Sec. 54-36g. Destruction of controlled drugs, controlled substances and drug paraphernalia held as evidence in criminal proceedings. Petition, notice and hearing. Representative samples. Certificate o
Sec. 54-36g. Destruction of controlled drugs, controlled substances and drug
paraphernalia held as evidence in criminal proceedings. Petition, notice and hearing. Representative samples. Certificate of results. Destruction upon final disposition of criminal action. Records. (a) At any time after the seizure of a controlled drug
or a controlled substance, as defined in subdivision (8) or (9) of section 21a-240, or
drug paraphernalia, as defined in subdivision (20) of section 21a-240, in connection
with a criminal arrest or pursuant to a search warrant without an arrest, the prosecuting
official of the court for the geographical area in which the criminal offense is alleged
to have been committed may petition the court for destruction of such controlled drug,
controlled substance or drug paraphernalia. After notice, by certified or registered mail
to the defendant and his attorney, and hearing on the petition, the court may order the
forfeiture and destruction of such controlled drug, controlled substance or drug paraphernalia, under procedures and to the extent determined by the court, or order it delivered to the Commissioner of Consumer Protection as soon as possible. Such order shall
be in writing and shall provide for the analysis of representative samples of such controlled drug, controlled substance or drug paraphernalia. The results of such analysis
shall be recorded on a certificate signed by the person making the analysis, witnessed and
acknowledged pursuant to section 1-29. Such certificate shall be prima facie evidence
of the composition and quality of such controlled drug, controlled substance or drug
paraphernalia.
(b) Upon final disposition of the criminal action or, if there is no criminal action,
at any time upon motion of the prosecuting official, the court shall order the destruction of
any controlled drug, controlled substance or drug paraphernalia not previously destroyed
pursuant to an order under subsection (a) of this section, or order it delivered to the
Commissioner of Consumer Protection as soon as possible.
(c) The law enforcement agency seizing the controlled drug, controlled substance
or drug paraphernalia shall keep a full and complete record of the time and place where
such controlled drug, controlled substance or drug paraphernalia was seized, the kinds,
quantities and weight of drugs received, by whom the controlled drug, controlled substance or drug paraphernalia were delivered and received and the date and manner of
destruction or disposition of such controlled drug, controlled substance or drug paraphernalia. Such record and the certificate of the results of the analysis shall be disclosed
only to attorneys of record in the case, the defendant and to federal and state officers
charged with enforcement of federal and state narcotic laws.
(P.A. 84-44, S. 1; P.A. 85-263, S. 2; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, S. 146(c); P.A. 04-189, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 85-263 added references to controlled drug and amended Subsec. (b) by adding "or, if there is no criminal
action, at any time upon motion of the prosecuting official"; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6 replaced Commissioner of
Consumer Protection with Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, effective July 1, 2004; P.A. 04-189
repealed Sec. 146 of June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, thereby reversing the merger of the Departments of Agriculture and
Consumer Protection, effective June 1, 2004.
Subsec. (a):
Requirement that certificate be prima facie evidence of composition and quality of controlled drug or substance would
be meaningless unless legislature had contemplated that destruction of drugs might take place before defendant's trial and
inserted it to ensure that said destruction would not provide defendant with simple way to avoid prosecution. 63 CA 138.