Conn. Gen. Stat. 53a-119 – Larceny defined

Connecticut General Statutes 53a-119 explained for non lawyers

1. What the law prohibits

This statute defines what larceny (theft) means in Connecticut law. You commit larceny when you wrongfully take someone else’s property with the intent to permanently keep it and deprive the owner of their property. This includes stealing money, goods, services, or other valuable things that belong to another person.

2. What the penalties are if someone is convicted

• No specific penalties – this statute defines larceny but doesn’t set punishment
• The penalties depend on the value of what was stolen and are found in the specific degree statutes:
  • 6th degree (lowest) – for thefts $500 or less
  • 5th degree – for thefts more than $500
  • And so on, with higher degrees for more valuable thefts

3. What the state has to prove to convict someone (Elements of the offense)

This statute establishes the basic elements that apply to all larceny charges. The state must prove all of the following beyond a reasonable doubt:

1. The defendant wrongfully took property
2. The property belonged to someone else
3. The defendant intended to permanently deprive the owner of the property
4. The taking was done without the owner’s consent

Note: This is the foundational definition of larceny in Connecticut. The specific criminal charges and penalties are found in statutes 53a-122 through 53a-125b, which break down larceny by the value of what was stolen.

For the actual statute, you can visit Justia which has the actual law on its website.

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