Connecticut General Statutes 54-142g – Definitions
For purposes of this part and sections 29-11 and 54-142c, the following definitions shall apply:
Terms Used In Connecticut General Statutes 54-142g
- 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.
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- 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.
- 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.
- Victim advocate: work with prosecutors and assist the victims of a crime.
(a) “Criminal history record information” means court records and information compiled by criminal justice agencies for purposes of identifying criminal offenders and of maintaining as to each such offender notations of arrests, releases, detentions, indictments, informations, or other formal criminal charges or any events and outcomes arising from those arrests, releases, detentions, including pleas, trials, sentences, appeals, incarcerations, correctional supervision, paroles and releases; but does not include intelligence, presentence investigation, investigative information or any information which may be disclosed pursuant to subsection (f) of § 54-63d.
(b) “Criminal justice agency” means any court with criminal jurisdiction, the Department of Motor Vehicles or any other governmental agency created by statute which is authorized by law and engages, in fact, as its principal function in activities constituting the administration of criminal justice, including, but not limited to, organized municipal police departments, the Division of Criminal Justice, the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, including the Division of State Police, the Department of Correction, the Court Support Services Division, the Office of Policy and Management, the state’s attorneys, assistant state’s attorneys and deputy assistant state’s attorneys, the Board of Pardons and Paroles, the Chief Medical Examiner and the Office of the Victim Advocate. “Criminal justice agency” includes any component of a public, noncriminal justice agency if such component is created by statute and is authorized by law and, in fact, engages in activities constituting the administration of criminal justice as its principal function.
(c) “Conviction information” means criminal history record information which has not been erased, as provided in § 54-142a, and which discloses that a person has pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to, or was convicted of, any criminal offense, and the terms of the sentence.
(d) “Current offender information” means information on the current status and location of all persons who (1) are arrested or summoned to appear in court; (2) are being prosecuted for any criminal offense in Superior Court; (3) have an appeal pending from any criminal conviction; (4) are detained or incarcerated in any correctional facility in this state; or (5) are subject to the jurisdiction or supervision of any probation, parole or correctional agency in this state, including persons transferred to other states for incarceration or supervision.
(e) “Nonconviction information” means (1) criminal history record information that has been “erased” pursuant to § 54-142a; (2) information relating to persons granted youthful offender status; (3) continuances which are more than thirteen months old. Nonconviction information does not mean conviction information or current offender information.
(f) “Disclosure” means the communication of information to any person by any means.
(g) “Dismissal” means (1) prosecution of the charge against the accused was declined pursuant to rules of court or statute; or (2) the judicial authority granted a motion to dismiss pursuant to rules of court or statute; or (3) the judicial authority found that prosecution is no longer possible due to the limitations imposed by § 54-193.