Connecticut runs something unusual in American corrections: a completely unified correctional system with no county jails. Whether you are pretrial at a detention center, serving a sentence at a correctional institution, or on community supervision, you are in the custody of the Connecticut Department of Correction and you use the same grievance procedure. One process, one set of forms, one set of deadlines, covering every person in CT DOC custody at every stage. That unified structure is the defining feature of Connecticut's system, and it means this article applies to you regardless of where you are housed in the state.
The governing document is Administrative Directive 9.6, Inmate Administrative Remedies (A.D. 9.6). The process has three levels, with an informal resolution step required before the formal grievance. Most grievances end at Level 2. Level 3 is restricted to a narrow set of situations. The whole process runs in calendar days.
Why the Process Matters: The PLRA
The Prison Litigation Reform Act of 1995, 42 U.S.C. section 1997e(a), requires you to exhaust all available administrative remedies before a federal court will hear a lawsuit about prison conditions. In Connecticut, that means completing the formal grievance process through at least Level 2, or through Level 3 if your grievance falls in one of the categories that reaches that level. A.D. 9.6 cites 42 U.S.C. 1997e directly as its legal authority.
The Supreme Court in Woodford v. Ngo (2006) held that proper exhaustion requires following all procedural rules. Skip the informal step without explaining why you cannot attach the response, miss the 5-day window to appeal between levels, or file on a matter with its own separate appeal process, and a court can dismiss your case even if you were right about what happened.
The exhaustion requirement applies to conditions of confinement claims. It does not apply to habeas corpus petitions challenging the fact or length of your sentence. Those require a different track.
Overview of Connecticut's Grievance System
A.D. 9.6 applies to any person in CT DOC custody, including those confined in correctional institutions, correctional centers, detention centers, and those under community supervision. Because Connecticut has no county jails, there is no separate county jail system with its own process. If you are in Connecticut state custody at any stage, you are in this system.
What can be grieved under A.D. 9.6 -- and A.D. 9.6 casts an unusually wide net:
- Interpretation and application of unit, division, and Department policies, rules, and procedures
- The substance of policies, rules, and procedures (you can challenge whether a policy itself is valid)
- Individual employee and inmate actions
- Any denial of access to the grievance procedure
- Formal or informal reprisal for using the grievance procedure
- ADA and disability rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act
- Property loss or damage
- Any and all other complaints of any nature concerning prison life
That last category -- "any and all other complaints of any nature" -- is among the broadest grievance scopes in this series. Most things can be grieved.
What has its own separate process and cannot be filed as a general grievance:
- Classification decisions (risk level reviews, community release, furloughs) -- use A.D. 9.2, Inmate Classification appeal
- Special Management decisions (administrative segregation, high security, close custody, Security Risk Group designations) -- use A.D. 6.14 / A.D. 9.1 appeals
- Disciplinary report findings -- only if you pleaded not guilty and were found guilty; use A.D. 9.5, Code of Penal Discipline appeal
- Publication Review Committee decisions -- use A.D. 10.7, Inmate Communications appeal
- Medical diagnosis or treatment appeals -- request a Physician Sick Call appointment at no cost; only one appeal per diagnosis or treatment is permitted
Do not file a general grievance on these topics. It will be rejected, which wastes your time and may create deadline problems if you then need to use the correct appeal track.
Each grievable matter must be on a separate Inmate Grievance Form. If you have two separate complaints, file two separate forms.
Step-by-Step: Before the Formal Grievance -- The Informal Resolution
Before filing a formal grievance, you must attempt informal resolution in writing using the Inmate Request Form CN 9602. Write a clear statement of the problem and what you want done and send it to the appropriate unit Department Head or staff member. The Unit Administrator posts a list in each housing unit of which staff to contact for each grievable subject.
Response time: The staff member should respond within 15 calendar days of receipt.
When you file your formal grievance, you must attach this CN 9602 form with the staff response. If you could not get a blank form, if you received no response within 15 calendar days, or if another valid reason prevented you from attaching it, you must explain in your grievance why the form is not attached. A missing response is itself an acceptable explanation. The informal step requirement is waived for emergency grievances.
Step One: Filing the Formal Grievance -- CN 9601
After the informal attempt (or after receiving no timely response), you file the formal grievance.
