Connecticut General Statutes
Chapter 960 - Information, Procedure and Bail
Section 54-56a. (Formerly Sec. 54-2b). - Pleading by mail in certain motor vehicle cases.

In any criminal action arising out of an alleged violation of the law relating to motor vehicles, except a violation of section 14-219 specified in subsection (e) of said section 14-219, appearances, pleas of not guilty and requests for trial by jury or court may be made by or on behalf of the defendant by mailing such pleas and requests by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to the clerk of the court in which such case is to be tried, which pleas and requests shall be received by said clerk not later than the court day next preceding the court day on which the defendant is to appear. Said pleas and claims shall be filed on forms approved by the Office of the Chief Court Administrator.

(1963, P.A. 475; P.A. 74-183, S. 127, 291; P.A. 76-381, S. 3; 76-436, S. 519, 681; P.A. 77-452, S. 34, 72; P.A. 79-196; P.A. 85-446, S. 4, 6; P.A. 90-213, S. 12.)
History: P.A. 74-183 replaced circuit court with court of common pleas, reflecting reorganization of judicial system, effective December 31, 1974; P.A. 76-381 amended section to specify applicability re actions arising out of alleged commission of an infraction; P.A. 76-436 and P.A. 77-452 replaced court of common pleas with superior court, reflecting transfer of all trial jurisdiction to superior court, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 79-196 required that forms for filing pleas and claims be approved by chief court administrator's office rather than by superior court judges; Sec. 54-2b transferred to Sec. 54-56a in 1981; P.A. 85-446 deleted references to procedures for an alleged commission of an infraction, effective October 1, 1986; P.A. 90-213 added exception for a violation of Sec. 14-219 specified in Subsec. (e) of said Sec. 14-219.
Annotation to former section 54-2b:
Cited. 29 CS 155.

Structure Connecticut General Statutes

Connecticut General Statutes

Title 54 - Criminal Procedure

Chapter 960 - Information, Procedure and Bail

Section 54-42 to 54-44. - Original information in Superior Court. Bench warrant; procedure on arrest; previous bond in Court of Common Pleas. Admissibility of confession. Informations in cases appealed to Superior Court.

Section 54-45. - When grand jury is required. Selecting grand jury. Alternate grand jurors.

Section 54-45a. - Record of grand jury proceedings. Transcripts.

Section 54-46. - Prosecution on complaint or information.

Section 54-46a. - Probable cause hearing for persons charged with crimes punishable by death, life imprisonment without possibility of release or life imprisonment.

Section 54-47. - Investigations into commission of crime.

Section 54-47a. - Compelling testimony of witness. Immunity from prosecution.

Section 54-47aa. - Ex parte order to compel disclosure of or direct application to carrier or provider for certain telephone and Internet records.

Section 54-47b. - Investigatory grand jury. Definitions.

Section 54-47c. - Application for investigation into commission of crime.

Section 54-47d. - Appointment of investigatory grand jury. Duration and scope of investigation.

Section 54-47e. - Sealing of order and application. Summary of scope of investigation. Disclosure.

Section 54-47f. - Conduct of investigation. Testimony of witnesses.

Section 54-47g. - Finding and record of investigation. Disclosure. Hearing. Access to testimony.

Section 54-47h. - Report.

Section 54-47i. - Authority of investigation ordered prior to October 1, 1985.

Section 54-48. - Reward for arrest of capital offender or felon.

Section 54-49. - Reward for information as to high crime or crime resulting in death of police officer or firefighter.

Section 54-50. - Reward for information as to unlawful disinterment of corpse.

Section 54-51. - Reward for information as to theft of motor vehicle, livestock or poultry.

Section 54-52. - Determination of claims to reward.

Section 54-53. - Release by correctional officials.

Section 54-53a. - Detention of persons who have not made bail.

Section 54-54 and 54-55. - Original information in Court of Common Pleas. Information in cases appealed to Court of Common Pleas.

Section 54-56. - Dismissal of information by court.

Section 54-56a. (Formerly Sec. 54-2b). - Pleading by mail in certain motor vehicle cases.

Section 54-56b. - Right to dismissal or trial on nolle.

Section 54-56c. - Request for privileged trial status.

Section 54-56d. (Formerly Sec. 54-40). - Competency to stand trial.

