Connecticut General Statutes 7-294aaa – Establishment of civilian police review boards
(a) The legislative body of a town may, by ordinance, establish a civilian police review board. The ordinance shall, at a minimum, prescribe: (1) The scope of authority of the civilian police review board; (2) the number of members of the civilian police review board; (3) the process for the selection of board members, whether elected or appointed; (4) the term of office for board members; and (5) the procedure for filling any vacancy in the membership of the civilian police review board.
Terms Used In Connecticut General Statutes 7-294aaa
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- legislative body: means : (1) As applied to unconsolidated towns, the town meeting. See Connecticut General Statutes 1-1
- Ordinance: means an enactment under the provisions of section 7-157. See Connecticut General Statutes 1-1
- Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.
- Testify: Answer questions in court.
- Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
(b) Any civilian police review board established pursuant to subsection (a) of this section may be vested with the authority to: (1) Issue subpoenas to compel the attendance of witnesses before such board; and (2) require the production for examination of any books and papers that such board deems relevant to any matter under investigation or in question.
(c) (1) The person to whom such subpoena is issued may, not later than fifteen days after service of such subpoena, or on or before the time specified in the subpoena for compliance if such time is less than fifteen days after service, serve upon the board written objection to the subpoena and file such objection in the Superior Court which shall adjudicate such objection in accordance with the rules of the court.
(2) If the person to whom such subpoena is issued fails to appear or if having appeared refuses to testify or produce the evidence required by such subpoena, the Superior Court, upon application of such board, shall have jurisdiction to order such person to appear or to give testimony or produce such evidence, as the case may be.
(d) The provisions of this section shall not be construed to affect the operation of, or impose any limitation upon, a civilian police review board established prior to July 31, 2020.
(e) Upon receipt of a written request from the Office of the Inspector General, established pursuant to section 51-277e, a civilian police review board shall stay and take no further action in connection with any proceeding that is the subject of an investigation or criminal prosecution that is being conducted pursuant to said section or section 51-277a. Any stay of proceedings imposed pursuant to this subsection shall not exceed six months from the date on which the civilian police review board receives such written request from the Office of the Inspector General, and such stay of proceedings may be terminated sooner if the Office of the Inspector General provides written notification to the civilian police review board that a stay of proceedings is no longer required.