Connecticut General Statutes
Chapter 815t - Juvenile Matters
Section 46b-138a. - Testimony of accused juvenile, parent or guardian in juvenile proceeding.

In any juvenile proceeding in the Superior Court, the accused child shall be a competent witness, and at his or her option may testify or refuse to testify in such proceedings. The parent or guardian of such child shall be a competent witness but may elect or refuse to testify for or against the accused child except that a parent or guardian who has received personal violence from the child may, upon the child's trial for offenses arising from such personal violence, be compelled to testify in the same manner as any other witness. No unfavorable inferences shall be drawn by the court from the accused child's silence.

(P.A. 79-263.)
Section explicitly provides that an accused child, as well as his parent or guardian, may refuse to testify in a delinquency proceeding, and that no adverse inference may be drawn against the accused child. 268 C. 614.

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Structure Connecticut General Statutes

Connecticut General Statutes

Title 46b - Family Law

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-121i and 46b-121j. - Duties and responsibilities of the Judicial Department in providing programs and services to the juvenile justice system. Programs and probation treatment services for juvenile offenders.

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-121p. - Training and monitoring deescalation efforts in secure and congregate care settings. Tracking of arrests and recidivism rates.

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-122. (Formerly Sec. 51-303). - Juvenile matters separated from other court business when practicable. Exclusion of persons from hearing. Exceptions.

Section 46b-122a. - Use of mechanical restraints during juvenile proceedings. Statistics concerning use of restraints.

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-123c to 46b-123e. - Commission on Child Protection; membership; duties. Chief Child Protection Attorney; duties; contracts for legal services. Eligibility for counsel in family relations or juvenile matters; procedure for appointment or a...

Section 46b-123f. - Transfer of legal authority over delinquent children committed to the Department of Children and Families to the Judicial Branch.

Section 46b-124. (Formerly Sec. 51-305). - Confidentiality of records of juvenile matters. Exceptions.

Section 46b-124. (Formerly Sec. 51-305). *(See end of section for amende - Confidentiality of records of juvenile matters. Exceptions.

Section 46b-124a. - Access to records of cases of juvenile matters by victim of delinquent act committed by a child.

Section 46b-125. (Formerly Sec. 51-306). - Juvenile probation officers and juvenile matters investigators. Rights in retirement system. Duties and authority.

Section 46b-126. (Formerly Sec. 51-307). - Secure facilities for care and treatment of children.

Section 46b-126a. - Out-of-school suspensions for children residing in juvenile facilities prohibited.

Section 46b-127. (Formerly Sec. 51-308). - Transfer of child charged with a felony to the regular criminal docket. Transfer of youth aged sixteen or seventeen to docket for juvenile matters.

Section 46b-128. (Formerly Sec. 51-309). - Investigation of delinquency complaint. Nonjudicial disposition. Petition of delinquency. Summoning of child and parent or guardian.

Section 46b-128a. - Competency determinations in juvenile matters.

Section 46b-129. (Formerly Sec. 51-310). - Commitment of child or youth. Petition for neglected, uncared for or abused child or youth. Hearing re temporary custody, order to appear or petition. Review of permanency plan. Cost of care and maintenance...

Section 46b-129a. - Examination by physician, psychiatrist or psychologist. Counsel and guardian ad litem. Testimony. Evidence.

Section 46b-129b. - Filing of petition for adoption and written agreement of adoption by Commissioner of Children and Families. Review of adoption social study and other reports. Hearing. Adoptive parents entitled to receive copies of records and oth...

Section 46b-129c. - “Court appointed special advocate” defined. Appointment, duties, background checks and limited civil or criminal liability for actions undertaken.

Section 46b-130. (Formerly Sec. 51-311). - Reimbursement for expense of care and maintenance. Assignment of right of support to Commissioner of Children and Families. Parents' assistance in pursuing support.

Section 46b-131. (Formerly Sec. 51-312). - Custody of alleged delinquent child pending disposition. Bail.

Section 46b-132. (Formerly Sec. 51-313). - Temporary detention places.

Section 46b-132a. - Medical care of children in juvenile residential centers.

Section 46b-133. (Formerly Sec. 51-314). - Arrest of child. Notice of arrest. Release or detention of arrested child. Alcohol or drug testing or treatment as condition of release. Admission of child to juvenile residential center. Entry of take into...

Section 46b-133a. - Right to trial or dismissal upon nolle prosequi of delinquency charge. Erasure of records.

