Chief State’s Attorney’s Meeting
Minutes of the Meeting of April 20, 2015
Office of the Chief State’s Attorney
Rocky Hill, Connecticut
The meeting was called to order at 12:43 p.m. by Chief State’s Attorney Kevin T. Kane.
In attendance were: Deputy Chief State’s Attorneys Leonard C. Boyle and John Russotto; State’s Attorneys David Cohen (Stamford-Norwalk), Patricia M. Froehlich (Windham), Matthew C. Gedansky (Tolland), Gail P. Hardy (Hartford), Kevin D. Lawlor (Ansonia-Milford), Maureen Platt (Waterbury), Brian Preleski (New Britain), Michael L. Regan (New London), Stephen J. Sedensky III (Danbury), David Shepack (Litchfield) and John Smriga (Fairfield); and Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Eugene Calistro (Middlesex).
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 Sedensky made a motion to approve the minutes of the March 16, 2015, meeting. The motion was seconded by State’s Attorney Lawlor and passed unanimously.
Executive Assistant State’s Attorney Austin reported on the domestic violence roundtables the Division sponsors. A family violence addendum to the Prosecutor’s Deskbook training manual will be published soon.
Chief State’s Attorney Kane introduced guests Joseph Froehlich and Geralyn O’Neil-Wild from the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence (CCADV) who gave a presentation on the Lethality Assessment Program. Reports from the program are available to State’s Attorneys who wish to receive them. CCADV is organizing regional roundtable discussions on domestic violence issues.
Executive Assistant State’s Attorney Gailor reported that the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP) Forensic Science Laboratory will make copies of DNA testing software to State’s Attorneys if requested. The lab is making the software available to the Division of Public Defender Services.
Attorney Gailor reported that recent surge in CODIS "hits" notices is the result of clearing the backlog of DNA analysis cases and should be temporary. The State’s Attorneys should follow up with police departments to see that appropriate action is taken
Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto reported that the hiring freeze remains in effect as the Appropriations Committee nears the conclusion of its budget process. No definitive word on the budget is expected until well into May at the earliest.
Wilfred Blanchette reported on the status of legislation pending before the General Assembly. He will provide the State’s Attorneys with more information so they can follow up with legislators on issues of concern.
State’s Attorney Froehlich reported on the Training Committee. The Annual Professional Development Conference for Prosecutors will be June 11 at Central Connecticut State University. Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Richard Colangelo will lead the training program on mobile devices. A minimum of four hours of training also will be provided in the Judicial Districts on June 10 or June 12 with the date chosen at the discretion of the State’s Attorney.
Chief State’s Attorney Kane reported that the Operations Committee is working on a draft protocol for the establishment of a conviction integrity program.
State’s Attorney Sedensky reported that he received a letter from the FBI regarding issues with hair evidence analysis conducted by the agency. No other State’s Attorney reported having received similar communication.
State’s Attorney Platt asked the State’s Attorneys to notify all police departments within their jurisdiction that sexual assault evidence collection kits are to be delivered by the police to the DESPP Forensic Science Laboratory within 10 days of the examination. The recommended policy is that kits be delivered to the lab immediately.
There being no further business, State’s Attorney Sedensky made a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded by State’s Attorney Froehlich and passed unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 1:58 p.m.