Forms: Use CN 9601/1 or CN 9601/2, the Inmate Grievance Form. These forms should be available throughout your unit. Grievance forms shall be readily accessible to inmates.
Deadline: File within 30 calendar days of the occurrence or discovery of the cause of the grievance. Property grievances have a longer window: within 1 year of discovery, or within 3 years of the occurrence.
What to write:
- State the grievance and what action you are requesting, simply and clearly
- You may use the space on the face of the form plus one additional 8.5 x 11 inch page -- more space than most states allow
- No obscene or vulgar language
- You must be personally affected by the issue -- you cannot file for another inmate
- Attach the CN 9602 informal request form and the staff response, or explain why it is not attached
Where to submit: Deposit in the locked grievance collection box. Grievances, including appeals at every level, should be deposited in the grievance box for the Grievance Coordinator to ensure proper tracking.
Level 1 Review
The Level 1 reviewer is the Unit Administrator, or the ranking Health Services Supervisor for medical grievances.
The reviewer checks procedural compliance and investigates the substance if the grievance is accepted. The written response must be issued within 30 calendar days of the Level 1 reviewer's receipt. The response states the remedy (if upheld or compromised) or the reason for denial or rejection. The response includes the appeal form and directions for Level 2.
If you are satisfied with the Level 1 response, the process ends.
Time extension: With your consent, the reviewer may extend the response time by up to 15 days using form CN 9603, Request for Time Extension. You may also request up to 15 additional days to file your appeal.
Level 2 Review (Final Level for Most Grievances)
Deadline to appeal: Within 5 calendar days of receiving the Level 1 decision. If no Level 1 response arrives within 30 calendar days, you may appeal to Level 2 starting one day after the deadline expired.
The Level 2 reviewer depends on your situation:
- Non-medical grievance filed by an inmate in a Connecticut correctional facility: Deputy Commissioner of Operations
- Grievance filed by an inmate housed out of state: Deputy Commissioner of Programs and Staff Development
- Medical grievance or ADA accommodation grievance: Health Services Administrator
- Non-medical grievance filed by an inmate under community supervision: Deputy Commissioner of Field and Security Operations
Response: Written, within 30 calendar days. States remedy (if upheld/compromised) or reason for denial/rejection.
Level 2 is the final level of appeal for most grievances. Once you receive the Level 2 decision, your administrative remedies are exhausted for that grievance and you may proceed to federal court.
Level 3 Review (Restricted)
Level 3 is not available for every grievance. It applies only to these situations:
1. The grievance challenges Department-level policy (not just a unit or facility policy).
2. The appeal is for an emergency grievance that cannot be acted upon at a subordinate level.
3. The appeal challenges the integrity of the grievance procedure itself.
4. You received no timely response to a Level 2 grievance.
For Level 3 due to a missed Level 2 response: you may file the Level 3 appeal one day after the Level 2 response deadline expired. If you received a Level 2 decision, the Level 3 appeal must be submitted within 5 calendar days of receiving that decision.
Level 3 reviewer: Commissioner of Correction or designee.
Response: Written, within 30 calendar days.
Level 3 is the absolute final level of appeal. When the Commissioner's response is issued, you have exhausted administrative remedies for that grievance.
Deadlines at a Glance
All deadlines below are in calendar days unless noted.
Informal request (CN 9602) response: within 15 calendar days of receipt by staff
Formal grievance (CN 9601) filing deadline: within 30 calendar days of occurrence or discovery (property: 1 year from discovery / 3 years from occurrence)
Level 1 response: within 30 calendar days of Level 1 reviewer's receipt
Level 2 appeal deadline: within 5 calendar days of receiving Level 1 decision (or 1 day after Level 1 response deadline if no response received)
Level 2 response: within 30 calendar days
Level 3 appeal deadline: within 5 calendar days of receiving Level 2 decision (or 1 day after Level 2 response deadline if no response); Level 3 only available in restricted circumstances
Level 3 response: within 30 calendar days
Emergency grievance at unit level: initial response within 8 hours; written response within 3 business days
Emergency grievance at Level 2 or Level 3: initial response within 2 business days; written response within 5 business days
Missing the 5-day window to appeal from Level 1 to Level 2 can forfeit your right to move forward and may bar your federal court access. Count from the day after you receive the Level 1 decision.
