Chief State’s Attorney Meeting

Via Teams Meeting

Minutes of the Meeting of February 7, 2024

The meeting was called to order at 12:42 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 Lawlor; Deputy Chief State’s Attorney, Inspector General Robert J. Devlin, Jr.; State’s Attorneys Margaret E. Kelley (Ansonia/Milford), David R. Applegate (Danbury),  Sharmese L. Walcott (Hartford), David R. Shannon (Litchfield), Christian M. Watson (New Britain), John P. Doyle, Jr. (New Haven), Paul J. Narducci (New London), Paul J. Ferencek (Stamford/Norwalk), Matthew C. Gedansky (Tolland), Anne F. Mahoney (Windham) and Maureen T. Platt (Waterbury).

Also present: Executive Assistant State’s Attorneys Kathryn W. Bare and Brett J. Salafia; Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney David Kutzner; Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Timothy J. Sugrue, and Marisa DePhillips, Executive Secretary to the Chief State’s Attorney.

State’s Attorney Doyle moved to accept the minutes of the January 10, 2024 meeting. State’s Attorney Kelley seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

Deputy Chief State's Attorney Russotto reported that representatives from the Division would not be testifying publicly regarding budget matters but that the Appropriations Committee would likely convene smaller subcommittees or working groups that would be used by legislators to get answers from the Division about budgetary issues.

Chief State's Attorney Griffin provided an update on the Criminal Justice Commission, saying that from May 2022 to February 1, 2024, the Criminal Justice Commission has met 18 times, hiring 47 new, full-time prosecutors. Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto reported that at the March 7 meeting, the Commission would interview Deputy Assistant State’s Attorney candidates for the Windham Judicial District. He said there are currently 10 vacant prosecutor positions, three openings for Inspectors and six open clerical positions. Chief State’s Attorney Griffin reported that 19 percent of the recent prosecutor hires were diverse selections. The breakdown includes 16 white males, 22 white females, four black females, one black male, one Hispanic male, two Hispanic females and one Asian female.

Regarding Legislative Matters, Chief State's Attorney Griffin said the Division recently met with legislators, including members of the judiciary and housing committees, about proposed legislation in the Division’s legislative package. Chief State’s Attorney Griffin also reported that the governor’s office reached out to the Division about proposed legislation regarding the intentional falsification of records by police officers and the reporting of those incidents to the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney when there is evidence an officer may have broken the law. The legislative recommendations were made following the conclusion of an investigation the governor commissioned to look into the actions of Connecticut State Police regarding the reporting of racial profiling data.

Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto and State’s Attorney Mahoney reported on a training opportunity in North Carolina for prosecutors.

There being no further business, a motion to adjourn was made by State’s Attorney Corradino and seconded by State’s Attorney Kelley. The meeting was adjourned at 1:39 p.m.