(a) The court, on motion of a child charged with a delinquency offense, but not yet convicted, may order that such child be examined to determine whether the child is alcohol-dependent or drug-dependent as defined in section 46b-120. Such motion shall be filed with the court within ten days after a plea is entered, except if waived by the court or pursuant to an agreement by the parties. The results of any examination ordered pursuant to this subsection shall be utilized only for the purposes of determining whether the delinquency proceeding should be suspended under this section.

(b) The court, upon motion of the child charged with a delinquency offense but not yet convicted, may order the suspension of the delinquency proceedings for a period of up to one year, order periodic alcohol and drug testing of such child during the period of suspension and order treatment for alcohol or drug dependency if the court, after consideration of information before it concerning the alcohol or drug dependency of the child, finds that (1) the child is alcohol-dependent or drug-dependent as defined in section 46b-120, (2) the child presently needs and is likely to benefit from treatment for the dependency, and (3) the suspension of the delinquency proceedings will advance the interests of justice. During the period of suspension, a child shall be placed under the supervision of a juvenile probation officer for treatment for alcohol or drug dependency and such officer shall monitor the compliance of the child with the orders of the court.

(c) If the court denies the motion for suspension of the delinquency proceedings, the prosecutorial official may proceed with the delinquency proceedings. Any order of the court granting or denying a motion for suspension of the delinquency proceedings shall not be deemed a final order for purposes of appeal.

(d) At any time before the end of the period of the suspension of the delinquency proceedings, but not later than one month before the end of the period of suspension, a juvenile probation officer shall notify the court of the impending conclusion of the suspension and submit a report on whether the child has completed the treatment program and has complied with all other conditions of the suspension order imposed by the court.

(e) If the court, on motion of the child or on its own motion, finds that the child has completed the treatment program and has complied with all other conditions of suspension, it may dismiss the charge for which the delinquency proceedings had been suspended. If the court denies the motion and terminates the suspension of the delinquency proceedings, the prosecutorial official may proceed with such proceedings.

(f) The provisions of this section shall not apply to any child charged with a serious juvenile offense as defined in section 46b-120 or any child who was previously ordered treated under this section.

(P.A. 90-161, S. 4, 6; P.A. 95-225, S. 17; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7, S. 124.)

History: P.A. 95-225 amended Subsec. (a) to replace “adjudged a delinquent child” with “convicted”, amended Subsec. (b) to replace “adjudged a delinquent child” with “convicted” and authorize the court to order periodic alcohol and drug testing of the child during the period of suspension and amended Subsecs. (c) and (e) to replace “court advocate” with “juvenile prosecutor”; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7 amended Subsecs. (c) and (e) to replace “juvenile prosecutor” with “prosecutorial official”, effective October 5, 2009.