What to Put in Your Grievance
The informal CN 9602 step is not just a formality -- what you write there and what response you receive shapes the formal grievance. Write a complete, accurate statement of the problem at the informal step.
At the formal grievance step:
- State the problem and the requested action clearly
- Include every related issue -- do not hold anything back that you may need later
- Attach the CN 9602 and the staff response, or explain in writing why you cannot
- Use the space on the form plus one additional 8.5 x 11 page if needed
- Sign and date the form
Keep copies of everything: The Grievance Coordinator maintains the grievance file, but you should keep a personal copy of every form you submit and every response you receive. If you have family on the outside, send them copies. The 5-day appeal window between levels is tight -- your family can help track when the Level 1 response arrives so you are counting from the right day.
Families: Families cannot file a grievance on your behalf. The grievance must be filed by you, personally, about a matter that personally affects you. You cannot file for another inmate and no one can file for you. Your family can help by keeping copies, tracking deadlines, and contacting outside organizations after you exhaust.
When the System Fails
No informal response within 15 calendar days: Proceed with the formal grievance and explain in the filing that you received no timely response to the CN 9602. The failure to respond is a valid explanation for not attaching the staff's response.
No Level 1 response within 30 calendar days: You may appeal to Level 2 starting one day after the 30-day deadline expired. Note the non-response explicitly at the beginning of your Level 2 filing.
No Level 2 response within 30 calendar days: You may appeal to Level 3 starting one day after the 30-day deadline expired (Level 3 covers this situation explicitly).
Grievance returned without disposition: This means a procedural error. A returned grievance may be re-filed once the error is corrected. A returned grievance cannot be appealed (since it was never properly filed). Common return reasons: failure to attempt informal resolution without explanation, failure to comply with the format requirements. Fix the problem and refile within the remaining time.
Rejected grievance: A rejected grievance can be appealed to the next level (except for rejections on matters beyond the Department's control, such as state/federal laws, court decisions, and other agency decisions -- those cannot be appealed).
Retaliation: A.D. 9.6 explicitly prohibits negative consequences for good faith use of the grievance procedure. If you experience reprisal, you can file a grievance about the reprisal itself. Document the retaliation immediately: date, who did it, what they did, the harm to you.
Abuse restrictions: The Unit Administrator may restrict grievance access if you file more than 7 grievances in 60 calendar days, file repetitive grievances, file harassing grievances, or file repeated non-emergency grievances as emergencies after being warned. Restrictions may include total denial, a cap on the number of grievances, or a limit on subject matter. A restriction determination may itself be appealed to the next level of review.
Federal Prisons in Connecticut
Connecticut has one BOP facility: FCI Danbury (Danbury, CT), a low-security facility in Fairfield County. The complex includes the main institution (approximately 1,256 inmates), FCI Danbury Camp (minimum security, approximately 47 female inmates), and Federal Satellite Low Danbury (approximately 134 female inmates). FCI Danbury is famous as the prison that inspired the book and Netflix series Orange Is the New Black.
If you are at FCI Danbury or its associated facilities, the CT DOC process described in this article does not apply to you. Federal inmates use the BOP Administrative Remedy Program running BP-8 through BP-11 under 28 CFR Part 542. FCI Danbury falls under the Northeast Regional Office at 2nd Floor, U.S. Custom House, 7th and Chestnut Streets, Philadelphia, PA 19106.
See the InmateAid federal grievance article for the complete BOP process, all deadlines, and the critical distinction between a rejection and a denial.
After Exhaustion: Where to Go Next
Once you receive a final Level 2 decision (or a Level 3 decision if your grievance qualified), you have exhausted Connecticut's administrative remedies. Federal court is now an option for conditions of confinement claims.
Disability Rights Connecticut (DRCT): disrightsct.org. Connecticut's federally mandated Protection and Advocacy organization for people with disabilities, including mental illness. Has federal authority to investigate abuse and neglect and to access CT DOC facilities. DRCT is actively investigating and litigating against CT DOC over its treatment of people with mental illness. An April 2025 investigation found multiple systemic failures and policy violations after an inmate with ALS and opiate withdrawal died within 24 hours of arrival at Bridgeport Correctional Center. If your complaint involves a disability or mental illness, DRCT has independent authority to investigate.
