Chief State's Attorney's Meeting

Minutes of the Meeting of April 26, 2010
Office of the Chief State’s Attorney
Rocky Hill, Connecticut

The meeting was called to order at 12:40 p.m. by Chief State’s Attorney Kevin T. Kane.

In attendance were: Chief State’s Attorney Kevin T. Kane; Deputy Chief State’s Attorneys Leonard C. Boyle (Operations) and John J. Russotto (Personnel, Finance and Administration), State’s Attorneys David I. Cohen (Stamford-Norwalk), Patricia M. Froehlich (Windham), Matthew C. Gedansky (Tolland), Gail P. Hardy (Hartford), Kevin D. Lawlor (Ansonia-Milford), Scott J. Murphy (New Britain), Stephen J. Sedensky III (Danbury), David Shepack (Litchfield), John C. Smriga (Fairfield); and Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorneys Eva Lenczewski (Waterbury) and John Waddock (New Haven), and Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Maureen Platt Temchin (Middlesex).

Also present: Judith Rossi, Special Assistant State’s Attorney; Mark A. Dupuis, Division of Criminal Justice Communications Officer; and Wilfred Blanchette, Division of Criminal Justice Legislative Liaison.

A motion was made by State’s Attorney Smriga, seconded by State’s Attorney Sedensky and unanimously approved to accept the minutes of the previous meeting.

Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto and Chief State’s Attorney Kane reported on the status of the state budget process. A meeting is scheduled with the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management to present the Division’s requests to restore positions and other expense funding for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2010. The State’s Attorneys were asked to assist in identifying the Division’s most critical needs should relief be forthcoming.

State’s Attorney Gedansky reported on the need for increased expertise in the investigation of child fatalities. Chief State’s Attorney Kane will arrange a meeting with the Chief Medical Examiner to attempt to resolve the concerns. State’s Attorneys Gedansky and Sedensky agreed to participate as will a prosecutor from the Judicial District of New Haven.

Chief State’s Attorney Kane called the State’s Attorneys attention to a memo from the acting Commissioner of the Department of Correction concerning specific security concerns the department has with regard to the handling of specific evidence related to the prosecution of certain criminal cases originating in the prisons.

Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto gave an overview of the Information Technology (IT) Infrastructure Upgrade project. The project is being financed with approximately $3 million in federal funds. Significant changes include the transition from Word Perfect to Microsoft Word software for word processing and an upgrade of email capabilities to allow for transmission of larger files.

Wilfred Blanchette reported on the General Assembly session that ends May 5, 2010. Chief State’s Attorney Kane urged the State’s Attorneys to monitor email closely for requests from Mr. Blanchette for assistance in reviewing proposed amendments and other legislative developments.

Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto presented a recommendation from Supervisory Juvenile Prosecutor Francis J. Carino for the destruction of juvenile records once the defendant has reached age 25. Mr. Russotto will circulate a revised policy reflecting the consensus of the State’s Attorneys that the records retention policy should take into consideration the seriousness of the defendant’s offense(s).

The State’s Attorneys expressed their appreciation to Special Assistant State’s Attorney Judith Rossi for her assistance in the April 15, 2010, symposium on implicit bias and eyewitness identification. The symposium was held at Quinnipiac University School of Law and was sponsored by the Judicial Branch, the Division and the Division of Public Defender Services.

Chief State’s Attorney Kane asked the State’s Attorneys to submit suggestions for topics for the annual training for prosecutors program to be held June 17-18 at the New Britain Superior Court. The State’s Attorneys were urged to draw upon the expertise of the Division’s staff in recommending topics for the training program.

Special Assistant State’s Attorney Rossi announced that the annual meeting of the Connecticut Bar Association on June 14 will include a program on plea negotiations. Chief State’s Attorney Kane and Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney James Turcotte will be among the participants.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 2:00 p.m.