Conn. Gen. Stat. » Title 54 — CRIMINAL PROCEDURE · Chapter 960 — Information, Procedure and Bail
Connecticut General Statutes

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 54-47c (2025)

Application for investigation into commission of crime

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(a) Any judge of the Superior Court, Appellate Court or Supreme Court, the Chief State's Attorney or a state's attorney may make application to a panel of judges for an investigation into the commission of a crime or crimes whenever such applicant has reasonable belief that the administration of justice requires an investigation to determine whether or not there is probable cause to believe that a crime or crimes have been committed.

(b) Each application for an investigation into the commission of a crime or crimes shall be made in writing upon oath or affirmation to a panel of judges. Each application shall include the following information: (1) The identity of the applicant and his authority to make such application; (2) a full and complete statement of the facts and circumstances relied upon by the applicant to justify his reasonable belief that the investigation will lead to a finding of probable cause that a crime or crimes have been committed; and (3) a full and complete statement of the facts concerning all previous applications known to the applicant, made to any panel of judges, for investigation of any one or more of the same criminal offenses involving any of the same persons specified in the application, including the action taken by the panel on each such application. The panel of judges may require such additional testimony or documentary evidence in support of facts in the application as it deems necessary. Such additional testimony shall be transcribed.

(c) If the application is made by the Chief State's Attorney or a state's attorney, it shall also include (1) a full and complete statement of the status of the investigation and of the evidence collected as of the date of such application, (2) if other normal investigative procedures have been tried with respect to the alleged crime, a full and complete statement specifying the other normal investigative procedures that have been tried and the reasons such procedures have failed or the specific nature of the alleged crime or the nature of the investigation that leads the applicant to reasonably conclude that the use of normal investigative procedures would not result in the obtaining of information that would advance the investigation or would fail to secure and preserve evidence or testimony that might otherwise be compromised, (3) if other normal investigative procedures have not been tried, a full and complete statement of the reasons such procedures reasonably appear to be unlikely to succeed if tried or be too dangerous to employ, and (4) a full and complete statement of the reasons for the applicant's belief that the appointment of an investigatory grand jury and the investigative procedures employed by such investigatory grand jury will lead to a finding of probable cause that a crime or crimes have been committed.

(d) The panel may approve the application and order an investigation into the commission of a crime or crimes if it finds that (1) the administration of justice requires an investigation to determine whether or not there is probable cause to believe that a crime or crimes have been committed, (2) if the application was made by the Chief State's Attorney or a state's attorney, other normal investigative procedures with respect to the alleged crime have been tried and have failed or reasonably appear to be unlikely to succeed if tried or be too dangerous to employ or, due to the specific nature of the alleged crime or the nature of the investigation, it is reasonable to conclude that the use of normal investigative procedures would not result in the obtaining of information that would advance the investigation or would fail to secure and preserve evidence or testimony that might otherwise be compromised, and (3) the investigative procedures employed by an investigatory grand jury appear likely to succeed in determining whether or not there is probable cause to believe that a crime or crimes have been committed.

(P.A. 85-611, S. 2; P.A. 87-350, S. 2, 6; P.A. 98-48, S. 2; P.A. 03-273, S. 1.)

History: P.A. 87-350 added provision re transcription of additional testimony; P.A. 98-48 designated provisions of Subsec. (b) re requirements of an application made by the Chief State's Attorney or a state's attorney as new Subsec. (c), amended said Subsec. (c) to designate provisions re the use of other normal investigative procedures as Subdivs. (2) and (3) and rephrase said provisions, add Subdiv. (1) requiring a statement of the status of the investigation and of the evidence collected as of the date of the application and add Subdiv. (4) requiring a statement of the reasons for the applicant's belief that the appointment of an investigatory grand jury and the investigative procedures employed by such grand jury will lead to a finding of probable cause that a crime or crimes have been committed, and added new Subsec. (d) authorizing the panel to approve the application and order an investigation if it makes certain findings and specifying said findings; P.A. 03-273 amended Subsec. (c)(2) to add provision re statement that specifies the specific nature of the alleged crime or the nature of the investigation that leads the applicant to reasonably conclude that the use of normal investigative procedures would not result in the obtaining of information that would advance the investigation or would fail to secure and preserve evidence or testimony that might otherwise be compromised and amended Subsec. (d)(2) to add provision re finding that, due to the specific nature of the alleged crime or the nature of the investigation, it is reasonable to conclude that the use of normal investigative procedures would not result in the obtaining of information that would advance the investigation or would fail to secure and preserve evidence or testimony that might otherwise be compromised.

