Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-35a

Current with legislation from the 2024 Regular and Special Sessions.

Section 53a-35a - Imprisonment for felony committed on or after July 1, 1981. Definite sentence. Authorized term

For any felony committed on or after July 1, 1981, the sentence of imprisonment shall be a definite sentence and, unless the section of the general statutes that defines or provides the penalty for the crime specifically provides otherwise, the term shall be fixed by the court as follows:

(1)

(A) For a capital felony committed prior to April 25, 2012, under the provisions of section 53a-54b in effect prior to April 25, 2012, a term of life imprisonment without the possibility of release unless a sentence of death is imposed in accordance with section 53a-46a, or

(B) for the class A felony of murder with special circumstances committed on or after April 25, 2012, under the provisions of section 53a-54b in effect on or after April 25, 2012, a term of life imprisonment without the possibility of release;

(2) For the class A felony of murder, a term not less than twenty-five years nor more than life;

(3) For the class A felony of aggravated sexual assault of a minor under section 53a-70c, a term not less than twenty-five years or more than fifty years;

(4) For a class A felony other than an offense specified in subdivision (2) or (3) of this section, a term not less than ten years nor more than twenty-five years;

(5) For the class B felony of manslaughter in the first degree with a firearm under section 53a-55a, a term not less than five years nor more than forty years;

(6) For a class B felony other than manslaughter in the first degree with a firearm under section 53a-55a, a term not less than one year nor more than twenty years;

(7) For a class C felony, a term not less than one year nor more than ten years;

(8) For a class D felony, a term not more than five years;

(9) For a class E felony, a term not more than three years; and

(10) For an unclassified felony, a term in accordance with the sentence specified in the section of the general statutes that defines or provides the penalty for the crime.

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-35a

(P.A. 80-442, S. 10, 28; P.A. 86-220; P.A. 92-260, S. 15; July Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-2, S. 2; P.A. 07-143, S. 12; P.A. 10-36, S. 18; P.A. 12-5, S. 2; P.A. 13-258, S. 2.)

Cited. 196 Conn. 655; 197 Conn. 337; 198 Conn. 92; Id., 671; 200 Conn. 268; Id., 664; 201 C. 598; 202 C. 93; 210 Conn. 519; 211 Conn. 258; 212 C. 31. Definite sentencing scheme for any felony under section implicitly repealed indeterminate sentencing aspect of Sec. 21a-278(a). 214 C. 378. Cited. 218 C. 273; 219 Conn. 752; 220 C. 169; 225 Conn. 559; 230 C. 109; 234 Conn. 139; Id., 735; 235 C. 502; Id., 679; 238 C. 389; 240 C. 743. Sec. 53a-35b does not apply to indeterminate life sentences imposed pursuant to Sec. 53a-35(b)(1), regardless of when the sentence was imposed, but applies solely to definite life sentences imposed pursuant to this section. 300 Conn. 649. Death penalty unconstitutional under Art. I, Secs. 8 and 9 of Connecticut Constitution. 318 Conn. 1. Cited. 6 Conn.App. 680; 8 CA 177; Id., 491; 9 Conn.App. 686; 10 CA 486; Id., 659; 12 Conn.App. 403; 15 CA 416; 19 CA 571; 23 CA 201; 32 CA 759; 35 CA 714; 42 Conn.App. 348. An offender who has reached the age of 18 is not considered a juvenile for sentencing procedures and eighth amendment protections articulated in Miller v. Alabama, 132 S. Ct. 2455. 173 CA 559. Subdiv. (1): Cited. 207 Conn. 374; 235 C. 206. The sentencing of an offender to life imprisonment without the possibility of release pursuant to Subdiv. where the offender was under 18 when the crime was committed does not violate constitutional prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment. 289 C. 550. Subdiv. (2): Cited. 216 C. 282. Trial court properly determined that imposition of a mandatory minimum sentence of not less than 25 years imprisonment did not constitute cruel and unusual punishment for a 15-year-old convicted of murder. 290 C. 209. Holding in Miller v. Alabama, 132 S. Ct. 2455, applies retroactively to cases on collateral review; life sentence for a juvenile includes a sentence of 50 years or more. 317 C. 52. Cited. 34 Conn.App. 58, 93; judgment reversed, see 232 Conn. 537.

See Sec. 53a-41 re fines for felonies. See Sec. 53a-54e re construction of statutes re capital felony committed prior to April 25, 2012.