2011 Connecticut Code
Title 53a Penal Code
Chapter 952 Penal Code: Offenses
Sec. 53a-48. Conspiracy. Renunciation.

      Sec. 53a-48. Conspiracy. Renunciation. (a) A person is guilty of conspiracy when, with intent that conduct constituting a crime be performed, he agrees with one or more persons to engage in or cause the performance of such conduct, and any one of them commits an overt act in pursuance of such conspiracy.

      (b) It shall be a defense to a charge of conspiracy that the actor, after conspiring to commit a crime, thwarted the success of the conspiracy, under circumstances manifesting a complete and voluntary renunciation of his criminal purpose.

      (1969, P.A. 828, S. 48, 49; 1971, P.A. 871, S. 16.)

      History: 1971 act amended Subsec. (b) to remove reference to "affirmative" defense.

      See Sec. 53a-50 re effect of motivation on renunciation.

      Cited. 169 C. 377; Id., 517; Id., 642. Generally may prosecute and sentence defendant for both conspiracy to commit offense and offense itself; Wharton's rule: An agreement by two persons to commit crime which necessarily requires participation of two persons cannot be prosecuted as conspiracy; rule currently valid only as presumption of legislative intent (dissent noted); exception to rule when more persons than required participate. 171 C. 105. Abuse of conspiracy charge to bring in otherwise improper evidence. Id. Cited. Id., 524. Cited. 172 C. 74. Cited. 174 C. 135; Id., 338; Id., 376. Cited. 176 C. 131. Cited. 177 C. 370. Cited. 178 C. 67; Id., 163; Id., 649. A defendant is entitled to a theory of defense instruction as a matter of law when evidence under this section is before jury. Id., 704. Cited. 180 C. 481. Cited. 182 C. 262; Id., 595. Cited. 184 C. 369. Cited. 186 C. 426; Id., 648; Id., 696. Cited. 187 C. 109; Id., 264; Id., 513. Cited. 188 C. 515; Id., 542; Id., 671. Cited. 189 C. 201; Id., 337. Cited. 190 C. 259. Cited. 191 C. 360. Cited. 194 C. 18; Id., 361. Cited. 195 C. 128; Id., 183; Id., 598. Cited. 196 C. 115; Id., 567. Cited. 197 C. 201; Id., 326; Id., 413; Id., 644. "There is no such thing as a conspiracy to commit a crime which is defined in terms of recklessly or negligently causing a result," therefore conspiracy to commit arson in the third degree in violation of this statute and Sec. 53a-113 is not crime cognizable under state law. 199 C. 1. Cited. Id., 14. Cited. 200 C. 113; Id., 310. Cited. 201 C. 489. Cited. 202 C. 520. Cited. 204 C. 240; Id., 630. Cited. 207 C. 323. Cited. 209 C. 1. Cited. 210 C. 435. Cited. 211 C. 289. Cited. 212 C. 195; Id., 387; Id., 593. Cited. 213 C. 233. Conspiracy charge against a defendant is barred after acquittal of sole alleged coconspirator. Conspiracy statute as "bilateral" in nature discussed. Id., 243. Cited. Id., 422; Id., 708. Cited. 215 C. 716; Id., 739. Cited. 216 C. 801. Cited. 218 C. 349; Id., 432. Cited. 220 C. 602; Id., 765. Cited. 221 C. 447; Id., 595. Cited. 223 C. 243; Id., 384. Cited. 224 C. 322. Cited. 225 C. 270; Id., 347. Cited. 227 C. 1; Id., 32; Id., 207. Cited. 235 C. 397; Id., 679; Id., 748. Cited. 236 C. 176; Id., 514. Cited. 237 C. 518. Cited. 238 C. 380. Cited. 239 C. 56; Id., 481. Cited. 240 C. 210; Id., 708. Cited. 241 C. 322. Cited. 242 C. 93. The requisite evidence of an agreement between individuals accused as coconspirators may be provided by a coconspirator's conduct at the scene. 290 C. 816.

