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Section 54-64a – Release by judicial authority

May 11, 2021 | Connecticut, Criminal Procedure

(a)

(1) Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection and subsection (b) of this section, when any arrested person is presented before the Superior Court, said court shall, in bailable offenses, promptly order the release of such person upon the first of the following conditions of release found sufficient to reasonably ensure the appearance of the arrested person in court:

(A) Upon execution of a written promise to appear without special conditions,
(B) upon execution of a written promise to appear with nonfinancial conditions,
(C) upon execution of a bond without surety in no greater amount than necessary,
(D) upon execution of a bond with surety in no greater amount than necessary, but in no event shall a judge prohibit a bond from being posted by surety. In addition to or in conjunction with any of the conditions enumerated in subparagraphs (A) to (D), inclusive, of this subdivision the court may, when it has reason to believe that the person is drug-dependent and where necessary, reasonable and appropriate, order the person to submit to a urinalysis drug test and to participate in a program of periodic drug testing and treatment. The results of any such drug test shall not be admissible in any criminal proceeding concerning such person.
(2) If the arrested person is charged with no offense other than a misdemeanor, the court shall not impose financial conditions of release on the person unless (A) the person is charged with a family violence crime, as defined in section 46b-38a, or (B) the person requests such financial conditions, or (C) the court makes a finding on the record that there is a likely risk that (i) the arrested person will fail to appear in court, as required, or (ii) the arrested person will obstruct or attempt to obstruct justice, or threaten, injure or intimidate or attempt to threaten, injure or intimidate a prospective witness or juror, or (iii) the arrested person will engage in conduct that threatens the safety of himself or herself or another person. In making a finding described in this subsection, the court may consider past criminal history, including any prior record of failing to appear as required in court that resulted in any conviction for a violation of section 53a-172 or any conviction during the previous ten years for a violation of section 53a-173 and any other pending criminal cases of the person charged with a misdemeanor.
(3) The court may, in determining what conditions of release will reasonably ensure the appearance of the arrested person in court, consider the following factors:

(A) The nature and circumstances of the offense,
(B) such person’s record of previous convictions,
(C) such person’s past record of appearance in court,
(D) such person’s family ties,
(E) such person’s employment record,
(F) such person’s financial resources, character and mental condition, and
(G) such person’s community ties.
(b)

(1) When any arrested person charged with the commission of a class A felony, a class B felony, except a violation of section 53a-86 or 53a-122, a class C felony, except a violation of section 53a-87, 53a-152 or 53a-153, or a class D felony under sections 53a-60 to 53a-60c, inclusive, section 53a-72a, 53a-95, 53a-103, 53a-103a, 53a-114, 53a-136 or 53a-216, or a family violence crime, as defined in section 46b-38a, is presented before the Superior Court, said court shall, in bailable offenses, promptly order the release of such person upon the first of the following conditions of release found sufficient to reasonably ensure the appearance of the arrested person in court and that the safety of any other person will not be endangered:

(A) Upon such person’s execution of a written promise to appear without special conditions,
(B) upon such person’s execution of a written promise to appear with nonfinancial conditions,
(C) upon such person’s execution of a bond without surety in no greater amount than necessary,
(D) upon such person’s execution of a bond with surety in no greater amount than necessary, but in no event shall a judge prohibit a bond from being posted by surety. In addition to or in conjunction with any of the conditions enumerated in subparagraphs (A) to (D), inclusive, of this subdivision, the court may, when it has reason to believe that the person is drug-dependent and where necessary, reasonable and appropriate, order the person to submit to a urinalysis drug test and to participate in a program of periodic drug testing and treatment. The results of any such drug test shall not be admissible in any criminal proceeding concerning such person.
(2) The court may, in determining what conditions of release will reasonably ensure the appearance of the arrested person in court and that the safety of any other person will not be endangered, consider the following factors:

(A) The nature and circumstances of the offense,
(B) such person’s record of previous convictions,
(C) such person’s past record of appearance in court after being admitted to bail,
(D) such person’s family ties,
(E) such person’s employment record,
(F) such person’s financial resources, character and mental condition,
(G) such person’s community ties,
(H) the number and seriousness of charges pending against the arrested person,
(I) the weight of the evidence against the arrested person,
(J) the arrested person’s history of violence,
(K) whether the arrested person has previously been convicted of similar offenses while released on bond, and
(L) the likelihood based upon the expressed intention of the arrested person that such person will commit another crime while released.
(3) When imposing conditions of release under this subsection, the court shall state for the record any factors under subdivision (2) of this subsection that it considered and the findings that it made as to the danger, if any, that the arrested person might pose to the safety of any other person upon the arrested person’s release that caused the court to impose the specific conditions of release that it imposed.
(c) If the court determines that a nonfinancial condition of release should be imposed pursuant to subparagraph (B) of subdivision (1) of subsection (a) or (b) of this section, the court shall order the pretrial release of the person subject to the least restrictive condition or combination of conditions that the court determines will reasonably ensure the appearance of the arrested person in court and, with respect to the release of the person pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, that the safety of any other person will not be endangered, which conditions may include an order that the arrested person do one or more of the following:

(1) Remain under the supervision of a designated person or organization;
(2) comply with specified restrictions on such person’s travel, association or place of abode;
(3) not engage in specified activities, including the use or possession of a dangerous weapon, an intoxicant or a controlled substance;
(4) provide sureties of the peace pursuant to section 54-56f under supervision of a designated bail commissioner or intake, assessment and referral specialist employed by the Judicial Branch;
(5) avoid all contact with an alleged victim of the crime and with a potential witness who may testify concerning the offense;
(6) maintain employment or, if unemployed, actively seek employment;
(7) maintain or commence an educational program;
(8) be subject to electronic monitoring; or
(9) satisfy any other condition that is reasonably necessary to ensure the appearance of the person in court and that the safety of any other person will not be endangered. The court shall state on the record its reasons for imposing any such nonfinancial condition.
(d) If the arrested person is not released, the court shall order him committed to the custody of the Commissioner of Correction until he is released or discharged in due course of law.
(e) The court may require that the person subject to electronic monitoring pursuant to subsection (c) of this section pay directly to the electronic monitoring service provider a fee for the cost of such electronic monitoring services. If the court finds that the person subject to electronic monitoring is indigent and unable to pay the costs of electronic monitoring services, the court shall waive such costs. Any contract entered into by the Judicial Branch and the electronic monitoring service provider shall include a provision stating that the total cost for electronic monitoring services shall not exceed five dollars per day. Such amount shall be indexed annually to reflect the rate of inflation.

Conn. Gen. Stat. ยง 54-64a

(1961, P.A. 38; 1963, P.A. 11; 1967, P.A. 549, S. 12; P.A. 74-183, S. 146, 291; P.A. 76-436, S. 546, 681; P.A. 77-452, S. 39, 72; P.A. 80-313, S. 16; P.A. 81-437, S. 9, 12; P.A. 89-390, S. 13, 37; P.A. 90-213, S. 51; 90-261, S. 9; P.A. 91-406, S. 13, 29; P.A. 99-186, S. 5; 99-187, S. 2; P.A. 00-141, S. 2, 3; P.A. 01-84, S. 25, 26; P.A. 03-278, S. 107; Jan. Sp. Sess. P.A. 08-1, S. 25; P.A. 10-43, S. 25; P.A. 12-133, S. 38; June 12 Sp. Sess. P.A. 12-2, S. 94; P.A. 14-122, S. 60; P.A. 17-145, S. 1; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 17-2, S. 205.)

Amended by P.A. 17-0002, S. 205 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2017 Special Session, eff. 10/31/2017.
Amended by P.A. 17-0145, S. 1 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2017 Regular Session, eff. 7/1/2017.
Amended by P.A. 14-0122, S. 60 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2014 Regular Session, eff. 10/1/2014.
Amended by P.A. 12-0002, S. 94 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2012 Special Session, eff. 10/1/2012.
Amended by P.A. 12-0133, S. 38 of the the 2012 Regular Session, eff. 10/1/2012.
Amended by P.A. 10-0043, S. 25 of the February 2010 Regular Session, eff. 10/1/2010.

Cited. 201 C. 115; 222 Conn. 331. Section affords Superior Court judge broad discretion in fixing nonfinancial conditions of defendant’s release for purpose of ensuring, inter alia, the safety of others, including restrictions on entering a specific place of abode and on having contact with alleged victim of the crime with which defendant has been charged. 273 C. 418. Cited. 22 Conn.App. 199.

See Sec. 18-100f re release by Commissioner of Correction. See Secs. 53a-222, 53a-222a re criminal penalties for violation of certain conditions of release.