A person who has been convicted of any offense, except a violation of section 53a-54a, 53a-54b, 53a-54c or 53a-54d, and is either awaiting sentence or has given oral or written notice of such person's intention to appeal or file a petition for certification or a writ of certiorari may be released pending final disposition of the case, unless the court finds custody to be necessary to provide reasonable assurance of such person's appearance in court, upon the first of the following conditions of release found sufficient by the court to provide such assurance: (1) Upon such person's execution of a written promise to appear, (2) upon such person's execution of a bond without surety in no greater amount than necessary, (3) upon such person's execution of a bond with surety in no greater amount than necessary, (4) upon such person's deposit, with the clerk of the court having jurisdiction of the offense with which such person stands convicted or any assistant clerk of such court who is bonded in the same manner as the clerk or any person or officer authorized to accept bail, a sum of money equal to the amount called for by the bond required by the court, or (5) upon such person's pledge of real property, the equity of which is equal to the amount called for by the bond required by the court, provided the person pledging such property is the owner of such property. When cash bail is offered, such bond shall be executed and the money shall be received in lieu of a surety or sureties upon such bond. Such cash bail shall be retained by the clerk of such court until a final order of the court disposing of the same is passed, provided, if such bond is forfeited, the clerk of such court shall pay the money to the payee named therein, according to the terms and conditions of the bond.
(1967, P.A. 549, S. 14; P.A. 89-47; P.A. 98-51; P.A. 00-200, S. 5; P.A. 18-127, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 89-47 added Subdivs. (4) and (5) authorizing release upon the deposit of a sum of money or upon the pledge of real property, respectively, and added provisions re the execution of the bond when cash bail is offered and the retention and disposition of such cash bail; P.A. 98-51 prohibited the release of a person convicted of violating Sec. 53a-54a, 53a-54b, 53a-54c or 53a-54d; P.A. 00-200 prohibited the release of a person convicted of “any offense involving the use, attempted use or threatened use of physical force against another person” and made technical changes; P.A. 18-127 deleted “or any offense involving the use, attempted use or threatened use of physical force against another person” re exceptions to granting release, effective June 11, 2018.
Bail under section is entirely disconnected from preconviction bail and presumption of innocence and should be granted with great caution. 159 C. 264. Section violates separation of powers provision contained in Art. II of the Connecticut Constitution, as amended by Art. XVIII of the amendments, insofar as it prohibits trial court from releasing on bail any person who has been convicted of an offense “involving the use, attempted use or threatened use of physical force against another person” because it presents significant interference with the orderly functioning of Superior Court's judicial role. 261 C. 492. The right to bail under the Connecticut constitution is extinguished upon conviction, i.e., a finding of guilt, accepted by the court. 327 C. 932.
Supreme Court's determination of unconstitutionality in 261 C. 492 should be applied retroactively, as it could have impact on defendant's sentence. 89 CA 729.
Cited. 29 CS 339.
Structure Connecticut General Statutes
Chapter 960 - Information, Procedure and Bail
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 54-47. - Investigations into commission of crime.
Section 54-47a. - Compelling testimony of witness. Immunity from prosecution.
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 54-47i. - Authority of investigation ordered prior to October 1, 1985.
Section 54-48. - Reward for arrest of capital offender or felon.
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 54-56. - 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 54-56i. - 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 54-56m. - Mediation programs.
Section 54-56o. - Nolle prosequi in certain family violence cases.
Section 54-57. - Joinder of offenses of the same character.
Section 54-58. - Description of money in complaint or information.
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 54-63e. - 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 54-64g. - Surveillance of serious felony offenders released on bond.
Section 54-65b. - Verification of rearrest warrant or capias upon request.
Section 54-65c. - Vacating forfeiture of bond.
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 54-69b. - 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.