      Cited. 1 CA 524. Cited. 3 CA 503. Cited. 5 CA 347; Id., 491; Id., 599. Cited. 8 CA 119; Id., 478; Id., 667. Cited. 9 CA 548. Cited. 10 CA 130; Id., 147; Id., 447. Cited. 11 CA 397; Id., 621. Cited. 14 CA 205; Id., 445; Id., 605; Id., 807. Cited. 15 CA 122; Id., 328; Id., 539. Cited. 16 CA 18; Id., 601. Cited. 17 CA 247; Id., 648. Cited. 19 CA 554; Id., 640. Cited. 21 CA 299; Id., 386; Id., 519. Cited. 22 CA 449; Id., 567. Cited. 23 CA 502; Id., 615; Id., 667. Cited. 24 CA 316; Id., 493. Cited. 26 CA 94; Id., 667; Id., 779. Cited. 27 CA 596. Cited. 28 CA 34; Id., 126; Id., 416. Cited. 29 CA 359; Id., 843. Cited. 30 CA 190; Id., 232; Id., 550; Id., 654; Id., 712. Cited. 32 CA 224. Cited. 33 CA 253; Id., 409. Cited. 34 CA 751; judgment reversed, see 233 C. 211 et seq. Cited. 35 CA 714; Id., 839. Cited. 36 CA 59; Id., 190; Id., 454; Id., 556; Id., 631; Id., 672; Id., 753; Id., 774. Cited. 37 CA 219; Id., 456; judgment reversed, see 236 C. 176. Cited. 38 CA 481; Id., 536; Id., 581; Id., 777; Id., 868. Cited. 39 CA 224; Id., 333; Id., 526; Id., 550. Cited. 40 CA 515; Id., 789. Cited. 41 CA 47; Id., 147; Id., 495. Cited. 42 CA 472; Id., 500; Id., 555; Id., 687. Cited. 43 CA 142; Id., 252; Id., 555. Cited. 44 CA 338. Cited. 45 CA 110; Id., 282; Id., 455. Cited. 46 CA 684; Id., 791. Elements of crime of conspiracy under section discussed. 63 CA 82. Statute is bilateral in nature in that conspiracy requires a showing that two or more coconspirators intended to engage in or cause conduct that constitutes a crime. 64 CA 384. Conviction and sentencing for multiple conspiracy offenses based on a single agreement is double jeopardy violation. 65 CA 788. Elements of crime of conspiracy discussed. 70 CA 393. There was sufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that defendant knowingly entered into a conspiracy to possess a narcotic substance with intent to sell. 75 CA 223. Jury instructions on conspiracy to commit murder must indicate that state was required to prove intent to agree or conspire to commit murder and intent to cause murder. 92 CA 92. Attempt to commit robbery in first degree in violation of Sec. 53a-49 and conspiracy to commit robbery in violation of this section are separate and distinct offenses for purposes of double jeopardy. 118 CA 35. Defendant's sentences on four separate conspiracy charges arising from two incidents constituted double jeopardy. 124 CA 9.

      Cited. 29 CS 344. Cited. 30 CS 211. Overt act is essential element of offense and must be alleged in information charging conspiracy. 35 CS 96. Cited. 36 CS 603. Cited. 37 CS 527; Id., 853. Cited. 38 CS 301; Id., 374; Id., 593.

      Subsec. (a):

      Cited. 177 C. 243. Cited. 189 C. 752. Cited. 192 C. 383. Cited. 199 C. 389. Cited. 200 C. 586. Cited. 201 C. 289. Cited. 203 C. 420. Cited. 207 C. 118. Cited. 210 C. 78; Id., 619. Cited. 212 C. 50; Id., 485. Cited. 213 C. 243. Cited. 214 C. 122; Id., 344. Cited. 215 C. 570. Cited. 217 C. 243. Cited. 218 C. 151. Cited. 223 C. 635. Cited erroneously as Subsec. (1). 227 C. 363. Cited. 230 C. 351. Cited. 232 C. 431; judgment superseded by en banc reconsideration, see 235 C. 502. Cited. Id., 537. Cited. 235 C. 502. Cited. 239 C. 235; Id., 467. Cited. 240 C. 727. Cited. 241 C. 1; Id., 502. Cited. 242 C. 125; Id., 296. Appellate court in State v. Torres, 41 CA 495, reversed trial court's judgment on grounds of insufficient evidence to convict, judgment of appellate court reversed. Id., 485. Evidence was sufficient to support conspiracy conviction. 253 C. 354. Where two defendants were tried separately and their respective juries were presented with separate, independent evidence of their agreement to commit the crime in question, acquittal of the defendant's coconspirator did not nullify defendant's conviction of the same charge. 257 C. 587.

      Cited. 7 CA 701. Cited. 9 CA 313. Cited. 14 CA 309; judgment reversed, see 212 C. 50; Id., 688. Subdiv. (2) cited. 15 CA 416. Cited. 16 CA 245; Id., 402. Cited. 18 CA 134. Cited. 19 CA 179; Id., 195. Cited. 20 CA 665. Cited. 22 CA 340. Cited. 23 CA 602; Id., 746; judgment reversed, see 221 C. 595. Cited. 25 CA 3; Id., 21; Id., 318. Cited. 26 CA 279. Cited. 27 CA 558; Id., 161; Id., 306; Id., 474; Id., 645; Id., 721. Cited. 29 CA 59; Id., 207. Cited. 31 CA 370. Cited. 32 CA 842. Cited. 33 CA 122; Id., 339; judgment reversed on issues of sufficiency of evidence and jury misconduct, see 235 C. 502; Id., 647. Cited. 34 CA 58; judgment reversed, see 232 C. 537; Id., 96; judgment reversed, see 232 C. 537; Id., 595. Cited. 35 CA 740. Cited. 36 CA 41; Id., 483; Id., 488. Cited. 37 CA 156; Id., 360; Id., 574. Cited. 38 CA 434. Cited. 39 CA 63; Id., 242; Id., 579; Id., 645. Cited. 40 CA 47; Id., 526. Cited. 43 CA 488; Id., 830. Cited. 44 CA 499. Cited. 45 CA 270. Cited. 46 CA 640. Conviction for conspiracy to sell a controlled substance within one thousand five hundred feet of a public housing project reversed where trial court instructed that jury must find that conspiracy occurred within one thousand five hundred feet of public housing project. The law is not concerned with where the plan was hatched, but with where conspirators proposed to carry out its unlawful purpose. 73 CA 386. The nexus between defendant's role in the conspiracy and illegal conduct of his coconspirators was not so attentuated or remote that it would be unjust to hold him responsible for the criminal conduct of his coconspirators. 107 CA 413.

      Cited. 44 CS 490.

      Subsec. (b):

      Cited. 40 CA 526.