Connecticut General Statutes
Chapter 319j - Addiction Services
Section 17a-696. (Formerly Sec. 19a-127e). - Order for suspension of prosecution and treatment for alcohol or drug dependency.

(a) The provisions of this section shall not apply to any person charged with a violation of section 14-227a, 14-227g or 14-227m, subdivision (1) or (2) of subsection (a) of section 14-227n or section 53a-56b or 53a-60d or with a class A, B or C felony or to any person who was twice previously ordered treated under this section, subsection (i) of section 17-155y, section 19a-386 or section 21a-284 of the general statutes revised to 1989, or any combination thereof. The court may waive the ineligibility provisions of this subsection for any person, except that the court shall not waive the ineligibility provisions of this subsection for any person charged with a violation of section 14-227a, 14-227g, 53a-56b or 53a-60d if, at the time of the offense, such person was operating a commercial vehicle, as defined in section 14-1, or held a commercial driver's license or a commercial driver's instruction permit.

(b) The court may order suspension of prosecution and order treatment for alcohol or drug dependency as provided in this section and sections 17a-697 and 17a-698 if it, after considering information before it concerning the alcohol or drug dependency of the person, including the examination report made pursuant to the provisions of section 17a-694, finds that (1) the accused person was an alcohol-dependent or drug-dependent person at the time of the crime, (2) the person presently needs and is likely to benefit from treatment for the dependency, and (3) suspension of prosecution will advance the interests of justice. Treatment may begin no earlier than the date the clinical examiner reports under the provisions of section 17a-694 that space is available in a treatment program. Upon application by any such person for participation in a treatment program, the court shall, but only as to the public, order the court file sealed.
(c) A suspension of prosecution ordered under the provisions of subsection (b) of this section may be for a period not exceeding two years. During the period of suspension, an accused person shall be placed in the custody of the Court Support Services Division for treatment for alcohol or drug dependency. The court or the Court Support Services Division may require that the person (1) comply with any of the conditions specified in subsections (a) and (b) of section 53a-30, and (2) be tested for use of alcohol or drugs during the period of suspension. The accused person shall, unless indigent, pay the cost of treatment ordered under this section.
(d) If prosecution is suspended under the provisions of subsection (b) of this section, (1) the statute of limitations applicable to the crime charged shall be tolled during the period of suspension, and (2) the accused person shall be deemed to have waived such accused person's right to a speedy trial for the crime charged.
(e) The court shall not suspend prosecution under subsection (b) of this section unless (1) the accused person has acknowledged that he or she understands the consequences of the suspension of prosecution, (2) the accused person has given notice, by registered or certified mail on a form prescribed by the Chief Court Administrator, to the victim, if any, of the crime of which the person is accused and of the pending motion for suspension of prosecution, (3) such victim, if any, has been given an opportunity to be heard on the motion for suspension of prosecution, and (4) the accused person, unless such accused person is indigent, has paid to the clerk of the court an administration fee of twenty-five dollars.
(f) If the prosecution is suspended, the person shall be released on a written promise to appear or on a bond and any other bond posted in any criminal proceeding concerning such person shall be terminated.
(g) If the court denies the motion for suspension of prosecution, the state's attorney may proceed with prosecution of the crime.
(h) A person shall be deemed to be indigent for the purposes of this section if the court determines the person (1) has an estate insufficient to provide for the person's support or there is no other person legally liable or able to support the person, or (2) the person has been determined indigent and eligible for representation by a public defender who has been appointed on behalf of such person pursuant to section 51-296. The court shall not require a person to perform community service in lieu of payment of any cost or fee, if a cost or fee is waived due to indigency.
(P.A. 89-390, S. 6, 37; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-8, S. 16, 88; P.A. 02-132, S. 5; P.A. 04-234, S. 23; P.A. 14-233, S. 8; P.A. 16-55, S. 9; 16-126, S. 24; P.A. 21-102, S. 18.)
History: (Revisor's note: A reference in Subsec. (a) to “section 17a-627” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “section 17-155y”); Sec. 17a-653 transferred to Sec. 19a-127e in 1995; Sec. 19a-127e transferred to Sec. 17a-696 in 1997; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-8 replaced examining committee with clinical examiner in Subsec. (b), effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 02-132 amended Subsec. (c) by replacing “Office of Adult Probation” with “Court Support Services Division” and making a technical change; P.A. 04-234 amended Subsec. (a) to make provisions inapplicable to any person who was “twice” previously ordered treated under section, other specified sections or “any combination thereof” and made technical changes throughout, effective June 8, 2004; P.A. 14-233 amended Subsec. (b) to add provision re court to order file sealed as to the public upon application for participation in treatment program; P.A. 16-55 amended Subsec. (a) by adding reference to Secs. 14-227g and 53a-56b and by adding provision re exception for person charged with violation of Secs. 14-227a, 14-227g, 53a-56b or 53a-60d if person was operating commercial vehicle or held commercial driver's license or commercial driver's instruction permit; P.A. 16-126 amended Subsec. (a) by adding references to Secs. 14-227m and 14-227n(a)(1) and (2); P.A. 21-102 amended Subsec. (h) by designating existing provision re insufficient estate as Subdiv. (1), adding Subdiv. (2) re finding of indigency based on eligibility for a public defender, and adding prohibition on requiring a person to perform community service in lieu of cost or fee.

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