Connecticut Criminal Laws &
Penalties
If you've been arrested or charged with a crime
in Connecticut, it makes sense to evaluate all of
your defense options under the law, even if you
think you may be guilty. There are always
defenses, and any case can be won. But if you do
decide you want to plead guilty, that doesn't mean
you shouldn't get the best and fairest deal
possible.
Consult with an experienced Connecticut criminal
defense lawyer before making any statements
to the prosecution, or making any deal. If you
don't, you'll never know if you got a fair offer,
or if your case really should have been dismissed
on legal, constitutional, or procedural grounds. And
once you make a deal, that's it, it's over. You
can't go back if you decide you didn't make the
right decision.
Call me now for a no obligation case review and
criminal legal consultation, on any Connecticut
charge at (203) 418-8553.
We Fight Connecticut Criminal
Charges
Any Connecticut criminal charge can be serious.
Felony offenses frequently have mandatory jail time
attached if you are convicted. Even Misdemeanor
offenses can carry jail time, driver's license
suspensions, and can will have other costly and
difficult restrictions on your life and your future.
Our office has successfully represented people
facing a wide variety of criminal charges. Some of
the charges we defend include:
- Drug Possession Charges:
possession of
marijuana, heroin, cocaine, meth,
amphetamines, esctasy/MMDA, GHB, LSD, mushrooms,
prescription drugs, steroids, and any other
narcotic or controlled substance.
- Serious Drug Offenses:
Distribution, sale, manufacture, cultivation,
trafficking, and school zone violations.
- Traffic Crimes:
DUI,
Suspended license violations, moving violations,
careless/reckless driving, leaving the scene of
property damage or injury, operating without
insurance
- Violent Crimes:
Assault,
Murder, Manslaughter
- Sexual Crimes: Rape, Statutory Rape, Sexual
Assault, Child sex crimes and abuse
- Property Crimes: Theft,
Shoplifting,
Larceny,
Criminal Mischief, Arson, Burglary
- Family Crimes:
Domestic
Violence, domestic abuse,
restraining order
and protective order
violations
- White Collar Crimes:
Embezzlement, Bad checks,
Credit Card Theft, Computer Crimes,
Fraud, Conspiracy, Identity Theft
- Weapons Charges:
Illegal
Possession of a Weapon, Unlawful Discharge
of a Firearm, Commission of a Felony with a Gun
- Juvenile Crimes: Any crime
committed by a minor is handled in juvenile
court, where the rules of criminal procedure can
be quite different.
- And more: breach of peace, disorderly conduct,
harassment, stalking,
threatening,
trespass,
outstanding warrants (failure to appear in
court) and many other offenses that are
considered criminal charges under Connecticut
laws.
Penalties for Criminal Charges in CT
Connecticut Felonies
Felony charges are those that have a minimum jail
sentence if found guilty, typically a year or more.
| |
Examples |
Sentence |
Fines |
| Capital Felony
|
Specific types
of Murder |
Execution, or
life in prison |
N/A |
| Class A Felony
(Murder) |
Murder |
25 to 60 years
in prison |
Up to $20,000 |
| Class A Felony
|
Aggravated
Sexual Assault under 16, Sexual Assault
w/younger victims, Kidnapping 1st degree,
Arson 1st degree |
10 to 25 years
in prison |
Up to $20,000 |
| Class B Felony
|
Manslaughter
1st degree, Assault 1st degree, Sexual
Assault, Larceny 1st degree |
1 to 20 years
in prison |
Up to $15,000 |
| Class C Felony
|
Manslaughter
2nd degree, Sexual Assault 2nd degree,
Robbery 2nd degree, Arson 3rd degree |
1 to 10 years
in prison |
Up to $10,000 |
| Class D Felony
|
Assault 2nd
degree, Sexual Assault 3rd degree, Criminal
Mischief 1st degree, Stalking 1st degree |
1 to 5 years in
prison |
Up to $5,000 |
Misdemeanors
Under Connecticut law, Misdemeanor charges are
less serious than felonies, and have a maximum
penalty of 1 year in jail.
| |
Examples |
Sentence |
Fines |
| Class A
Misdemeanor |
Assault 3rd
degree, Threatening 2nd degree, Sexual
Assault 4th Degree, Criminal Trespass 1st
degree, Larceny 4th degree, Violation of a
protective order |
Up to 1 year in
jail |
Up to $2,000 |
| Class B
Misdemeanor |
Criminal
Mischief 3rd degree, Stalking 3rd degree,
Breach of Peace |
Up to 6 months
in jail |
Up to $1,000 |
| Class C
Misdemeanor |
Criminal
Mischief 4th degree, Disorderly Conduct,
Larceny 6th degree |
Up to 3 months
in jail |
Up to $500 |
Violations and Infractions
Violations and Infractions are not crimes, they
are civil penalties, so they do not give you a
criminal record. A violation is punishable by a
maximum fine of $500, and some specific violations
have lesser maximum fines.
An infraction has a fines of up to $90, plus
additional fees and surcharges that may go as high
as $300.
Typical violations and infraction are motor
vehicle offenses such as traffic tickets, speeding
tickets, possession of alcohol by a minor, and
various city ordinances.
You do not need to make a court appearance for
either a violation or an infraction. You can choose
to pay your fine by mail.
Ref:
Connecticut Violations and Infractions
Schedule.
Additional Penalties and Collateral Consequences
Many professional licensing boards have standards
that prohibit anyone with a criminal record from
being admitted or certified. And now that all
criminal convictions in Connecticut are posted
online publicly, your criminal record could
easily become a scarlet letter that haunts you
forever. Please call us for a consultation or
contact us. We
will fight for you and look for every opportunity to
avoid sticking you with this permanent criminal
record.
Call us at (203) 418-8553 for your case
evaluation. It is free, confidential, and there is
no further obligation.
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