Chief State’s Attorney Meeting
Minutes of the Meeting of August 7, 2024
Office of the Chief State's Attorney
300 Corporate Place
Rocky Hill, Connecticut
The meeting was called to order at 1:12 p.m. by Chief State’s Attorney Patrick J. Griffin.
Also present: Deputy Chief State’s Attorney of Administration, Personnel and Finance John J. Russotto; Deputy Chief State’s Attorney of Operations Kevin D. Lawlor; Deputy Chief State’s Attorney, Inspector General Robert J. Devlin, Jr.; State’s Attorneys Margaret E. Kelley (Ansonia/Milford), Joseph T, Corradino (Bridgeport), David R. Applegate (Danbury), Christian M. Watson (New Britain), John P. Doyle, Jr. (New Haven), Paul J. Ferencek (Stamford/Norwalk), Matthew C. Gedansky (Tolland), Maureen T. Platt (Waterbury) and Anne F. Mahoney (Windham).
Also present: Executive Assistant State’s Attorneys Kathryn W. Bare, Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorneys Robert Diaz and Vincent Duva; Senior Assistant State’s Attorneys Timothy J. Sugrue and Thomas DeLillo; Manager of Research and Planning Kyle Baudoin; Director of Information Technology Naveen Prathikantam; and Marisa DePhillips, Executive Secretary to the Chief State’s Attorney.
State’s Attorney Applegate moved to accept the minutes of the July 10, 2024 meeting. Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Regarding budget matters, Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto provided State’s Attorneys with the Division’s Fiscal Year 2025 allotment schedule. He said there are vacant positions across the Division that are currently in the process of being filled.
Due to a scheduling conflict, Chief State’s Attorney Griffin said the September meeting of the Criminal Justice Commission would be canceled. If a special meeting is not held in its place, he said the next Commission meeting would be October 3.
Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto said the summer intern program that included 38 interns was a huge success and that five of those interns would continue to work at the Division in the fall. He reported that five fellows would be starting at the Division in September.
In regard to legislative matters, Chief State’s Attorney Griffin said a report regarding last year’s work by the Division during the legislative session would be distributed soon.
Chief State’s Attorney Griffin said the second annual Office of the Chief State’s Attorney’s summer youth camp held from July 21 through July 26 was very well-received by students and their parents. During the week of August 5, he said a detective school is being held at the University of New Haven in West Haven. Because of the positive response to the detective school, the Division is planning to hold another detective school in October. Chief State’s Attorney Griffin also reported that a citizens’ academy would be held at the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney in Rocky Hill in September and October. Plans are also underway for training on sexual assault arrest investigations and prosecutions, for the annual John M. Bailey seminar and a Deputy Chief State’s Attorneys “Boot Camp.”
In other business, State’s Attorney Gailor reported that the National District Attorneys Association, concerned about cuts in funding for Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grants that provide vital support to thousands of victim service providers nationwide and essential victim compensation, is asking prosecutors’ offices across the country to help the association call on Congress to prioritize continued funding. State’s Attorney Gailor also reported that the NDAA is offering training seminars in the fall.
There being no further business, a motion to adjourn was made by State’s Attorney Mahoney and seconded by Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Lawlor. The meeting was adjourned at 1:56 p.m.