Connecticut State Division of Criminal Justice

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Chief State’s Attorney’s Meeting

Minutes of the Meeting of February 27, 2017
Office of the Chief State’s Attorney
Rocky Hill, Connecticut

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

In attendance were: Deputy Chief State’s Attorneys Leonard C. Boyle and John J. Russotto; State’s Attorneys Richard J. Colangelo, Jr. (Stamford/Norwalk), Patrick J. Griffin (New Haven), Gail P. Hardy (Hartford), Kevin D. Lawlor (Ansonia/Milford), Peter A. McShane (Middlesex), Maureen Platt (Waterbury), Brian Preleski (New Britain), Michael L. Regan (New London), Stephen J. Sedensky III (Danbury), John C. Smriga (Fairfield); and Anne F. Mahoney (Windham).

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.

Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Boyle made a motion to accept the minutes of the January 23, 2017, meeting. State’s Attorney Sedensky seconded the motion and it passed with no opposition.

Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Boyle that the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has had its national accreditation placed on provisional status. The action does not affect the individual certifications or accreditations of the medical examiners themselves.

Chief State’s Attorney Kane reported that he has received inquiries from legislators concerning notification to victims of the filing of habeas petitions. It was noted that any such notifications should made be by the Office of Victim Services in that the Division does not have staff to undertake  such a task.

Legislative liaison Wilfred Blanchette reported  on the 2017 legislative session. There was renewed concern expressed about 2016 legislation requiring reporting on trafficking in persons cases and the validity of trafficking statistics reported in the news media. State’s Attorney Sedensky expressed concerns about H.B. No. 7112, An Act Concerning Children’s Advocacy Centers, which is pending in the Committee on Children. State’s Attorneys Sedensky, Colangelo, Lawlor and Mahoney volunteered to work on drafting substitute language.

State’s Attorney Smriga reported that the Training Committee is planning two hours of training on professional ethics as part of the Annual Professional Development Conference for Prosecutors. This will satisfy the new Mandatory Continuing Legal Education requirement on ethics training established by the Judicial Branch for all attorneys. The Training Committee anticipates the remainder of the annual conference central program will be training provided by the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP) Forensic Science Laboratory.

Chief State’s Attorney Kane introduced United States Attorney Deirdre M. Daly and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Vatti. Chief State’s Attorney Kane expressed appreciation to Attorney Daly for her service as United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut and the collaboration and cooperation that has occurred with the Division.

The United States Attorney discussed the Goals and Objectives of the Heroin Overdose Death Statewide Task Force:

  • Each State’s Attorney is asked to designate a coordinator to work on opioid overdose death investigations.

  • The United States Attorney will distribute the task force protocol to all police departments; the State’s Attorneys are encouraged to follow up.

  • It was requested that federal agents observe state court system sworn statement and eyewitness identification requirements to facilitate the prosecution of cases that ultimately are handled in the state courts.

The State’s Attorneys are welcomed to contact the United States Attorney directly with any specific concerns.

Director of Information Systems Evelyn Godbout provided an update on the development and implementation of the Division’s case management system.

Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto reported on the Governor’s Recommended Budget presented to the General Assembly on February 8. The recommended budget represents a bottom line reduction of approximately $1 million to the Division. Further discussions are being undertaken with the General Assembly.

There being no further business, State’s Attorney Colangelo made a motion to adjourn. State’s Attorney Sedensky seconded the motion and it passed without opposition. The meeting was adjourned at 3:05 p.m.