Connecticut General Statutes
Chapter 325 - Department of Correction
Section 18-81qq. - Office of the Correction Ombuds.

(a)(1) There is, within the Office of Governmental Accountability established under section 1-300, the Office of the Correction Ombuds for the provision of ombuds services. The Correction Ombuds appointed pursuant to section 18-81jj shall be the head of said office.

(2) For purposes of this section, “ombuds services” includes:
(A) Evaluating the delivery of services to incarcerated persons by the Department of Correction;
(B) Reviewing periodically the nonemergency procedures established by the department to carry out the provisions of title 18 and evaluating whether such procedures conflict with the rights of incarcerated persons;
(C) Receiving communications from persons in the custody of the Commissioner of Correction regarding decisions, actions, omissions, policies, procedures, rules or regulations of the department;
(D) Conducting site visits of correctional facilities administered by the department;
(E) Reviewing the operation of correctional facilities and nonemergency procedures employed at such facilities. Nonemergency procedures include, but are not limited to, the department's use of force procedures;
(F) Recommending procedure and policy revisions to the department;
(G) Taking all possible actions, including, but not limited to, conducting programs of public education, undertaking legislative advocacy and making proposals for systemic reform and formal legal action in order to secure and ensure the rights of persons in the custody of the commissioner. The Correction Ombuds shall exhaust all other means to reach a resolution before initiating litigation; and
(H) Publishing on an Internet web site operated by the Office of the Correction Ombuds a semiannual summary of all ombuds services and activities during the six-month period before such publication.
(b) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, the Correction Ombuds shall act independently of any department in the performance of the office's duties.
(c) The Correction Ombuds may, within available funds, appoint such staff as may be deemed necessary. The duties of the staff may include the duties and powers of the Correction Ombuds if performed under the direction of the Correction Ombuds.
(d) The General Assembly shall annually appropriate such sums as necessary for the payment of the salaries of the staff and for the payment of office expenses and other actual expenses incurred by the Correction Ombuds in the performance of the Correction Ombuds' duties. Any legal or court fees obtained by the state in actions brought by the Correction Ombuds shall be deposited in the General Fund.
(e) In the course of investigations, the Correction Ombuds shall rely on a variety of sources to corroborate matters raised by incarcerated persons or others. Where such matters turn on validation of particular incidents, the Correction Ombuds shall endeavor to rely on communications from incarcerated persons who have reasonably pursued a resolution of the complaint through any existing internal grievance procedures of the Department of Correction. In all events, the Correction Ombuds shall make good faith efforts to provide an opportunity to the Commissioner of Correction to investigate and to respond to such concerns prior to making such matters public.
(f) All oral and written communications, and records relating to such communications between a person in the custody of the Commissioner of Correction and the Correction Ombuds or a member of the Office of the Correction Ombuds staff, including, but not limited to, the identity of a complainant, the details of the communications and the Correction Ombuds' findings shall be confidential and shall not be disclosed without the consent of such person, except that the Correction Ombuds may disclose without the consent of such person general findings or policy recommendations based on such communications, provided no individually identifiable information is disclosed. The Correction Ombuds shall disclose sufficient information to the Commissioner of Correction or the commissioner's designee as is necessary to respond to the Correction Ombuds' inquiries or to carry out recommendations, but such information may not be further disclosed outside of the Department of Correction.
(g) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (f) of this section, whenever in the course of carrying out the Correction Ombuds' duties, the Correction Ombuds or a member of the Office of the Correction Ombuds staff becomes aware of the commission or planned commission of a criminal act or threat that the Correction Ombuds reasonably believes is likely to result in death or substantial bodily harm, the Correction Ombuds shall notify the Commissioner of Correction or an administrator of any correctional facility housing the perpetrator or potential perpetrator of such act or threat and the nature and target of the act or threat.
(h) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes concerning the confidentiality of records and information, the Correction Ombuds shall have access to, including the right to inspect and copy, any records necessary to carry out the responsibilities of the Correction Ombuds, as provided in this section. The provisions of this subsection shall not be construed to compel access to any record protected by the attorney-client privilege or attorney-work product doctrine or any record related to a pending internal investigation, external criminal investigation or emergency procedures. For purposes of this subsection, “emergency procedures” are procedures the Department of Correction uses to manage control of tools, keys and armories and concerning department emergency plans, emergency response units, facility security levels and standards and radio communications.
(i) In the performance of the responsibilities provided for in this section, the Correction Ombuds may communicate privately with any person in the custody of the commissioner. Such communications shall be confidential except as provided in subsections (e) and (f) of this section.
(j) The Correction Ombuds may apply for and accept grants, gifts and bequests of funds from other states, federal and interstate agencies, for the purpose of carrying out the Correction Ombuds' responsibilities. There is established within the General Fund a Correction Ombuds account which shall be a separate nonlapsing account. Any funds received under this subsection shall, upon deposit in the General Fund, be credited to said account and may be used by the Correction Ombuds in the performance of the Correction Ombuds' duties.
(k) The name, address and other personally identifiable information of a person who makes a complaint to the Correction Ombuds, information obtained or generated by the Office of the Correction Ombuds in the course of an investigation and all confidential records obtained by the Correction Ombuds or the office shall be confidential and shall not be subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, as defined in section 1-200, or otherwise except as provided in subsections (f) and (g) of this section.
(l) No state or municipal agency shall discharge, or in any manner discriminate or retaliate against, any employee who in good faith makes a complaint to the Correction Ombuds or cooperates with the Office of the Correction Ombuds in an investigation.
(m) Not later than December 1, 2023, and annually thereafter, the Correction Ombuds shall submit a report, in accordance with section 11-4a, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to the Department of Correction regarding the conditions of confinement in the state's correctional facilities and halfway houses. Such report shall detail the Correction Ombuds' findings and recommendations.
(P.A. 22-18, S. 2.)
History: P.A. 22-18 effective July 1, 2022.

