HB05522 Summary

• Expands the definition of "child" from under 16 to under 18 years old (effective July 1, 2012), and allows jurisdiction over 18-year-olds who committed delinquent acts prior to turning 18 or violate court orders afterward.

• Grants counsel for children access to medical, dental, mental health, educational, and school records, and the right to interview healthcare providers and school personnel without waiving confidentiality.

• Requires psychiatric and psychological reports from court-ordered examinations to be retained by court officers and remain confidential, accessible only by court order.

• Authorizes courts to transfer 16 and 17-year-old cases from adult criminal dockets to juvenile court if the court determines juvenile programs would better serve the youth's needs and the community (effective July 1, 2012).

• Modifies escape from custody statute to specify escape from Connecticut Juvenile Training School as a class C felony if the person was convicted of a felony, otherwise a class A misdemeanor.

• Requires "sight and sound separation" between child detainees and adult detainees in community correctional centers or lockups.