ACLU of Connecticut: acluct.org. Partner in the major mental health litigation against CT DOC. The ACLU of Connecticut and DRCT jointly sued the Department for physical and psychological abuse of people with mental illness at Northern Correctional Institution and throughout the system. They focus on systemic issues.
Connecticut Legal Rights Project: clrp.org. Provides free legal services to people with mental illness in Connecticut, including those in DOC custody.
New Haven Legal Assistance Association and Connecticut Legal Services provide legal aid to low-income Connecticut residents and may be able to assist with conditions of confinement claims.
Be honest about capacity: these organizations are small and cannot take every case. Have a complete, organized record before contacting them.
Jails vs. Prisons: Connecticut's Unified System
Connecticut has no county jails. The state operates all pretrial detention facilities as well as prisons through the CT DOC. Whether you are awaiting trial at a correctional center, serving a sentence at a correctional institution, or under community supervision, you are in CT DOC custody and the A.D. 9.6 grievance process applies to you.
This means pretrial detainees in Connecticut can use the same grievance process as sentenced prisoners. You do not have to be convicted to file a grievance. The PLRA applies to pretrial detainees just as it applies to sentenced people -- you must exhaust whatever process is available before filing in federal court.
The unified system is Connecticut's most significant procedural advantage for people in custody. You have one process, one set of deadlines, and one set of forms regardless of your housing status.
Special Circumstances
Medical grievances: All health care related grievances go in the designated health services grievance box, not the standard grievance box. They are processed by the Health Services Grievance Coordinator and reviewed at Level 1 by the ranking Health Services Supervisor. Level 2 medical grievances go to the Health Services Administrator. Medical diagnosis and treatment appeals have their own track (Physician Sick Call request) rather than the general grievance process.
Emergency grievances: Mark the form "Emergency" clearly. The Unit Administrator develops procedures for assessing and expediting emergency grievances. Within 8 hours: initial response at the unit level; within 3 business days: written response. If the emergency requires action beyond the unit or reaches Level 2 or 3: initial response within 2 business days; written response within 5 business days. No emergency grievance shall be rejected solely for failure to follow procedural requirements. If a grievance submitted as an emergency is ruled not to be an emergency at any level, you may resubmit it as a regular grievance.
ADA and disability accommodations: Covered under the general grievance process (listed explicitly as a grievable matter). Level 2 for ADA grievances goes to the Health Services Administrator. Contact Disability Rights Connecticut (disrightsct.org) if your disability rights complaint is not being addressed.
Disciplinary appeals: If you pleaded not guilty and were found guilty of a disciplinary charge, you must appeal through the A.D. 9.5, Code of Penal Discipline process -- not through the general grievance. These are separate tracks and one does not substitute for the other.
Community supervision: The A.D. 9.6 process applies to you if you are under CT DOC community supervision. Level 2 non-medical grievances for community supervision go to the Deputy Commissioner of Field and Security Operations rather than the Deputy Commissioner of Operations.
Frequently asked questions
What forms do I use in Connecticut's grievance process?
Two forms. First, CN 9602, Inmate Request Form, for the required informal resolution step. Then CN 9601/1 or CN 9601/2, Inmate Grievance Form, for the formal grievance. Forms CN 9603 (Time Extension Request), CN 9604 (Grievance Log), and CN 9605 (Grievance Withdrawal) are also part of the system. CN 9602 forms are available in all units; grievance forms should be readily accessible to inmates.
How long do I have to file my formal grievance?
Thirty calendar days from the occurrence or discovery of the cause of the grievance. For property grievances, you have up to one year from discovery or three years from the occurrence. Start the informal CN 9602 step immediately -- the 30-day clock runs from the incident, not from when the informal step is completed.
Does Connecticut have county jails?
No. Connecticut has a unified correctional system operated entirely by the state DOC. There are no county jails. Pretrial detainees are held at CT DOC correctional centers and use the same A.D. 9.6 process as sentenced prisoners. The PLRA applies to pretrial detainees.
What happens if I receive no response at Level 1?
If you receive no Level 1 response within 30 calendar days, you may appeal to Level 2 starting one day after the 30-day deadline expires. Document the date you filed your Level 1 grievance and the date the response was due, and state the non-response clearly in your Level 2 filing.
