Chief State’s Attorney’s Meeting

Minutes of the Meeting of March 19, 2018
Office of the Chief State’s Attorney
Rocky Hill, Connecticut

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

In attendance were: State’s Attorneys Patrick J. Griffin (New Haven); Gail P. Hardy (Hartford), Kevin D. Lawlor (Ansonia/Milford), Anne F. Mahoney (Windham), Peter A. McShane (Middlesex), Maureen Platt (Waterbury), Brian Preleski (New Britain), Michael L. Regan (New London), David Shepack (Litchfield) and John C. Smriga (Fairfield).

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 Hardy made a motion to accept the minutes of the February 26, 2018, meeting. State’s Attorney McShane seconded the motion and it passed with no opposition.

Chief State’s Attorney Kane introduced guests Valina Carpenter, Deputy Director of the Office of Victim Services in the Judicial Branch, and Rachel McKnight, Victim Services Supervisor, for an update on OVS and preview of training to be presented at the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney on May 24, 2018. A summary of contributions to the Crime Victims Compensation Fund was distributed as well as informational brochures on the CT-SAVIN victim notification system.

DCJ Information Technology Manager Evelyn Godbout reported on the implementation of the Case Management System. Pilot testing is scheduled to begin in July at a location to be determined. The Division is in the process of determining which employees will have access to what data under the Connecticut Information Sharing System (CISS) and Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS). Executive Assistant State’s Attorney Gailor and Meriden Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney James Turcotte, co-chairs of the Case Management Advisory Committee, reviewed preliminary recommendations. No votes were taken.

Chief State’s Attorney Kane distributed draft revisions to the DCJ Ethics Policy for discussion at the next meeting.

Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto reported on the development of Strategic Business Plans. The University of Connecticut School of Business is reviewing draft plans and will present a two-day training program for the State’s Attorneys on a date to be determined.

State’s Attorney Lawlor reported that he has been asked to serve on the steering committee for the Governor’s Second Annual Reimagining Justice Conference. The conference will be held at the Cheshire Correctional Institution on May 30, 2018. Organizers are hoping to increase attendance by prosecutors.

Chief State’s Attorney Kane asked the State’s Attorneys to assist with the review of legislative proposals as the 2018 Regular Session of the General Assembly gets busier.

State’s Attorney Smirga reported that the Training Committee will meet prior to next month’s meeting. The Annual Professional Development Conference for Prosecutors will be held on June 14, 2018, at Central Connecticut State University. Each Judicial District is asked to provide at least four hours of training on either June 11 or June 13 in addition to the conference.

State’s Attorney Mahoney distributed results of a DCJ survey she conducted with assistance from Information Technology Analyst 3 Janette Sniffin on the prosecution of sexual assault cases.

There being no further business, State’s Attorney McShane made a motion to adjourn. State’s Attorney Shepack seconded the motion and it passed without opposition. The meeting was adjourned at 2:45 p.m.