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CT · constitutions

Conn. Const. art. I, § 8

Rights of accused in criminal prosecutions. What cases bailable. Speedy trial. Due process. Excessive bail or fines. Probable cause shown at hearing, when necessary. Rights of victims of crime

activein force · 2026-09-25 – presentas-observed

a. In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall have a right to be heard by himself and by counsel; to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted by the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process to obtain witnesses in his behalf; to be released on bail upon sufficient security, except in capital offenses, where the proof is evident or the presumption great; and in all prosecutions by information, to a speedy, public trial by an impartial jury. No person shall be compelled to give evidence against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law, nor shall excessive bail be required nor excessive fines imposed. No person shall be held to answer for any crime, punishable by death or life imprisonment, unless upon probable cause shown at a hearing in accordance with procedures prescribed by law, except in the armed forces, or in the militia when in actual service in time of war or public danger.

b. In all criminal prosecutions, a victim, as the general assembly may define by law, shall have the following rights: (1) The right to be treated with fairness and respect throughout the criminal justice process; (2) the right to timely disposition of the case following arrest of the accused, provided no right of the accused is abridged; (3) the right to be reasonably protected from the accused throughout the criminal justice process; (4) the right to notification of court proceedings; (5) the right to attend the trial and all other court proceedings the accused has the right to attend, unless such person is to testify and the court determines that such person’s testimony would be materially affected if such person hears other testimony; (6) the right to communicate with the prosecution; (7) the right to object to or support any plea agreement entered into by the accused and the prosecution and to make a statement to the court prior to the acceptance by the court of the plea of guilty or nolo contendere by the accused; (8) the right to make a statement to the court at sentencing; (9) the right to restitution which shall be enforceable in the same manner as any other cause of action or as otherwise provided by law; and (10) the right to information about the arrest, conviction, sentence, imprisonment and release of the accused. The general assembly shall provide by law for the enforcement of this subsection. Nothing in this subsection or in any law enacted pursuant to this subsection shall be construed as creating a basis for vacating a conviction or ground for appellate relief in any criminal case.

History

Historical Note: This section, as printed here, incorporates Article XVII., of the Amendments to the Constitution of the State of Connecticut, and Article XXIX., of said Amendments. Said Article XVII., was adopted on November 24, 1982, and deleted reference to prosecutions by “indictment” and replaced provision barring the prosecution of persons for crimes punishable by death or life imprisonment except “on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury” with provision requiring a finding of “probable cause shown at a hearing in accordance with procedures prescribed by law”. Said Article XXIX., was adopted on November 27, 1996, and designated existing section as subsection a. and added subsection b. enumerating rights of victims in all criminal prosecutions, requiring the general assembly to enforce those rights and prohibiting construction of the subsection and related laws subsequently enacted so as to create a basis for vacating a conviction or ground for appellate relief in any criminal case.

Provenance

Source
cga.ct.gov
Retrieved
2026-09-25
Edition
2026-09-25
Content hash
6137363e53443480c67bcf1f5b8fe51db99498db4530ae1d4bf5798262af3c98
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