Conn. Gen. Stat. » Title 51 — COURTS · Chapter 886 — Division of Criminal Justice
Connecticut General Statutes

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 51-276 (2025)

Division established

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There is hereby established the Division of Criminal Justice within the Executive Department, which shall be in charge of the investigation and prosecution of all criminal matters in the Superior Court. The Division of Criminal Justice shall be an agency within the Executive Department with all management rights except appointment of all state's attorneys.

(P.A. 73-122, S. 2, 27; P.A. 76-436, S. 567, 681; P.A. 84-406, S. 2, 13.)

History: P.A. 76-436 referred to prosecution of criminal matters in superior court rather than “in the courts within the state”, reflecting transfer of all trial jurisdiction to superior court, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 84-406 placed the division of criminal justice within the executive department and provided division shall have all management rights except appointment of state's attorneys, effective November 28, 1984, upon certification by secretary of state of vote on constitutional amendment re appointment of state's attorneys.

Cited. 221 C. 300; 234 C. 539.

Cited. 42 CS 291.

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Notes of Decisions
Cited in 8 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1992–2023 · leading case: Massameno v. Statewide Grievance Comm., 663 A.2d 317 (Conn. 1995).
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Massameno v. Statewide Grievance Comm., 663 A.2d 317 (Conn. 1995). · cites it 4× “18 Subsequently, article fourth of the Connecticut constitution was amended by article twenty-three of the amendments (amendment twenty-three) to make the division a part of the executive branch and to provide for the establishment of a commission to oversee the appointment of…”
Kelly v. Freedom of Info. Comm'n, 603 A.2d 1131 (Conn. 1992). · cites it 2× “Citing article 23 of the amendments to the Connecti *305 cut constitution 5 and General Statutes §§ 51-276 6 and 51-286 (d) and (e), 7 the plaintiff also claimed that the chief of police was acting as the plaintiffs agent.”
State v. Kinchen, 707 A.2d 1255 (Conn. 1998). · cites it 2× “, 558-59 ; see General Statutes § 51-276; see also Conn.”
Hartford Cnty. Sheriffs Dep't Communities Charities Ass'n v. Blumenthal, 806 A.2d 1158 (Conn. Super. Ct. 2001). · cites it 7× “*469 III The plaintiffs’ third claim is that there exists an irreconcilable conflict between § 4-61dd, which gives the attorney general the authority to investigate, and article fourth, § 27, of the constitution of Connecticut and General Statutes §§ 51-276 6 and 3-125, 7 which…”
Gifford v. Freedom of Info. Comm'n, 617 A.2d 479 (Conn. Super. Ct. 1992). · cites it 2× “The constitutional empowerment is replicated in General Statutes § 51-276: “There is hereby established the division of criminal justice .”
Perugini v. Bristol, No. 3:18-cv-02095 (D. Conn. Sept. 4, 2019). · cites it 2× “The Division of Criminal Justice is responsible for “the investigation and prosecution of all criminal matters in the Superior Court” and exercises “all duties and powers with respect to the investigation and prosecution of criminal matters.”
Grant v. Lamont, No. 3:22-cv-01223 (D. Conn. Aug. 23, 2023). · cites it 2× “) Conn. Gen. Stat. § 51-276 establishes a Division of Criminal Justice within Connecticut’s Executive Department and places it in charge of the investigation and prosecution of all criminal matters in the Superior Court.”
State v. Vincent M., 43 A.3d 839 (Conn. Super. Ct. 2012). · cites it 2× “) General Statutes § 51-277 establishes the powers and “duties” of the division, again emphasizing investigation and prosecution of criminal matters as follows: “(a) The division shall exercise all powers and duties with respect to the investigation and prosecution of criminal…”
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