody, (3) is ordered by a court to be
held in detention, or (4) is being transferred to such center to await a court appearance.
(1949 Rev., S. 2810; 1959, P.A. 28, S. 54; P.A. 74-183, S. 211, 291; P.A. 76-426; 76-436, S. 22, 668, 681; P.A. 77-452, S. 24, 72; P.A. 80-236; P.A. 82-220; P.A. 83-504; P.A. 84-369, S. 1; P.A. 89-273, S. 3; P.A. 90-161, S. 2, 6; P.A. 95-225, S. 15; P.A. 98-256, S. 4; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4, S. 85; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7, S. 72.)
History: 1959 act substituted circuit court for city, police, borough or town court; P.A. 74-183 replaced circuit court
with court of common pleas, effective December 31, 1974; P.A. 76-426 authorized juvenile court, probation officer or
other officer to turn child over to youth service program; P.A. 76-436 replaced references to court of common pleas and
juvenile court with references to superior court and juvenile matters, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 77-452 made technical
grammatical change; Sec. 17-65 temporarily renumbered as Sec. 51-314 and ultimately transferred to Sec. 46b-133 in
1979, (see note to Sec. 17-65) and references to other sections within provisions revised as necessary by the Revisors to
reflect their transfer; P.A. 80-236 authorized turning child over to juvenile detention center and similarly authorized
detention supervisor to turn child over to youth service program; P.A. 82-220 added provision re taking photograph,
physical description and fingerprints of child 14 or older arrested and charged with a felony; P.A. 83-504 divided section
into Subsecs. and added provision re arrest of child by an officer for the commission of a serious juvenile offense as Subsec.
(e); P.A. 84-369 revised the procedures for the release or detention of an arrested child including deleting the provision
allowing the police officer to set bond for a child arrested for a serious juvenile offense, providing that a child arrested for
any offense may either be released to the custody of his parent, guardian or some other suitable person or agency or turned
over to a detention center, requiring the detention release hearing to be held on the next business day for all arrested
children who are detained, prohibiting detention unless certain findings are made including probable cause that the child
has committed the acts alleged, prohibiting release from detention of a child who has committed a serious juvenile offense
except by order of a judge, and requiring a police officer to notify the parents or guardian of a child whom he intends to
bring into detention; P.A. 89-273 added Subsec. (f) re the criteria for the admission of a child to a juvenile detention center
when the population of the center equals or exceeds its maximum capacity; P.A. 90-161 inserted new Subsec. (f) permitting
the court to order child to participate in drug testing and treatment as condition of release from detention, relettering former
Subsec. as (g); P.A. 95-225 amended Subsec. (a) to revise provision re taking of the photograph, physical description and
fingerprints of an arrested child by making it applicable to any child who is charged with a crime, rather than only to a
child 14 years of age or older who is charged with a violation of any provision of title 53a which is designated a felony,
and by providing that such child "may be required to" submit to such taking, rather than "shall" submit to such taking, and
add provision permitting the disclosure to the public of the photograph of any child arrested for the commission of a capital
felony or a class A felony, amended Subsec. (c) to add provisions requiring an officer to serve a written complaint and
summons on a child and the parent, guardian or other person having control of a child who is arrested or referred for the
commission of a delinquent act and is not placed in detention, requiring such parent, guardian or other person to execute
a written promise to appear in court, authorizing the court to issue a warrant for the child's arrest or a capias to assure the
court appearance of the parent, guardian or other person if any person so summoned wilfully fails to appear in court and
authorizing the court to punish for contempt any parent, guardian or other person who wilfully fails to appear in court and
amended Subsec. (f) to authorize "alcohol" testing and treatment and allow the admissibility of the results of an "alcohol"
test; P.A. 98-256 amended Subsec. (a) to revise provision authorizing the disclosure of the photograph of a child arrested
for a capital felony or class A felony to also include the name and custody status of the child, amended Subsec. (c) to make
requirement that an officer serve a written complaint and summons on a child arrested for a delinquent act and his parent,
guardian or other person having control of the child inapplicable when the child is referred to a diversionary program and
amended Subsec. (g) to add "an order to detain" in Subdiv. (2); June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4 amended Subsec. (b) to require
that child be placed in the least restrictive environment possible consistent with public safety, delete "or desirable" re
detention and make technical changes, effective January 1, 2010; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7 amended Subsec. (c) to insert
Subdiv. designators (1) to (3) and insert provision in Subdiv. (2) to allow officer to release child to child's own custody,
substitute "other suitable person or agency" for "other person having control of the child" re service and copy of written
complaint and summons, delete provision re parent, guardian or other person executing written promise to appear, add
provision re notice and copy of written complaint and summons re child released to child's own custody, and add provision
re delinquent act of wilful failure to appear, amended Subsec. (d) to require that there be no less restrictive alternative
available for detention of child, substitute "poses a risk to" for "will not safeguard the best interests of" re child or community
in Subdiv. (3), insert Subdiv. (6) re child violating conditions of suspended detention order, and rewrite requirement re
detention of child in area separate and apart from adult detainees, amended Subsec. (e) to prohibit release of child if "order
not to release" is noted and add "or agency" re other suitable person, amended Subsec. (g) to substitute "shall admit only"
for "shall only admit", and made technical changes, effective January 1, 2010.
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Sec. 46b-133a. Right to trial or dismissal upon nolle prosequi of delinquency
charge. Erasure of records. (a) A nolle prosequi may not be entered as to any count
of delinquency if the juvenile 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 prosecutorial 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.
(b) Whenever a nolle prosequi has been entered as to any count of delinquency, or
whenever any count of delinquency has been dismissed without prejudice, if at least
thirteen months have elapsed since such nolle or dismissal without prejudice, all police
and court records pertaining to such count shall be erased. Whenever any such count
has been continued at the request of the prosecutorial official and a period of thirteen
months has elapsed since the granting of such continuance during which period there
has been no prosecution or other disposition of the matter, the count shall be construed
to have been nolled as of the date of termination of such thirteen-month period and such
erasure may thereafter be effected as provided in this subsection for nolled cases.
(P.A. 84-369, S. 2; P.A. 95-225, S. 16; P.A. 98-256, S. 5; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7, S. 123.)
History: P.A. 95-225 replaced "court advocate" with "juvenile prosecutor"; P.A. 98-256 replaced "charge" with "count"
where appearing; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7 replaced "juvenile prosecutor" with "prosecutorial official", effective October
5, 2009.
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Sec. 46b-133b. Suspension of delinquency proceedings for treatment for alcohol or drug dependency. (a) The court, on motion of a child charged with a delinquency
offense, but not yet convicted, may order that such child be examined to determine
whether the child is alcohol-dependent or drug-dependent as defined in section 46b-120. Such motion shall be filed with the court within ten days after a plea is entered,
except if waived by the court or pursuant to an agreement by the parties. The results of any
examination ordered pursuant to this subsection shall be utilized only for the purposes
of determining whether the delinquency proceeding should be suspended under this
section.
(b) The court, upon motion of the child charged with a delinquency offense but not
yet convicted, may order the suspension of the delinquency proceedings for a period of
up to one year, order periodic alcohol and drug testing of such child during the period
of suspension and order treatment for alcohol or drug dependency if the court, after
consideration of information before it concerning the alcohol or drug dependency of
the child, finds that (1) the child is alcohol-dependent or drug-dependent as defined in
section 46b-120, (2) the child presently needs and is likely to benefit from treatment for
the dependency, and (3) the suspension of the delinquency proceedings will advance
the interests of justice. During the period of suspension, a child shall be placed under
the supervision of a juvenile probation officer for treatment for alcohol or drug dependency and such officer shall monitor the compliance of the child with the orders of the
court.
(c) If the court denies the motion for suspension of the delinquency proceedings,
the prosecutorial official may proceed with the delinquency proceedings. Any order of
the court granting or denying a motion for suspension of the delinquency proceedings
shall not be deemed a final order for purposes of appeal.
(d) At any time before the end of the period of the suspension of the delinquency
proceedings, but not later than one month before the end of the period of suspension, a
juvenile probation officer shall notify the court of the impending conclusion of the
suspension and submit a report on whether the child has completed the treatment program and has complied with all other conditions of the suspension order imposed by
the court.
(e) If the court, on motion of the child or on its own motion, finds that the child
has completed the treatment program and has complied with all other conditions of
suspension, it may dismiss the charge for which the delinquency proceedings had been
suspended. If the court denies the motion and terminates the suspension of the delinquency proceedings, the prosecutorial official may proceed with such proceedings.
(f) The provisions of this section shall not apply to any child charged with a serious
juvenile offense as defined in section 46b-120 or any child who was previously ordered
treated under this section.
