Conn. Crim. Jury Instr. 7.8-1

Registration Requirements -- § 54-251 (e), § 54-252

(d), § 54-253 (e), and § 54-254 (b)

Revised November 6, 2014

The defendant is charged [in count__] with failure to comply with sex offender registration

requirements. The law requires that persons who are convicted or found not guilty by reason of

mental disease or defect of certain sex offenses and who are released into the community must

register (his/her) name, identifying factors, criminal history record, residence address and

electronic mail address, instant message address or other similar Internet communication

identifier, if any, with the commissioner of emergency services and public protection. (He/She)

must notify the commissioner without undue delay of any change in (his/her) status whenever the

person <insert as appropriate:>

• changes (his/her) name,

• changes (his/her) residence

1 address,

• changes or establishes (his/her) electronic mail address, instant message address or other

similar Internet communication identifier,

• is employed at, carries on a vocation at or is a student at a trade or professional institution

or institution of higher learning in this state,

• is employed in another state,

• carries on a vocation in another state,

• is a student in another state,

In addition, (he/she) must complete and return forms mailed to (him/her) to verify (his/her)

address and must submit to the retaking of a photographic image upon the request of the

commissioner.

For you to find the defendant guilty of this charge, the state must prove the following elements

beyond a reasonable doubt:

Element 1 - Convicted of certain crime

The first element is that the defendant was convicted of <insert crime>. The state alleges that

the defendant was convicted of <insert crime> on <insert date>.

Element 2 - Required to register

The second element is that the defendant was required to register with the department of

emergency services and public protection as a sex offender. I instruct you as a matter of law that

a person convicted of <insert crime> and released into the community is required to register as a

sex offender.

Element 3 - Released into the community

The third element is that the defendant was released into the community. The state alleges that

the defendant was released on <insert date>.

Element 4 - Failed to comply with registration requirements

The fourth element is that after being released to the community the defendant failed to comply

with the registration requirements. The state alleges that the defendant failed to <insert specific

allegations>.

[<If the violation is failing to report a change in circumstances:> The defendant claims that

(he/she) satisfied the timing requirements in that the <describe the nature of the change>

occurred on <date> and he reported to the registry on <date>. A registrant must report a change

within 5 business days of the change. Business days are those days when the registry is open.]2

Conclusion

In summary, the state must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant 1) was convicted

of <insert crime>, 2) was required to register as a sex offender, 3) was released into the

community, and 4) did not comply with the registration requirements.

If you unanimously find that the state has proved beyond a reasonable doubt each of the elements

of the crime of failure to comply with sex offender registration requirements, then you shall find

the defendant guilty. On the other hand, if you unanimously find that the state has failed to

prove beyond a reasonable doubt any of the elements, you shall then find the defendant not

guilty.

1 “Residence” means where a person lives for some time, but does not mean a temporary stay.

For a thorough discussion of the meaning of “residence,” including travelling and homelessness,

see State v. Drupals, 306 Conn. 149, 161-65 (2012); see also State v. Winer, 112 Conn. App.

458, 465 (homelessness does not relieve a defendant of the duty to register), cert. denied, 292

Conn. 903 (2009).

2 A registrant is expected to report a change of circumstances on the next business day, but

criminal penalties do not apply unless the registrant fails to notify the registry within five

business days of the obligation to do so. “The use of the phrase ‘undue delay’ indicates that the

legislature ‘intended to make alloweance for the vagaries of individual conditions.” State v.

Drupals, 306 Conn. 149, 166-71 (2012).