Connecticut General Statutes 54-250 – Definitions
For the purposes of sections 54-102g and 54-250 to 54-258a, inclusive:
Terms Used In Connecticut General Statutes 54-250
- another: may extend and be applied to communities, companies, corporations, public or private, limited liability companies, societies and associations. See Connecticut General Statutes 1-1
- Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
- Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
- Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
- Habeas corpus: A writ that is usually used to bring a prisoner before the court to determine the legality of his imprisonment. It may also be used to bring a person in custody before the court to give testimony, or to be prosecuted.
- intellectual disability: means a significant limitation in intellectual functioning existing concurrently with deficits in adaptive behavior that originated during the developmental period before eighteen years of age. See Connecticut General Statutes 1-1g
- Nolo contendere: No contest-has the same effect as a plea of guilty, as far as the criminal sentence is concerned, but may not be considered as an admission of guilt for any other purpose.
- Plea: In a criminal case, the defendant's statement pleading "guilty" or "not guilty" in answer to the charges, a declaration made in open court.
- Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
- Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
(1) “Conviction” means a judgment entered by a court upon a plea of guilty, a plea of nolo contendere or a finding of guilty by a jury or the court notwithstanding any pending appeal or habeas corpus proceeding arising from such judgment.
(2) “Criminal offense against a victim who is a minor” means (A) a violation of subdivision (2) of § 53-21 of the general statutes in effect prior to October 1, 2000, subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of § 53-21, subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of § 53a-70, subdivision (1), (4), (8) or (10) or subparagraph (B) of subdivision (9) of subsection (a) of § 53a-71, subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of § 53a-72a, subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of § 53a-86, subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of § 53a-87, § 53a-90a, 53a-196a, 53a-196b, 53a-196c, 53a-196d, 53a-196e or 53a-196f, (B) a violation of subparagraph (A) of subdivision (9) of subsection (a) of § 53a-71 or § 53a-92, 53a-92a, 53a-94, 53a-94a, 53a-95, 53a-96 or 53a-186, provided the court makes a finding that, at the time of the offense, the victim was under eighteen years of age, (C) a violation of any of the offenses specified in subparagraph (A) or (B) of this subdivision for which a person is criminally liable under § 53a-8, 53a-48 or 53a-49, or (D) a violation of any predecessor statute to any offense specified in subparagraph (A), (B) or (C) of this subdivision the essential elements of which are substantially the same as said offense.
(3) “Identifying factors” means fingerprints, a photographic image, and a description of any other identifying characteristics as may be required by the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection. The commissioner shall also require a sample of the registrant’s blood or other biological sample be taken for DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) analysis, unless such sample has been previously obtained in accordance with § 54-102g.
(4) “Mental abnormality” means a congenital or acquired condition of a person that affects the emotional or volitional capacity of the person in a manner that predisposes that person to the commission of criminal sexual acts to a degree that makes the person a menace to the health and safety of other persons.
(5) “Nonviolent sexual offense” means (A) a violation of § 53a-73a or subdivision (2), (3) or (4) of subsection (a) of § 53a-189a, or (B) a violation of any of the offenses specified in subparagraph (A) of this subdivision for which a person is criminally liable under § 53a-8, 53a-48 or 53a-49.
(6) “Not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect” means a finding by a court or jury of not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect pursuant to § 53a-13 notwithstanding any pending appeal or habeas corpus proceeding arising from such finding.
(7) “Personality disorder” means a condition as defined in the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, published by the American Psychiatric Association.
(8) “Registrant” means a person required to register under § 54-251, 54-252, 54-253 or 54-254.
(9) “Registry” means a central record system in this state, any other state or the federal government that receives, maintains and disseminates information on persons convicted or found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect of criminal offenses against victims who are minors, nonviolent sexual offenses, sexually violent offenses and felonies found by the sentencing court to have been committed for a sexual purpose.
(10) “Release into the community” means, with respect to a conviction or a finding of not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect of a criminal offense against a victim who is a minor, a nonviolent sexual offense, a sexually violent offense or a felony found by the sentencing court to have been committed for a sexual purpose, (A) any release by a court after such conviction or finding of not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect, a sentence of probation or any other sentence under § 53a-28 that does not result in the offender’s immediate placement in the custody of the Commissioner of Correction; (B) release from a correctional facility at the discretion of the Board of Pardons and Paroles, by the Department of Correction to a program authorized by § 18-100c or upon completion of the maximum term or terms of the offender’s sentence or sentences, or to the supervision of the Court Support Services Division in accordance with the terms of the offender’s sentence; or (C) temporary leave to an approved residence by the Psychiatric Security Review Board pursuant to § 17a-587, conditional release from a hospital for mental illness or a facility for persons with intellectual disability by the Psychiatric Security Review Board pursuant to § 17a-588, or release upon termination of commitment to the Psychiatric Security Review Board.
(11) “Sexually violent offense” means (A) a violation of § 53a-70b of the general statutes, revision of 1958, revised to January 1, 2019, or § 53a-70, except subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of said section, 53a-70a, 53a-71, except subdivision (1), (4), (8) or (10) or subparagraph (B) of subdivision (9) of subsection (a) of said section or subparagraph (A) of subdivision (9) of subsection (a) of said section if the court makes a finding that, at the time of the offense, the victim was under eighteen years of age, 53a-72a, except subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of said section, or 53a-72b, or of § 53a-92 or 53a-92a, provided the court makes a finding that the offense was committed with intent to sexually violate or abuse the victim, (B) a violation of any of the offenses specified in subparagraph (A) of this subdivision for which a person is criminally liable under § 53a-8, 53a-48 or 53a-49, or (C) a violation of any predecessor statute to any of the offenses specified in subparagraph (A) or (B) of this subdivision the essential elements of which are substantially the same as said offense.
(12) “Sexual purpose” means that a purpose of the defendant in committing the felony was to engage in sexual contact or sexual intercourse with another person without that person’s consent. A sexual purpose need not be the sole purpose of the commission of the felony. The sexual purpose may arise at any time in the course of the commission of the felony.
(13) “Employed” or “carries on a vocation” means employment that is full-time or part-time for more than fourteen days, or for a total period of time of more than thirty days during any calendar year, whether financially compensated, volunteered or for the purpose of government or educational benefit.
(14) “Student” means a person who is enrolled on a full-time or part-time basis, in any public or private educational institution, including any secondary school, trade or professional institution or institution of higher learning.