Statutes, codes, and regulations
General Statutes of Connecticut
Title 53A - PENAL CODE
Chapter 951 - PENAL CODE: STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION; PRINCIPLES OF CRIMINAL LIABILITY
Section 53a-12 - Defenses; burden of proof

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-12

Download
PDF
Current with legislation from the 2024 Regular and Special Sessions.
Section 53a-12 - Defenses; burden of proof
(a) When a defense other than an affirmative defense, is raised at a trial, the state shall have the burden of disproving such defense beyond a reasonable doubt.
(b) When a defense declared to be an affirmative defense is raised at a trial, the defendant shall have the burden of establishing such defense by a preponderance of the evidence.

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-12

(1969, P.A. 828, S. 12.)

Cited. 186 Conn. 414; 191 C. 659; 196 C. 519. Instructing jury that it was the state's burden to prove intent beyond a reasonable doubt did not adequately inform jury that it was the state's burden to disprove duress beyond a reasonable doubt. 199 C. 273. Cited. 204 Conn. 240; 209 Conn. 75; Id., 733; 218 C. 349; 219 C. 314; 225 Conn. 450; 227 Conn. 456; 228 C. 281; 230 C. 183; 236 C. 342. Cited. 6 Conn.App. 701; 8 Conn.App. 667; 10 CA 697; 11 Conn.App. 665; 14 CA 511; 17 CA 200; Id., 502; judgment reversed, see 213 Conn. 579. Cited. 34 CS 612. Statute does not become constitutionally vulnerable by reason of imposing on defendants the burden of establishing affirmative defenses. 35 CS 555. Subsec. (a): Cited. 186 Conn. 654; 188 C. 237; Id., 653; 194 C. 376; 203 C. 212; 209 C. 322; 210 C. 110; 220 C. 602; 228 Conn. 335; 231 C. 484; 232 C. 537; 233 C. 1; 234 C. 381. Cited. 3 Conn.App. 289; 5 CA 338; 10 Conn.App. 643, 647; 11 CA 102; 17 CA 97; 20 CA 75; 24 CA 556; Id., 624; 29 Conn.App. 262; 31 CA 140; 33 Conn.App. 782; 34 CA 368, see also 233 C. 517; 46 CA 216. Cited. 38 Conn.Supp. 619. Subsec. (b): Cited. 182 C. 388; 193 C. 695; 207 C. 374; 209 C. 733; 214 C. 540; 217 Conn. 648; 227 Conn. 456; 228 Conn. 281; 229 Conn. 328; 230 Conn. 351; 233 C. 403; 236 Conn. 189; Id., 342; 242 C. 93. Legislature not required to expressly declare an exception to culpability to be an affirmative defense for it to operate as an affirmative defense; statute does not prohibit judicially recognized affirmative defenses. 254 C. 107. Cited. 12 CA 32; 14 Conn.App. 511; 20 CA 342; 24 Conn.App. 678; Id., 670; 28 CA 91. Held unconstitutional insofar as it places a burden of proof on the defense. 33 CS 28.