Chief State’s Attorney Meeting

Minutes of the Meeting of November 1, 2023

The meeting was called to order at 12:52 p.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 of Operations Kevin D. Lawlor; State’s Attorneys Margaret E. Kelley (Ansonia/Milford), David R. Applegate (Danbury),  Sharmese L. Walcott (Hartford), David R. Shannon (Litchfield), Christian M. Watson (New Britain), John P. Doyle, Jr. (New Haven), Paul J. Narducci (New London), Paul J. Ferencek (Stamford/Norwalk), Matthew C. Gedansky (Tolland), Anne F. Mahoney (Windham) and Maureen T. Platt (Waterbury).

Also present: Executive Assistant State’s Attorneys Kathryn W. Bare, Lisa M. D’Angelo, Gail P. Hardy and Brett J. Salafia; Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney David M. Kutzner and Vincent A. Duva, Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Timothy J. Sugrue, Legislative Liaison Anne Cournoyer, Manager of Research and Planning Kyle Baudoin, Chief Inspector Michael Sullivan, Legal Technology Specialist Jessica Nocera, Grants and Contracts Manager Chandra Yvette Williams and Marisa DePhillips, Executive Secretary to the Chief State’s Attorney.

State’s Attorney Platt moved to accept the minutes of the October 4, 2023 meeting. State’s Attorney Kelley seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto said there was nothing new to report regarding budget matters.

Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto said interviews for Deputy Assistant State’s Attorneys for vacant positions in the Hartford Judicial District would occur during the November meeting of the Criminal Justice Commission, as well as possible approval of one or two Special Deputy Assistant State’s Attorneys. The Commission could interview prospective Deputy Assistant State’s Attorneys candidates for the New Haven and New London Judicial Districts at the December Criminal Justice Commission meeting.

Chief State’s Attorney Griffin said at the November Criminal Justice Commission meeting, the Criminal Justice Policy and Planning office of the Office of Policy and Management would hold a presentation on the 2023 Prosecutor Data Report, compiled in compliance with Public-Act 19-59, that requires Connecticut to routinely collect, analyze and report on prosecutor data. 

On the topic of legislative matters, Legislative Liaison Cournoyer said there have been several recent discussions regarding possible legislative proposals for next year’s General Session, and that future meetings would be scheduled with parties outside of the Division to discuss various issues and initiatives.

Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Lawlor introduced Tammy Sneed, Program Director for the Department of Children and Families and Krystal Rich, Director of the Connecticut Children’s Alliance, co-chairs of the Governor’s Task Force on Justice for Abused Children. Ms. Sneed and Ms. Rich provided an update on the committee’s recent evaluation of multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) that provide critical coordination at the beginning stages of an investigation.

A second presentation was from guest Kristine Hamann, Executive Director and Founder of the Prosecutors’ Center for Excellence. Ms. Hamann discussed Crime Gun Intelligence Center Grants administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance in partnership with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The competitive grant program provides funding to state and local governments that are experiencing increases in violent gun-related crime so they can work with their ATF partners to utilize intelligence, technology, and community engagement to identify illegal firearms and their sources, and effectively prosecute these cases. Ms. Hamann also discussed ways the Prosecutors’ Center for Excellence can assist prosecutors at the Division.

State’s Attorney Watson and Executive Assistant State’s Attorney D’Angelo discussed the topic of arrests and the prosecution of assaultive hospital patients and visitors. Members of the Division met recently with hospital officials and law enforcement to discuss their concerns about these incidents and possible remedies through legislative action. All parties agreed to improve communication between law enforcement and hospitals by supplying points of contact for all parties to utilize.

Executive Assistant State’s Attorney D’Angelo reported on extensive training in recent weeks by the Division for law enforcement officers throughout the state on recently enacted gun violence legislation. The Division also provided training on recent changes to the laws regarding adult-use cannabis, hemp, and medical marijuana. Executive Assistant State’s Attorney D’Angelo said there would be training in November for Deputy Assistant State’s Attorneys and that there are plans in the future for training for Inspectors, Paralegals, Administrative Assistants and Investigators. Chief State’s Attorney Griffin expressed his gratitude to the State’s Attorneys for ensuring that the Deputy Assistant State’s Attorneys attend the training sessions at the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney, saying that he understood their absence from their respective offices would take the Deputy Assistant State’s Attorneys away from their regular duties.

In other business, Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Kutzner reported that he would be sending out communication regarding a November deadline for bail bonding agents on bond forfeitures following the governor’s decision last May to end the public health emergency declaration he initially signed on March 10, 2020, in response to the global outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

There being no further business, a motion to adjourn was made by State’s Attorney Narducci and seconded by State’s Attorney Applegate. The meeting was adjourned at 2:28 p.m.