(a) At any time after a court enters a judgment of conviction for any misdemeanor offense or a class C, D or E felony or any unclassified felony offense carrying a term of imprisonment of not more than ten years, the defendant may apply to the Superior Court to vacate such judgment of conviction on the basis that his or her participation in the offense was a result of having been a victim of conduct of another person that constitutes (1) trafficking in persons under § 53a-192a, or (2) a criminal violation of 18 USC chapter 77, as amended from time to time.

Terms Used In Connecticut General Statutes 54-95c

  • 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
  • Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
  • 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.
  • Dismissal: The dropping of a case by the judge without further consideration or hearing. Source:

(b) Any person seeking to have a judgment vacated pursuant to this section shall send notice by registered or certified mail on a form prescribed by the Office of the Chief Court Administrator to any victim of the crime for which such person was convicted. The notice shall inform each victim that such person has applied to vacate such conviction and the victim has the opportunity to be heard by the court on the application.

(c) Prior to rendering a decision on a defendant’s application to vacate any judgment of conviction, the court shall afford the prosecutor a reasonable opportunity to investigate the defendant’s claim, and shall provide the victim and the prosecutor an opportunity to be heard regarding the defendant’s application.

(d) If the defendant proves that he or she was a victim of trafficking in persons pursuant to § 53a-192a, or a victim of a criminal violation of 18 USC chapter 77, as amended from time to time, at the time of any offense described in subsection (a) of this section for which the defendant has applied for vacatur, (1) the court shall vacate any judgment of conviction entered for a violation of § 53a-82 and dismiss the charge related to such conviction, and (2) the court may, in its discretion, vacate any judgment of conviction entered for any other misdemeanor offense or a class C, D or E felony or any unclassified felony offense carrying a term of imprisonment of not more than ten years for which the defendant has applied for vacatur pursuant to this section and shall dismiss the charge related to any such conviction.

(e) The vacating of a judgment of conviction and dismissal of charges pursuant to this section shall not constitute grounds for an award of compensation for wrongful arrest, prosecution, conviction or incarceration pursuant to § 54-102uu or any other provision of the general statutes.

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