Chief State's Attorney's Meeting

Minutes of the Meeting of December 19, 2011
Office of the Chief State's Attorney
Rocky Hill, Connecticut

The meeting was called to order at 12:43 p.m. by Chief State’s Attorney Kevin T. Kane.

Also in attendance were Deputy Chief State’s Attorneys Leonard C. Boyle (Operations) and John J. Russotto (Personnel, Finance and Administration), State’s Attorneys David I. Cohen (Stamford-Norwalk), Michael Dearington (New Haven), Matthew C. Gedansky (Tolland), Gail P. Hardy (Hartford), Kevin D. Lawlor (Ansonia-Milford), Peter A. McShane (Middlesex), Maureen Platt (Waterbury), Brian W. Preleski (New Britain), Michael L. Regan (New London), Stephen Sedensky (Danbury), David Shepack (Litchfield), and John C. Smriga (Fairfield).

Also present: Executive Assistant State’s Attorneys Brian Austin, Jr., and Michael A. Gailor and Mark A. Dupuis, Division of Criminal Justice Communications Officer.

State’s Attorney Shepack made a motion to accept the minutes of the November 21, 2011, meeting. State’s Attorneys Smriga seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.

Chief State’s Attorney Kane reported on the working group examining issues at the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP) Forensic Science Laboratory. He reiterated the importance of the State’s Attorneys filing monthly reports advising the lab of cases that have been disposed of and where forensic testing is no longer needed.

Chief State’s Attorney Kane reported on the work of the Eyewitness Identification Task Force established pursuant to Public Act 11-252. It is anticipated that the task force’s draft report will recommend that the General Assembly adopt legislation directing the Police Officer Standards and Training Council (POST) to establish policies governing identification procedures.

Committee assignments for the State’s Attorneys were distributed. Each committee is asked to review its draft mission statement and to meet before the next Chief State’s Attorney’s meeting scheduled for January 23, 2012.

Copies of the Division of Criminal Justice audit report by the Auditors of Public Accounts were distributed. Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto reported on implementation of the audit recommendations:

• Leave usage reports will be provided to supervisory personnel on a quarterly basis. The State’s Attorneys should monitor this situation.

• There was discussion of the appropriate use of the “LOPD” code on employee time reports.

• A reminder will be distributed concerning the Acceptable Use of State Systems policy regarding the use of IT systems.

It was suggested that some of the issues raised in the audit report would best be addressed through the newly established committees.

Chief State’s Attorney Kane is preparing a memo to all employees on the need to utilize information technology systems, including email, to improve efficiency.

Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto reported that testing of new computer desktops has begun in the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney. A schedule for the rollout of new computers throughout the Division will be forthcoming.

Chief State’s Attorney Kane reported on developments regarding a personnel matter in the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) and its potential implications for the prosecution of criminal matters. The State’s Attorneys should continue to monitor this situation.

State’s Attorney Cohen reported on his concerns regarding the confidentiality of bail commissioner recommendation reports. Others also expressed concern about the process for determining bail recommendations. It is anticipated the matter will be discussed in the Division’s new legislative committee.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 2:17 p.m.