For all crimes charged by the state on or after May 26, 1983, the prosecution may be by complaint or information. For all crimes punishable by death or imprisonment for life charged by the state before May 26, 1983, the prosecution shall be by indictment.

See Sec. 54-56b re right to dismissal or trial on nolle.

See Sec. 54-56c re request for privileged trial status.

(1949 Rev., S. 8775; P.A. 75-376; P.A. 76-336, S. 15; 76-436, S. 537, 681; P.A. 79-157; P.A. 80-313, S. 7; P.A. 83-210, S. 4, 5.)

History: P.A. 75-376 added provisions re trial on nolle prosequi; P.A. 76-336 clarified nolle provisions, substituting “At any stage in such prosecution” for “In any such prosecution”; P.A. 76-436 removed from exception cases involving nolle entered in common pleas court on matter bound over to superior court or upon recommendation of prosecutor that bench warrant is being requested or issued by superior court for arrest for same transaction, reflecting transfer of all trial jurisdiction to superior court, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 79-157 designated previous provisions as Subsecs. (a) and (b) and added Subsec. (c) re effect of not guilty plea on privilege with respect to assignment for trial; P.A. 80-313 specified prosecution by indictment required for all crimes punishable by death or life imprisonment and deleted former Subsecs. (b) and (c) re nolle prosequi and assignment for trial; P.A. 83-210 amended the section to reflect the establishment of a probable cause hearing to replace a grand jury proceeding by providing that prosecution by complaint or information would apply to all crimes “charged by the state on or after May 26, 1983” and prosecution by indictment would only apply to persons accused of crimes punishable by death or life imprisonment “charged by the state before May 26, 1983”.