Connecticut General Statutes
Chapter 961 - Trial and Proceedings after Conviction
Section 54-91a. (Formerly Sec. 54-109). - Presentence investigation of defendant.

(a) No defendant convicted of a crime, other than a capital felony under the provisions of section 53a-54b in effect prior to April 25, 2012, or murder with special circumstances under the provisions of section 53a-54b in effect on or after April 25, 2012, the punishment for which may include imprisonment for more than one year, may be sentenced, or the defendant's case otherwise disposed of, until a written report of investigation by a probation officer has been presented to and considered by the court, if the defendant is so convicted for the first time in this state or upon any conviction of a felony involving family violence pursuant to section 46b-38a for which the punishment may include imprisonment; but any court may, in its discretion, order a presentence investigation for a defendant convicted of any crime or offense other than a capital felony under the provisions of section 53a-54b in effect prior to April 25, 2012, or murder with special circumstances under the provisions of section 53a-54b in effect on or after April 25, 2012.

(b) A defendant who is convicted of a crime and is not eligible for sentence review pursuant to section 51-195 may, with the consent of the sentencing judge and the prosecuting official, waive the presentence investigation, except that the presentence investigation may not be waived when the defendant is convicted of a felony involving family violence pursuant to section 46b-38a and the punishment for which may include imprisonment.
(c) Whenever an investigation is required, the probation officer shall promptly inquire into the circumstances of the offense, the attitude of the complainant or victim, or of the immediate family where possible in cases of homicide, and the criminal record, social history and present condition of the defendant. Such investigation shall include an inquiry into any damages suffered by the victim, including medical expenses, loss of earnings and property loss. All local and state police agencies shall furnish to the probation officer such criminal records as the probation officer may request. When in the opinion of the court or the investigating authority it is desirable, such investigation shall include a physical and mental examination of the defendant. If the defendant is committed to any institution, the investigating agency shall send the reports of such investigation to the institution at the time of commitment.
(d) In lieu of ordering a full presentence investigation, the court may order an abridged version of such investigation, which (1) shall contain (A) identifying information about the defendant, (B) information about the pending case from the record of the court, (C) the circumstances of the offense, (D) the attitude of the complainant or victim, (E) any damages suffered by the victim, including medical expenses, loss of earnings and property loss, and (F) the criminal record of the defendant, and (2) may encompass one or more areas of the social history and present condition of the defendant, including family background, significant relationships or children, educational attainment or vocational training, employment history, financial situation, housing situation, medical status, mental health status, substance abuse history, the results of any clinical evaluation conducted of the defendant or any other information required by the court that is consistent with the provisions of this section. If the court orders an abridged version of such investigation for a felony involving family violence, as defined in section 46b-38a, the abridged version of such investigation shall, in addition to the information set forth in subdivision (1) of this subsection, contain the following information concerning the defendant: (A) Family background, (B) significant relationships or children, (C) mental health status, and (D) substance abuse history.
(e) Any information contained in the files or report of an investigation pursuant to this section shall be available to the Court Support Services Division for the purpose of performing the duties contained in section 54-63d and to the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services for purposes of diagnosis and treatment.
(1955, S. 3337d; 1957, P.A. 639, S. 1; 1959, P.A. 615, S. 14; P.A. 76-336, S. 6; P.A. 78-188, S. 5, 8; P.A. 80-313, S. 48; P.A. 82-281; 82-298, S. 5; P.A. 85-98; P.A. 90-261, S. 12, 19; P.A. 95-225, S. 35; 95-261, S. 4; P.A. 00-64, S. 1; P.A. 02-132, S. 41; P.A. 03-48, S. 1; P.A. 12-5, S. 30; P.A. 17-31, S. 8; P.A. 19-64, S. 12; P.A. 21-40, S. 54.)
History: 1959 act required report of probation officer's investigation prior to sentencing if defendant's record discloses a conviction obtained prior to three years from present conviction; P.A. 76-336 substituted references to capital felony for references to first degree murder where appearing; P.A. 78-188 required that criminal records be furnished to restitution specialists upon their request; P.A. 80-313 divided section into Subsecs. and substituted “may” for “shall” in provision re required reports of probation officer in Subsec. (a); Sec. 54-109 transferred to Sec. 54-91a in 1981; P.A. 82-281 amended Subsec. (a)(2) to increase from three to five years the period of time between convictions, and inserted a new Subsec. (b) authorizing certain defendants to waive the investigation, relettering former Subsec. (b) accordingly; P.A. 82-298 deleted references to restitution specialists in newly relettered Subsec. (c); P.A. 85-98 amended Subsec. (c) by adding provision requiring the investigation to include an inquiry into any damages suffered by the victim; P.A. 90-261 amended Subsec. (c) by adding provision requiring the investigation to include an inquiry into whether the department of correction recommends that the defendant participate in a special alternative incarceration program; P.A. 95-225 and P.A. 95-261 both added substantially identical provisions as new Subsec. (d) authorizing the disclosure of information in the files or report of an investigation to the Office of the Bail Commission for the purpose of performing the duties in Sec. 54-63d (Revisor's note: P.A. 95-225 provided that “Any information contained in the files or report of an investigation made pursuant to this section may be disclosed to the Office of the Bail Commission …”, whereas P.A. 95-261 provided that “Any information contained in the files or report of an investigation pursuant to this section shall be available to the Office of the Bail Commission …”); P.A. 00-64 amended Subsec. (a) by making technical changes and deleting provision that required investigation if record of defendant, as shown by prosecutor, discloses conviction obtained prior to five years from guilty finding in present prosecution, and amended Subsec. (d) by adding provision making information contained in files or report available to Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services for purposes of diagnosis and treatment; P.A. 02-132 amended Subsec. (d) by replacing “Office of the Bail Commission” with “Court Support Services Division”; P.A. 03-48 amended Subsec. (c) to delete provision requiring investigation to include an inquiry into whether the Department of Correction recommends that the defendant participate in a special alternative incarceration program in accordance with Sec. 53a-39b, reflecting repeal of said Sec. by the same public act; P.A. 12-5 amended Subsec. (a) to add references to provisions of Sec. 53a-54b in effect prior to April 25, 2012, re capital felony and add references to murder with special circumstances under Sec. 53a-54b, effective April 25, 2012; P.A. 17-31 amended Subsecs. (a) and (b) to add provisions re felony involving family violence; P.A. 19-64 added new Subsec. (d) re court's authority to order abridged version of presentence investigation of defendant and redesignated existing Subsec. (d) as Subsec. (e); P.A. 21-40 made a technical change in Subsec. (d).

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