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

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-50 (2025)

Effect of motivation on renunciation

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For purposes of this part, renunciation of criminal purpose is not voluntary if it is motivated, in whole or in part, by circumstances, not present or apparent at the inception of the actor's course of conduct, which increase the probability of detection or apprehension or which make more difficult the accomplishment of the criminal purpose. Renunciation is not complete if it is motivated by a decision to postpone the criminal conduct or to transfer the criminal effort to another but similar objective or victim.

(1969, P.A. 828, S. 51.)

Cited. 182 C. 595.

Cited. 17 CA 128; 23 CA 160. Renunciation by defendant found not to be voluntary where defendant failed to continue course of criminal conduct because of circumstances of fellow inmate's early release and rumors that defendant's conversations were being recorded. 59 CA 362.

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Notes of Decisions
Cited in 6 cases, 1988–2015 · leading case: State v. Carter, 61 A.3d 1103 (Conn. App. Ct. 2013).
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State v. Carter, 61 A.3d 1103 (Conn. App. Ct. 2013). · cites it 3× “Under General Statutes § 53a-50, however, such a defense is available to a defendant only when his abandonment of criminal purpose is not “motivated, in whole or in part, by circumstances, not present or apparent at the inception of the actor’s course of conduct, which increase…”
State v. Gombert, 836 A.2d 437 (Conn. App. Ct. 2003). · cites it 2× “Renunciation of a crime must be voluntary; “renunciation of criminal purpose is not voluntary if it is motivated, in whole or in part, by circumstances, not present or apparent at the inception of the actor’s course of conduct, which increase the probability of detection or…”
State v. Kelly, 580 A.2d 520 (Conn. App. Ct. 1990). “” Section 53a-50 elaborates on the voluntariness requirement as follows: “For purposes of this part, renunciation of criminal purpose is not voluntary if it is motivated, in whole or in part, by circumstances, not present or apparent at the inception of the actor’s course of…”
State v. Scott, 740 A.2d 441 (Conn. App. Ct. 1999). · cites it 2× “General Statutes § 53a-50 provides in relevant part that “ [r] enunciation is not complete if it is motivated by a decision to .”
State v. Riley, 123 A.3d 123 (Conn. App. Ct. 2015). · cites it 5× “As to the second method of disproving the defense of renunciation, by disproving the ‘‘complete and volun- tary’’ element thereof, General Statutes § 53a-50 pro- vides the following further explanation: ‘‘[R]enunciation of criminal purpose is not voluntary if it is motivated, in…”
State v. Cushman, 550 A.2d 649 (Conn. App. Ct. 1988). · cites it 2× “General Statutes § 53a-50. There is no error.”
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