Bill > SB01542

This bill modifies existing Connecticut law regarding the treatment of children in legal proceedings, specifically addressing the use of mechanical restraints and handcuffs on young children. The bill establishes a presumption that mechanical restraints should be removed from detained children before and during court appearances, with any in-court use of restraints requiring a court order and adhering to Judicial Branch written policies. The Judicial Branch will be required to track and publicly share statistics about restraint usage, with personal identifying information redacted. Importantly, the bill introduces new restrictions on handcuffing children, prohibiting the use of handcuffs on children under fourteen years old during initial police contact, except in specific circumstances where public safety is at risk or when a child is using or threatening physical force against a police officer. The bill also incrementally raises the age for arrest, moving from ten to twelve years in 2026 and from twelve to fourteen years in 2028, reflecting a growing recognition of the potential negative impacts of early criminalization of children's behavior.

Justice

Judiciary Committee (J)

https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=SB01542&which_year=2025