Desmond's Law passed the Connecticut legislature in the 2016 session, and is effective as of October 1, 2016. The text of Public Act 16-30 is available here.
Desmond's Law is a program that utilizes qualified pro-bono lawyers and volunteer law students to provide investigative insight not readily available to the court, resulting in a more fair and efficient process and more meaningful outcomes in animal abuse cases. It is intended to shine a bright light on the full extent of crimes committed under the animal cruelty statute.
- The program is discretionary and under the supervision of the Court;
- It allows volunteer advocates to access facts, records and other information regarding the animal, readily share information with each party, and make recommendations to the Court.
- It applies only to cases involving cats and dogs.
- The court-appointed advocate does not directly represent the animal, but rather the interests of justice.
