(a) The court, upon motion of a child charged with an offense involving the use or threatened use of physical violence in or on the real property comprising a public or private elementary or secondary school or at a school-sponsored activity as defined in subsection (h) of section 10-233a, may order the suspension of the delinquency proceedings for a period of one year and order the child to participate in a school violence prevention program during the period of suspension if the court, after consideration of information before it, finds that (1) the child presently needs and is likely to benefit from participation in a school violence prevention program, and (2) the suspension of the delinquency proceedings will advance the interests of justice.
(b) As a condition of eligibility for suspension of prosecution and placement in a school violence prevention program pursuant to this section, (1) the child shall agree to participate in a program of anger management and nonviolent conflict resolution consisting of group counseling sessions, and to satisfactorily complete such program, (2) the child shall agree to comply with any orders of the court, and (3) the parents or guardian of such child shall certify under penalty of false statement that, to the best of such parents' or guardian's knowledge and belief, neither such parent or guardian nor such child possesses any firearms, dangerous weapons, controlled substances or other property or materials the possession of which is prohibited by law or in violation of the law.
(c) The cost of participation in such program shall be paid by the parent or guardian of such child, except that no child shall be excluded from such program for inability to pay such cost provided (1) the parent or guardian of such child files with the court an affidavit of indigency or inability to pay, and (2) the court enters a finding thereof.
(d) During the period of suspension, a child shall be placed under the supervision of a juvenile probation officer for placement in a school violence prevention program and such officer shall monitor the compliance of the child with the orders of the court including, but not limited to, maintaining contact with the child and officials of the child's school.
(e) If the court denies the motion for suspension of the delinquency proceedings, the prosecutorial official may proceed with the delinquency proceedings. Any order of the court granting or denying a motion for suspension of the delinquency proceedings shall not be deemed a final order for purposes of appeal.
(f) At any time before the end of the period of the suspension of the delinquency proceedings, but not later than one month before the end of the period of suspension, a juvenile probation officer shall notify the court of the impending conclusion of the suspension and submit a report on whether the child has satisfactorily completed the school violence prevention program and has complied with all other conditions of the suspension order imposed by the court.
(g) If the court, on motion of the child or on its own motion, finds that the child has satisfactorily completed the school violence prevention program and has complied with all other conditions of suspension, and one year has elapsed since the child was placed in such program, it may dismiss the charge for which the delinquency proceedings had been suspended. If the court denies the motion and terminates the suspension of the delinquency proceedings, the prosecutorial official may proceed with such proceedings.
(P.A. 99-259, S. 1, 3; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7, S. 127, 128; P.A. 17-99, S. 4.)
History: P.A. 99-259 effective January 1, 2000; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7 amended Subsecs. (e) and (g) to replace “juvenile prosecutor” with “prosecutorial official”, effective October 5, 2009; P.A. 17-99 amended Subsec. (b)(1) by deleting “at least eight” re group counseling sessions.
See Sec. 54-56j re pretrial school violence prevention program.
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.