Chief State’s Attorney’s Meeting
Minutes of the Meeting of January 23, 2017
Office of the Chief State’s Attorney
Rocky Hill, Connecticut
Chief State’s Attorney Kevin T. Kane called the meeting to order at 12:42 p.m.
In attendance were: Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Leonard C. Boyle; State’s Attorneys Richard J. Colangelo, Jr. (Stamford/Norwalk), Patrick J. Griffin (New Haven), Gail P. Hardy (Hartford), Kevin D. Lawlor (Ansonia/Milford), Maureen Platt (Waterbury), Michael L. Regan (New London), Stephen J. Sedensky III (Danbury), David Shepack (Litchfield) and John C. Smriga (Fairfield); and Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorneys Mary Rose Palmese (New Britain) and Mark A. Stabile (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 December 19, 2016, meeting. State’s Attorney Colangelo seconded the motion and it passed with no opposition.
State’s Attorney Sedensky gave an update on concerns regarding the Governor’s Task Force on Justice for Abused Children and standards for the evaluation of Multi-Disciplinary Teams (MDTs). State’s Attorney Platt made a motion to adopt the position paper drafted by State’s Attorney Sedensky as the position of the Division of Criminal Justice. State’s Attorney Colangelo seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
State’s Attorney Colangelo distributed a list of convicted felons in custody of the Department of Correction (DOC) who have failed to provide DNA samples as required by law. Executive Assistant State’s Attorney Gailor continues to work on the issue with DOC and urged the State’s Attorneys to present their concerns directly to the department. Chief State’s Attorney Kane will contact the Commissioner.
State’s Attorney Lawlor reported on concerns with the lack of notice or consultation by federal authorities regarding narcotics investigations. The United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut will be invited to the February meeting to discuss these concerns.
Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Boyle reported on the implementation of provisions of Public Act 15-4, June Special Session, concerning the requirements placed on police departments that receive state grant funding for body cameras. Chief State’s Attorney Kane said a letter will be drafted addressing concerns and suggested that the State’s Attorneys further discuss the matter with police chiefs in their judicial districts.
Executive Assistant State’s Attorney Gailor reported on developments at the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP) Forensic Science Laboratory: (1) new procedures for testing for gunshot residue; (2) the form of the new report that will be issued on the results of DNA analysis; and (3) a recommendation that the State’s Attorneys direct the lab not to test DNA samples in cases where the subject is already in the data base or has already been convicted.
Chief State’s Attorney Kane reported that the Judicial Branch is developing a pilot project for electronic pre-screening of infractions cases in the Judicial District of New Britain.
Chief State’s Attorney Kane reported that there will be an update on the Division’s case management system at the February meeting.
The Governor’s Sexual Assault Kit Working Group has requested that the State’s Attorneys work with police departments in their judicial districts to achieve compliance with a survey on the status of evidence kits collected in sexual assault investigations. Executive Assistant State’s Attorney Austin will send further instruction to the State’s Attorneys.
Chief State’s Attorney Kane relayed a request from the Judicial Branch that the State’s Attorneys notify the Administrative Judge when they invite students or other groups to courthouses.
Executive Assistant State’s Attorney Austin reported on training opportunities: the 2017 Annual Professional Development Conference for Prosecutors will be Monday, June 12, 2017, with local training sessions June 21-22, and the Connecticut Association of Prosecutors annual meeting June 23; training on new DNA analysis procedures and reports will be February 9, 2017, at the Police Officer Standards and Training Council (POST) auditorium in Meriden; and training on prosecuting Operating Under the Influence (OUI) cases will be February 9, 2017, at the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney.
Chief State’s Attorney Kane reported he met with the Co-Chair of the General Assembly’s Appropriations Committee to discuss budget matters and that he is meeting with the Co-Chairs and Ranking Members of the Judiciary Committee on the Division’s legislative recommendations.
State’s Attorney Shepack reported on the Connecticut Sentencing Commission’s deliberations on revisions to the bail system.
State’s Attorney Sedensky expressed concern over the tenor of a report issued by the Trafficking in Persons Council and the implication law enforcement is not addressing trafficking cases.
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 2:58 p.m.