When is Level 3 available?
Level 3 review is restricted to four specific situations: grievances that challenge Department-level policy, emergency grievance appeals that cannot be resolved at a lower level, challenges to the integrity of the grievance procedure itself, and situations where you received no timely Level 2 response. Level 3 is not a general third-level appeal available to everyone.
Can my family file a grievance for me?
No. A.D. 9.6 requires that grievances be filed by the inmate personally, on the inmate's own behalf. You cannot file for another inmate and no one can file for you. Your family can help from the outside by keeping copies of filings and responses, tracking the 5-day appeal window, and contacting organizations like Disability Rights Connecticut and the ACLU of Connecticut after exhaustion.
What is the Inmate Request Form CN 9602 and why is it required?
The CN 9602 is the form used for the informal resolution step that must precede the formal grievance. You write the problem and what you want done, send it to the relevant staff member, and the staff member has 15 calendar days to respond. You attach the completed CN 9602 and the response to your formal grievance. If you could not get the form, received no response, or had another valid reason, explain in writing why it is not attached. The informal step can be waived for emergency grievances. --- INTERNAL LINKS TO PLACE: 1. Connecticut inmate search (InmateAid Connecticut page) 2. Family rights and advocacy in Connecticut (FRA series Connecticut article) 3. How the Connecticut prison disciplinary process works (if spoke exists) 4. How Prison Works hub 5. Staying Connected hub --- SPEC NOTE / SOURCING (strip before publish): - Voice: formerly incarcerated narrator written TO the incarcerated person; family guidance woven in. No em dashes. No smart quotes. No double hyphens. Plain text. - Meta title char count: 53 (under 60). Meta description char count: 155 (in 150-160 range). All 7 FAQ headings under 60 chars, verified. - Defining hooks for Connecticut: (1) NO COUNTY JAILS -- completely unified state correctional system covering pretrial, sentenced, and community supervision under one process; (2) "any and all other complaints of any nature concerning prison life" -- unusually broad grievance scope; (3) CN 9602 informal step required but failure to get a response is itself an acceptable explanation for not attaching it; (4) one additional 8.5x11 page allowed with the grievance form -- more generous than Arkansas, Colorado on attachments; (5) Level 3 is RESTRICTED to four specific situations (not a general third level); (6) 5-calendar-day window between levels; (7) FCI Danbury as Connecticut's only BOP facility -- famous as the Orange Is the New Black setting; (8) Disability Rights Connecticut actively investigating/litigating CT DOC for mental health abuse (April 2025 Bridgeport CC death investigation report); (9) abuse threshold: more than 7 grievances in 60 calendar days can trigger restrictions. - SOURCES: A.D. 9.6, Inmate Administrative Remedies (effective March 5, 2003; full text fetched from Michigan Policy Clearinghouse) -- all sections 1-24: policy (sec.1); definitions (sec.3: emergency grievance, grievance, grievance coordinator, inmate, unit, unit administrator); notice in English and Spanish within 2 weeks of admission (sec.4); access for impaired/disabled/illiterate (sec.5); what is grievable per sec.6.A (interpretation/application of policies; substance of policies; individual actions; access denial; reprisal; ADA rights; property; "any and all other complaints of any nature"); separate appeal tracks per sec.6.B (classification AD 9.2; Special Management AD 6.14/9.1; disciplinary AD 9.5; Publication Review AD 10.7) and sec.6.C (medical diagnosis = Physician Sick Call); informal resolution on CN 9602 to appropriate staff, response within 15 calendar days, attach to formal grievance or explain why not attached (sec.9); formal grievance on CN 9601/1 or CN 9601/2 within 30 calendar days (property 1yr/3yr), one matter per form, form space plus one 8.5x11 page, no obscene/vulgar language, personally affected, cannot file for another inmate, deposit in locked grievance box (sec.10); rejection grounds (sec.11); appeals -- denied or rejected grievances may be appealed except beyond-Department-control matters; time extension up to 15 days CN 9603 with consent; grievant may request 15 days for appeal (sec.12); Level 1 = Unit