Chief State’s Attorney’s Meeting

Minutes of the Meeting of December 14, 2015
Office of the Chief State’s Attorney
Rocky Hill, Connecticut

The meeting was called to order at 12:42 p.m. by Chief State’s Attorney Kevin T. Kane.

In attendance were: Deputy Chief State’s Attorney John J. Russotto; State’s Attorneys Richard J. Colangelo, Jr. (Stamford-Norwalk), Michael Dearington (New Haven), Patricia M. Froehlich (Windham), Gail P. Hardy (Hartford), Peter A. McShane (Middlesex), Maureen Platt (Waterbury), Brian Preleski (New Britain), David Shepack (Litchfield) and John C. Smriga (Fairfield); and Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Cornelius Kelly (Ansonia-Milford).

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

State’s Attorney Shepack made a motion to accept the minutes of the November 16, 2015, meeting. The motion was seconded by State’s Attorney Hardy and passed unanimously.

Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto distributed an analysis of the impact to the Division budget resulting from passage of Public Act 15-1, December 2015 Special Session. The Division expects an overall 3.7 percent reduction in appropriations from the original budget. The Division is looking for ways to bolster resources available for case presentation.

Chief State’s Attorney Kane reported on efforts to better define the Division’s workload. A draft list of various tasks and the collection of data documenting those tasks was discussed. The draft will be revised and circulated to the State’s Attorneys, who should submit their comments by December 18, 2015.

Chief State’s Attorney Kane reported on a Superior Court decision regarding ex parte orders concerning the collection of certain telecommunications data. Discussions are continuing on possible legislation.

Chief State’s Attorney Kane reported on concerns raised by some prosecutors regarding possible legislation concerning Section 54-86k of the General Statutes.

Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto announced the tentative schedule for State’s Attorneys who will conduct monthly training sessions for Deputy Assistant State’s Attorneys. The monthly sessions will resume in January and continue through July; none is scheduled in June when the annual training for all prosecutors is held.

Chief State’s Attorney Kane reported that the responsibility for undertaking Nuisance Abatement actions will be shifted from the Asset Forfeiture Bureau to the State’s Attorneys. Asset Forfeiture staff remain available to advise and assist.

Chief State’s Attorney Kane reported on proposed technical revisions to DCJ Policy No. 501, “Use of Force and Firearms.” The revisions were accepted without opposition. A proposed revision of Policy No. 509, “Guidelines for the Investigation of the Use of Deadly Force Pursuant to General Statutes Section 51-277a,” were adopted without opposition.

Brian Austin reported on draft revisions to Policy No. 324, “Conferences and Seminars,” concerning out-of-state training by DCJ employees.

Chief State’s Attorney Kane reported that the Appellate Bureau may be contacting the State’s Attorneys for input on a case now pending before the Connecticut Supreme Court involving eyewitness identification procedures.

Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto reported that the Division’s Information Technology steering committee will be resuming its work focused on the next phase in the development of the case management system.

Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto reported on a recent training program for Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorneys and ongoing discussions with staff and the Judicial Branch concerning the calculation of fines, fees and costs in infraction cases.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 2:13 p.m.