Connecticut State Division of Criminal Justice

Ansonia/Milford Judicial District State’s Attorney Announces $50,000 Reward to Help Identify Killer of Jawara Stennett

Chief State's Attorney's Meeting

Minutes of the Meeting of January 22, 2018
Office of the Chief State's Attorney
Rocky Hill, Connecticut

Chief State’s Attorney Kevin called the meeting to order at 12:42 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), Matthew C. Gedansky (Tolland), Gail P. Hardy (Hartford), Kevin D. Lawlor (Ansonia/Milford), Anne F. Mahoney (Windham), Peter A. McShane (Middlesex), Maureen Platt (Waterbury), Brian Preleski (New Britain), Michael L. Regan (New London), Stephen J. Sedensky III (Danbury), David Shepack (Litchfield) and John C. Smriga (Fairfield).

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

State’s Attorney Sedensky made a motion to accept the minutes of the December 18, 2017, meeting. State’s Attorney Colangelo seconded the motion and it passed with no opposition.

Chief State’s Attorney Kane reported that State’s Attorneys Lawlor and Preleski submitted drafts of a Strategic Business Plan. Further discussion will follow a meeting between the Chief State’s Attorney and Deputy Chief State’s Attorneys and the head of the Department of Public Policy at the University of Connecticut concerning business plan development and other training possibilities.

Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto reported that seven prosecutor positions were posted as transfer opportunities. Reassignment of prosecutors from Rocky Hill operations will follow depending on the results of the transfer process. Clerical and Inspector reassignments are pending. No external hiring is anticipated at this point.

Chief State’s Attorney Kane and Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto reported on the pilot program being established pursuant to Public Act 17-205 at the Geographical Area courts in Hartford, New Haven, New London and Norwich. The Division will hire per diem employees for these programs. Preliminary results of similar pilot programs in Bridgeport and Waterbury are encouraging.

Chief State’s Attorney Kane reported that the State’s Attorneys legislative committee will meet in the next week. The committee will discuss concerns raised by State’s Attorney Mahoney concerning the burden of proof in child pornography cases and the possibility of revising state law to mirror federal provisions.

State’s Attorney Smriga reported on the Training Committee:

  • The committee is planning for the Annual Professional Development Conference for Prosecutors, which will be held the week of June 11, 2018. The program is being developed and will include a presentation on cultural competency and implicit bias by Supreme Court Justices Richard A. Robinson and Maria Araujo Kahn.

  • Additional training opportunities are being provided via the Division intranet site.

  • Only five prosecutors are not currently in compliance with training requirements.

  • State’s Attorney Smriga will take part in a panel discussion following a special screening of the film “Marshall” this week in New Haven. All prosecutors are invited.

There being no further business, State’s Attorney McShane made a motion to adjourn. State’s Attorney Colangelo seconded the motion and it passed without opposition. The meeting was adjourned at 1:30 p.m.