Administrator or Health Services Supervisor, response within 30 calendar days, includes appeal form and directions (sec.15); Level 2 = within 5 calendar days of Level 1 decision (or 1 day after deadline if no response); reviewers: Deputy Comm. Operations (non-medical in-facility), Deputy Comm. Programs (out-of-state), Health Services Admin (medical/ADA), Deputy Comm. Field/Security (community supervision); response within 30 calendar days; Level 2 is final for most (sec.16); Level 3 = restricted to: challenges Department policy, emergency appeals not actionable at lower level, challenges integrity of procedure, no timely Level 2 response; must submit within 5 calendar days of Level 2 decision; Commissioner response within 30 calendar days; final level for all (sec.17); emergency: mark "Emergency"; unit-level response within 8 hours + written within 3 business days; Level 2/3 initial within 2 business days + written within 5 business days; cannot reject solely for procedural failure; if not emergency = return with instructions to resubmit as regular (sec.18); abuse: more than 7 grievances in 60 calendar days; repetitive; harassing; repeated false emergencies after warning; restrictions may include total denial/cap/subject limitation (sec.19); records: grievance file at each level; Grievance Log CN 9604; no copy in inmate master file; maintained 5 years after final disposition; confidentiality (sec.20); reprisal against inmates prohibited (sec.22); medical grievances: designated health services box, Health Services Grievance Coordinator (sec.14); Hartford CC Handbook confirms form CN 9602 available from housing unit officer or counselor; A.D. 9.6 available upon request to counselor; VERIFY current AD 9.6 from portal.ct.gov/doc; DRCT disrightsct.org (CT P&A; April 2025 Bridgeport CC death investigation; mental health litigation against CT DOC including Northern CI; active investigative and litigation work); acluct.org (ACLU of CT; partner in DRCT v. DOC mental health suit); clrp.org (CT Legal Rights Project; mental illness/DOC); federalcriminaldefenseattorney.com + CT Mirror Sept 2025 (FCI Danbury only federal prison in CT; Danbury CT Fairfield County; ~1,256 main + ~47 camp female + ~134 FSL female = 3 BOP facilities all at Danbury complex; low-security mixed; Piper Kerman / Orange Is the New Black; Northeast Regional Office 2nd Floor US Custom House 7th and Chestnut Streets Philadelphia PA 19106); Woodford v. Ngo 548 U.S. 81 (2006); Porter v. Nussle 534 U.S. 516 (2002) cited in AD 9.6 itself. - VERIFY FLAGS for Poorwa: (1) CRITICAL: AD 9.6 text I have is effective March 5, 2003. Verify the current version on portal.ct.gov/doc -- this is likely been amended in the past 20+ years. All deadlines must be re-verified against the current posted version. The Hartford CC handbook (which mentioned CN 9602 and referenced AD 9.6 and A.D. 10.7 for inmate communications) suggests the form numbers and structure remain consistent, but the current version must be pulled. (2) Confirm form numbers: CN 9602 (Inmate Request), CN 9601/1 and CN 9601/2 (Inmate Grievance), CN 9603 (Time Extension), CN 9604 (Grievance Log), CN 9605 (Grievance Withdrawal). (3) Confirm no county jails -- Connecticut unified system (confirmed; this is established CT law). (4) Confirm FCI Danbury complex: main institution, FCI Danbury Camp, FSL Danbury -- all in Danbury CT; Northeast Regional Office Philadelphia PA. VERIFY FCI Danbury is still low-security and mixed gender as of 2025 (CT Mirror confirms as of Sept 2025). (5) Confirm DRCT disrightsct.org current; confirm clrp.org current; confirm acluct.org current. (6) Confirm Level 2 reviewers: Deputy Commissioner of Operations (non-medical in-facility), Deputy Commissioner of Programs and Staff Development (out-of-state housed), Health Services Administrator (medical/ADA), Deputy Commissioner of Field and Security Operations (community supervision) -- these are organizational titles that may have changed since 2003. (7) Confirm informal resolution: 15-day response deadline; "any valid reason" for not attaching CN 9602 is acceptable. (8) Confirm Level 3 restricted categories. (9) Confirm abuse threshold: 7 grievances in 60 days. (10) Emergency timelines: 8 hours initial / 3 business days written for unit level; 2 business days initial / 5 business days written for Level 2/3 -- confirm still current. No volatile phone rates. No crisis-line specifics.
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