Structure Connecticut General Statutes

Connecticut General Statutes

Title 18 - Correctional Institutions and Department of Correction

Chapter 325 - Department of Correction

Section 18-78. - Composition of department.

Section 18-78a. - Applicability of Uniform Administrative Procedure Act to department. Exceptions.

Section 18-78b. - Victim Services Unit. Duties and responsibilities.

Section 18-79. - Council of Correction.

Section 18-80. - Commissioner.

Section 18-81. - Duties of commissioner.

Section 18-81a. - Habeas corpus for person in custody of commissioner.

Section 18-81aa. - Secure video connections for parole release hearings.

Section 18-81b. - Informational and educational experiences for the public.

Section 18-81bb. - Advisory committees established in certain municipalities with correctional facilities.

Section 18-81c. - Community Partners in Action: Office space and telephone service.

Section 18-81cc. - Prevention, detection and monitoring of, and response to, sexual abuse in prisons, jails, correctional centers and juvenile facilities.

Section 18-81d. - Medical and dental treatment of inmates under age of eighteen.

Section 18-81dd. - Amendment to contract with municipality in which a correctional facility is located.

Section 18-81e. - Notification of victim of release of inmate from correctional facility.

Section 18-81ee. - Pilot program re use of renewable energy at correctional facilities.

Section 18-81f. - Notification of municipal official concerning status of temporary detention facility.

Section 18-81ff. - State identification card or motor vehicle operator's license for inmates upon release.

Section 18-81g. (Formerly Sec. 17a-645). - Community-based treatment facility for female offenders.

Section 18-81gg. - Visitation policies for inmate who is a parent to a child under the age of eighteen.

Section 18-81h. - Public safety committees established in municipalities with correctional facilities. Reports.

Section 18-81hh. - Privacy-related protections for certain inmate activities.

Section 18-81i. - Storage of weapons.

Section 18-81ii. - Care and treatment of inmate with a gender identity differing from assigned sex at birth and a diagnosis of gender dysphoria. Placement of inmate in correctional institution with inmates of the gender consistent with the inmate's g...

Section 18-81j. - Annual notification of municipal official in municipalities with correctional facilities concerning capacity and inmate population in facility.

Section 18-81jj. - Correction Advisory Committee.

Section 18-81k. - Maintenance of good relations between department and communities surrounding correctional facilities.

Section 18-81kk. - Requests for department's provision of documents related to injury resulting in death or permanent disability of inmate. Regulations.