(P.A. 90-161, S. 4, 6; P.A. 95-225, S. 17; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7, S. 124.)
History: P.A. 95-225 amended Subsec. (a) to replace "adjudged a delinquent child" with "convicted", amended Subsec.
(b) to replace "adjudged a delinquent child" with "convicted" and authorize the court to order periodic alcohol and drug
testing of the child during the period of suspension and amended Subsecs. (c) and (e) to replace "court advocate" with
"juvenile prosecutor"; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7 amended Subsecs. (c) and (e) to replace "juvenile prosecutor" with "prosecutorial official", effective October 5, 2009.
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Sec. 46b-133c. *(See end of section for amended version of subsection (f) and
effective date.) Serious juvenile repeat offender prosecution. Sentencing. (a) Whenever a child is referred for the commission of a felony committed after such child attained
the age of fourteen years and such child is a serious juvenile repeat offender, as defined
in section 46b-120, the prosecutorial official may request the court to designate the
proceeding as a serious juvenile repeat offender prosecution.
(b) If a prosecutorial official requests that a proceeding be designated a serious
juvenile repeat offender prosecution, the court shall hold a hearing not later than thirty
days after the filing of such request unless good cause is shown by the prosecutorial
official or by the child as to why the hearing should not be held within such period. If
good cause is shown, the hearing shall be held not later than ninety days after the filing
of such request. The court shall decide whether to designate the proceeding as a serious
juvenile repeat offender prosecution not later than thirty days after the completion of
such hearing. The court shall grant the request to designate the proceeding as a serious
juvenile repeat offender prosecution if the prosecutorial official shows by clear and
convincing evidence that such designation will serve the public safety. The decision to
designate the proceeding as a serious juvenile repeat offender prosecution shall not be
a final judgment for purposes of appeal.
(c) A proceeding designated as a serious juvenile repeat offender prosecution pursuant to subsection (b) of this section shall be held before the court without a jury provided
the child has waived his right to a trial by jury. If a child is convicted of or pleads guilty
to a felony in such proceeding, the court shall: (1) Sentence the child in accordance with
section 46b-140 or 46b-141a and (2) sentence the child in accordance with section 53a-28 with the execution of such sentence stayed on the condition that the child not violate
the conditions of the sentence imposed pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection or
commit a subsequent crime.
(d) If a child is convicted of or pleads guilty to a misdemeanor in a proceeding
designated as a serious juvenile repeat offender prosecution pursuant to subsection (b)
of this section, the court shall sentence the child in accordance with section 46b-140 or
46b-141a.
(e) Whenever it appears that a child who has been sentenced pursuant to subsection
(c) of this section has violated the conditions of the sentence imposed pursuant to subdivision (1) of said subsection (c) or has committed a subsequent crime, the court may,
without notice, order that the child be immediately taken into custody in accordance
with the provisions of section 46b-125. The court shall notify the child and such child's
parent or guardian and the attorney of record, if any, in writing of the reasons alleged
to exist for the lifting of the stay of execution of the sentence imposed pursuant to
subdivision (2) of said subsection (c). If the child challenges such reasons, the court
shall hold a hearing at which the child shall be entitled to be heard and be represented
by counsel. After such hearing, if the court finds that the child has violated the conditions
of the sentence imposed pursuant to subdivision (1) of said subsection (c) or committed
a subsequent crime, it shall order the child to serve a sentence not to exceed that imposed
pursuant to subdivision (2) of said subsection (c) unless it determines there are mitigating
circumstances that justify continuing the stay of execution and specifically states such
mitigating circumstances in writing for the record. The child shall receive credit against
any sentence imposed pursuant to subdivision (2) of said subsection (c) for time served
in a juvenile facility pursuant to the sentence imposed pursuant to subdivision (1) of
said subsection (c).
*(f) Whenever a proceeding has been designated a serious juvenile repeat offender
prosecution pursuant to subsection (b) of this section and the child does not waive such
child's right to a trial by jury, the court shall transfer the case from the docket for juvenile
matters to the regular criminal docket of the Superior Court. Upon transfer, such child
shall stand trial and be sentenced, if convicted, as if such child were seventeen years of
age, except that no such child shall be placed in a correctional facility but shall be
maintained in a facility for children and youths until such child attains seventeen years
of age or until such child is sentenced, whichever occurs first. Such child shall receive
credit against any sentence imposed for time served in a juvenile facility prior to the
effectuation of the transfer. A child who has been transferred may enter a guilty plea to
a lesser offense if the court finds that such plea is made knowingly and voluntarily. Any
child transferred to the regular criminal docket who pleads guilty to a lesser offense
shall not resume such child's status as a juvenile regarding such offense. If the action
is dismissed or nolled or if such child is found not guilty of the charge for which such
child was transferred, the child shall resume such child's status as a juvenile until such
child attains seventeen years of age.
(P.A. 95-225, S. 25; P.A. 06-196, S. 174; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4, S. 76; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7, S. 73, 125.)
*Note: On and after July 1, 2012, subsection (f) of this section, as amended by section
85 of public act 09-7 of the September special session, is to read as follows:
"(f) Whenever a proceeding has been designated a serious juvenile repeat offender
prosecution pursuant to subsection (b) of this section and the child does not waive such
child's right to a trial by jury, the court shall transfer the case from the docket for juvenile
matters to the regular criminal docket of the Superior Court. Upon transfer, such child
shall stand trial and be sentenced, if convicted, as if such child were eighteen years of
age, except that no such child shall be placed in a correctional facility but shall be
maintained in a facility for children and youths until such child attains eighteen years
of age or until such child is sentenced, whichever occurs first. Such child shall receive
credit against any sentence imposed for time served in a juvenile facility prior to the
effectuation of the transfer. A child who has been transferred may enter a guilty plea to
a lesser offense if the court finds that such plea is made knowingly and voluntarily. Any
child transferred to the regular criminal docket who pleads guilty to a lesser offense
shall not resume such child's status as a juvenile regarding such offense. If the action
is dismissed or nolled or if such child is found not guilty of the charge for which such
child was transferred, the child shall resume such child's status as a juvenile until such
child attains eighteen years of age."
(P.A. 95-225, S. 25; P.A. 06-196, S. 174; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4, S. 76; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7, S. 73, 85, 125.)
History: P.A. 06-196 made technical changes in Subsec. (f), effective June 7, 2006; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4 amended
Subsec. (f) to substitute "eighteen years of age" for "sixteen years of age", effective January 1, 2010; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A.
09-7 amended Subsecs. (a) and (b) to replace "juvenile prosecutor" with "prosecutorial official", effective October 5, 2009,
amended Subsec. (f) to substitute "seventeen years of age" for "eighteen years of age", effective January 1, 2010, and
further amended Subsec. (f) to substitute "eighteen years of age" for "seventeen years of age", effective July 1, 2012.
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Sec. 46b-133d. *(See end of section for amended version of subsection (f) and
effective date.) Serious sexual offender prosecution. Sentencing. (a) For the purposes
of this section, "special juvenile probation" means a period of probation imposed by
the superior court for juvenile matters upon a child in a proceeding designated as a
serious sexual offender prosecution during which the child is supervised by a juvenile
probation officer prior to such child attaining eighteen years of age and by an adult
probation officer after such child attains eighteen years of age.
(b) Whenever a child is referred for the commission of any crime of a sexual nature,
and such case is not transferred to the regular criminal docket pursuant to section 46b-127, the prosecutorial official may request the court to designate the proceeding as a
serious sexual offender prosecution.
(c) If a prosecutorial official requests that a proceeding be designated a serious
sexual offender prosecution, the court shall hold a hearing not later than thirty days after
the filing of such request unless good cause is shown by the prosecutorial official or by
the child as to why the hearing should not be held within such period. If good cause is
shown, the hearing shall be held not later than ninety days after the filing of such request.
The court shall decide whether to designate the proceeding as a serious sexual offender
prosecution not later than thirty days after the completion of such hearing. The court shall
grant the request to designate the proceeding as a serious sexual offender prosecution if
the prosecutorial official shows by a preponderance of the evidence that such designation
will serve the public safety. The decision to designate the proceeding as a serious sexual
offender prosecution shall not be a final judgment for purposes of appeal.
(d) A proceeding designated as a serious sexual offender prosecution pursuant to
subsection (c) of this section shall be held before the court without a jury provided the
child has waived the right to a trial by jury. If a child is convicted of or pleads guilty or
nolo contendere to a charge in a proceeding that has been designated as a serious sexual
offender prosecution, the court shall: (1) Sentence the child in accordance with section
46b-140 or 46b-141a, (2) sentence the child to a period of special juvenile probation of
at least five years, to commence upon the release of the child from the institution, agency
or program in whose care the child had been placed, and (3) sentence the child in accordance with section 53a-28 with the execution of such sentence stayed on the condition
that the child not violate the conditions of the sentence imposed pursuant to subdivisions
(1) and (2) of this subsection or commit a subsequent crime.
