Connecticut Criminal Lawyer Blog

The Community Service Labor Program (CSLP) (C.G.S. § 53a-39c) is available if you are charged with violating Conn.Gen.Stat.Sec 21a-267 or 21a-279. A person who previously has been convicted of a violation of C.G.S. §§ 21-267, 21a-277, 21a-278 or 21a-279 is not eligible for the program. The program may be granted (1) as a “suspended prosecution” pretrial diversionary program, or (2) for a person who has previously participated in the program, as a condition of probation or conditional discharge with a suspended sentence. No person may be placed in the program more than twice.

A person who is granted the “suspended prosecution” program is referred to the Court Support Service Division (CSSD) for placement in the program. A drug education component is required. If the defendant successfully completes the program, the charges are dismissed by the court.
The period of community service shall be a minimum of fourteen days for a first violation and thirty days for a second violation involving a plea of guilty and conviction.

There is a $205.00 participation fee for this program. This was only a brief overview of the program as stated on the the State of Connecticut Judicial Branch's website. When charged with a crime, you should always consult with an attorney.

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The Youthful Offender Program (YO) is available to you if you have been charged with a crime and you are under the age of 18. As a caveat, this program is not a pretrial diversionary program, like Accelerated Rehabilitation (see my other blog on this program) but rather an alternative to prosecution youths. All 16- and 17- year-old defendants are presumed
to be eligible for YO status. As always, there are exemptions. You are not eligible if you have been charged with certain felonies, have already been convicted of a felony on the adult
docket, or have been adjudicated as a serious juvenile offender.

Upon the adjudication of you as a youthful offender, the court may (1) commit you, (2) impose a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars, (3) impose a sentence of conditional discharge or a sentence of unconditional discharge, (4) impose a sentence of community service, (5) impose a sentence to a term of imprisonment not greater than that authorized by the crime committed by the defendant but in no case for more than four years, (6) impose a sentence and suspend the execution of the sentence, entirely or after a period set by the court, (7) order treatment
pursuant to section 17a-699, or (8) if a criminal docket for drug-dependent persons has been established pursuant to section 51-181b in the judicial district in which the defendant was adjudicated a youthful offender, transfer the supervision of the defendant to the court handling such docket.

Records and proceedings of young persons are confidential and Youthful Offender adjudications are not deemed convictions. There is no fee for the youthful offender program. This was just an overview of the program and does not contain certain details. Always consult with an attorney when charged with a crime.

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The purpose of the Pre-Trial Drug Education Program (Conn.Gen.Stat.Sec. 54-56i) is to avoid conviction and provide education on less serious drug offenses. This program is for those of you who are charged with possession or delivery of drug paraphernalila (21a-267) (includes (c) which requires a one year jail sentence for possession or delivery by a non-student within 1500 feet of elementary or secondary school) and possession of a controlled substance under 21a-279 (includes (d) which requires a two year jail sentence for possession by a non-student within 1500 feet of elementary or secondary school, or a licensed day care center).

You are not eligible for this program if you have used this program before. If granted the program you agree to the tolling of the statute of limitations, waive your rights to a speedy trial, to accept placement in a treatment program on the recommendation of a provider, successful completion of four days of a community service labor program. You also agree to pay a non-refundable fee of $350 but you cannot be excluded for an inability to pay.

Like most programs, upon satisfactory completion of the program, the court, on your motion or the court's motion shall dismiss the charges. Like most of my blogs, this was just an overview of the program and is not a substitute for the advice of counsel. Please consult an attorney when charged with a crime.

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Here is a brief outline of the Family Violence Education Program. Because it is brief, it does not a comprehensive overview of the program. As always, you should seek the advice of counsel when charged with a crime.

The purpose of the Family Violence Education Program (Conn.Gen.Stat. Sec. 46b-38c), is to provide treatment and to avoid a criminal conviction and sanctions for persons involved in a family violence offense. To be eligible, you must have been involved with: (1) a crime containing an act of "family violence" and (2) physical harm or injury or assault. People who have some sort of family relationship are spouses or former spouse, parents and their kids, those with a common child, persons in or having recently been in a dating relationship.

The Program is not available if you have used the program before, charged with an A, B or C felony, you were convicted of a family violence crime, you have used AR for a "Family Violence" crime.

If admitted to the program, you are required to attend 8 classes. On a finding of "satisfactorily compliance" court shall dismiss the charges. If you are unsuccessful in completing the program, the case will be brought to trial. As a precaution, restraining orders may be issued and firearms may be temporarily seized under some circumstances (see 46b-33b(a) and 46b-38c).

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