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Section 46b-133c – Serious juvenile repeat offender prosecution. Sentencing

May 15, 2021 | Connecticut, Family Law

(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 or her 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, 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.
(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 eighteen years of age, subject to the provisions of section 54-91g, 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.

Conn. Gen. Stat. ยง 46b-133c

( 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; P.A. 15-84, S. 4.)

Amended by P.A. 19-0032,S. 15 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2019 Regular Session, eff. 10/1/2019.
Amended by P.A. 15-0084, S. 4 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2015 Regular Session, eff. 10/1/2015.
Amended by P.A. 09-0007, S. 85 of the Sept. 2009 Sp. Sess., eff. 7/1/2012.
Amended by P.A. 09-0007, S. 125 of the Sept. 2009 Sp. Sess., eff. 10/5/2009.
Amended by P.A. 09-0007, S. 73 of the Sept. 2009 Sp. Sess., eff. 1/1/2010.