Section 54-56e. (Formerly Sec. 54-76p). - Accelerated pretrial rehabilitation.

Section 54-56f. (Formerly Sec. 54-5). - Requirements of sureties of the peace.

Section 54-56g. - Pretrial alcohol education program.

Section 54-56h. - Consideration of defendant's contribution to Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund or of community service work hours. Payment of monetary contribution to fund.

Section 54-56i. - Pretrial drug education and community service program.

Section 54-56j. - Pretrial school violence prevention program.

Section 54-56k. - *(See end of section for amended version and effective date.) Pretrial account.

Section 54-56l. - Pretrial supervised diversionary program for persons with psychiatric disabilities and veterans.

Section 54-56m. - Mediation programs.

Section 54-56n. - *(See end of section for amended version and effective date.) Pretrial and diversionary program data collection and reporting.

Section 54-56o. - Nolle prosequi in certain family violence cases.

Section 54-56p. - Program for young persons charged with a motor vehicle violation or alcohol-related offense.

Section 54-56q. - (Note: This section is effective April 1, 2022.) Pretrial drug intervention and community service program.

Section 54-56r. - (Note: This section is effective April 1, 2022.) Pretrial impaired driving intervention program.

Section 54-57. - Joinder of offenses of the same character.

Section 54-58. - Description of money in complaint or information.

Section 54-59. - Statement of ownership, partnership or joint tenancy in indictment, information or complaint.

Section 54-60. - Allegations in criminal cases.

Section 54-61. - Complaints for offenses specified in special acts, ordinances and bylaws.

Section 54-62. - Allegation of previous conviction.

Section 54-63. - Mode of informing against larceny by embezzlement.

Section 54-63a. - Definitions.

Section 54-63b. - Pretrial release of arrested persons. Duties of Court Support Services Division. Uniform weighted release criteria.

Section 54-63c. - Duties of law enforcement officer or probation officer serving warrant re arrested person. Interview and release of arrested person.

Section 54-63d. - Release by bail commissioner or intake, assessment and referral specialist. Information, files and reports held by Court Support Services Division.

Section 54-63e. - Bond or promise conditioned on appearance.

Section 54-63f. - Release after conviction and pending sentence or appeal.

Section 54-63g. - Appeal from court order re release.

Section 54-64. - Police officials and clerks of court to take promise to appear or bond.

Section 54-64a. - Release by judicial authority.

Section 54-64b. - Release following arrest on court warrant.

Section 54-64c. - Notice of appearance after release.

Section 54-64d. - Release of person taken into custody on a capias.

Section 54-64e. - Noncriminal behavior as condition of release. Notice of conditions of release and sanctions for violation.

Section 54-64f. - Violation of conditions of release. Imposition of different or additional conditions. Revocation of release.

Section 54-64g. - Surveillance of serious felony offenders released on bond.

Section 54-65. - Procedure when surety believes principal intends to abscond. Application for release of surety from bond if principal absconds.

Section 54-65a. - Forfeiture of bond for failure to appear. Issuance of rearrest warrant or capias. Termination or reinstatement of bond. Rebate to surety.

Section 54-65b. - Verification of rearrest warrant or capias upon request.

Section 54-65c. - Vacating forfeiture of bond.

Section 54-66. - Acceptance and disposition of bail. Pledge of real property as lien. Forfeiture of bond for failure to appear. Issuance of rearrest warrant or capias. Termination or reinstatement of bond.

Section 54-66a. - *(See end of section for amended version and effective date.) Automatic termination of bail bonds.

Section 54-67. - When attorneys not allowed to give bonds.

Section 54-68. - Persons charged with gaming to give bonds.

Section 54-69. - Motion of parties to modify conditions of release.

Section 54-69a. - Motion of bail commissioner or intake, assessment and referral specialist to modify conditions of release.

Section 54-69b. - Authority of court to modify conditions of release.

Section 54-70. - Compromise of forfeited bonds.

Section 54-71. - Mistake in form of recognizance.

Section 54-71a. - No civil liability for release.

Section 54-72. - Fines and forfeitures; prosecutions; liability of corporation.

Section 54-73. - Collection and disposition of forfeitures.

Section 54-74. - Remission of fine.

Section 54-75. - Employment of detectives.

Section 54-76a. - Procedure at hearing in probable cause.