Chief State’s Attorney’s Meeting

Minutes of the Meeting of September 17, 2018
Office of the Chief State’s Attorney
Rocky Hill, Connecticut

Chief State’s Attorney Kevin T. Kane called the meeting to order at 12:46 p.m.

In attendance were: Deputy Chief State’s Attorneys Kevin D. Lawlor and John J. Russotto; State’s Attorneys Richard J. Colangelo, Jr. (Stamford/Norwalk), Michael A. Gailor (Middlesex), Matthew C. Gedansky (Tolland); Patrick J. Griffin (New Haven), Gail P. Hardy (Hartford); Maureen Platt (Waterbury), Brian W. Preleski (New Britain), Michael L. Regan (New London); Stephen J. Sedensky III (Danbury), David Shepack (Litchfield) and Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorneys C. Robert Satti, Jr., (Fairfield) and Mark A. Stabile (Windham).

Also present: legislative liaison Wilfred Blanchette, Jr., and Communications and Legislative Specialist Mark A. Dupuis.

State’s Attorney Gailor made a motion to accept the minutes of the August 27, 2018, meeting. State’s Attorney Sedensky seconded the motion and it passed with no opposition.

State’s Attorney Hardy reported on concerns expressed by the Department of Children and Families and school superintendents concerning mandated reporter laws (Connecticut General Statutes Sec. 17a-101 et. seq.). Representatives from DCF will be invited to a future meeting to give a presentation to the State’s Attorneys.

Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Lawlor reported on a grant award for post-conviction review of cases involving hair analysis evidence. John Waddock, retired Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney at Part A, New Haven, will be reviewing cases with the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection Forensic Science Laboratory and the Connecticut Innocence Project. The State’s Attorneys will be notified which cases in their Judicial Districts will be reviewed.

Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Lawlor reported on concerns with the procedures utilized by the Connecticut State Police to provide investigative reports to the State’s Attorneys.  Chief State’s Attorney Kane will follow up with the State Police command.

State’s Attorney Sedensky reported on the Governor’s Task Force on Justice for Abused Children and the Finding Words training program. Changes are anticipated in the organization of the Task Force and the Finding Words committee. The Finding Words program planned for November is now in doubt. Chief State’s Attorney Kane will pursue the matter further with the Department of Children and Families (DCF) Commissioner.

State’s Attorney Gailor reported that work is progressing on the draft Ethical Guidelines for Prosecutors.

Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto reported that the University of Connecticut Department of Public Policy will conduct a training program at the November meeting on the development of strategic business plans.

Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto distributed information on the Division’s budget submissions to the Office of Policy and Management for the 2019-2021 biennial budget. Information on Geographical Area (G.A.) caseloads was distributed; Part A data will be distributed before the next meeting. Those State’s Attorneys who have not submitted their requests for filling vacancies are asked to do so. Consideration should be given to filling vacancies with employees assigned to split working hours between more than one location if appropriate. Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Lawlor reported that the Division will post openings for a prosecutor and Supervisory Inspector for the Cold Case Unit and a Supervisory Inspector for the Statewide Prosecution Bureau. A report developed in Bridgeport for documenting Part A workload was distributed and explained by Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Satti.

Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto distributed the new assignments for the State’s Attorneys’ advisory committees. The next training program for supervisors will be held on October 11 and will include presentations on procedural justice and management topics.

State’s Attorney Gailor asked those State’s Attorneys who have yet to submit information on human trafficking investigations and prosecutions to do so for the annual report required of the Division. State’s Attorney Gailor will email the State’s Attorneys with information about the “rapid DNA” system now being developed.

Chief State’s Attorney Kane expressed the appreciation of the State’s Attorneys to State’s Attorney Sedensky for his long service with the Governor’s Task Force on Justice for Abused Children and the Finding Words program.

There being no further business, State’s Attorney Colangelo made a motion to adjourn and the meeting adjourned at 2:17 p.m.