Conn. Gen. Stat. » Title 53a — PENAL CODE · Chapter 952 — Penal Code: Offenses
Connecticut General Statutes

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-174a (2026)

Possession of weapon or dangerous instrument in correctional institution: Class B felony

✓ current as of May 2026
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(a) A person is guilty of possession of a weapon or dangerous instrument in a correctional institution when, being an inmate of such institution, he knowingly makes, conveys from place to place or has in his possession or under his control any firearm, weapon, dangerous instrument, explosive, or any other substance or thing designed to kill, injure or disable.

(b) Possession of a weapon or dangerous instrument in a correctional institution is a class B felony.

(1971, P.A. 871, S. 55; P.A. 73-639, S. 17.)

History: P.A. 73-639 applied provisions with respect to possession of dangerous instruments.

Cited. 169 C. 428; 195 C. 1; 227 C. 711; Id., 751; 230 C. 591; 235 C. 748, 749; 240 C. 97.

Cited. 32 CA 448; 36 CA 41; 39 CA 789; 44 CA 499.

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Notes of Decisions
Cited in 29 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 1985–2024 · leading case: State v. Williams, 485 A.2d 570 (Conn. 1985).
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State v. Williams, 485 A.2d 570 (Conn. 1985). · cites it 6× “After a jury trial, the defendant, Stanley Williams, was convicted of possession of a weapon inside a state correctional institution in violation of General Statutes § 53a-174a. 1 This conviction stemmed from an incident in the Connecticut Correctional Institution at Somers.”
State v. Santiago, 689 A.2d 1108 (Conn. 1997). · cites it 9× “dismiss in which he claimed that his criminal prosecution violated his constitutional right to not be placed in double jeopardy because he had already been administratively disciplined by prison officials; and (2) whether the trial court improperly allowed the jury to decide…”
State v. Baker, 145 A.3d 955 (Conn. App. Ct. 2016). · cites it 3× “1 After pleading guilty under the Alford doctrine 2 to possessing a weapon or dangerous instrument in a correctional institution in violation of General Statutes § 53a-174a (a), 3 the defendant was sentenced to eighteen months of imprisonment.”
Santiago v. State, 804 A.2d 801 (Conn. 2002). · cites it 4× “*535 A jury found the petitioner, Ruben Santiago, guilty of conspiracy to commit assault in the first degree in violation of General Statutes §§ 53a-59 (a) (l) 2 and 53a-48, 3 rioting at a correctional institution in violation of General Statutes § 53a-179b, 4 and possession of…”
State v. Robinson, 631 A.2d 288 (Conn. 1993). · cites it 2× “to 1989) § 53a-59 (a) (1) and (3), 1 assault in the second degree in violation of General Statutes § 53a-60 (a) (5), 2 rioting at a correctional institution in violation of General Statutes § 53a-179b, 3 and *714 possession of a weapon or dangerous instrument in a correctional…”
State v. Robinson, 646 A.2d 118 (Conn. 1994). · cites it 4× “*593 The defendant was charged with one count of possession of a weapon or dangerous instrument in a correctional facility in violation of General Statutes § 53a-174a (a), 3 and with two counts of assault in the second degree in violation of General Statutes § 53a-60 (a) (5).”
State v. Atkinson, 670 A.2d 276 (Conn. 1996). · cites it 2× “The defendant was acquitted of the third charge in the second information, namely possession of a weapon in a correctional institution in violation of General Statutes § 53a-174a (a). General Statutes § 53a-54c provides: “Felony murder.”
State v. Alston, 62 A.3d 586 (Conn. App. Ct. 2013). · cites it 8× “The defendant, Ira Alston, appeals from the judgment of conviction rendered following his guilty plea to the crime of possessing a weapon or dangerous instrument in a correctional institution in violation of *721 General Statutes § 53a-174a. 1 The defendant claims that the court…”
State v. Harris, 631 A.2d 309 (Conn. 1993). · cites it 2× “to 1989) *753 § 53a-59 (a) (1) and (3), 1 and one count each of assault in the second degree in violation of General Statutes § 53a-60 (a) (5), 2 rioting at a correctional institution in violation of General Statutes § 53a-179b, 3 and possession of a weapon or dangerous…”
State v. Barnett, 734 A.2d 991 (Conn. App. Ct. 1999). · cites it 2× “The defendant, Ricky Lee Barnett, appeals from the judgment of conviction, rendered after a jury trial, of rioting in a correctional institution in violation of General Statutes § 53a-179b, possession of a weapon or dangerous instrument in a correctional institution in violation…”
State v. Andaz, 186 A.3d 66 (Conn. App. Ct. 2018). · cites it 2× “On April 29, 2014, the defendant was convicted of possession of a weapon or dangerous instrument in a correctional institution in violation of General Statutes § 53a-174a and sentenced to six years incarceration, execution suspended after thirteen months, followed by three years…”
State v. Vega, 646 A.2d 957 (Conn. App. Ct. 1994). · cites it 4× “appeals from the judgment of conviction, rendered after a jury trial, of conspiracy to commit assault in the first degree in violation of General Statutes §§ 53a-48 (a) 1 and 53a-59 (a) (1), 2 attempt to commit assault in the first degree in violation of General Statutes §§…”
Show all 29 citing cases →
— Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-174a(a) — 1 case
Alston v. Rutkowski (D. Conn. 2024).
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