Chief State’s Attorney’s Meeting
Minutes of the Meeting of May 20, 2013
Office of the Chief State’s Attorney
Rocky Hill, Connecticut
The meeting was called to order at 12:35 p.m. by Chief State’s Attorney Kevin T. Kane.
In attendance were: State’s Attorneys 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 Preleski (New Britain); Stephen J. Sedensky III (Danbury); David Shepack (Litchfield) and John C. Smriga (Fairfield); Deputy Chief State’s Attorneys Leonard C. Boyle and John J. Russotto and Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney James Bernardi (Stamford-Norwalk).
Also present: Executive Assistant State’s Attorneys Brian Austin, Jr., and Michael A. Gailor; Division of Criminal Justice Communications and Legislative Specialist Mark A. Dupuis, legislative liaison Wilfred Blanchette and Information Technology Manager Evelyn L. Godbout.
Chief State’s Attorney Kane introduced guest Robert E. Kaelin, senior partner with MTG Management Consultants, for a presentation and question-and-answer period on development and implementation of the Division’s case management system. The system is now scheduled to go into operation beginning in October 2014.
Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto reported that the “rollout” of new case presentation laptop computers is expected to begin this week in Bridgeport. State’s Attorney Lawlor expressed the need to adapt courtrooms to accommodate case presentation equipment.
The meeting was interrupted briefly to allow for the meeting of the State’s Attorneys Advisory Board, which was delayed to facilitate the presentation by Mr. Kaelin.
Wilfred Blanchette and Chief State’s Attorney Kane reported on the status of the Division’s legislative proposals and other pending legislation.
State’s Attorney Shepack made a motion to accept the minutes of the April 15, 2013, meeting. The motion was seconded by State’s Attorney Lawlor and approved unanimously.
Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto reported that the Division has formally requested that the Office of Policy and Management authorize the filling of the 18 positions covered by the hiring freeze ordered in January 2013.
Chief State’s Attorney Kane reported that Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Francis J. Carino is available to conduct an assessment of the operations and needs of individual Juvenile Court locations and report to the State’s Attorneys. The State’s Attorneys are asked to notify the Chief State’s Attorney if they would like such an assessment.
State’s Attorney Shepack reported that the Operations Committee met to review the DCJ protocol on the investigation into the use of deadly force by peace officers. A final draft of revisions is expected for the next meeting.
A “Brady/Giglio case prep checklist” utilized in New York was distributed by the Operations Committee for use as a resource by the State’s Attorneys.
State’s Attorney Platt reported that the Management Committee will distribute to the State’s Attorneys a draft of a pre-evaluation form to be completed by employees as part of a revised performance evaluation system. The Management Committee also is examining the time period for which employees are appointed to supervisory positions.
Executive Assistant State’s Attorney Austin reported that the Annual Professional Development Conference for Prosecutors will be June 13-14, 2013, at the University of Connecticut School of Law. The agenda will be released shortly. The training is mandatory for all prosecutors unless excused by the State’s Attorney/Deputy Chief State’s Attorney to meet operational needs.
Attorney Austin will distribute information to the State’s Attorneys about the process for prosecutors to obtain certification as trainers from the Police Officer Standards and Training Council (POST). There was discussion about the POST recertification process.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 2:15 p.m.