Division of Criminal Justice Advisory Board 

Office of the Chief State's Attorney

300 Corporate Place

Rocky Hill, Connecticut

Minutes of the Meeting of November 1, 2023

The meeting was called to order at 12:31 p.m. by Ansonia/Milford State’s Attorney Margaret E. Kelley.

Also present: Chief State's Attorney Patrick J. Griffin, Deputy Chief State’s Attorney of Administration, Personnel and Finance John J. Russotto; Deputy Chief State’s Attorney of Operations Kevin Lawlor; State's Attorneys 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); and Criminal Justice Commission Member Scott Murphy (via telephone).

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, 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.

MINUTES

A motion to accept the minutes from the October 4, 2023 meeting was made by Deputy Chief State's Attorney Lawlor and seconded by State's Attorney Platt. It passed unanimously.

MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE-

Deputy Chief State's Attorney Russotto reported for the committee. The manual for the Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorneys is about ninety percent complete. This committee will do the initial review of the proposed manual, prior to distributing to all of the State’s Attorneys for review.

OPERATIONS COMMITTEE

State's Attorney Platt reported for the Operations Committee on the Jailhouse Witness Policy and Form and the Victim Rights and Notification Policy. Executive Assistant State’s Attorneys Bare, who prepared these policies, addressed recent changes to the victim rights policy. Both policies had been unanimously approved at the committee level.  Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Lawlor made a motion to approve the Jailhouse Witness Policy and Form. It was seconded by State's Attorney Kelley. The policy was unanimously approved.  Deputy Chief State's Attorney Lawlor also moved to approve the Victim Rights and Notification Policy. It was seconded by State's Attorney Kelley. The policy was unanimously approved.

PEER REVIEW UPDATE

Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto reported that the next group of State’s Attorneys due for review (State's Attorney Applegate, State's Attorney Doyle, State's Attorney Shannon and State's Attorney Watson) had their panel interviews on October 30, 2023. The first drafts are being prepared and Deputy Chief State's Attorney Russotto is awaiting references. He also pointed out that in 2024, twelve persons will be due for peer reviews.

POTENTIAL CONFLICTS

There was no report as to any conflicts.

OTHER BUSINESS

Chief State's Attorney Griffin advised that Deputy Chief State's Attorney, Inspector General Robert J. Devlin, Jr., has requested equipment necessary to carry out the mandates of his office. Winter gear will be provided for all Inspectors. In addition, the Inspector badge will be modified to state “Police” Inspector. More importantly, there are plans to retrofit a crime scene van to assist the Inspector General and his office with their investigations. That van will be available to all of the State’s Attorneys.

ADJOURNMENT

Deputy Chief State's Attorney Lawlor made a motion to adjourn the meeting. It was seconded by State's Attorney Narducci and passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 12:42 p.m.