Violating Conditions of Release in Connecticut
Connecticut criminal courthouses are only open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thus, as a result of the normal business hours operation of the Connecticut criminal court system, every new domestic violence arrest in any Connecticut town requires the arresting police officers to 1) set a bond amount, and 2) impose “conditions of release” that the person arrested must comply with until they are able to appear in a Connecticut criminal court for their first court appearance. For domestic violence arrests, this means that these conditions of release are strictly enforced.
These conditions of release in Connecticut usually involve seizing guns and firearms, as well as forbidding any kind of contact with the alleged victim—be it your wife, husband, children, roommate or other family members. And this means any kind of contact, including telephone, email, text or social media communications, even if the contact was unintentional, accidental and non-threatening.
If it sounds heavy-handed, that’s because it is, especially because violating conditions of release in Connecticut can result in a misdemeanor or a felony arrest. So if you are arrested for Violation of Conditions of Release in Connecticut under CGS 53a-222, then contact a top Connecticut domestic violence criminal law firm as soon as possible.
Read Your Connecticut Conditions of Release Paperwork Carefully
Getting arrested in Connecticut for a domestic violence crime like Disorderly Conduct, Assault in the Third Degree, Interfering with a 911 Call, or Risk of Injury can happen very quickly and be confusing, intimidating and overwhelming. It all happens so fast. Police cruisers pull up to your home, and proceed to interrogate you, your spouse, and your children. And if they decide to arrest you for a domestic violence crime, then they will take you to the station and book, fingerprint, and photograph you, and then order you to court on the next business morning.
It’s all very embarrassing, humiliating and nerve-wracking. And what many people don’t realize during their first arrest for a domestic violence crime in Connecticut is that one of these pieces of paper—the yellow form called “Conditions of Release”—is critical, especially over a three-day holiday weekend.
This yellow form is completed by the arresting police officer who dictates the conditions that you must comply with between the time you are released from the custody of the arresting police department and the time you are required to appear in court for your first domestic violence court date. What’s most important, however, is that you read this yellow Conditions of Release form carefully. You and your criminal lawyer can then ask the domestic violence court judge to modify or terminate these Conditions of Release at your first or subsequent court dates.
Violating Your Conditions of Release Can Be A Misdemeanor or Felony
Violating Conditions of Release (which are issued by the police or a judge) is different from getting arrested for Violating a Criminal Protective Order or Civil Restraining Order (which can only issued by a Superior Court judge).
If the conditions are imposed by a police officer or judge in connection with an underlying arrest for a misdemeanor or crime in Connecticut, then you can get arrested for Violation of Conditions of Release – Second Degree under CGS 53a-222a, a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail and a maximum $2000 fine. If the underlying arrest is for a felony crime, then you can be arrested for Violation of Conditions of Release in the First Degree under CGS 53a-222, a Class D felony which carries up to five years in prison, a $5000 fine and years of probation.
Contact a Lawyer Today
So if you have been arrested in Connecticut for First or Second Degree Violation of Conditions of Release under CGS 53a-222, then make sure you are fully prepared when you get to court to fight your charges, especially if your violation was unintentional, accidental or you were set up by the alleged victim. Don’t let them manipulate the system.
Hire an experienced lawyer today to help you fight your Violation of Conditions of Release arrest all the way to a dismissal, expungement and full vindication of your personal and professional reputations. You can browse other sections of this website for more helpful information or call today at (203) 276-9443.