How Connecticut handles a case
What happens after an arrest anywhere in Connecticut: who decides release first, how fast a person sees a judge, which courts hear the case, and who runs the offices around them. Every county in the state works under these rules.
From arrest to court
- Who decides release first
The police decide first. A police chief or designee must interview the arrested person and release them on a written promise or a bond the officer sets. If the person can't post it, a Judicial Branch bail commissioner or intake specialist sets conditions. Police can't release on a promise or unsecured bond in a family violence crime involving a firearm.
C.G.S. 54-63c and 54-63d- Time to see a judge
A person arrested and not released must be presented promptly at the next regular sitting of the Superior Court where the offense happened. The law sets no hour limit. The U.S. Supreme Court's 48-hour rule for a probable cause finding applies as the federal floor.
C.G.S. 54-1g- Money bail
Money bail is allowed. Since 2017, when the only charges are misdemeanors, a court may not set money bail unless the charge is family violence, the person asks for it, or the court finds a likely risk they will not appear or will obstruct justice.
C.G.S. 54-64a(a)(2)- Pretrial risk assessment
The Judicial Branch's Court Support Services Division interviews people before arraignment and applies written, statewide weighted release criteria to recommend or set conditions.
C.G.S. 54-63bMapping Pretrial Risk, How many jurisdictions use each tool?- Courts
Connecticut has one trial court, the Superior Court. Geographical area courthouses hear arraignments and all but the most serious criminal cases, and judicial district courthouses hear the most serious felonies. Probate courts don't hear crimes.
Connecticut Judicial Branch, Divisions of Superior Court- Judges and magistrates
The governor nominates judges from a list the Judicial Selection Commission approves, and the General Assembly appoints them for eight-year terms.
Connecticut State Register and Manual, Judicial Department- Prosecutors
Connecticut's prosecutors are not elected. The Criminal Justice Commission appoints a state's attorney for each judicial district, within the state Division of Criminal Justice.
C.G.S. 51-278- Public defense
The state Division of Public Defender Services, overseen by the Public Defender Services Commission, has a public defender office for each judicial district.
C.G.S. 51-289 and following- Jails
Connecticut has no county jails. The state Department of Correction runs every facility, including those holding people awaiting trial.
C.G.S. 18-81
Read from the statutes and court rules cited, 2026-09-30. Police set a bond amount themselves; the statute text read does not show a statewide money schedule, so schedule_release means police money bail, not a court schedule. Bail commissioner qualifications were not found.