(a) For the purposes of this section, “court appointed special advocate” means a volunteer who is recruited, screened, trained and supervised by a local court appointed special advocate program that is affiliated with the National Court Appointed Special Advocates Association.
(b) (1) The Judicial Department shall establish, within available resources, a court appointed special advocate program. Under the program, a court appointed special advocate may serve as a resource to the superior court for juvenile matters in determining and furthering the best interests of a person under eighteen years of age who is the subject of a petition filed under section 46b-129 or 46b-149. The program shall be administered by the Chief Court Administrator within the superior court for juvenile matters.
(2) A court, on its own motion or upon a motion of a party, may appoint a court appointed special advocate in any proceeding in which a petition is filed under section 46b-129 or 46b-149. The court appointed special advocate may conduct an independent investigation of the facts associated with the filing of the petition and shall undertake and facilitate activities in furtherance of the child's best interests, including, but not limited to, making recommendations to the court. Upon appointment by the court and after obtaining any required releases to access records, a court appointed special advocate shall have access to (A) any party to such proceeding, and (B) all information or records relevant to the child's best interests including, but not limited to, school records, child care records, medical records, mental health records, court records and records maintained by the Department of Children and Families. Nothing in this section shall permit a court appointed special advocate to supplant or interfere with any counsel or guardian ad litem appointed to represent the best interests of a child in such proceeding. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, a court appointed special advocate may, in appropriate cases as determined by the court, undertake activities in furtherance of the child's best interests, until the child who is the subject of a petition filed under section 46b-129 or 46b-149 reaches twenty-one years of age.
(3) No fees shall be charged for the services provided by a court appointed special advocate.
(c) Prior to accepting any person who seeks to serve as a court appointed special advocate, the National Court Appointed Special Advocates Association or a court appointed special advocate program located in this state and affiliated with said association shall require that such person submit to (1) a state and national criminal history records check conducted in accordance with section 29-17a, and (2) a check of the state child abuse and neglect registry established under section 17a-101k. Any person who refuses to consent or cooperate in processing of such checks shall not be accepted into the court appointed special advocate program.
(d) A court appointed special advocate who acts in good faith and within the scope of the court's appointment shall not be civilly or criminally liable for actions undertaken in connection with such appointment. Any staff member of a court appointed special advocate program affiliated with the National Court Appointed Special Advocates Association who acts in good faith and within the scope of his or her employment shall not be civilly or criminally liable for actions undertaken in connection with such employment. The protection provided in this subsection shall not apply to acts or omissions that constitute intentional, wilful or wanton misconduct.
(P.A. 16-210, S. 1.)
Structure Connecticut General Statutes
Chapter 815t - Juvenile Matters
Section 46b-120. (Formerly Sec. 51-301). - Definitions.
Section 46b-121. (Formerly Sec. 51-302). - “Juvenile matters” defined. Authority of court.
Section 46b-121a. - Referral of juvenile matters to state referees.
Section 46b-121b. - Handling of juvenile matters.
Section 46b-121h. - Goals of juvenile justice system.
Section 46b-121k. - Programs, services and facilities for juvenile offenders.
Section 46b-121l. - Early intervention projects for juvenile offenders.
Section 46b-121m. - Evaluation of the costs and benefits of programs serving juvenile offenders.
Section 46b-121n. - Juvenile Justice Policy and Oversight Committee. Reports.
Section 46b-121o. - Redicivism reduction framework for the juvenile justice system.
Section 46b-121q. - Commitment of juvenile offenders. Sentence of probation.
Section 46b-121r. - Comprehensive system of graduated responses provided for juvenile offenders.
Section 46b-121s. - Community-based diversion system.
Section 46b-123. (Formerly Sec. 51-304). - Appointment of staff for juvenile matters.
Section 46b-123a. - Transfer of personnel to Division of Criminal Justice.
Section 46b-123b. - Transfer of juvenile justice centers to Judicial Department.
Section 46b-126. (Formerly Sec. 51-307). - Secure facilities for care and treatment of children.
Section 46b-128a. - Competency determinations in juvenile matters.
Section 46b-132. (Formerly Sec. 51-313). - Temporary detention places.
Section 46b-132a. - Medical care of children in juvenile residential centers.
Section 46b-133c. - Serious juvenile repeat offender prosecution. Sentencing.
Section 46b-133d. - Serious homicide, firearm or sexual offender prosecution. Sentencing.
Section 46b-133f. - Family violence mediation program on docket for juvenile matters. Report.
Section 46b-133g. - Detention risk screening instrument.
Section 46b-133h. - Parameters for releasing child from detention.
Section 46b-133i. - Suspension of delinquency proceedings for fire starting behavior treatment.
Section 46b-133l. - Report of use of chemical agents or prone restraints on detained juveniles.
Section 46b-133m. - Independent ombudsperson services provided in facilities that detain juveniles.
Section 46b-135. (Formerly Sec. 51-316). - Right to counsel and cross-examination.
Section 46b-138. (Formerly Sec. 51-319). - Summoning of witnesses. Conversation privileged.
Section 46b-138a. - Testimony of accused juvenile, parent or guardian in juvenile proceeding.
Section 46b-138b. - Statement of victim or victim's representative at delinquency proceeding.
Section 46b-139. (Formerly Sec. 51-320). - Expert medical witnesses; interpreter.
Section 46b-140. (Formerly Sec. 51-321). - Disposition upon adjudication of child as delinquent.
Section 46b-141c. - Reimbursement of costs of probation supervision.
Section 46b-141d. - Credit for presentence detention.
Section 46b-143. (Formerly Sec. 51-324). - Notice of appeal.
Section 46b-144. (Formerly Sec. 51-325). - Religious faith. Service of commitment process.
Section 46b-146. (Formerly Sec. 51-327). - Erasure of police and court records.
Section 46b-147a. - Reports on cases of children charged with serious juvenile offenses.
Section 46b-149a. - Duties of police officer re child of family with service needs.
Section 46b-149b. - Immunity of police officer or municipal official from personal liability.
Section 46b-149c. - Truancy and other family with service needs cases. Duties of Judicial Branch.
Section 46b-149e. - Family support centers.
Section 46b-150. - Emancipation of minor. Procedure. Notice. Attorney General as party.
Section 46b-150b. - Order of emancipation.
Section 46b-150d. - Effect of emancipation.
Section 46b-150e. - Emancipation under common law.