Section 18-81l. - Criminal history records checks of correctional personnel.

Section 18-81ll. - Department's responsibilities re release of medical information by inmate to family or emergency contact.

Section 18-81m. - Notification re existence of standing criminal protective order upon release.

Section 18-81mm. - Release of inmate self-identified as suffering from opioid use disorder. Information provided.

Section 18-81n. - Notification of municipal official concerning agreement for medical care of inmates.

Section 18-81nn. - Intervention in or reporting of use of unreasonable, excessive or illegal force by a witnessing officer. Whistle blower protections.

Section 18-81o. - Notification of municipal official and public safety committee concerning agreement for placement of persons in correctional facility.

Section 18-81oo. - Communication services in correctional facilities.

Section 18-81p. - Review of substance use disorder, screening, diagnostic and treatment services and mental health screening, diagnostic and treatment services.

Section 18-81pp. - Plan for the provision of health care services to inmates. Report.

Section 18-81q. - Return of unused prescription drugs dispensed in correctional facilities to vendor pharmacies. Requirements. Regulations.

Section 18-81qq. - Office of the Correction Ombuds.

Section 18-81r. - Ombudsman services.

Section 18-81s. - Pilot program for debit account telephone system.

Section 18-81t. - Quarterly report on disciplinary reports, inmate assaults, workers' compensation claims and inmate population density for each correctional facility.

Section 18-81u. - Use of computer with Internet access by certain inmates prohibited.

Section 18-81v. - Procedures for conducting metal detector searches of visitors.

Section 18-81w. - Development and implementation of reentry strategy.

Section 18-81x. - (Note: This section is repealed, effective October 1, 2022.) Funds for inmate educational services and reentry program initiatives.

Section 18-81y. - Lost property board.

Section 18-81z. - Development of risk assessment strategy.

Section 18-82. - Administrators of correctional institutions: Appointment, removal and qualifications.

Section 18-82a. - Parole officer training on resilience and self-care techniques.

Section 18-83. - Acceptance of bequests, devises and gifts.

Section 18-84. - “Inmate” and “prisoner” defined.

Section 18-84a. - Discharge savings accounts. Regulations.

Section 18-85. - Compensation of inmates. Deposit in account. Disbursement priorities.

Section 18-85a. - Assessment for costs of incarceration. State's claim against inmate's property for repayment of costs of incarceration. Exempt property. Program fees. Regulations.

Section 18-85b. - State's claim against proceeds of person's cause of action or person's inheritance for repayment of costs of incarceration.

Section 18-85c. - State's claim against person's estate for repayment of costs of incarceration.

Section 18-86. - Transfers between institutions of department.

Section 18-86a. - Contracts with other states for confinement of Connecticut inmates.

Section 18-86b. - Contracts with governmental and private vendors for supervision of state inmates outside the state.

Section 18-86c. - Contracts re release of inmates.

Section 18-86d. - Agreements with institutions of higher education re free courses for inmates.

Section 18-86e. - Reentry employment advisory committee.

Section 18-87. - Transfers to other state institutions and to the executive director of the Court Support Services Division of the Judicial Branch.

Section 18-87a to 18-87f. - Contracts with private agencies for: Halfway house handling of prerelease inmates; reentry services for paroled or discharged offenders. Early release: Pretrial inmates; sentenced inmates. Prison overcrowding emergency: De...

Section 18-87i. - Emergency correctional facility projects and large increases in correctional facility inmate populations: Notices, negotiated agreements between state and municipalities, arbitration.

Section 18-87j. - Criminal Justice Policy Advisory Commission.

Section 18-87k. - Powers and duties of commission.

Section 18-87l. - New Haven Armory not to be used to house prisoners or other detainees.

Section 18-87m. - Alternatives to Incarceration Advisory Committee: Membership, duties, report. Commissioner to implement alternatives to incarceration initiatives to reduce prison population.

Section 18-88. (Formerly Sec. 18-14). - Industrial activities. State agencies required to purchase necessary products from institution industries. Retail hobby stores.

Section 18-88a. - Correction Industries Revolving Fund, charge for fringe benefits prohibited.

