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

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-63 (2026)

Reckless endangerment in the first degree: Class A misdemeanor

✓ current as of May 2026
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(a) A person is guilty of reckless endangerment in the first degree when, with extreme indifference to human life, he recklessly engages in conduct which creates a risk of serious physical injury to another person.

(b) Reckless endangerment in the first degree is a class A misdemeanor.

(1969, P.A. 828, S. 64.)

Cited. 179 C. 617; 194 C. 408; 200 C. 607; 226 C. 497; 233 C. 502; 238 C. 313; 241 C. 413; 242 C. 648.

Cited. 2 CA 617; 3 CA 163; 8 CA 496; Id., 631; 32 CA 84; 33 CA 103; Id., 743; judgment reversed, see 233 C. 502; 41 CA 47; 43 CA 578; 44 CA 6. Under section, jury has to consider objectively the nature and degree of the risk and defendant's subjective awareness of that risk. 75 CA 432.

Cited. 39 CS 347; Id., 359; 42 CS 574.

Subsec. (a):

Cited. 227 C. 301; 237 C. 348.

Cited. 3 CA 289; 8 CA 153; 10 CA 659; 18 CA 477; 24 CA 330; 26 CA 145; 40 CA 515; Id., 643; 42 CA 768; 45 CA 369. Defendant's conduct in pointing gun at police officers, even though gun was not racked, and struggling with them in crowded bar was sufficient to constitute reckless endangerment; danger engendered by defendant's conduct arose from distinct potential that others in bar would fire their weapons and result in serious injury to officers or bystanders. 141 CA 377; judgment affirmed, see 317 C. 845.

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Notes of Decisions
Cited in 149 cases (15 in the last 5 years), 1980–2026 · leading case: State v. Abraham, 343 Conn. 470 (Conn. 2022).
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State v. Abraham, 343 Conn. 470 (Conn. 2022). · cites it 7× “Following a jury trial, the defendant, Juny Oscar Abraham, was convicted of home invasion in violation of General Statutes § 53a-100aa (a) (2), attempt to commit assault in the first degree in violation of General Statutes §§ 53a-49 and 53a-59 (a) (1), reckless endangerment in…”
State v. Carter, 61 A.3d 1103 (Conn. App. Ct. 2013). · cites it 8× “See Commission to Revise the Criminal Statutes, Penal Code Comments, Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 53a-63 (West 1971), commission comment (“[section] 53a-63 .”
State v. Jordan, 44 A.3d 794 (Conn. 2012). · cites it 6× “[1] The defendant appeals *801 from the Appellate Court's judgment affirming the judgment of conviction, rendered after a jury trial, of reckless endangerment in the first degree in violation of General Statutes § 53a-63. [2] He claims that the Appellate Court improperly…”
Johnson v. Comm'r of Corr., 786 A.2d 1091 (Conn. 2002). · cites it 4× “to 1995) § 29-35], 6 and reckless endangerment in the first degree [in violation of General Statutes § 53a-63]. 7 “The petitioner [pleaded] guilty to those [charges] on September 24, 1996.”
State v. Rios, 156 A.3d 18 (Conn. App. Ct. 2017). · cites it 4× “9(a)(1) 4 by intentionally striking Nunez with his vehicle with the intent to cause him serious physical injuries; (2) assault in the second degree pursuant to § 53a-60(a)(2), 5 by causing serious physical injury to Jessica by striking her with his vehicle with the intent to…”
State v. Lopez, 822 A.2d 948 (Conn. App. Ct. 2003). · cites it 6× “The defendant, Leonardo Lopez, appeals from the judgments of conviction, rendered after his guilty plea under the Alford doctrine, 1 to reckless endangerment in the first degree for having live extension cords between two properties while children were in the area in violation…”
State v. Lemoine, 770 A.2d 491 (Conn. 2001). · cites it 4× “to 1997) § 53a-59, 2 reckless endangerment in the first degree in violation of General Statutes § 53a-63, 3 carrying a pistol without a permit in violation of General Statutes (Rev.”
State v. Davila, 816 A.2d 673 (Conn. App. Ct. 2003). · cites it 5× “to 1999) § 53-21, reckless endangerment in the first degree in violation of General Statutes § 53a-63, criminal possession of a firearm in violation of General Statutes § 53a-217, carrying a pistol without a permit in violation of General Statutes § 29-35 and possession of…”
State v. Arluk, 815 A.2d 694 (Conn. App. Ct. 2003). · cites it 4× “The defendant, Mariano Arluk, appeals from the judgments of conviction, 1 rendered after a jury trial, of one count each of assault in the third degree in violation of General Statutes § 53a-61 (a) (l), 2 reckless endangerment in the first degree in violation of General Statutes…”
State v. Douglas, 11 A.3d 699 (Conn. App. Ct. 2011). · cites it 5× “first degree with intent to cause physical injury to another person by means of the discharge of a firearm in violation of General Statutes §§ 53a-48 and 53a-59 (a) (5), conspiracy to commit assault in the first degree by means of a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument in…”
State v. Davis, 155 A.3d 221 (Conn. 2017). · cites it 2× “to 2011) § 29-36, unlawfully carrying a weapon in a vehicle in violation of § 29-38, criminal attempt to assault a police officer in violation of General Statutes § 53a-49 (a) (2), reckless endangerment in the first degree in violation of General Statutes § 53a-63, interfering…”
State v. Sawyer, 904 A.2d 101 (Conn. 2006). · cites it 2× “to 1997) § 53a-62 (a) (1) and reckless endangerment in the first degree in violation of General Statutes § 53a-63 (a). On appeal, the defendant claims that the Appellate Court improperly concluded that (1) the trial court did not abuse its discretion in permitting the state to…”
Show all 149 citing cases →
— Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-63(a) — 5 cases
State v. Rios, 156 A.3d 18 (Conn. App. Ct. 2017). “9(a)(1) 4 by intentionally striking Nunez with his vehicle with the intent to cause him serious physical injuries; (2) assault in the second degree pursuant to § 53a-60(a)(2), 5 by causing serious physical injury to Jessica by striking her with his vehicle with the intent to…”
James E. v. Comm'r of Corr., 163 A.3d 593 (Conn. 2017).
Pines v. Bailey, 563 F. App'x 814 (2d Cir. 2014).
Rountree (D. Conn. 2026).
Sallaj v. Barr (D.R.I. 2020).
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.