(e) Whenever it appears that a child who has been sentenced pursuant to subsection
(d) of this section has violated the conditions of the sentence imposed pursuant to subdivision (2) of said subsection or has committed a subsequent crime, the court may, without
notice, order that the child be immediately taken into custody in accordance with the
provisions of sections 46b-125 and 53a-32. If such violation of probation or subsequent
crime occurs prior to the person attaining eighteen years of age, the matter shall be
handled by the superior court for juvenile matters. If such violation of probation or
subsequent crime occurs after the person has attained eighteen years of age, the matter
shall be handled by the regular criminal docket of the Superior Court. Whenever such
matter is handled by the superior court for juvenile matters, the court shall notify the
child and such child's parent or guardian and the attorney of record, if any, in writing
of the reasons alleged to exist for the lifting of the stay of execution of the sentence
imposed pursuant to subdivision (3) of subsection (d) of this section. If the child challenges such reasons, the court shall hold a hearing at which the child shall be entitled
to be heard and be represented by counsel. After such hearing, if the court finds that the
child has violated the conditions of the sentence imposed pursuant to subdivision (2)
of subsection (d) of this section or committed a subsequent crime, it shall order the child
to serve a sentence not to exceed that imposed pursuant to subdivision (3) of subsection
(d) of this section unless it determines there are mitigating circumstances that justify
continuing the stay of execution and specifically states such mitigating circumstances
in writing for the record. The child shall receive credit against any sentence imposed
pursuant to subdivision (3) of subsection (d) of this section for time served in a juvenile
facility pursuant to the sentence imposed pursuant to subdivision (1) of said subsection.
*(f) When a proceeding has been designated a serious sexual offender prosecution
pursuant to subsection (c) of this section and the child does not waive the right to a trial
by jury, the court shall transfer the case from the docket for juvenile matters to the
regular criminal docket of the Superior Court. Upon transfer, such child shall stand trial
and be sentenced, if convicted, as if such child were seventeen years of age, except that
no such child shall be placed in a correctional facility but shall be maintained in a facility
for children and youths until such child attains seventeen years of age or until such child
is sentenced, whichever occurs first. Such child shall receive credit against any sentence
imposed for time served in a juvenile facility prior to the effectuation of the transfer. A
child who has been transferred may enter a guilty plea to a lesser offense if the court
finds that such plea is made knowingly and voluntarily. Any child transferred to the
regular criminal docket who pleads guilty to a lesser offense shall not resume such
child's status as a juvenile regarding such offense. If the action is dismissed or nolled
or if such child is found not guilty of the charge for which such child was transferred,
the child shall resume such child's status as a juvenile until such child attains seventeen
years of age.
(June Sp. Sess. P.A. 99-2, S. 47; P.A. 06-196, S. 175; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4, S. 77; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7, S. 74, 126.)
*Note: On and after July 1, 2012, subsection (f) of this section, as amended by section
86 of public act 09-7 of the September special session, is to read as follows:
"(f) When a proceeding has been designated a serious sexual offender prosecution
pursuant to subsection (c) of this section and the child does not waive the right to a trial
by jury, the court shall transfer the case from the docket for juvenile matters to the
regular criminal docket of the Superior Court. Upon transfer, such child shall stand trial
and be sentenced, if convicted, as if such child were eighteen years of age, except that
no such child shall be placed in a correctional facility but shall be maintained in a facility
for children and youths until such child attains eighteen years of age or until such child
is sentenced, whichever occurs first. Such child shall receive credit against any sentence
imposed for time served in a juvenile facility prior to the effectuation of the transfer. A
child who has been transferred may enter a guilty plea to a lesser offense if the court
finds that such plea is made knowingly and voluntarily. Any child transferred to the
regular criminal docket who pleads guilty to a lesser offense shall not resume such
child's status as a juvenile regarding such offense. If the action is dismissed or nolled
or if such child is found not guilty of the charge for which such child was transferred,
the child shall resume such child's status as a juvenile until such child attains eighteen
years of age."
(June Sp. Sess. P.A. 99-2, S. 47; P.A. 06-196, S. 175; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4, S. 77; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7, S. 74,
86, 126.)
History: P.A. 06-196 made a technical change in Subsec. (f), effective June 7, 2006; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4 amended
Subsec. (f) to substitute "eighteen years of age" for "sixteen years of age", effective January 1, 2010; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A.
09-7 amended Subsecs. (b) and (c) to replace "juvenile prosecutor" with "prosecutorial official", effective October 5, 2009,
amended Subsec. (f) to substitute "seventeen years of age" for "eighteen years of age", effective January 1, 2010, and
further amended Subsec. (f) to substitute "eighteen years of age" for "seventeen years of age", effective July 1, 2012.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) | (Return to List of Chapters) | (Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 46b-133e. Suspension of delinquency proceedings for participation in
school violence prevention program. (a) The court, upon motion of a child 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, may order
the suspension of the delinquency proceedings for a period of one year and order the child
to participate in a school violence prevention program during the period of suspension if
the court, after consideration of information before it, finds that (1) the child presently
needs and is likely to benefit from participation in a school violence prevention program,
and (2) the suspension of the delinquency proceedings will advance the interests of
justice.
(b) As a condition of eligibility for suspension of prosecution and placement in a
school violence prevention program pursuant to this section, (1) the child shall agree
to participate in a program of anger management and nonviolent conflict resolution
consisting of at least eight group counseling sessions, and to satisfactorily complete
such program, (2) the child shall agree to comply with any orders of the court, and (3)
the parents or guardian of such child shall certify under penalty of false statement that,
to the best of such parents' or guardian's knowledge and belief, neither such parent or
guardian nor such child possesses 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.
(c) The cost of participation in such program shall be paid by the parent or guardian
of such child, except that no child shall be excluded from such program for inability to
pay such cost provided (1) the parent or guardian of such child files with the court an
affidavit of indigency or inability to pay, and (2) the court enters a finding thereof.
(d) During the period of suspension, a child shall be placed under the supervision
of a juvenile probation officer for placement in a school violence prevention program
and such officer shall monitor the compliance of the child with the orders of the court
including, but not limited to, maintaining contact with the child and officials of the
child's school.
(e) If the court denies the motion for suspension of the delinquency proceedings,
the prosecutorial official may proceed with the delinquency proceedings. Any order of
the court granting or denying a motion for suspension of the delinquency proceedings
shall not be deemed a final order for purposes of appeal.
(f) At any time before the end of the period of the suspension of the delinquency
proceedings, but not later than one month before the end of the period of suspension, a
juvenile probation officer shall notify the court of the impending conclusion of the
suspension and submit a report on whether the child has satisfactorily completed the
school violence prevention program and has complied with all other conditions of the
suspension order imposed by the court.
(g) If the court, on motion of the child or on its own motion, finds that the child has
satisfactorily completed the school violence prevention program and has complied with
all other conditions of suspension, and one year has elapsed since the child was placed
in such program, it may dismiss the charge for which the delinquency proceedings had
been suspended. If the court denies the motion and terminates the suspension of the
delinquency proceedings, the prosecutorial official may proceed with such proceedings.
(P.A. 99-259, S. 1, 3; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7, S. 127, 128.)
History: P.A. 99-259 effective January 1, 2000; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7 amended Subsecs. (e) and (g) to replace
"juvenile prosecutor" with "prosecutorial official", effective October 5, 2009.
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Sec. 46b-137. (Formerly Sec. 51-318). *(See end of section for amended version
and effective date.) Admissibility of admission, confession or statement in juvenile
proceedings. (a) Any admission, confession or statement, written or oral, made by a
child under the age of sixteen to a police officer or Juvenile Court official shall be
inadmissible in any proceeding concerning the alleged delinquency of the child making
such admission, confession or statement unless made by such child in the presence of
the child's parent or parents or guardian and after the parent or parents or guardian and
child have been advised (1) of the child's right to retain counsel, or if unable to afford
counsel, to have counsel appointed on the child's behalf, (2) of the child's right to refuse
to make any statements, and (3) that any statements the child makes may be introduced
into evidence against the child.
(b) Any admission, confession or statement, written or oral, made by a child sixteen
years of age to a police officer or Juvenile Court official shall be inadmissible in any
proceeding concerning the alleged delinquency of the child making such admission,
confession or statement, unless (1) the police or Juvenile Court official has made reasonable efforts to contact a parent or guardian of the child, and (2) such child has been
advised that (A) the child has the right to contact a parent or guardian and to have a
parent or guardian present during any interview, (B) the child has the right to retain
counsel or, if unable to afford counsel, to have counsel appointed on behalf of the child,
(C) the child has the right to refuse to make any statement, and (D) any statement the
child makes may be introduced into evidence against the child.
