Section 54-91a - (Formerly Sec. 54-109). Presentence investigation of defendant(a) No defendant convicted of a crime, other than a capital felony under the provisions of section 53a-54b in effect prior to April 25, 2012, or murder with special circumstances under the provisions of section 53a-54b in effect on or after April 25, 2012, the punishment for which may include imprisonment for more than one year, may be sentenced, or the defendant's case otherwise disposed of, until a written report of investigation by a probation officer has been presented to and considered by the court, if the defendant is so convicted for the first time in this state or upon any conviction of a felony involving family violence pursuant to section 46b-38a for which the punishment may include imprisonment; but any court may, in its discretion, order a presentence investigation for a defendant convicted of any crime or offense other than a capital felony under the provisions of section 53a-54b in effect prior to April 25, 2012, or murder with special circumstances under the provisions of section 53a-54b in effect on or after April 25, 2012.(b) A defendant who is convicted of a crime and is not eligible for sentence review pursuant to section 51-195 may, with the consent of the sentencing judge and the prosecuting official, waive the presentence investigation, except that the presentence investigation may not be waived when the defendant is convicted of a felony involving family violence pursuant to section 46b-38a and the punishment for which may include imprisonment.(c) Whenever an investigation is required, the probation officer shall promptly inquire into the circumstances of the offense, the attitude of the complainant or victim, or of the immediate family where possible in cases of homicide, and the criminal record, social history and present condition of the defendant. Such investigation shall include an inquiry into any damages suffered by the victim, including medical expenses, loss of earnings and property loss. All local and state police agencies shall furnish to the probation officer such criminal records as the probation officer may request. When in the opinion of the court or the investigating authority it is desirable, such investigation shall include a physical and mental examination of the defendant. If the defendant is committed to any institution, the investigating agency shall send the reports of such investigation to the institution at the time of commitment.(d) In lieu of ordering a full presentence investigation, the court may order an abridged version of such investigation, which (1) shall contain (A) identifying information about the defendant, (B) information about the pending case from the record of the court, (C) the circumstances of the offense, (D) the attitude of the complainant or victim, (E) any damages suffered by the victim, including medical expenses, loss of earnings and property loss, and (F) the criminal record of the defendant, and (2) may encompass one or more areas of the social history and present condition of the defendant, including family background, significant relationships or children, educational attainment or vocational training, employment history, financial situation, housing situation, medical status, mental health status, substance abuse history, the results of any clinical evaluation conducted of the defendant or any other information required by the court that is consistent with the provisions of this section. If the court orders an abridged version of such investigation for a felony involving family violence, as defined in section 46b-38a, the abridged version of such investigation shall, in addition to the information set forth in subdivision (1) of this subsection, contain the following information concerning the defendant: (B) significant relationships or children,(C) mental health status, and(D) substance abuse history.(e) Any information contained in the files or report of an investigation pursuant to this section shall be available to the Court Support Services Division for the purpose of performing the duties contained in section 54-63d and to the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services for purposes of diagnosis and treatment.Conn. Gen. Stat. § 54-91a
(1955, S. 3337d; 1957, P.A. 639, S. 1; 1959, P.A. 615, S. 14; P.A. 76-336, S. 6; P.A. 78-188, S. 5, 8; P.A. 80-313, S. 48; P.A. 82-281; 82-298, S. 5; P.A. 85-98; P.A. 90-261, S. 12, 19; P.A. 95-225, S. 35; 95-261, S. 4; P.A. 00-64, S. 1; P.A. 02-132, S. 41; P.A. 03-48, S. 1; P.A. 12-5, S. 30; P.A. 17-31, S. 8.)
Amended by P.A. 21-0040,S. 54 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2021 Regular Session, eff. 10/1/2021.Amended by P.A. 19-0064,S. 12 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2019 Regular Session, eff. 10/1/2019.Amended by P.A. 17-0031, S. 8 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2017 Regular Session, eff. 10/1/2017.Amended by P.A. 12-0005, S. 30 of the the 2012 Regular Session, eff. 4/25/2012. Annotations to former section 54-109: Refusal of court to allow defendant to question on the witness stand the probation officer who prepared report held not violation of right to be confronted by witnesses and to cross-examine them. 147 C. 125. Cited. 153 C. 673; 160 C. 151, 165. Request to withdraw nolo contendere plea after presentence report may validly be refused by court if it is deemed delaying action. 161 Conn. 20. Cited. 168 C. 623; 169 C. 263; 176 Conn. 270. Presentence investigation and report should have been made where minor defendant sentenced to reformatory for not more than 2 years for crime, the prescribed penalty for which is not more than 1 year. 26 CS 505. So, where term to be served was not more than 2 years where punishment for crime would include imprisonment for more than 1 year. 27 CS 81. Not error to order presentence report and consider it before motion in arrest of judgment was heard. 3 Conn. Cir. Ct. 153. Not an abuse of discretion to deny accused withdrawal of plea of nolo contendere after being given copy of presentence report. Id., 206. Annotations to present section: Cited. 197 C. 106; 199 C. 121; 234 C. 139; 236 C. 561. Cited. 5 CA 378; 8 Conn.App. 607; 10 CA 591; 19 CA 640; 22 CA 10; 37 Conn.App. 801; 40 CA 643; 42 CA 768; 43 CA 142. Any objection to presentence investigation report must be made prior to sentencing because trial court is required to consider information contained in the PSI prior to sentencing. 49 CA 702. Subsec. (c): Statute recognizes the wide range of information which a sentencing court should consider. 1 CA 724.