Chief State's Attorney's Meeting

Minutes of the Meeting of December 17, 2012
Central Connecticut State University
New Britain, Connecticut

The meeting was called to order at 3:45 p.m. by Chief State’s Attorney Kevin T. Kane.

Also in attendance were: State’s Attorneys David I. Cohen (Stamford-Norwalk); Michael Dearington (New Haven); Patricia M. Froehlich (Windham); Gail P. Hardy (Hartford); Kevin D. Lawlor (Ansonia-Milford); Peter A. McShane (Middlesex); Maureen Platt (Waterbury); and David Shepack (Litchfield) and Deputy Chief State’s Attorneys Leonard C. Boyle and John J. Russotto; Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney C. Robert Satti, Jr., (Fairfield) and Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Paul N. Rotiroti (New Britain).

Also present: Executive Assistant State’s Attorney Brian Austin, Jr., and Communications and Legislative Specialist Mark A. Dupuis.

State’s Attorney Shepack made a motion to approve the minutes of the November 19, 2012, meeting. The motion was seconded by State’s Attorney Platt and approved unanimously.

Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Boyle reported that federal probation notifications can now be made by email. It was decided that email to the appropriate State’s Attorney is the preferred method of receiving the notifications.

Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto reported that the leadership of the General Assembly and the administration reached tentative agreement on a deficit mitigation plan. The Division has put a hold on all General Fund hiring. Chief State’s Attorney Kane stressed the importance of Division management getting the most from existing staff and resources.

Chief State’s Attorney Kane reported that the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association plans to seek legislation similar to H.B. 5547, An Act Concerning Release From Arrest Without Further Criminal Complaint, of the 2012 Regular Session. The State’s Attorneys’ Operations Committee will study establishing an official Division policy to address the concerns behind the bill.

State’s Attorney Lawlor expressed the need for the Division to compile meaningful statistics to support its budget requests. The Division needs statistical information beyond that produced by the Judicial Branch to document the work of prosecutors, inspectors and other staff in areas such as arrest warrant review, search and seizure warrant review and public outreach. Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto will collect information from the State’s Attorneys to develop a standard form for data collection. It was also noted that the case management system now under development must provide for the collection and compilation of statistical data.

State’s Attorney Platt reported that the Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner/Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SAFE/SANE) program operating at six hospitals will not conduct a sexual assault examination kit when the individual is unconscious or considered incompetent to give consent. The Commission on the Collection of Evidence in Sexual Assault Investigations will attempt to resolve the issue through its technical guidelines. If that cannot be accomplished legislation may be needed.

State’s Attorney Froehlich reported that she has been appointed to the membership committee of the National District Attorneys Association (NDAA). The State’s Attorneys are asked to share their input on the NDAA dues structure and the benefits of membership.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:30 p.m.