(c) The admissibility of any admission, confession or statement, written or oral,
made by a child sixteen years of age to a police officer or Juvenile Court official shall
be determined by considering the totality of the circumstances at the time of the making
of such admission, confession or statement. When determining the admissibility of such
admission, confession or statement, the court shall consider (1) the age, experience,
education, background and intelligence of the child, (2) the capacity of the child to
understand the advice concerning rights and warnings required under subdivision (2)
of subsection (b) of this section, the nature of the privilege against self-incrimination
under the United States and Connecticut Constitutions, and the consequences of waiving
such rights and privilege, (3) the opportunity the child had to speak with a parent, guardian or some other suitable individual prior to or while making such admission, confession
or statement, and (4) the circumstances surrounding the making of the admission, confession or statement, including, but not limited to, (A) when and where the admission,
confession or statement was made, (B) the reasonableness of proceeding, or the need
to proceed, without a parent or guardian present, and (C) the reasonableness of efforts
by the police or Juvenile Court official to attempt to contact a parent or guardian.
(d) Any confession, admission or statement, written or oral, made by the parent or
parents or guardian of the child or youth after the filing of a petition alleging such
child or youth to be neglected, uncared-for or dependent, shall be inadmissible in any
proceeding held upon such petition against the person making such admission or statement unless such person shall have been advised of the person's right to retain counsel,
and that if the person is unable to afford counsel, counsel will be appointed to represent
the person, that the person has a right to refuse to make any statement and that any
statements the person makes may be introduced in evidence against the person.
(1967, P.A. 630, S. 10; 1969, P.A. 794, S. 13, 14; P.A. 75-183; 75-602, S. 7, 13; P.A. 76-436, S. 591, 681; P.A. 95-225, S. 20; P.A. 98-256, S. 11; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7, S. 75.)
*Note: On and after July 1, 2012, this section, as amended by section 87 of public
act 09-7 of the September special session, is to read as follows:
"Sec. 46b-137. (Formerly Sec. 51-318). Admissibility of admission, confession
or statement in juvenile proceedings. (a) Any admission, confession or statement,
written or oral, made by a child under the age of sixteen to a police officer or Juvenile
Court official shall be inadmissible in any proceeding concerning the alleged delinquency of the child making such admission, confession or statement unless made by
such child in the presence of the child's parent or parents or guardian and after the parent
or parents or guardian and child have been advised (1) of the child's right to retain
counsel, or if unable to afford counsel, to have counsel appointed on the child's behalf,
(2) of the child's right to refuse to make any statements, and (3) that any statements the
child makes may be introduced into evidence against the child.
(b) Any admission, confession or statement, written or oral, made by a child sixteen
or seventeen years of age to a police officer or Juvenile Court official shall be inadmissible in any proceeding concerning the alleged delinquency of the child making such
admission, confession or statement, unless (1) the police or Juvenile Court official has
made reasonable efforts to contact a parent or guardian of the child, and (2) such child
has been advised that (A) the child has the right to contact a parent or guardian and to
have a parent or guardian present during any interview, (B) the child has the right to
retain counsel or, if unable to afford counsel, to have counsel appointed on behalf of
the child, (C) the child has the right to refuse to make any statement, and (D) any statement the child makes may be introduced into evidence against the child.
(c) The admissibility of any admission, confession or statement, written or oral,
made by a child sixteen or seventeen years of age to a police officer or Juvenile Court
official shall be determined by considering the totality of the circumstances at the time
of the making of such admission, confession or statement. When determining the admissibility of such admission, confession or statement, the court shall consider (1) the age,
experience, education, background and intelligence of the child, (2) the capacity of the
child to understand the advice concerning rights and warnings required under subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of this section, the nature of the privilege against self-incrimination under the United States and Connecticut Constitutions, and the consequences of
waiving such rights and privilege, (3) the opportunity the child had to speak with a parent,
guardian or some other suitable individual prior to or while making such admission,
confession or statement, and (4) the circumstances surrounding the making of the admission, confession or statement, including, but not limited to, (A) when and where the
admission, confession or statement was made, (B) the reasonableness of proceeding, or
the need to proceed, without a parent or guardian present, and (C) the reasonableness of
efforts by the police or Juvenile Court official to attempt to contact a parent or guardian.
(d) Any confession, admission or statement, written or oral, made by the parent or
parents or guardian of the child or youth after the filing of a petition alleging such
child or youth to be neglected, uncared-for or dependent, shall be inadmissible in any
proceeding held upon such petition against the person making such admission or statement unless such person shall have been advised of the person's right to retain counsel,
and that if the person is unable to afford counsel, counsel will be appointed to represent
the person, that the person has a right to refuse to make any statement and that any
statements the person makes may be introduced in evidence against the person."
(1967, P.A. 630, S. 10; 1969, P.A. 794, S. 13, 14; P.A. 75-183; 75-602, S. 7, 13; P.A. 76-436, S. 591, 681; P.A. 95-225, S. 20; P.A. 98-256, S. 11; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7, S. 75, 87.)
History: 1969 act removed persons having control of child (other than parents or guardians) from purview of section
and specifically enumerated rights of parents or guardians where previously "rights as provided by section 17-66a" occurred
and added Subsec. (b) re admissibility of confessions, admissions, etc. in court proceeding; P.A. 75-183 applied Subsec.
(a) to admissions, confessions, etc. made by child, replacing provisions applicable to children, their parents or guardians;
P.A. 75-602 added references to youths in Subsec. (b); P.A. 76-436 deleted references to juvenile court, reflecting transfer
of that court's powers to superior court and made technical changes to correct grammar in Subsec. (b); Sec. 17-66d
temporarily renumbered as Sec. 51-318 and ultimately transferred to Sec. 46b-137 in 1979, see note to Sec. 17-66d; P.A.
95-225 amended Subsec. (a) to limit applicability of provisions to any admission, confession or statement made "to a
police officer or juvenile court official" and replace "inadmissible in any proceeding for delinquency against the child"
with "inadmissible in any proceeding concerning the alleged delinquency of the child"; P.A. 98-256 made a technical
change in Subsec. (a); Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7 made provisions of Subsec. (a) applicable to child under the age of 16,
inserted new Subsecs. (b) and (c) re admission, confession or statement of child 16 years of age, redesignated existing
Subsec. (b) as Subsec. (d), and made technical changes, effective January 1, 2010, and further amended Subsecs. (b) and
(c) to make provisions applicable to a child 17 years of age, effective July 1, 2012.
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Sec. 46b-140. (Formerly Sec. 51-321). Disposition upon conviction of child as
delinquent. (a) In determining the appropriate disposition of a child convicted as delinquent, the court shall consider: (1) The seriousness of the offense, including the existence
of any aggravating factors such as the use of a firearm in the commission of the offense
and the impact of the offense on any victim; (2) the child's record of delinquency; (3)
the child's willingness to participate in available programs; (4) the existence of other
mitigating factors; and (5) the culpability of the child in committing the offense including
the level of the child's participation in the planning and carrying out of the offense.
(b) Upon conviction of a child as delinquent, the court: (1) May (A) place the child
in the care of any institution or agency which is permitted by law to care for children;
(B) order the child to participate in an alternative incarceration program; (C) order the
child to participate in a wilderness school program operated by the Department of Children and Families; (D) order the child to participate in a youth service bureau program;
(E) place the child on probation; (F) order the child or the parents or guardian of the child
or both to make restitution to the victim of the offense in accordance with subsection (d)
of this section; (G) order the child to participate in a program of community service in
accordance with subsection (e) of this section; or (H) withhold or suspend execution of
any judgment; and (2) shall impose the penalty established in subsection (b) of section
30-89, for any violation of said subsection (b).
(c) The court may order, as a condition of probation, that the child (1) reside with
a parent, relative or guardian or in a suitable foster home or other residence approved
by the court, (2) attend school and class on a regular basis and comply with school
policies on student conduct and discipline, (3) refrain from violating any federal or state
law or municipal or local ordinance, (4) undergo any medical or psychiatric evaluation
or treatment deemed necessary by the court, (5) submit to random drug or alcohol testing,
or both, (6) participate in a program of alcohol or drug treatment, or both, (7) make
restitution to the victim of the offense in accordance with subsection (d) of this section,
(8) participate in an alternative incarceration program or other program established
through the Court Support Services Division, (9) participate in a program of community
service, and (10) satisfy any other conditions deemed appropriate by the court. The court
shall cause a copy of any such order to be delivered to the child, the child's parents or
guardian and the child's probation officer. If the child is convicted as delinquent for a
violation of section 53-247, the court may order, as a condition of probation, that the
child undergo psychiatric or psychological counseling or participate in an animal cruelty
prevention and education program provided such a program exists and is available to
the child.
