(a) A persistent offender of crimes involving assault, stalking, trespass, threatening, harassment, criminal violation of a protective order, criminal violation of a standing criminal protective order or criminal violation of a restraining order is a person who (1) stands convicted of assault under section 53a-61, stalking under section 53a-181d, threatening under section 53a-62, harassment under section 53a-183, criminal violation of a protective order under section 53a-223, criminal violation of a standing criminal protective order under section 53a-223a, criminal violation of a restraining order under section 53a-223b or criminal trespass under section 53a-107 or 53a-108, and (2) has, prior to the commission of the present crime, (A) been convicted of a capital felony under the provisions of section 53a-54b in effect prior to April 25, 2012, a class A felony, a class B felony, except a conviction under section 53a-86 or 53a-122, a class C felony, except a conviction under section 53a-87, 53a-152 or 53a-153, or a class D felony under sections 53a-60 to 53a-60c, inclusive, 53a-72a, 53a-72b, 53a-95, 53a-103, 53a-103a, 53a-114, 53a-136 or 53a-216, assault under section 53a-61, stalking under section 53a-181d, threatening under section 53a-62, harassment under section 53a-183, criminal violation of a protective order under section 53a-223, criminal violation of a standing criminal protective order under section 53a-223a, criminal violation of a restraining order under section 53a-223b, or criminal trespass under section 53a-107 or 53a-108, or (B) been convicted in any other state of any crime the essential elements of which are substantially the same as any of the crimes enumerated in subparagraph (A) of this subdivision.

(b) When any person has been found to be a persistent offender of crimes involving assault, stalking, trespass, threatening, harassment, criminal violation of a protective order, criminal violation of a standing criminal protective order or criminal violation of a restraining order, the court shall, in lieu of imposing the sentence authorized for the crime under section 53a-36 or section 53a-35a, as applicable, impose the sentence of imprisonment authorized by said section 53a-36 or section 53a-35a for the next more serious degree of misdemeanor or felony, except that if the crime is a class A misdemeanor the court shall impose the sentence of imprisonment for a class D felony, as authorized by section 53a-35a.

(P.A. 95-193, S. 2; P.A. 02-127, S. 4; Jan. Sp. Sess. P.A. 08-1, S. 9; P.A. 10-144, S. 12; P.A. 12-5, S. 20; P.A. 14-122, S. 58; 14-147, S. 1.)

History: P.A. 02-127 applied the provisions to criminal violation of a restraining order under Sec. 53a-223b and in Subsec. (b) added references to Sec. 53a-35a, specified “felony” in the provision concerning the imposition of the sentence of imprisonment authorized for the next more serious crime and made technical changes for the purpose of gender neutrality; Jan. Sp. Sess. P.A. 08-1 amended Subsec. (b) to delete requirement for imposition of enhanced sentence that “the court is of the opinion that such person's history and character and the nature and circumstances of such person's criminal conduct indicate that an increased penalty will best serve the public interest”, effective January 25, 2008; P.A. 10-144 amended Subsec. (a)(2) to delete limitation re 5 years preceding commission of the present crime, designate existing provisions as Subparas. (A) and (C), add Subpara. (B) re conviction in any other state of any crime substantially the same as crimes enumerated in Subpara. (A) and delete “whichever is later” in Subpara. (C); P.A. 12-5 amended Subsec. (a)(2)(A) to add reference to provisions of Sec. 53a-54b in effect prior to April 25, 2012, re conviction of a capital felony, effective April 25, 2012; P.A. 14-122 made a technical change in Subsec. (a); P.A. 14-147 added references to criminal violation of a standing criminal protective order throughout and amended Subsec. (a)(2) to add “prior to the commission of the present crime,” and delete former Subpara. (C) re release from incarceration with respect to conviction, effective October 1, 2014, and applicable to convictions entered on or after that date.