Criminal Justice Commission Minutes November 25 2019

Criminal Justice Commission

Minutes of the Special Meeting
November 25, 2019
Office of the Chief State’s Attorney
Rocky Hill, Connecticut

The Criminal Justice Commission met for a special meeting on Monday, November 25, 2019, at the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney. The Honorable Andrew J. McDonald, Chair, called the meeting to order at 9:09 a.m.

Also in attendance was The Honorable Melanie L. Cradle, attorneys Robert Berke and Scott Murphy and Chief State’s Attorney Kevin T. Kane. Attorney Reginald Dwayne Betts joined the meeting in progress.

There was no public comment.

Chief State’s Attorney Kane moved to approve the minutes of the October 11, 2019, meeting. Attorney Murphy seconded the motion and it passed on a voice vote.

Justice McDonald announced that the Commission in executive session would discuss the untimely completion of reports concerning incidents of the use of deadly physical force by police officers in the Judicial District of Hartford. Justice McDonald thanked Chief State’s Attorney Kane for delaying his scheduled retirement to address the issue.

New Haven State’s Attorney Patrick J. Griffin addressed the Commission with regard to the qualities sought for the prosecutors to be appointed for Geographical Area No. 7, Meriden, and G.A. No. 23, New Haven.

Chief State’s Attorney Kane moved to enter executive session to interview candidates for Deputy Assistant State’s Attorney positions at G.A. No. 7 and G.A. No. 23. Attorney Murphy seconded the motion and it passed on a voice vote. The executive session began at 9:20 a.m. Also present were State’s Attorney Griffin and Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ) Equal Employment Opportunity Specialist Janice duFrend.

The Commission took a break at 10:45 a.m. and resumed the executive session at 10:55 a.m. and broke for lunch prior to 12:30 p.m. The interviews concluded at 1:50 p.m. and the Commission reconvened in public session at 2:32 p.m. No motions were made or votes taken during the executive session.

Attorney Murphy moved to appoint Jessica Gouveia as Deputy Assistant State’s Attorney at G.A. No. 7. Judge Cradle seconded the motion and it passed on a voice vote.

Attorney Betts moved to appoint Sarah Jones and Yamini Menon as Deputy Assistant State’s Attorneys at G.A. No. 23. Judge Cradle seconded the motion and it passed on a voice vote.

The Commission resumed in executive session to hear an update from Chief State’s Attorney Kane regarding his review at Justice McDonald’s request of the untimely completion of reports concerning incidents of the use of deadly physical force by police officers in the Judicial District of Hartford. Attorney Betts left the meeting at 3:15 p.m. The executive session ended at 3:26 p.m.

No motions were made or votes taken during the executive session.

Justice McDonald reported that the Commission anticipates a final report from Chief State’s Attorney Kane on the Hartford use of force investigations by the end of the week and that Chief State’s Attorney Kane intends to retire effective December 1, 2019.

Chief State’s Attorney Kane moved to adjourn the meeting. Judge Cradle seconded the motion and it passed on a voice vote. The meeting adjourned at 3:29 p.m.