Connecticut Criminal Damage Law

State of Connecticut Criminal Damage Law

SUBJECT:  STATUTE  53a - 117e   (1996)

AN ACT CONCERNING LANDLORD AND TENANT which states:

Section 1 (a) - A tenant is guilty of criminal damage of a
landlord's property in the first degree when, with intent to cause
damage to tangible property of the landlord of the premises and
having no reasonable ground to believe that he has a right to do
so, he damages such property in an amount exceeding $1500.00.
(CLASS D FELONY)

STATUTE  53a - 117f

Section 2 (a) - A tenant is guilty of criminal damage of a
landlord's property in the second degree when, with intent to cause
damage to tangible property of the landlord of the premises and
having no reasonable ground to believe that he has a right to do
so, he damages such property in an amount exceeding $250.00.
(CLASS A MISDEMEANOR)

The purpose of this Public Act is to simply clarify that the
damages stemmed from a landlord - tenant dispute and that this
charge should be applied when probable cause exists for an arrest.