Substitute Senate Bill No. 1503 seeks to enhance the probation process by allowing courts to consider a probationer's educational and workforce achievements when determining the continuation or termination of probation. The bill modifies Section 53a-29 of the general statutes, mandating that probation officers submit detailed reports on these achievements, alongside the probationer's progress in addressing assessed needs, to the court, the state's attorney, and the defendant's attorney prior to the completion of specified probation periods. Additionally, the court is required to consider victim statements regarding the probationer's progress before making a decision. The bill introduces a new provision that allows for the potential reduction of probation terms based on these achievements, which could lead to cost savings for the Judicial Department.

Furthermore, the bill deletes previous language in Section 53a-29 that did not recognize educational and workforce achievements as factors in probation supervision. The timeline for submitting progress reports remains unchanged, with reports required at least 60 days before specific probation milestones, and the court must decide on the probation status within 60 days of receiving the report. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and is anticipated to have a minimal fiscal impact on the state, as community supervision costs are generally lower than those associated with institutional confinement.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill:
JUD Joint Favorable Substitute:
File No. 777: