Chief State’s Attorney Meeting

Minutes of the Meeting of January 11, 2023

The meeting was called to order at 12:48 p.m. by Chief State’s Attorney Patrick J. Griffin.

Also present: Deputy Chief State’s Attorney of Operations Kevin D. Lawlor; Deputy Chief State’s Attorney of Administration, Personnel and Finance John J. Russotto, Deputy Chief State’s Attorney, Inspector General Robert J. Devlin, Jr., State’s Attorneys Margaret E. Kelley (Ansonia/Milford), David R. Applegate (Danbury), Joseph T. Corradino, (Fairfield), Sharmese L. Walcott (Hartford), David R. Shannon (Litchfield), Michael A. Gailor (Middlesex), Christian M. Watson (New Britain), John P. Doyle, Jr. (New Haven), Paul J. Narducci (New London), Paul J. Ferencek (Stamford/Norwalk), Maureen T. Platt (Waterbury), and Anne F. Mahoney (Windham).

Also Present: Executive Assistant State’s Attorneys Gail P. Hardy and Brett Salafia, Chief Inspectors Frederick P. Haddad Jr. and Michael P. Sullivan, Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Timothy J. Sugrue, Senior Assistant State’s Attorney David Kutzner, Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Joseph Valdes, Labor Relations Administrator AnneMarie Paone-Mullin, Legislative Liaison Anne Cournoyer, Manager of Research and Planning Kyle Baudoin, Grants and Contracts Manager Chandra Williams and Executive Secretary Marisa DePhillips.

Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Lawlor moved to accept the minutes of the December 7, 2022 meeting. State’s Attorney Walcott seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

State’s Attorney Platt introduced the guest speaker, Attorney David G. Bothwell, for his presentation on the Board of Pardons and Paroles.

As Chair of the Operations Committee, State’s Attorney Platt asked for a motion to approve the final draft of the use-of-force policy. State’s Attorney Corradino moved to approve the policy. Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Lawlor seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

There was brief discussion about setting a point of contact from each Judicial District providing data to the state lab on the number of warrants submitted and the number signed for internet crimes targeting child pornography. The Operations Committee will work with the newly appointed Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney for Juvenile Matters to review juvenile rights issues. 

Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Lawlor provided an update on the Governor's Task Force on Justice for Abused Children. He discussed openings for police officers experienced in child abuse investigations, saying he will send information to the State’s Attorneys so they can reach out to the Chiefs of Police in their Judicial Districts. COVID-19 money is available for training on the Zero Abuse Project to be held over a three-day period.  Other training opportunities will be available in the spring. Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Lawlor said he will work with Executive Assistant State’s Attorney D’Angelo on details.

State’s Attorney Mahoney discussed whether changes can be made to remove the redundancy for MDTs to go through separate (but same) approvals through NCA and the state.  There was discussion about holding more training sessions for Deputy Assistant State’s Attorneys, possibly during the summer when the courthouses are not as busy.

Executive Assistant State’s Attorney Hardy discussed new recruiting initiatives, saying State’s Attorneys will be asked to prepare a power point presentation as a recruitment tool, she and EEOC Specialist Janice DuFrend are revamping the Division’s Internship Program and that Chief State’s Attorney Griffin wants to host an Early Screening Intervention roundtable with robust Division participation. 

Anne Cournoyer, Legislative Liaison, discussed recent talks with legislators over initiatives the Division is supporting during the legislative session. The Judiciary Committee deadlines are February 15 to get bills raised and March 31 for bills to be out of committee. The Division is acquiring software that will make it possible to disseminate reports based on Manager of Planning and Research Baudoin’s statistics and analysis.

Chief State’s Attorney Griffin discussed the new Special Litigation and Legislation bureau. The Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney position has been posted. Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Kutzner’s work on the prosecutorial standards is getting close to completion and will be sent to the Operations Committee for review and approval.  Although the NDAA standards update is not expected until May, his work will serve as the Connecticut specific companion to the Prosecutor Desk Book. The Ethics Policy is also close to being finished.

There being no further business, State’s Attorney Kelley made a motion to adjourn. State’s Attorney Corradino seconded the motion and it passed without opposition. The meeting was adjourned at 2:50 p.m.