Section 46b-133b. - Suspension of delinquency proceedings for treatment for alcohol or drug dependency.

Section 46b-133c. - Serious juvenile repeat offender prosecution. Sentencing.

Section 46b-133d. - Serious homicide, firearm or sexual offender prosecution. Sentencing.

Section 46b-133e. - Suspension of delinquency proceedings for participation in school violence prevention program.

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-133j. - Suspension of delinquency proceeding for participation in services to address condition or behavior related to an offense involving a motor vehicle.

Section 46b-133k. - Policy re suicidal and self-harming behaviors and use of solitary confinement, prone restraints and chemical agents in juvenile detention centers and correctional facilities detaining juveniles. Reporting.

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-133n. - (Note: This section is effective July 1, 2022.) Communication services in juvenile detention facilities.

Section 46b-133o. - Access to juvenile residential centers. Nondisclosure of information identifying a juvenile. penalty.

Section 46b-133p. - Submission of copy of form to detain by law enforcement officer. Judicial Branch data compilation and report.

Section 46b-134. (Formerly Sec. 51-315). - Investigation by probation officer prior to disposition of delinquency case. Physical, mental and diagnostic examination.

Section 46b-135. (Formerly Sec. 51-316). - Right to counsel and cross-examination.

Section 46b-136. (Formerly Sec. 51-317). - Appointment of attorney to represent child or youth and parent or guardian. Payment for the cost of attorney.

Section 46b-137. (Formerly Sec. 51-318). - Admissibility of admission, confession or statement in juvenile proceedings.

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-140a. - Modification of conditions of probation supervision or probation supervision with residential placement. Violation of conditions.

Section 46b-141 (Formerly Sec. 51-322) to 46b-141b. - Length of commitments; motion for extension of commitment; permanency hearing; permanency plan; reopening and termination. Placement of delinquent child in alternative incarceration program. Proba...

Section 46b-141c. - Reimbursement of costs of probation supervision.

Section 46b-141d. - Credit for presentence detention.

Section 46b-142. (Formerly Sec. 51-323). - Venue of petitions. Appeal to Appellate Court. Expedited hearing in termination of parental rights appeals.

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-145. (Formerly Sec. 51-326). - Prohibition on prosecution of child before regular criminal docket. Exceptions.

Section 46b-146. (Formerly Sec. 51-327). - Erasure of police and court records.

Section 46b-147. (Formerly Sec. 51-328). - Proceedings inadmissible as evidence in criminal proceedings.

Section 46b-147a. - Reports on cases of children charged with serious juvenile offenses.

Section 46b-148. (Formerly Sec. 51-329). - Child from family with service needs not to be held in juvenile residential center or convicted as delinquent for violation of court order re future conduct. Court determination re placement or commitment of...

Section 46b-149. - Child from family with service needs. Complaint. Review by probation officer. Referral for services. Procedure. Hearing. Order. Modification of conditions. Permanency plan and hearing.

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-149d. - Demonstration project to establish school and community-based truancy prevention initiative. Sites. Grant eligibility. Establishment of truancy or family with service needs docket. Duties of Court Support Services Division.

Section 46b-149e. - Family support centers.

Section 46b-149f. - Child from family with service needs who violates valid court order or is in imminent risk of physical harm. Petition. Hearing. Order.

Section 46b-150. - Emancipation of minor. Procedure. Notice. Attorney General as party.

Section 46b-150a. - Investigation of petition for emancipation. Report. Appointment of counsel. Probate Court may order examination.

Section 46b-150b. - Order of emancipation.

Section 46b-150c. - Appeal.

Section 46b-150d. - Effect of emancipation.

Section 46b-150e. - Emancipation under common law.

Section 46b-150f to 46b-150h. - Youth in crisis; petition; court orders; violations. Duties of police officer re youth in crisis. Youth in crisis pilot program in Middletown probate district.

Section 46b-150i. - Appearances filed in Probate Court to continue in superior court for juvenile matters.

Section 46b-151 to 46b-151g. (Formerly Secs. 17-75 to 17-81). - Declaration of policy. Compact. Amendment to compact concerning interstate rendition of juveniles alleged to be delinquent. Compact administrator. Supplementary agreements. Payments by s...

Section 46b-151h. - Interstate Compact for Juveniles.

Section 46b-151i. - Chief Court Administrator as administrator of the Interstate Compact for Juveniles.

Section 46b-152 to 46b-159. - Reserved for future use.