FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Rocky Hill, CT) - The Division of Criminal Justice on June 13, 2024 held its annual prosecutor training conference at the Sheraton Hartford-South Hotel in Rocky Hill that included instruction and discussion of various timely and critical topics for prosecutors’ professional development.
Presenters included Connecticut Supreme Court Chief Justice Richard A. Robinson, Yale University Police Department Chief Anthony Campbell, Dr. James R. Gill, Chief Medical Examiner for the State of Connecticut, Sarah P. Karwan, legal counsel to the Commissioner of the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP), Cheryl Carreiro, Deputy Director of Forensic Biology and DNA at DESPP’s Division of Scientific Services and Jessica Gleba, Chemical Analysis Section Assistant Director of DESPP.
Training topics included effective community engagement for prosecutors, implicit bias and jury selection, current issues surrounding Connecticut’s “Clean Slate” law and the forensic pathology of gunshot wounds in homicide investigations. Members of the Division also provided hiring and legal updates during the training conference.
“Prosecutors across Connecticut every day bear the tremendous responsibility of seeking justice while representing the interests of victims, defendants and the communities they serve, all while balancing caseloads and busy work schedules,” Chief State’s Attorney Patrick J. Griffin said. “It’s important for the Division to have a day for prosecutors to not only focus on professional development but also to gather together in person to meet new prosecutors, reconnect with longtime colleagues and collectively share ideas.”
The annual training for prosecutors is part of series of training initiatives offered by Chief State’s Attorney Griffin and the thirteen State’s Attorneys through the Division’s Office of Ethics and Professional Standards, headed by Executive Assistant State’s Attorney Lisa M. D’Angelo. The Office directs the development, implementation and evaluation of updated ethical and professional standards for the Division and runs a comprehensive program of in-service staff development and training for prosecutors, inspectors and other Division staff, as well as training for law enforcement officers throughout Connecticut.
Other presenters at this year’s annual training included Division members John J. Russotto, Deputy Chief State’s Attorney of Administration, Personnel and Finance, Assistant State’s Attorney Timothy J. Sugrue and Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Jacqueline P. McMahon.
On June 10, 2024, the Division hosted a training initiative at the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney in Rocky Hill on such topic as petitions for new trials, bail and pretrial services, special considerations in intimate partner violence cases and violence intervention and prevention strategies. Those in attendance also heard a panel discussion about the criminal court process from the perspective of domestic violence survivors.
Training sessions also were held this week in Judicial Districts throughout the state.