Criminal Justice Commission
Via Microsoft Teams
Minutes of the Meeting of November 20, 2023
The Honorable Andrew J. McDonald, Chair, called the meeting to order at 9:04 a.m.
In addition to Justice McDonald, participating in the meeting were: Attorneys Robert Berke, Scott Murphy and Moy Ogilvie and Chief State’s Attorney Patrick J. Griffin.
Chief State’s Attorney Griffin moved to accept the minutes of the September 18, 2023 meeting. Attorney Berke seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
The Commission discussed voting on the 2024 regular meeting dates for the Criminal Justice Commission at the December meeting once the dates are finalized.
Justice McDonald said the Commission was to interview candidates for three positions of Deputy Assistant State’s Attorney at the Office of the State’s Attorney, Judicial District of Hartford, and consider candidates for Special Deputy Assistant State’s Attorneys.
Sharmese L. Walcott, State’s Attorney for the Judicial District of Hartford, and Equal Employment Opportunity Specialist Janice duFrend were present to participate in the interviews of candidates for Deputy Assistant State’s Attorney.
Attorney Murphy moved to enter into executive session to discuss candidates for the positions. Attorney Berke seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. The executive session began at 9:10 a.m.
At 12:26 p.m., the Commission adjourned briefly for a lunch break. The executive session resumed at 1 p.m.
The executive session ended at 1:22 p.m. Justice McDonald announced that no motions were made or votes taken during the executive session. Attorney Murphy moved to approve Angelica Barcsansky, Ashley Carbray and Joel DiLoreto for conditional appointments as Deputy Assistant State’s Attorneys at the Office of the State’s Attorney, Judicial District of Harford. The appointments will be effective upon the Chief State’s Attorney certifying to the Commission that the individuals selected have successfully completed background checks and that no adverse findings were found in the background checks which would call into question the fitness and suitability of the individuals selected to serve as prosecutorial officials within the Division of Criminal Justice. Attorney Berke seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Attorney Ogilvie moved to authorize the hiring of Tashia Sowell as Special Deputy Assistant State’s Attorney at the Office of the State’s Attorney, Judicial District of Harford. It will be effective upon the Chief State’s Attorney certifying to the Commission that the individual selected has successfully completed a background check and that no adverse findings were found in the background check which would call into question the fitness and suitability of the individual selected to serve as a prosecutorial official within the Division. Attorney Berke seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Attorney Ogilvie moved to authorize the hiring of Dina Urso as Special Deputy Assistant State’s Attorney at the Office of the State’s Attorney, Judicial District of Harford. It will be effective upon the Chief State’s Attorney certifying to the Commission that the individual selected has successfully completed a background check and that no adverse findings were found in the background check which would call into question the fitness and suitability of the individual selected to serve as a prosecutorial official within the Division. Attorney Murphy seconded the motion and it passed 4-0, with Attorney Berke abstaining.
Chief State’s Attorney Griffin introduced Marc Pelka, Undersecretary of Criminal Justice Policy and Planning for the Office of Policy and Management and Kevin F. Neary, Policy Development Coordinator and Research Unit Director with the Office of Policy and Management. Mr. Pelka and Mr. Neary did a presentation on the 2023 Prosecutor Data Report in compliance with Public-Act 19-59 that requires Connecticut to routinely collect, analyze and report on prosecutor data. Following the presentation, Justice McDonald suggested that the report, which is published on the Division of Criminal Justice’s public website, be shared with legislators and officials with the state Division of Public Defender Services. Justice McDonald also suggested that the Office of Policy and Management discuss the report in an interactive presentation with supervisors in the Division of Criminal Justice. Justice McDonald then thanked Mr. Pelka and Mr. Neary for their work on the report and for their presentation.
There being no further business, Attorney Murphy moved to adjourn the meeting. Attorney Ogilvie seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 1:56 p.m.