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:

• Office of the Bail Commissioner
• Family Services Division
• Juvenile Detention Services
• Office of Juvenile Probation
• Office of Adult Probation
• 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.