Connecticut General Statutes
Chapter 959 - Court Jurisdiction and Power
Section 54-1b. - Arraignment of prisoner. Advice as to rights.

Any accused, when he is arraigned before the Superior Court, shall be advised by a judge that he has a right to counsel, that he has a right to refuse to make any statement and that any statement he makes may be introduced in evidence against him. Each such person shall be allowed a reasonable opportunity to consult counsel.

(1963, P.A. 126, S. 1; February, 1965, P.A. 185, S. 1; 436, S. 1; 1967, P.A. 549, S. 9; 656, S. 58; 1972, P.A. 69, S. 2; P.A. 74-183, S. 125, 291; P.A. 76-436, S. 516, 681; P.A. 80-313, S. 27.)
History: 1965 acts provided bond would cover appearance in court to which accused was bound over, allowed judge to release accused on his own recognizance and added provision setting forth exceptions to requirement re presentment of accused to first session of court; 1967 acts substituted criminal “term” for criminal “session” and, effective October 1, 1968, provided accused be advised of his rights at his arraignment rather than when he is put to plea, provided alternatives to bail and added concept of incapacity in provision re exceptions to requirement for presentment of accused at first session; 1972 act added Subdiv. (4) in exception to requirement that accused be presented at first session re persons accused of misdemeanor or offenses with lesser penalties as specified; P.A. 74-183 replaced circuit court with court of common pleas, reflecting reorganization of judicial system and deleted provision first added in 1965 and amended in 1967 and 1972 re exceptions to requirement for presentment at first session of court, effective December 31, 1974; P.A. 76-436 replaced court of common pleas with superior court, reflecting transfer of all trial jurisdiction to superior court and specified that accused persons who are not released on bond or on their written promise to appear are to be committed to commissioner of correction until next criminal term of court or until discharged, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 80-313 deleted provisions detailing conditions of release on bond or promise to appear.
See Sec. 51-296 re designation of public defender for indigent defendant or codefendant.
See Sec. 54-1j re court advice re possible immigration and naturalization ramifications of guilty or nolo contendere plea.
See Sec. 54-94a re conditional plea of nolo contendere.
Prior to act, held that neither failure to warn defendant of his constitutional rights nor his lack of counsel required conclusion that his confession was involuntary. 150 C. 169. Cited. 154 C. 314, 324. Presentation before circuit court session next held in circuit where offense is alleged to have been committed means the regular session of the circuit court next to be held, excluding any session on day of arrest. 155 C. 134. Right to counsel not denied where defendant made no request for same even though defendant's attorneys, during period from his arrest to his arraignment, made repeated unsuccessful efforts to communicate with him. Id., 155. Defendant was warned of his rights prior to his plea being offered but not prior to conversation with his daughter in police barracks wherein he admitted he was guilty of crimes charged. 157 C. 25. Cited. 164 C. 402. Admission into evidence of custodial statements not violation of section. 167 C. 408. Cited. 187 C. 6; 195 C. 505; 198 C. 517; 201 C. 489; 236 C. 388.
Cited. 34 CA 261; 43 CA 209.
Cited. 39 CS 347.
Cited. 2 Conn. Cir. Ct. 573. Compliance by the state with the requirements of section in no way adversely affected defendant's right to claim that his rights were violated because the court refused to appoint counsel to represent him. 3 Conn. Cir. Ct. 624, 630. Motion to dismiss on ground constitutional right to counsel had been violated should be made prior to not guilty plea. 4 Conn. Cir. Ct. 166. Court could conclude from statements and conduct of defendant that he had effectively waived his rights. Id., 168. On-the-scene questioning of person in investigation of crime without prior warning not precluded since such person is not under restraint. Id., 195. Purpose and necessity of arraignment or presentment of accused are to fix his identity, inform him of his constitutional rights and the charge against him and give him an opportunity to plead; before arraignment, there is no issue pending to which accused can plead and entry of nolle prosequi before arraignment is not a final judgment from which an appeal lies. Id., 466. Cited. 5 Conn. Cir. Ct. 35, 40. Collective statement of their rights to group of accused may be sufficient compliance with section but not as to defendants with linguistic difficulties or below average intelligence. Id., 178. Cited. Id., 243. Defendant waived his right to counsel where he had, for 6 months, obtained postponements on this ground. 6 Conn. Cir. Ct. 58.

Structure Connecticut General Statutes