(d) If the child has engaged in conduct which results in property damage or personal
injury, the court may order the child or the parent or parents or guardian of the child, if
such parent or parents or guardian had knowledge of and condoned the conduct of the
child, or both the child and the parent or parents or guardian, to make restitution to the
victim of such offense, provided the liability of such parent or parents or guardian shall
be limited to an amount not exceeding the amount such parent or parents or guardian
would be liable for in an action under section 52-572. Restitution may consist of monetary reimbursement for the damage or injury, based on the child's or the parent's, parents'
or guardian's ability to pay, as the case may be, in the form of a lump sum or installment
payments, paid to the court clerk or such other official designated by the court for distribution to the victim.
(e) The court may order the child to participate in a program of community service
under the supervision of the court or any organization designated by the court. Such
child shall not be deemed to be an employee and the services of such child shall not be
deemed employment.
(f) If the court further finds that its probation services or other services available to
the court are not adequate for such child, the court shall commit such child to the Department of Children and Families in accordance with the provisions of section 46b-141.
Prior to making such commitment, the court shall consult with the department to determine the placement which will be in the best interest of such child.
(g) Any child or youth coming within the jurisdiction of the court, who is found to
be mentally ill, may be committed by said court to the Commissioner of Children and
Families and, if the court convicts a child as delinquent and finds such child to be
mentally deficient, the court may commit such child to an institution for mentally deficient children or youth or delinquents. Whenever it is found that a child convicted as
delinquent or adjudged to be a member of a family with service needs would benefit
from a work-study program or employment with or without continued school attendance,
the court may, as a condition of probation or supervision, authorize such child to be
employed for part or full-time at some useful occupation that would be favorable to
such child's welfare, and the probation officer shall supervise such employment. For
the purposes of this section, the limitations of subsection (a) of section 31-23 on the
employment of minors under the age of sixteen years shall not apply for the duration
of such probation or supervision.
(h) Whenever the court commits a child to the Department of Children and Families,
there shall be delivered with the mittimus a copy of the results of the investigations
made as required by section 46b-134. The court may, at any time, require from the
department in whose care a child has been placed such report as to such child and such
child's treatment.
(i) If the delinquent act for which the child is committed to the Department of Children and Families is a serious juvenile offense, the court may set a minimum period of
twelve months during which the child shall be placed in a residential facility operated
by or under contract with said department, as determined by the Commissioner of Children and Families. The setting of such minimum period shall be in the form of an order
of the court included in the mittimus. For good cause shown in the form of an affidavit
annexed thereto, the Department of Children and Families, the parent or guardian of
the child or the child may petition the court for modification of any such order.
(j) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the court may order a child be
(1) committed to the Department of Children and Families and be placed directly in
a residential facility within this state and under contract with said department, or (2)
committed to the Commissioner of Children and Families for placement by the commissioner, in said commissioner's discretion, (A) with respect to the juvenile offenders
determined by the Department of Children and Families to be the highest risk, in the
Connecticut Juvenile Training School, if the juvenile offender is a male, or in another
state facility, presumptively for a minimum period of twelve months, or (B) in a private
residential or day treatment facility within or outside this state, or (C) on parole. The
commissioner shall use a risk and needs assessment classification system to ensure that
male children who are in the highest risk level will be placed in the Connecticut Juvenile
Training School.
(k) On or after May 21, 2004, no female child committed to the Department of
Children and Families shall be placed in the Connecticut Juvenile Training School. Any
female child placed in the Connecticut Juvenile Training School before May 21, 2004,
shall be transferred to another appropriate facility not later than ninety days after May
21, 2004.
(l) Notwithstanding any provisions of the general statutes concerning the confidentiality of records and information, whenever a child convicted as delinquent is committed
to the Department of Children and Families, the Commissioner of Children and Families
shall have access to the following information: (1) Educational records of such child;
(2) records regarding such child's past treatment for physical or mental illness, including
substance abuse; (3) records regarding such child's prior placement in a public or private
residential facility; (4) records created or obtained by the Judicial Department regarding
such child; and (5) records, as defined in subsection (a) of section 17a-28. The Commissioner of Children and Families shall review such information to determine the appropriate services and placement which will be in the best interest of the child.
(1949 Rev., S. 2813; 1955, S. 1578d; 1957, P.A. 41; 1969, P.A. 498, S. 1; 664, S. 9; P.A. 75-226, S. 2; 75-567, S. 77,
80; 75-602, S. 9, 13; P.A. 76-436, S. 27, 681; P.A. 78-188, S. 6, 8; P.A. 79-581, S. 6; P.A. 84-10; 84-389, S. 1; P.A. 89-273, S. 5; 89-390, S. 20, 37; P.A. 90-161, S. 5, 6; 90-240, S. 5, 6; 90-325, S. 19, 32; P.A. 93-91, S. 1, 2; P.A. 94-136, S.
2; 94-221, S. 14; P.A. 95-225, S. 22; P.A. 98-70, S. 3; 98-256, S. 6; P.A. 99-26, S. 12, 39; P.A. 01-211, S. 14; P.A. 02-132, S. 23; P.A. 03-208, S. 3; P.A. 04-152, S. 1; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4, S. 79; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7, S. 76.)
History: 1969 acts restated provisions and divided section into Subsecs., inserting new provision authorizing commitment of child to department of children and youth services as Subsec. (b); P.A. 75-226 added provisions in Subsec. (a) re
orders for child to do work in public buildings or on public property; P.A. 75-567 deleted references to youths judged to
be delinquent in Subsec. (c); P.A. 75-602 restored references to youths deleted by P.A. 75-667 in Subsec. (c) and authorized
commitment of child or youth to commissioner of children and youth services rather than to "a hospital or other institution
empowered by law to treat mentally ill children" in that Subsec.; P.A. 76-436 deleted reference to juvenile court in Subsec.
(d), reflecting transfer of juvenile court's powers and duties to superior court, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 78-188 authorized
court to order child to make restitution in Subsec. (a); P.A. 79-581 added Subsec. (e) re procedure where delinquent act
is a serious juvenile offense; Sec. 17-68 temporarily renumbered as Sec. 51-321 and ultimately transferred to Sec. 46b-140 in 1979, (see note to Sec. 17-68) and references to other sections within provisions revised as necessary by the Revisors
to reflect their transfer; P.A. 84-10 amended Subsec. (c) by authorizing a court to place a child who is a member of a family
with service needs on vocational probation if certain findings are made; P.A. 84-389 amended Subsec. (b) by adding
provision that prior to making commitment, court shall consult with department to determine placement in best interests
of child and amended Subsec. (d) by deleting references to commitment to any institution, person or agency other than the
department of children and youth services; P.A. 89-273 amended Subsec. (e) to delete reference to a "mandatory" transfer
hearing to conform to changes made by act to Sec. 46b-126; P.A. 89-390 amended Subsec. (a) by authorizing the court to
order the child to participate in a wilderness school program operated by the department of children and youth services;
P.A. 90-161 added provision in Subsec. (a) permitting the court, as a condition of probation, to order the child to participate
in a program of periodic drug testing and treatment; P.A. 90-240 deleted the term "defective delinquents"; P.A. 90-325
changed effective date of P.A. 90-240 from July 1, 1990, to July 1, 1991; P.A. 93-91 substituted commissioner and
department of children and families for commissioner and department of children and youth services, effective July 1,
1993; P.A. 94-136 amended Subsec. (a) by authorizing the court to order the child to participate in an alternative incarceration program; P.A. 94-221 amended Subsec. (a) to provide for participation in a youth service bureau program and expanded
the list of possible conditions of probation to include attendance at school and class on a regular basis and compliance with
school policies on student conduct and discipline; P.A. 95-225 added a new Subsec. (a) re factors the court shall consider
in determining the appropriate disposition of a child convicted as delinquent, designated provisions of former Subsec. (a)
re disposition alternatives as Subsec. (b) and amended said Subsec. to replace the provision authorizing the court to
"adjudge" a child delinquent and take one of the enumerated actions "if it finds that the child is delinquent and needs the
care, discipline or protection of the state" with provision authorizing the court to take one of the enumerated actions "Upon
conviction of the child as delinquent", insert Subdiv. indicators and add Subdiv. (6) re restitution and Subdiv. (7) re
community service, designated provisions of former Subsec. (a) authorizing the court to order as a condition of probation
school attendance or drug testing or treatment as Subsec. (c) and amended said Subsec. to include "alcohol" testing and
treatment, deleted provisions of former Subsec. (a) authorizing the court to order the child to do work of which he is capable
in public buildings and on public property or make restitution of the fruits of his offense or make restitution in an amount
he can afford to pay or provide in a suitable manner for the loss or damage caused thereby provided the child and his parent
or guardian accept such disposition, added new Subsec. (d) authorizing the court to order the child or the parent or parents
or guardian of the child, or both, to make full or partial restitution to the victim of the offense, added new Subsec. (e)
authorizing the court to order the child to participate in a program of community service, redesignated former Subsec. (b)
as Subsec. (f), redesignated former Subsec. (c) as Subsec. (g) and amended said Subsec. to replace "adjudges" and "adjudged" with "convicts" and "convicted", respectively, redesignated former Subsec. (d) as Subsec. (h), redesignated former
Subsec. (e) as Subsec. (i) and amended said Subsec. to delete in Subdiv. (1) the maximum period of 6 months during which
the child shall be placed out of his town of residence, delete former Subdiv. (2) that had required the court to impose a
period of one year during which a child who had committed a serious juvenile offense and been subject to a transfer hearing
shall be placed out of his town of residence, and redesignate former Subdiv. (3) as Subdiv. (2); P.A. 98-70 added new
Subsec. (j) re access by Commissioner of Children and Families to educational records, treatment records, records of prior
placement in residential facility and records of Judicial Department of child convicted as delinquent and committed to
department; P.A. 98-256 amended Subsec. (b) to replace in Subdiv. (5) "order the child to remain in his own home or in
the custody of a relative or any other fit person subject to the supervision of the probation officer" with "place the child
on probation" and amended Subsec. (c) to specify the conditions of probation that a court may order by adding new Subdiv.
