Sec. 54-199. Parent or guardian to accompany minor in court. Representatives of commissioner.
Sec. 54-199. Parent or guardian to accompany minor in court. Representatives of commissioner. Whenever any minor charged with the commission of an offense
is to appear in any court, he shall be accompanied by one of his parents, if such parent
is physically capable of appearing and is within the jurisdiction of such court, or by his
legally appointed guardian, if any. In the case of any child committed to the guardianship
of the Commissioner of Social Services or the Commissioner of Children and Families,
said commissioner may designate any member of his department to act as his representative. If any such parent, guardian or representative fails to appear in court as required
by this section, the court may continue the case until he so appears and may issue a
subpoena to compel his attendance. Failure to appear in response to such subpoena shall
be punishable as contempt of court. The judge of such court may, in his discretion
and for good cause, waive the requirement that a minor be accompanied by his parent,
guardian or a department of social services representative.
(1955, S. 3353d; 1957, P.A. 598; 1969, P.A. 297; 395; P.A. 74-251, S. 14; P.A. 75-420, S. 4, 6; P.A. 77-614, S. 521,
610; P.A. 93-91, S. 1, 2; 93-262, S. 1, 87.)
History: 1969 act added provision allowing judge to waive requirement that minor be accompanied by parent, guardian
or welfare department representative; P.A. 74-251 included cases involving children committed to commissioner of children
and youth services; P.A. 75-420 replaced welfare commissioner and department with commissioner and department of
social services; P.A. 77-614 replaced commissioner and department of social services with commissioner and department
of human resources, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 93-91 substituted commissioner and department of children and
families for commissioner and department of children and youth services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 93-262 authorized
substitution of commissioner and department of social services for commissioner and department of human resources,
effective July 1, 1993.
Since a grand jury is essentially an investigatory body and not a court, the provisions of this section are not applicable
when minor is to appear before a grand jury. 171 C. 644. A juvenile defendant shall be accompanied by guardian ad litem
if he has one, but appointment of guardian ad litem is not required. Id., 644.
Cited. 8 CA 607.
Cited. 4 Conn. Cir. Ct. 413.