Chief State’s Attorney’s Meeting

Minutes of the Meeting of February 27, 2012
Office of the Chief State’s Attorney
Rocky Hill, Connecticut

The meeting was called to order at 12:55 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), Patricia M. Froehlich (Windham); 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), and John C. Smriga (Fairfield) and Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Dawn Gallon (Litchfield).

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

State’s Attorney Smriga made a motion to accept the minutes of the January 23, 2012, meeting. State’s Attorney Froehlich seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.

Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto reported on the Governor’s recommended Mid-Term Budget Adjustments. There was discussion of the impact that staff reductions in recent years has had on the Division’s ability to carry out its responsibilities.

Chief State’s Attorney Kane reported that the Task Force on Eyewitness Identification has completed its report to the General Assembly pursuant to Public Act 11-252. The task force is recommending that the General Assembly required sequential identification and a modification of the blind/double blind provision.

Executive Assistant State’s Attorney Austin reported that the Division has drafted standards for the recording of interrogations as required by P.A. 11-174. The comment period for the draft ends March 1, 2012.

Legislative liaison Wilfred Blanchette reported that the Speaker’s Task Force on Domestic Violence has issued its 2012 report. The report will be distributed electronically to the State’s Attorneys.

Training: State’s Attorney Froehlich reported: the State’s Attorneys are invited to submit ideas for training programs; the committee is attempting to develop a means for documenting informal training; the committee is discussing possible locations and topics for the Annual Prosecutor Training program and is preparing a survey of employees for topics; a proposed mentoring program will be discussed at the March 19, 2012, Chief State’s Attorney’s meeting.

Management: State’s Attorney Platt reported that the committee is exploring a new position in each Judicial District comparable to the Executive Assistant State’s Attorney; a more meaningful employee evaluation process; and review of job descriptions that have become outdated.

Operations: Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Boyle reported that the committee is developing a draft protocol for notifying the Attorney General when a public employee is convicted of a crime as well as policies concerning the handling of privileged material from search warrant executions and certain material in police officer personnel files.

Legislation: Chief State’s Attorney Kane reported that the Division will oppose legislation to consolidate the Psychiatric Security Review Board (PSRB) in the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS). The State’s Attorneys can follow legislation through testimony posted on the Division website, www.ct.gov/csao

State’s Attorney Lawlor raised concerns about the implementation of "Smart Bus" legislation for recording violations of passing a stop school bus. Others shared the concern.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 2:08 p.m. on a motion by State’s Attorney Froehlich, seconded by State’s Attorney Cohen and passed unanimously.