(1) re place of residence, new Subdiv. (3) re refraining from violations of law, new Subdiv. (4) re medical or psychiatric
evaluation or treatment, new Subdiv. (7) re restitution, new Subdiv. (8) re participation in alternative incarceration program,
new Subdiv. (9) re participation in community service program and new Subdiv. (10) re satisfaction of other appropriate
conditions and by redesignating former Subdiv. (1) re school attendance and compliance with school policies as Subdiv.
(2) and by dividing former Subdiv. (2) re alcohol and drug testing and treatment into Subdiv. (5) re testing and Subdiv.
(6) re treatment, and to add requirement that the court cause a copy of the order to be delivered to the child, the child's
parents or guardian and the child's probation officer, amended Subsec. (g) to authorize the court to place on vocational
probation a child who "would not benefit from continued school attendance" rather than a child who is "either mentally
deficient or too educationally retarded to benefit from school attendance" and require the court to find that such employment
would be "favorable to the child's welfare" rather than "more favorable to his welfare than commitment to an institution"
and amended Subsec. (i) to make technical changes; P.A. 99-26 amended Subsec. (i) to authorize the court to set "a
minimum period of 12 months during which the child shall be placed in a residential facility operated by or under contract
with said department, as determined by the Commissioner of Children and Families" rather than "a period of time during
which the Department of Children and Families shall place such child out of his town of residence at the commencement
of such child's commitment" and to authorize a petition for "modification of any such order" rather than for "temporary
modification of any such order not to extend or reduce the term of such placement", added new Subsec. (j) re commitment
and placement options for the sentencing court, placement options for the Commissioner of Children and Families and the
use of a risk and needs assessment classification system by the commissioner, added Subsec. (k) re sight and sound
separation of female offenders and prohibition on sharing of program activities, redesignated former Subsec. (j) as Subsec.
(l) and made technical changes in Subsecs. (g) and (h) for purposes of gender neutrality, effective upon the filing with the
Governor and the General Assembly of written certification by the Commissioner of Children and Families that the new
Connecticut Juvenile Training School is operational (Revisor's note: Said written certification was filed with the Senate
and House Clerks on September 20, 2001, and with the Governor on September 21, 2001); P.A. 01-211 amended Subsec.
(d) to replace "full or partial restitution" with "resititution"; P.A. 02-132 amended Subsec. (c)(8) by replacing "Office of
Alternative Sanctions" with "Court Support Services Division"; P.A. 03-208 amended Subsec. (c) to add provision authorizing the court to order counseling or participation in an animal cruelty prevention and education program as a condition of
probation for a child convicted as delinquent for a violation of Sec. 53-247; P.A. 04-152 amended Subsec. (j) by adding
references to "male" juvenile offenders and children and making a technical change and replaced former Subsec. (k) re
female children committed to the Connecticut Juvenile Training School with new Subsec. (k) prohibiting female children
from being placed in said school, effective May 21, 2004; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4 amended Subsec. (b) to insert new
Subdiv. (1) and Subparas. (A) to (H) designators, and insert new Subdiv. (2) re imposition of penalty established in Sec.
30-89(b), for any violation of said Subsec., effective January 1, 2010; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7 amended Subsec. (g) to
delete "by the court" re convicted or adjudged, replace provisions re vocational probation for child 14 years of age or older
with provisions re work-study program or employment with or without school attendance as a condition of probation or
supervision, and make a technical change, effective January 1, 2010.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) | (Return to List of Chapters) | (Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 46b-146. (Formerly Sec. 51-327). *(See end of section for amended version
and effective date.) Erasure of police and court records. Whenever any child has
been convicted as delinquent, has been adjudicated a member of a family with service
needs or has signed a statement of responsibility admitting to having committed a delinquent act, and has subsequently been discharged from the supervision of the Superior
Court or from the custody of the Department of Children and Families or from the care
of any other institution or agency to whom the child has been committed by the court,
such child, or the child's parent or guardian, may file a petition with the Superior Court.
If such court finds (1) that at least two years or, in the case of a child convicted as
delinquent for the commission of a serious juvenile offense, four years have elapsed
from the date of such discharge, (2) that no subsequent juvenile proceeding or adult
criminal proceeding is pending against such child, (3) that such child has not been
convicted of a delinquent act that would constitute a felony or misdemeanor if committed
by an adult during such two-year or four-year period, (4) that such child has not been
convicted as an adult of a felony or misdemeanor during such two-year or four-year
period, and (5) that such child has reached seventeen years of age, the court shall order
all police and court records pertaining to such child to be erased. Upon the entry of such
an erasure order, all references including arrest, complaint, referrals, petitions, reports
and orders, shall be removed from all agency, official and institutional files, and a finding
of delinquency or that the child was a member of a family with service needs shall be
deemed never to have occurred. The persons in charge of such records shall not disclose
to any person information pertaining to the record so erased, except that the fact of such
erasure may be substantiated where, in the opinion of the court, it is in the best interests
of such child to do so. No child who has been the subject of such an erasure order shall
be deemed to have been arrested ab initio, within the meaning of the general statutes,
with respect to proceedings so erased. Copies of the erasure order shall be sent to all
persons, agencies, officials or institutions known to have information pertaining to the
delinquency or family with service needs proceedings affecting such child. Whenever
a child is dismissed as not delinquent or as not being a member of a family with service
needs, all police and court records pertaining to such charge shall be ordered erased
immediately, without the filing of a petition. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the
court from granting a petition to erase a child's records on a showing of good cause,
after a hearing, before the time when such records could be erased.
(1969, P.A. 794, S. 4; 1971, P.A. 204; P.A. 76-436, S. 30, 681; P.A. 77-452, S. 25, 72; P.A. 89-273, S. 6; P.A. 93-91,
S. 1, 2; P.A. 95-225, S. 27; P.A. 98-256, S. 7; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4, S. 80; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7, S. 77.)
*Note: On and after July 1, 2012, this section, as amended by section 88 of public
act 09-7 of the September special session, is to read as follows:
"Sec. 46b-146. (Formerly Sec. 51-327). Erasure of police and court records.
Whenever any child has been convicted as delinquent, has been adjudicated a member
of a family with service needs or has signed a statement of responsibility admitting to
having committed a delinquent act, and has subsequently been discharged from the
supervision of the Superior Court or from the custody of the Department of Children
and Families or from the care of any other institution or agency to whom the child has
been committed by the court, such child, or the child's parent or guardian, may file a
petition with the Superior Court. If such court finds (1) that at least two years or, in the
case of a child convicted as delinquent for the commission of a serious juvenile offense,
four years have elapsed from the date of such discharge, (2) that no subsequent juvenile
proceeding or adult criminal proceeding is pending against such child, (3) that such
child has not been convicted of a delinquent act that would constitute a felony or misdemeanor if committed by an adult during such two-year or four-year period, (4) that such
child has not been convicted as an adult of a felony or misdemeanor during such two-year or four-year period, and (5) that such child has reached eighteen years of age, the
court shall order all police and court records pertaining to such child to be erased. Upon
the entry of such an erasure order, all references including arrest, complaint, referrals,
petitions, reports and orders, shall be removed from all agency, official and institutional
files, and a finding of delinquency or that the child was a member of a family with
service needs shall be deemed never to have occurred. The persons in charge of such
records shall not disclose to any person information pertaining to the record so erased,
except that the fact of such erasure may be substantiated where, in the opinion of the
court, it is in the best interests of such child to do so. No child who has been the subject
of such an erasure order shall be deemed to have been arrested ab initio, within the
meaning of the general statutes, with respect to proceedings so erased. Copies of the
erasure order shall be sent to all persons, agencies, officials or institutions known to
have information pertaining to the delinquency or family with service needs proceedings
affecting such child. Whenever a child is dismissed as not delinquent or as not being a
member of a family with service needs, all police and court records pertaining to such
charge shall be ordered erased immediately, without the filing of a petition. Nothing in
this section shall prohibit the court from granting a petition to erase a child's records
on a showing of good cause, after a hearing, before the time when such records could
be erased."
(1969, P.A. 794, S. 4; 1971, P.A. 204; P.A. 76-436, S. 30, 681; P.A. 77-452, S. 25, 72; P.A. 89-273, S. 6; P.A. 93-91,
S. 1, 2; P.A. 95-225, S. 27; P.A. 98-256, S. 7; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4, S. 80; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7, S. 77, 88.)
History: 1971 act made special provision requiring that records be erased immediately when child is dismissed as not
delinquent, where previously same provisions applied for dismissal or adjudication as delinquent and added exception re
substantiation of erasure; P.A. 76-436 replaced juvenile court with superior court and specified that erasure occurs if child
has not been found guilty of a crime and he has reached age 16 within two years after his discharge, effective July 1, 1978;
P.A. 77-452 made no changes; Sec. 17-72a temporarily renumbered as Sec. 51-327 and ultimately transferred to Sec. 46b-146 in 1979, see note to Sec. 17-72a; P.A. 89-273 made provisions of section applicable to a child who is a member of a
family with service needs; P.A. 93-91 substituted commissioner and department of children and families for commissioner
and department of children and youth services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-225 increased from two years to four years
the period of time that must elapse from the date of discharge; P.A. 98-256 specified that provision requiring four years
to elapse from the date of discharge prior to erasure applied "in the case of a child convicted as delinquent for the commission
of a serious juvenile offense" and established a period of two years for all other cases; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4 added "or
has signed a statement of responsibility admitting to having committed a delinquent act or being a member of a family
with service needs", inserted "to be" re found delinquent and made technical changes, effective January 1, 2010; Sept. Sp.
Sess. P.A. 09-7 substituted "convicted as delinquent" and "has been adjudicated a member of a family with service needs"
for "found to be" delinquent or a member of a family with service needs, deleted provision re signed statement of responsibility re being a member of a family with service needs, inserted Subdiv. designators (1) to (3) and (5), amended Subdiv. (2)
to substitute "juvenile proceeding or adult criminal proceeding is pending" for "juvenile proceeding has been instituted",
amended Subdiv. (3) to replace "found guilty of a crime" with provisions re conviction of delinquent act that would
constitute a felony or misdemeanor if committed by adult during 2 or 4-year period, inserted Subdiv. (4) re child who has
not been convicted as an adult of a felony or misdemeanor during 2 or 4-year period, amended Subdiv. (5) to substitute
"reached seventeen years of age, the court" for "reached sixteen years of age within such period, it", and added provision
re nothing in section shall prohibit court from granting petition to erase child's records on showing of good cause before
time when records could be erased, effective January 1, 2010, and further amended Subdiv. (5) to substitute "eighteen
years of age" for "seventeen years of age", effective July 1, 2012.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) | (Return to List of Chapters) | (Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 46b-150d. *(See end of section for amended version and effective date.)
Effect of emancipation. An order that a minor is emancipated shall have the following
effects: (1) The minor may consent to medical, dental or psychiatric care, without parental consent, knowledge or liability; (2) the minor may enter into a binding contract; (3)
the minor may sue and be sued in such minor's own name; (4) the minor shall be entitled
to such minor's own earnings and shall be free of control by such minor's parents or
guardian; (5) the minor may establish such minor's own residence; (6) the minor may
buy and sell real and personal property; (7) the minor may not thereafter be the subject
of (A) a petition under section 46b-129 as an abused, dependent, neglected or uncared
for child or youth, (B) a petition under section 46b-128 or 46b-133 as a delinquent child
for any act committed before the date of the order, (C) a petition under section 46b-149
alleging that the minor is a child from a family with service needs, or (D) a petition
under section 46b-150f alleging that the minor is a youth in crisis; (8) the minor may
enroll in any school or college, without parental consent; (9) the minor shall be deemed
to be over eighteen years of age for purposes of securing an operator's license under
section 14-36 and a marriage license under subsection (b) of section 46b-30; (10) the
minor shall be deemed to be over eighteen years of age for purposes of registering a
motor vehicle under section 14-12; (11) the parents of the minor shall no longer be the
guardians of the minor under section 45a-606; (12) the parents of a minor shall be
relieved of any obligations respecting such minor's school attendance under section 10-184; (13) the parents shall be relieved of all obligation to support the minor; (14) the
minor shall be emancipated for the purposes of parental liability for such minor's acts
under section 52-572; (15) the minor may execute releases in such minor's own name
under section 14-118; and (16) the minor may enlist in the armed forces of the United
States without parental consent.
(P.A. 79-397, S. 5; 79-631, S. 98, 111; P.A. 80-283, S. 2; 80-483, S. 120, 186; P.A. 84-429, S. 76; P.A. 90-61; P.A.
02-109, S. 2; P.A. 05-10, S. 20; 05-288, S. 225; P.A. 09-13, S. 16; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7, S. 90.)
*Note: On and after July 1, 2012, this section, as amended by section 91 of public
act 09-7 of the September special session, is to read as follows:
"Sec. 46b-150d. Effect of emancipation. An order that a minor is emancipated
shall have the following effects: (1) The minor may consent to medical, dental or psychiatric care, without parental consent, knowledge or liability; (2) the minor may enter into
a binding contract; (3) the minor may sue and be sued in such minor's own name; (4)
the minor shall be entitled to such minor's own earnings and shall be free of control by
such minor's parents or guardian; (5) the minor may establish such minor's own residence; (6) the minor may buy and sell real and personal property; (7) the minor may not
thereafter be the subject of (A) a petition under section 46b-129 as an abused, dependent,
neglected or uncared for child or youth, (B) a petition under section 46b-128 or 46b-133 as a delinquent child for any act committed before the date of the order, or (C) a
petition under section 46b-149 alleging that the minor is a child from a family with
service needs; (8) the minor may enroll in any school or college, without parental consent; (9) the minor shall be deemed to be over eighteen years of age for purposes of
securing an operator's license under section 14-36 and a marriage license under subsection (b) of section 46b-30; (10) the minor shall be deemed to be over eighteen years of
age for purposes of registering a motor vehicle under section 14-12; (11) the parents of
the minor shall no longer be the guardians of the minor under section 45a-606; (12) the
parents of a minor shall be relieved of any obligations respecting such minor's school
attendance under section 10-184; (13) the parents shall be relieved of all obligation to
support the minor; (14) the minor shall be emancipated for the purposes of parental
liability for such minor's acts under section 52-572; (15) the minor may execute releases
in such minor's own name under section 14-118; and (16) the minor may enlist in the
armed forces of the United States without parental consent."
(P.A. 79-397, S. 5; 79-631, S. 98, 111; P.A. 80-283, S. 2; 80-483, S. 120, 186; P.A. 84-429, S. 76; P.A. 90-61; P.A.
02-109, S. 2; P.A. 05-10, S. 20; 05-288, S. 225; P.A. 09-13, S. 16; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7, S. 90, 91.)
History: P.A. 79-631 made no changes; P.A. 80-283 specified that minor is deemed to be over eighteen for purposes
of securing marriage license in Subdiv. (i) and added Subdiv. (o) allowing minor to enlist in armed forces without parental
consent; P.A. 80-483 substituted reference to Sec. 45-43 for reference to Sec. 45-53 in Subdiv. (j); P.A. 84-429 made
technical change for statutory consistency; P.A. 90-61 specified that minor is deemed to be over eighteen for purposes of
registering motor vehicle in Subdiv. (j) and relettered remaining Subdivs. accordingly; P.A. 02-109 amended Subdiv. (g)
to change reference from Sec. 46b-120 to Sec. 46b-129, effective June 7, 2002; P.A. 05-10 amended Subdiv. (i) to add
reference to a civil union license under Sec. 46b-38jj; P.A. 05-288 redesignated Subdivs. (a) to (p) as Subdivs. (1) to (16)
and made technical changes; P.A. 09-13 amended Subdiv. (9) to delete provision re securing civil union license under Sec.
