Chief State’s Attorney’s Meeting

Minutes of the Meeting of September 22, 2014
Office of the Chief State’s Attorney
Rocky Hill, Connecticut

The meeting was called to order at 12:45 p.m. by Chief State’s Attorney Kevin T. Kane.

In attendance were: State’s Attorneys David I. Cohen (Stamford-Norwalk), Michael Dearington (New Haven), Patricia M. Froehlich (Windham), Matthew C. Gedansky (Tolland), Gail P. Hardy (Hartford),  Peter A. McShane (Middlesex), Maureen Platt (Waterbury), Brian Preleski (New Britain), Stephen J. Sedensky III (Danbury), David Shepack (Litchfield) and John Smriga (Fairfield); Deputy Chief State’s Attorneys Leonard C. Boyle and John J. Russotto; and Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Cornelius Kelly (Ansonia-Milford).

Also present: Executive Assistant State’s Attorneys Brian Austin, Jr., and Michael A. Gailor, legislative liaison Wilfred Blanchette and Communications and Legislative Specialist Mark A. Dupuis.

State’s Attorney Cohen made a motion to approve the minutes of the August 25, 2014, meeting. The motion was seconded by State’s Attorney Hardy and passed unanimously.

Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto reported that postings and advertisements have been issued for new positions included in the 2014-15 fiscal year budget. The goal is to have the prosecutor positions filled by January 1, 2015.

Executive Assistant State’s Attorney Austin asked that each office send at least one representative to the September 24, 2014, training program on the Interstate Compact for Adult Offender Supervision. State’s Attorneys are encouraged to attend. The Employee Advisory Committee on Diversity Issues will hold a video screening and panel discussion on September 30, 2014, on disproportionate minority contact with the juvenile justice system.

Chief State’s Attorney Kane suggested the State’s Attorneys encourage prosecutors to participate in mock trial programs to improve community outreach with students.

Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Boyle introduced Legal Technology Specialist Jessica K. Nocera who gave a presentation on the proper recovery and subsequent use in criminal proceedings of surveillance video obtained in the course of criminal investigations.

Chief State’s Attorney Kane asked the State’s Attorneys to have prosecutors familiar with driving under the influence (DUI) cases review the legislative proposals drafted by Assistant State’s Attorney Robin Schwartz, the DUI Prosecutor Coordinator, and offer their comments.

Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Boyle apprised the State’s Attorneys of concerns raised by a private attorney of incidents where police did not consult the State’s Attorney’s office before making a finding of no probable cause to proceed on complaints alleging sexual assault.

State’s Attorney Platt reported on the Commission on the Standardization of the Collection of Evidence in Sexual Assault Investigations. The commission is preparing a survey to be distributed by the State’s Attorneys to determine the status of sexual assault examination kits held by police departments. The survey materials will be distributed at the next Chief State’s Attorney’s meeting.

Executive Assistant State’s Attorney Gailor reported that Connecticut State Police have a substantial number of cases where arrest warrants are drafted for individuals who initially refuse to submit to DNA sampling as required by law but who subsequently comply. The Chief State’s Attorney will direct the State Police to apply for such warrants only when there are aggravating circumstances.

Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Boyle distributed copies of the new forms used by the Judicial Branch for Firearms Safety Warrants.

State’s Attorney Sedensky raised concerns about whether certain evidence seized by the Connecticut State Police pursuant to a search warrant should be subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act. Chief State’s Attorney Kane will follow up on the matter.

Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto will distribute the latest draft of the “Brady-Giglio checklist” for final review before distribution to all prosecutors.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 2:25 p.m.