Court Support Services Division
CSSD Quick Links
The Court Support Services Division (CSSD) was established within the
Judicial Branch, State of Connecticut, in February 1999. It was formed to
respond to the changing needs of judges, attorneys, litigants, defendants,
and communities, while providing on-going public safety. In early 1998, the
Judicial Branch contracted with the National Center for State Courts to
perform a comprehensive assessment of administrative and operational
functions. Areas where the Branch could streamline and consolidate, while
improving services, were identified. One of the Center’s main
recommendations was the formation of this new Division.
The CSSD
combines the resources and expertise of the former:
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Office of the Bail Commissioner
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Family Services Division
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Juvenile Detention Services
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Office of Juvenile Probation
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Office of Adult Probation
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Office of Alternative Sanctions
The merger created a single entity with staff
representation and services in each Judicial District. Judges now have all
available pre-trial services, family services, offender sentencing and
supervision options for adults and juveniles, as well as juvenile detention
services, coordinated through the single CSSD division and managed from a
central office.
Staff and resource allocation around core business functions and service
delivery are now focused on the main court support service functions for
adults and juveniles including:
- Intake/Assessment/Referral (IAR) - a
single, comprehensive pre trial evaluation and referral process
- Supervision - a unit that focuses only on effective supervision of clients
involved with the court system.
- Administration of an alternative
sanctions continuum of treatment and support services for pretrial and
sentenced adults and juveniles purchased under contract by CSSD with
community based providers comprising a statewide network that serves each
judicial district.
The CSSD established five regional service areas that
closely resemble those of the Executive Branch for more efficient
integration of its treatment planning and service delivery efforts with the
state’s human service agencies. Centralized management oversight takes place
under the authority of the Executive Director and Directors of Operations,
Administration, Director of Family Services and Deputy Director of Program
and Staff Development. Regional Managers and field staff, with specialized
expertise in services to juveniles, adults and families, provide local
management support. Adult and Juvenile Criminal Sanctions Monitors and
Contract Compliance Specialists located in central office have
responsibility for programming and contracting duties statewide and provide
day-to-day administrative management of private sector contracts.
In
recognition of the distinct needs of adults and juveniles, two separate but
parallel, service delivery systems were developed. CSSD Juvenile Probation
provides a full continuum of monitoring, supervision and referral services
for Delinquency, Judicial and Non Judicial Cases, and Families with Service
Needs (FWSN) juveniles. CSSD administers Juvenile Detention services in
state run Centers that it operates in Hartford, New Haven and Bridgeport.
The CSSD also administers contracts for three privately run all girls’
detention centers located in Hartford, Hamden and Norwalk. Children under
sixteen years of age accused of delinquent acts and awaiting court
appearances receive detention services.
CSSD also incorporates Family
Civil Services that assist the court and clients in the resolution of family
and interpersonal conflicts with negotiation, mediation, and evaluation and
education services in each Judicial District. Family Criminal Court services
provided by CSSD’s Family Services Unit include comprehensive assessment and
interventions that address domestic violence cases and victim/complainants
in each geographical area court site.