Chief State’s Attorney’s Meeting
Minutes of the Meeting of February 28, 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), Patricia M. Froehlich (Windham), Matthew C. Gedansky (Tolland); Gail P. Hardy (Hartford), Kevin D. Lawlor (Ansonia-Milford), Timothy J. Liston (Middlesex), Scott J. Murphy (New Britain), Michael L. Regan (New London), Stephen Sedensky III (Danbury); David Shepack (Litchfield), and Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney C. Robert Satti (Fairfield).
Also present: Executive Assistant State’s Attorneys Brian Austin, Jr., and Michael A. Gailor, Mark A. Dupuis, Division of Criminal Justice Communications Officer; Wilfred Blanchette, Division of Criminal Justice Legislative Liaison, and Melissa Mccafferty, legislative intern assigned to Mr. Blanchette.
State’s Attorney Liston made a motion to accept the minutes of the January 31, 2011, meeting. State’s Attorney Lawlor seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.
Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto reported on the Governor’s recommended budget, which eliminates five vacant positions in the Division. The Division will submit testimony to the Appropriations Committee on March 3, 2011, on the impact of previous reductions. Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto reported that negotiations with the State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition (SEBAC) on the Governor’s requested personnel cost concessions will begin March 2, 2011.
Chief State’s Attorney Kane discussed a report from Legislative Liaison Wilfred Blanchette tracking bills pending before the General Assembly. The Judiciary Committee will hold a public hearing March 7, 2011, on bills concerning the death penalty. There was discussion of the impact the proposed bills would have on pending cases as well as the Division’s positions. There was general discussion of bills introduced at the request of the Division.
Chief State’s Attorney Kane reported that a training session and discussion of the prosecution of Kidnapping cases is scheduled March 10, 2011, at the Rocky Hill training center. Each Judicial District is urged to send a representative.
Chief State’s Attorney Kane reported that the Auditors of Public Accounts have begun their audit process for the Division of Criminal Justice. One area of attention may be prosecutor training. It was noted that the Governor’s proposed budget recommends a reduction in training funds.
State’s Attorney Sedensky requested that each Judicial District appoint a “point person” whose name will be included in law enforcement training for the prosecution of drug cases where children are endangered. Each State’s Attorney was asked to submit a name to Executive Assistant State’s Attorney Austin.
State’s Attorney Froehlich discussed her draft policy concerning state’s witnesses. The draft has been distributed to the State’s Attorneys for further discussion in the future.
Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto reported on planning for the Annual Prosecutor Training to be held in June. Current plans are to require the training for all prosecutors with less than ten years experience or who have yet to meet statutory training requirements. The program will feature a plenary session on prosecutor ethics as well as sessions covering topics where the General Assembly has requested additional emphasis in training. Executive Assistant State’s Attorney Austin and Special Assistant State’s Attorney Judith Rossi are overseeing the program.
The State’s Attorneys were reminded that the forensics training program for prosecutors and Inspectors is continuing and were asked to encourage staff to attend.
State’s Attorney Sedensky will distribute a law journal article on the interviewing protocol used by forensic interviewers. The article formally publishes what was previously only available in training sessions and can be cited. Each Judicial District and Geographical Area office will receive a copy.
The meeting adjourned at 1:46 p.m. on a motion by Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto, seconded by State’s Attorney Froehlich and passed unanimously.