Chief State’s Attorney’s Meeting
Minutes of the Meeting of March 21, 2016
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: Deputy Chief State’s Attorneys Leonard C. Boyle and John J. Russotto; State’s Attorneys Richard J. Colangelo, Jr., (Stamford/Norwalk), Michael Dearington (New Haven), Matthew C. Gedansky (Tolland), Gail P. Hardy (Hartford), Kevin D. Lawlor (Ansonia/Milford), Peter A. McShane (Middlesex), Brian Preleski (New Britain), Michael L. Regan (New London), Stephen J. Sedensky III (Danbury) and John C. Smriga (Fairfield); and Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Dawn Gallo (Litchfield) and Senior Assistant State’s Attorneys Amy L. Sedensky (Waterbury) and Matthew Crockett (Windham).
Also present: Executive Assistant State’s Attorneys Brian Austin, Jr., and Michael A. Gailor and Communications and Legislative Specialist Mark A. Dupuis.
State’s Attorney Colangelo made a motion to accept the minutes of February 22, 2016, meeting. The motion was seconded by State’s Attorney Sedensky and passed unanimously.
Chief State’s Attorney Kane and Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto reported on the impact of the state’s efforts to mitigate projected deficits for the current and next fiscal year. With the latest rescissions ordered by the Governor, funds for all temporary and per diem employees will be exhausted by the end of May.
Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Boyle distributed a draft memorandum from Assistant State’s Attorney Melissa Patterson of the Appellate Bureau on the cases of juveniles sentenced as adults to long periods of incarceration. State’s Attorney Sedensky made a motion that the Division’s position is that the holding of the United States Supreme Court in Montgomery v. Louisiana with regard to parole eligibility is dispositive of the issues raised. State’s Attorney Hardy seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. The Appellate Bureau will provide an updated memorandum reflecting the position.
Chief State’s Attorney Kane introduced Assistant United States Attorney Robert M. Spector, Deputy Chief, Violent Crimes and Narcotics, for presentation of a draft "Heroin Overdose Death Investigations Protocol for Police Departments." The State’s Attorneys will review the protocol for dissemination to all police departments.
Chief State’s Attorney Kane reported on legislation pending in the 2016 General Assembly.
State’s Attorney Smriga reported on behalf of the Training Committee that the Annual Professional Development Conference for Prosecutors will be held Monday, June 13, 2016, at Central Connecticut State University. Local training programs will be held in the Judicial Districts on either June 22 or June 23.
Executive Assistant State’s Attorney Austin reported that the State’s Attorneys have received updated reports on the status of each prosecutor’s compliance with annual training requirements (40 hours for those designated Deputy Assistant State’s Attorney and 16 hours for all others).
State’s Attorney Smirga reported on efforts by an attorney representing the victim of a crime to participate in judicially supervised pretrial conferences.
Chief State’s Attorney Kane distributed draft revisions to Division Policy 511, "Prosecutorial Impropriety." A vote will be taken at the April meeting.
Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto reported that State’s Attorney McShane will lead the next monthly training session for Deputy Assistant State’s Attorneys and Special Deputy Assistant State’s Attorneys on March 30, 2016. The subject will be pretrial programs. State’s Attorney David Shepack (Litchfield) will lead the April session and Chief State’s Attorney Kane will lead the May session, with the dates to be determined.
There being no further business, Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Boyle made a motion to adjourn. The motion was seconded by State’s Attorney Sedensky and passed unanimously and the meeting was adjourned at 2:20 p.m.