Chief State’s Attorney Meeting

Minutes of the Meeting of June 7, 2023

The meeting was called to order at 11:27 a.m. by Chief State’s Attorney Patrick J. Griffin.

Also present: 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), John P. Doyle, Jr. (New Haven), Paul J. Narducci (New London), Paul J. Ferencek (Stamford/Norwalk), Matthew C. Gedansky (Tolland), Maureen T. Platt (Waterbury), and Anne F. Mahoney (Windham).

Also Present: Executive Assistant State’s Attorneys Lisa M. D’Angelo, Gail Hardy and Brett Salafia, Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorneys David Kutzner and Vincent Duva, Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Timothy J. Sugrue, Manager of Research and Planning Kyle Baudoin, Senior Assistant Adrienne Russo and Marisa DePhillips, Executive Secretary to the Chief State’s Attorney.

State’s Attorney Narducci moved to accept the minutes of the May 3, 2023 meeting. State’s Attorney Ferencek seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

Chief State’s Attorney Griffin reported that the Legislative Session was ending on June 7. He said Legislative Liaison Anne Cournoyer would soon report on passed legislation that was significant to the Division.

Regarding the budget, Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto reported that the Division did not receive the funds it requested to expand the Early Screening and Intervention (ESI) program in all Judicial Districts and the positions needed to comply with mandates regarding the review of body-worn camera evidence. Chief State’s Attorney Griffin and Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto said the Division is committed to expanding the ESI program and will look for ways to finance it through grants or other funding resources.

Chief State’s Attorney Griffin reported that since May 2022, the Criminal Justice Commission held 12 meetings and hired 34 full-time prosecutors, with 22 positions currently still open. He said the Division worked to first fill open positions in the Judicial Districts and will now look to fill open positions in the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney.

Executive Assistant State’s Attorney Hardy reported that the summer interns attended orientation and started working in positions throughout the Division. Several interns, she said, provided positive feedback about a recent training session at the Division. Executive Assistant State’s Attorney Hardy said interns would also be going on field trips to a courthouse and a prison.

Chief State’s Attorney Griffin said the Division opened up applications to the 2023 DCJ Camp Justice – slated for the end of July - and is receiving much interest from students entering the ninth grade. Chief State’s Attorney Griffin reminded the State’s Attorneys about the Division’s annual training on June 8. He said the Division in September is planning to hold a training session about the Office of Inspector General. Inspector General Devlin said the training would mirror training the Office of the Inspector General has done with 150 police departments throughout the state in which he discusses the work of his office and the statutory jurisdiction it has in regard to investigations.

Executive Assistant State’s Attorney Hardy said the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence has requested input from the Division regarding the rollout of the state’s new GPS law, which will be implemented first in the Ansonia/Milford and New Haven Judicial Districts. She also reported that several members of the Division would be participating in the June 15 “Reimagining the Criminal Justice System” seminar at UConn Law School.

Chief State’s Attorney Griffin said The Justice Education Center Inc.’s Safe Harbor Symposium would be held at the Capitol on June 27.

Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Lawlor reported that recent research by the Mental Health Subcommittee of the state's Sentencing Commission, which is studying how authorities in Miami, Florida handle mental health issues related to criminal justice, could be useful to members of the Division.

Chief State’s Attorney Griffin said the Connecticut Prosecutorial Standards would be distributed to every prosecutor at the Division’s annual training on June 8. He reminded State’s Attorneys that the Connecticut Criminal Justice Educational and Charitable Association dinner would be held on the night of June 8.

State’s Attorney Doyle inquired about creating a computer drive for trial transcripts for new prosecutors as a learning tool. Chief State’s Attorney Griffin said he agreed there is value in having less-experienced prosecutors review transcripts. Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto said the Division’s IT department would research ways of getting the prosecutors easier access to those transcripts.

There being no further business, a motion to adjourn was made by State’s Attorney Gailor and seconded by State’s Attorney Narducci. The meeting was adjourned at 12:22 p.m.