Cited. 202 C. 541; 204 C. 259; 206 C. 203; 207 C. 98; 213 C. 66; 221 C. 625; 224 C. 29.

Cited. 16 CA 679; 17 CA 395; 20 CA 447.

Cited. 45 CS 1.

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Notes of Decisions
Cited in 11 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1987–2022 · leading case: O'BRIEN v. Superior Court, 939 A.2d 1223 (Conn. App. Ct. 2008).
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O'BRIEN v. Superior Court, 939 A.2d 1223 (Conn. App. Ct. 2008). · cites it 50× “" Although the motion primarily called on the court to apply for an investigation pursuant to General Statutes § 54-47c, [6] it also requested that the court "take any other measures it deems in accord with law and prudence to protect the integrity of the Court and the judicial…”
In re Jud. Inquiry No. 2005-02, 977 A.2d 166 (Conn. 2009). · cites it 14× “For instance, General Statutes § 54-47c sets forth, in detail, the procedure that must be followed to apply for an investigatory grand jury.”
Nyenhuis v. Metro. Dist. Comm'n, 22 A.3d 1181 (Conn. 2011). · cites it 6× “*722 It also is significant that individuals may be compelled to attend and produce documents at the proceedings held before an investigatory grand jury; see General Statutes § 54-47b (3); 11 appointed following an application filed pursuant to General Statutes § 54-47c 12 by,…”
State v. Ortiz, 275 A.3d 578 (Conn. 2022). · cites it 2× “5 General Statutes § 54-47c (a) provides: ‘‘Any judge of the Superior Court, Appellate Court or Supreme Court, the Chief State’s Attorney or a state’s attorney may make application to a panel of judges for an investigation into the commission of a crime or crimes whenever such…”
State v. Rivera, 736 A.2d 790 (Conn. 1999). · cites it 3× “to 1993) § 54-47c provides: “Application for investigation into commission of crime, (a) Any judge of the superior court, appellate court or supreme court, the chief state’s attorney or a state’s attorney may make application to a panel of judges for an investigation into the…”
In re Jud. Inquiry No. 85-01, 605 A.2d 545 (Conn. 1992). · cites it 2× “” General Statutes § 54-47c (a) provides: “Any judge of the superior court, appellate court or supreme court, the chief state’s attorney or a state’s attor *627 ney may make application to a panel of judges for an investigation into the commission of a crime or crimes whenever…”
State v. Williams, 536 A.2d 583 (Conn. 1988). · cites it 2× “It has been supplanted by provisions for an investigatory grand jury under General Statutes §§ 54-47c and 54-47d, effective October 1, 1985.”
State v. Blasko, 522 A.2d 753 (Conn. 1987). “Any order authorizing the investigation into the commission of a crime or crimes and any application filed with the panel pursuant to section 54-47c or subsection (c) of section 54-47d shall be sealed.”
Calfee v. Usman, 616 A.2d 250 (Conn. 1992). “…(search warrant); § 54-41d (wiretap authorization); § 54-46a (hearings for persons charged with capital crimes); § 54-47c (grand jury investigation); § 54-56d (examination of competency to stand trial); and § 54-64f (hearing on violation of conditions of release).”
In re Jud. Inquiry No. 2005-02, 934 A.2d 248 (Conn. App. Ct. 2007). · cites it 3× “General Statutes § 54-47c details the procedures by which an application for an investigation is submitted and approved, while § 54-47d concerns the appointment, duration and scope of the investigatory grand jury.”
In re Grand Jury Investigation by Judge Alexander, 540 A.2d 49 (Conn. 1988). · cites it 2× “Indeed, the cross-references in § 54-47e to §§ 54-47c and 54-47d underscore that the legislature understood the panel that determines disclosure to have had prior oversight responsibility for all aspects of the investigatory grand jury process.”
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