Sec. 54-82t. Protective services for witness at risk of harm. - Connecticut Statutes

      Sec. 54-82t. Protective services for witness at risk of harm. (a) For the purposes of this section and section 54-82u:

      (1) "Witness" means any person who is summoned, or who may be summoned, to give testimony in a criminal proceeding, and includes a member of the immediate family of such person.

      (2) "Witness at risk of harm" means a witness who, as a result of cooperating in an investigation or prosecution of a serious felony offense, has been, or is reasonably likely to be, intimidated, harassed, threatened, retaliated against or subjected to physical violence.

      (3) "Serious felony offense" means any felony that involves the use, attempted use or threatened use of physical force against another person or results in the serious physical injury or death of another person.

      (b) In any investigation or prosecution of a serious felony offense, the prosecutorial official shall review all witnesses to the offense and may identify any witness as a witness at risk of harm. Upon such identification, the prosecutorial official shall then determine whether a witness at risk of harm is critical to a criminal investigation or prosecution. If the witness at risk of harm is determined to be critical to such investigation or prosecution, the prosecutorial official may (1) certify that the witness receive protective services, or (2) if the prosecutorial official finds a compelling need to temporarily relocate the witness, certify that the witness receive protective services including temporary relocation services. In determining whether a witness should receive protective services, the prosecutorial official shall give special consideration to a witness who is a child, elderly or handicapped or otherwise more at risk of being intimidated, harassed, threatened, retaliated against or subjected to physical violence or who is a witness in a case involving organized crime, gang activities or drug trafficking or involving a high degree of risk to the witness.

      (c) When a witness is certified as provided in subsection (b) of this section, the Chief State's Attorney shall provide appropriate protective services to such witness. The Chief State's Attorney shall coordinate the efforts of state and local agencies to provide protective services to a witness.

      (d) Protective services provided to such witness may include, but are not limited to:

      (1) Armed protection, escort, marked or unmarked surveillance or periodic visits or contact by law enforcement officials prior, during or subsequent to the official proceeding;

      (2) Temporary physical relocation to an alternate residence;

      (3) Housing expenses;

      (4) Transportation or storage of personal possessions;

      (5) Basic living expenses including, but not limited to, food, transportation, utility costs and health care; or

      (6) Other services as needed and approved by the Chief State's Attorney.

      (e) Protective services may be provided for the duration of the criminal case or until the risk giving rise to certification has diminished, whichever occurs first.

      (f) In addition to the protective services provided pursuant to subsection (d) of this section, the Chief State's Attorney shall provide such witness with (1) information on the responsibilities and risks of being a witness, and (2) the names and telephone numbers of persons to contact if such witness has questions or concerns for such witness's safety, including at least one telephone number that may be called twenty-four hours a day.

      (g) If a witness declines to receive protective services under this section, the Chief State's Attorney shall request the witness to make such declination in writing. Such declination shall set forth (1) the type of protective services offered, (2) that the offer of protective services has been explained in detail to the witness, and (3) a telephone number that the witness may call twenty-four hours a day if the witness has concerns for the witness's safety or reconsiders the witness's decision to decline protective services.

      (h) If the parent or parents or guardian of a child who is certified as a witness at risk of harm critical to a criminal investigation or prosecution as provided in subsection (b) of this section, declines the provision of protective services under this section, the Office of the Chief State's Attorney shall be notified within twenty-four hours after such declination. Upon receipt of such notice, the Chief State's Attorney shall make reasonable efforts to confer with a victim advocate providing services for the Office of Victim Services and shall, not later than three days after such declination, determine if the matter should be referred to the Department of Children and Families for investigation as to whether such child is neglected, as defined in section 46b-120, and whether the department should provide protective services or take other action pursuant to chapter 319a or 815t with respect to such child.

      (i) The costs of providing protective services to witnesses under this section shall be shared by the state and local agencies providing such services pursuant to the witness protection policy established by the Office of the Chief State's Attorney.

      (j) Any record of the Division of Criminal Justice or other governmental agency that, in the reasonable judgment of the Chief State's Attorney or a state's attorney, would disclose or would reasonably result in the disclosure of the identity or location of any person receiving or considered for the receipt of protective services under this section or of law enforcement techniques not otherwise known to the general public that are used in protecting witnesses, shall be confidential and not subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, as defined in section 1-200.

      (k) The Division of Criminal Justice may utilize the resources of other state agencies in order to provide protective services to witnesses under this section. All offices of the state's attorneys and other agencies requesting assistance under this section shall comply with the provisions of the witness protection policy established by the Office of the Chief State's Attorney.

      (l) The Chief State's Attorney, pursuant to his authority under section 51-279, shall implement the provisions of this section and section 54-82u. The Chief State's Attorney may adopt regulations in accordance with chapter 54 to implement the provisions of this section and section 54-82u.

      (m) Not later than November 15, 2001, and annually thereafter, the Chief State's Attorney shall submit a report to the General Assembly on the fiscal and operational status of the program to provide protective services to witnesses under this section.

      (P.A. 99-240, S. 6.)