46b-38jj without parental consent, effective October 1, 2010; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7 amended Subdiv. (7) to insert
Subpara. designator (A) and insert Subpara. (B) re petition under Sec. 46b-128 or 46b-133 as delinquent child, Subpara.
(C) re petition under Sec. 46b-149 re family with service needs, and Subpara. (D) re petition under Sec. 46b-150f re youth
in crisis, effective January 1, 2010, and further amended Subdiv. (7) to delete Subpara. (D) re youth in crisis petition,
effective July 1, 2012.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) | (Return to List of Chapters) | (Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 46b-150f. (Note: This section is repealed, effective July 1, 2012.) Youth
in crisis. Petition. Court orders. Violations. (a) Any selectman, town manager, police
officer or welfare department of any town, city or borough, any probation officer, any
superintendent of schools, any child-caring institution or agency approved or licensed
by the Commissioner of Children and Families, any youth service bureau, a parent,
guardian, foster parent or other custodian of a youth seventeen years of age, or a representative of a youth seventeen years of age, who believes that the acts or omissions of such
youth are such that such youth is a youth in crisis may file a written complaint setting
forth those facts with the Superior Court which has venue over the matter.
(b) A petition alleging that a youth is a youth in crisis shall be verified and filed
with the Superior Court which has venue over the matter. The petition shall set forth
plainly: (1) The facts which bring the youth within the jurisdiction of the court; (2) the
name, date of birth, sex and residence of the youth; (3) the name and residence of the
parent or parents, guardian, foster parent, other custodian or other person having control
of the youth; and (4) a prayer for appropriate action by the court in conformity with the
provisions of this section.
(c) Upon determination that a youth is a youth in crisis in accordance with policies
established by the Chief Court Administrator, the court may make and enforce orders,
including, but not limited to, orders: (1) Directing the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles
to suspend the motor vehicle operator's license of the youth in crisis for a period of
time, as directed by the court, but not to exceed one year; (2) requiring work or specified
community service; (3) mandating that the youth in crisis attend an educational program
in the local community approved by the court; (4) requiring mental health services; (5)
referring the youth in crisis to a youth service bureau, provided one exists in the local
community; and (6) reviewing the option of emancipation, pursuant to section 46b-150,
of the youth in crisis or the parent, guardian, foster parent or other custodian of such
youth in crisis. Upon determination that a youth is a youth in crisis because the youth
has without just cause run away from the parental home or other properly authorized
and lawful place of abode, the court may, prior to January 1, 2010, order the youth in
crisis to be subject to the control of the youth's parent or parents, guardian, foster parent
or other custodian, except as required under any other provision of law, for a period of
time, as directed by the court, but not beyond the date the youth attains the age of
eighteen. A youth in crisis found to be in violation of any order under this section shall
not be considered to be delinquent and shall not be punished by the court by incarceration
in any state-operated detention facility or correctional facility.
(d) The Judicial Department may use any funds appropriated for purposes of this
chapter for costs incurred by the department or the court pursuant to this section.
(P.A. 00-177, S. 3-5; P.A. 01-195, S. 100, 181; P.A. 02-109, S. 5; P.A. 03-257, S. 2, 3, 5; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4, S.
123; P.A. 08-41, S. 1; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7, S. 79, 81.)
History: P.A. 00-177 effective July 1, 2001; P.A. 01-195 made a technical change in Subsec. (b), effective July 11,
2001; P.A. 02-109 added Subsec. (d) re use of funds appropriated for purposes of chapter, effective July 1, 2002; P.A. 03-257 amended Subsec. (a) by making technical changes and replaced Subsec. (c)(1) prohibiting youth in crisis from driving
a motor vehicle with new provision directing Commissioner of Motor Vehicles to suspend the operator's license of youth
in crisis, adding Subsec. (c)(5) re referral to youth service bureau and Subsec. (c)(6) re option of emancipation; June Sp.
Sess. P.A. 07-4 repealed section, effective January 1, 2010; P.A. 08-41 added references to guardian, foster parent or other
custodian, and amended Subsec. (c) to provide that upon determination that a youth has without just cause run away, the
court may, prior to January 1, 2010, order the youth to be subject to the control of the youth's parent, guardian, foster
parent or other custodian, until age eighteen; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7 changed effective date of June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4, S. 123, from January 1, 2010, to July 1, 2012, effective October 5, 2009, and amended Subsec. (a) to add "seventeen
years of age" re youth and make a technical change, effective January 1, 2010.
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Sec. 46b-150g. (Note: This section is repealed, effective July 1, 2012.) Duties
of police officer re youth in crisis. (a) Any police officer who receives a report from the
parent or guardian of a youth in crisis, as defined in subparagraph (B)(i) of subdivision (2)
of section 46b-120, shall attempt to locate the youth in crisis. If the officer locates such
youth in crisis, such officer shall report the location of the youth to the parent or guardian
in accordance with the provisions of federal and state law after such officer determines
that such report does not place the youth in any physical or emotional harm. In addition,
the police officer shall respond in one of the following ways: (1) Transport the youth
in crisis to the home of the child's parent or guardian or a suitable and worthy adult; (2)
refer the youth in crisis to the probate court in the district where the youth in crisis is
located, provided the probate judge for such probate court is willing to accept the referral;
(3) hold the youth in crisis in protective custody for a maximum period of twelve hours
until the officer can determine a more suitable disposition of the matter, provided (A)
the youth in crisis is not held in any cell designed or used for adults, and (B) the officer
may release the youth in crisis to the parent or guardian of the youth if the officer
determines that returning the youth does not place the youth in any physical or emotional
harm; (4) transport or refer a youth in crisis to any public or private agency serving
children, with or without the agreement of the youth in crisis; (5) refer the youth in crisis
to a youth service bureau, provided one exists in the local community; or (6) if the police
officer is unable to transport, refer or hold the youth in crisis pursuant to subdivisions
(1) to (5), inclusive, of this subsection, refer the youth in crisis to the superior court for
juvenile matters in the district where the youth in crisis is located. If a youth in crisis is
transported or referred to an agency pursuant to this section, such agency shall provide
temporary services to the youth in crisis unless or until the parent or guardian of the
youth in crisis at any time refuses to agree to those services.
(b) Any police officer acting in accordance with the provisions of this section shall
be deemed to be acting in the course of the police officer's official duties.
(P.A. 00-177, S. 4, 5; P.A. 03-257, S. 3; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4, S. 123; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7, S. 80, 81.)
History: P.A. 00-177 effective July 1, 2001; P.A. 03-257 amended Subsec. (a) by adding reference to Sec. 46b-120(3)(A),
replacing "may" with "shall" re duties of police officer to attempt to locate, report the location and respond, replacing "any
other person" with "a suitable and worthy adult" in Subdiv. (1), replacing provision re referral to superior court with
provisions re referral to probate court in Subdiv. (2), replacing provision re release at any time without further action with
provision re release to parent or guardian if youth not placed in physical or emotional harm in Subdiv. (3)(B), adding
Subdiv. (5) re referral to youth service bureau and adding Subdiv. (6) re referral to superior court, and amended Subsec.
(b) by making a technical change; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4 repealed section, effective January 1, 2010; Sept. Sp. Sess.
P.A. 09-7 changed effective date of June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4, S. 123, from January 1, 2010, to July 1, 2012, effective
October 5, 2009, and amended Subsec. (a) to replace reference to Sec. 46b-120(3)(A) with reference to Sec. 46b-120(2)(B)(i), effective January 1, 2010.
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Sec. 46b-150h. (Note: This section is repealed, effective July 1, 2012.) Youth
in crisis pilot program in Middletown probate district. (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 46b-150f and 46b-150g, the Probate Court Administrator shall establish, within available appropriations, a pilot program in the probate district of Middletown for the purpose of exercising jurisdiction over and administering youth in crisis
cases arising in said district in which the youths in crisis are not truants.
(b) On or before January 1, 2005, the Probate Court Administrator shall report, in
accordance with section 11-4a, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly
having cognizance of matters relating to the judiciary and the select committee of the
General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to children, with respect to
the status and effectiveness of the pilot program established pursuant to subsection (a)
of this section.
(P.A. 03-257, S. 2; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4, S. 123; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7, S. 81.)
History: June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4 repealed section, effective January 1, 2010; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7 changed effective
date of June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4, S. 123, from January 1, 2010, to July 1, 2012, effective October 5, 2009.
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