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

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-179b (2026)

Rioting at correctional institution: Class B felony

✓ current as of May 2026
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(a) A person is guilty of rioting at a correctional institution when he incites, instigates, organizes, connives at, causes, aids, abets, assists or takes part in any disorder, disturbance, strike, riot or other organized disobedience to the rules and regulations of such institution.

(b) Rioting at a correctional institution is a class B felony.

(1971, P.A. 871, S. 53.)

Cited. 190 C. 143; 227 C. 711; Id., 751; 237 C. 454; 240 C. 97.

Statute not constitutionally vague or overbroad. 30 CA 224. Cited. 32 CA 224; 39 CA 333; 44 CA 264.

Cited. 43 CS 46.

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Notes of Decisions
Cited in 21 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1983–2021 · leading case: State v. Roque, 460 A.2d 26 (Conn. 1983).
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State v. Roque, 460 A.2d 26 (Conn. 1983). · cites it 17× “*145 That part of the information filed by the state which charged the violation of General Statutes § 53a-179b stated as follows: “DONALD B.”
State v. Faust, 678 A.2d 910 (Conn. 1996). · cites it 17× “After a jury trial, the defendant, Nathaniel Faust, was convicted of rioting at a correctional institution in violation of General Statutes § 53a-179b. 1 After denying the defendant’s motion for judgment of acquittal, the trial court rendered judgment on the jury verdict.”
State v. Nixon, 630 A.2d 74 (Conn. App. Ct. 1993). · cites it 19× “conviction, rendered after a jury trial, of conspiracy to assault an employee of the department of correction; General Statutes §§ 53a-48 and 53a-167c (a) (l); 1 assault of an employee of the department of correction; General Statutes §§ 53a-8 and 53a-167c (a) (1); second degree…”
United States v. Johnson, 616 F.3d 85 (2d Cir. 2010). · cites it 15× “On remand for resentencing in the District Court, defendant argued that he should not be sentenced pursuant to the ACCA because one of his predicate convictions—namely, rioting at a correctional institution in violation of Conn. Gen.Stat. § 53a-179b—was not for a "violent…”
State v. Rivera, 619 A.2d 1146 (Conn. App. Ct. 1993). · cites it 16× “The defendant was convicted, after a trial to the court, 1 of rioting at a correctional institution in violation of General Statutes § 53a-179b (a). 2 On appeal, the defendant claims that the trial court improperly (1) rejected the defendant’s argument that General Statutes §…”
State v. Robinson, 631 A.2d 288 (Conn. 1993). · cites it 4× “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…”
Johnson v. United States, 135 S. Ct. 2551 (2015). “Conn. Gen.Stat. § 53a-179b(a)(2012). Who is to say which the ordinary "disorder" most closely resembles-a full-fledged prison riot, a food-fight in the prison cafeteria, or a "passive and nonviolent [act] such as disregarding an order to move," Johnson, 616 F.”
State v. Velasco, 751 A.2d 800 (Conn. 2000). · cites it 4× “2d 910 (1996), we held that the trial court’s failure to instruct the jury on an essential element of General Statutes § 53a-179b, rioting in a correctional institution, constituted harmless error.”
State v. Barnett, 734 A.2d 991 (Conn. App. Ct. 1999). · cites it 5× “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…”
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. Hanks, 665 A.2d 102 (Conn. App. Ct. 1995). · cites it 4× “er a jury trial, of assault in the first degree in violation of General Statutes § 53a-59 (a) (4), 1 assault of an employee of the department of correction in violation of General Statutes § 53a-167c (a) (l), 2 attempted escape in the first degree in violation of General…”
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…”
Show all 21 citing cases →
— Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-179b(a) — 1 case
United States v. Johnson, 616 F.3d 85 (2d Cir. 2010). “On remand for resentencing in the District Court, defendant argued that he should not be sentenced pursuant to the ACCA because one of his predicate convictions—namely, rioting at a correctional institution in violation of Conn. Gen.Stat. § 53a-179b—was not for a "violent…”
— Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-179b(a)(2012) — 1 case
Johnson v. United States, 135 S. Ct. 2551 (2015). “Conn. Gen.Stat. § 53a-179b(a)(2012). Who is to say which the ordinary "disorder" most closely resembles-a full-fledged prison riot, a food-fight in the prison cafeteria, or a "passive and nonviolent [act] such as disregarding an order to move," Johnson, 616 F.”
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