Section 18-89. (Formerly Sec. 18-9). - Contracts for labor; public institutions.

Section 18-90. (Formerly Sec. 18-10). - Prisoners; employment restricted.

Section 18-90a. - Employment of inmates.

Section 18-90b. - Pilot program for inmate labor in private industry.

Section 18-90c. - Investigation of certain inmates re child support orders and arrearages.

Section 18-90d. - Vocational village program.

Section 18-90e. - Preparation for and administration of commercial driver's license knowledge tests in institution or facility.

Section 18-91. (Formerly Sec. 18-16). - Use of correctional institutions by United States. Removal of inmates to federal institutions.

Section 18-91a. - International transfer or exchange of prisoners.

Section 18-92. - Expiration of term on Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday.

Section 18-93. - Rules re clothing, transportation, grants and loans to discharged persons.

Section 18-94. (Formerly Sec. 17-16). - Retention of inmates with sexually transmitted disease in correctional or charitable institutions.

Section 18-95. (Formerly Sec. 17-18). - Compensation for injuries of inmates of state correctional and reformatory institutions.

Section 18-96. (Formerly Sec. 18-22). - Proceedings on discharge of mentally ill prisoners.

Section 18-96a. - Consideration of psychiatrist diagnosis in assessment of and providing mental health services to inmate with a mental illness. Mental health issues training for custodial staff. Agency collaboration re assistance to inmate with a me...

Section 18-96b. - Restrictive housing status and isolated confinement for incarcerated persons. Reports.

Section 18-97. - Confinement under a mittimus: Presentence confinement credit prior to July 1, 1981.

Section 18-98. - Confinement where bail unobtainable: Presentence confinement credit prior to July 1, 1981.

Section 18-98a. - Deduction of time for periods of employment.

Section 18-98b. - Outstandingly meritorious performance award.

Section 18-98c. - Good conduct credit for presentence confinement prior to July 1, 1981.

Section 18-98d. - Credit for presentence confinement.

Section 18-98e. - Earned risk reduction credit.

Section 18-98f. - Use of earned risk reduction credits. Report.

Section 18-98g. - General offender sentencing information made publically available.

Section 18-99. - Camp for community correctional center, Connecticut Correctional Institution, Cheshire, and School for Boys inmates.

Section 18-99a. - Creation and administration of school district within the Department of Correction. Unified School District #1.

Section 18-99b. - Powers of district. Cooperation with federal government. Provision of menstrual products.

Section 18-100. - Work-release and education-release programs. Transfer to correctional institution, halfway house, group home, mental health facility or community or private residence.

Section 18-100a and 18-100b. - Petty cash fund for loans for work-release program. Release of prisoners to an approved community residence; eligibility.

Section 18-100c. - Release of prisoners with definite sentences of two years or less to halfway house, group home, mental health facility or other approved community correction program.

Section 18-100d. - Supervision of persons convicted of a crime committed on or after October 1, 1994, required until expiration of sentence.

Section 18-100e. - Pilot zero-tolerance drug supervision program.

Section 18-100f. - Release of certain arrested persons being held pretrial.

Section 18-100g. - Release of aliens to immigration authorities.

Section 18-100h. - Release of persons convicted of certain motor vehicle and drug offenses to their residences.

Section 18-100i. - Release of inmate from custody and transfer to community-based nursing home for palliative and end-of-life care.

Section 18-100j. - Pilot treatment program for methadone maintenance and other drug therapies.

Section 18-101. - Disposition of inmate compensation.

Section 18-101a. - Furloughs.

Section 18-101b. - Residential stays at correctional facilities. Continuation in programs beyond discharge date.

Section 18-101c. - Special alternative incarceration unit. Program activities.

Section 18-101d. - Donald T. Bergin Correctional Institution.

Section 18-101e. - Calculation of disability retirement income for correction officers upon designation of extraordinary circumstances.

Section 18-101f. - Prohibition against disclosure of certain employee files to inmates under the Freedom of Information Act.

Section 18-101g. - Establishment of wellness initiative for certain employees.

Section 18-101h. - Definitions.

Section 18-101i. - Community-based service programs established.

Section 18-101j. - Community correction service areas established.

Section 18-101k. - Funding.