Chief State’s Attorney Meeting
Minutes of the Meeting of March 6, 2024
Office of the Chief State's Attorney
300 Corporate Place
Rocky Hill, Connecticut
The meeting was called to order at 12:54 p.m. by Deputy Chief State’s Attorney of Administration, Personnel and Finance John J. Russotto. Chief State's Attorney Griffin was absent due to his testimony at the March 6, 2024 public hearing before the Judiciary Committee regarding H.B. No. 5055, An Act Strengthening Police Data Reporting Requirements, which was scheduled at the same time as the Chief State's Attorney Meeting. Also present: Deputy Chief State’s Attorney of Operations Kevin Lawlor; 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. Ferencek (Stamford/Norwalk), Michael A. Gailor (Middlesex), Matthew C. Gedansky (Tolland) and Maureen T. Platt (Waterbury).
Also present: Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Jacqueline P. McMahon on behalf of State's Attorney Anne F. Mahoney (Windham), and Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Vincent Duva, Executive Assistant State’s Attorney Gail P. Hardy, Manager of Research and Planning Kyle Baudoin, Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Timothy J. Sugrue, and Marisa DePhillips, Executive Secretary to the Chief State’s Attorney.
State’s Attorney Gailor moved to accept the minutes of the February 7, 2024 meeting. State’s Attorney Platt seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Guests from the Office of Victim Services – Director Mary Kozicki, Deputy Director Marc Pelka and Program Manager Jodi L. Chouinard – met with the State’s Attorneys to discuss the work of the office and to inquire about how their office can better serve victims in each of the Judicial Districts. Following their presentation, the Deputy Chief State’s Attorneys and State’s Attorneys thanked OVS for their time and willingness to work with the Division on behalf of victims.
Deputy Chief State's Attorney Lawlor and Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Duva said the state’s juvenile prosecutors met recently to discuss the prosecution of juvenile motor vehicle thefts across the state’s Judicial Districts and the interpretation of the laws regarding such thefts.
Regarding the budget, Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto said the Division met recently with a subcommittee of the legislature’s Appropriations Committee to discuss the Division’s requests for more resources for the Early Screening and Intervention Program and for personnel to review the many hours of body-worn camera footage used in investigations now that police departments are required by state law to use the cameras. He said the Division is submitting additional data regarding the requests to the subcommittee for review. Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto also said a forensic nurse may be added to the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit per a recommendation by federal authorities.
Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto reported that the next meeting of the Criminal Justice Commission would be on March 7 when the Commission is expected to interview prospective Deputy Assistant State’s Attorney candidates for the Windham Judicial District. There will also be a Commission meeting on April 4.
Executive Assistant State’s Attorney Hardy provided an update on the Division’s stepped-up recruitment of prosecutors and candidates for the upcoming summer internship program. Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto said the robust recruiting efforts have helped raise the profile of the Division.
Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto discussed the upcoming National District Attorneys Association summer summit dedicated to exploring the topic of “The Prosecutor’s Blueprint to Safeguard Victims and Elevate Their Voices through Enhanced Prosecution, Protection, and Prevention Strategies.” The event will be held in Boise, Idaho.
Regarding legislative matters, Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Sugrue reported that Chief State’s Attorney Griffin was testifying at the March 6 public hearing before the Judiciary Committee regarding H.B. No. 5055, An Act Strengthening Police Data Reporting Requirements.
Executive Assistant State’s Attorney Hardy discussed the recent meeting of the Family Domestic Violence Criminal Justice Response and Enhancement Advisory Council where she serves as Chief State’s Attorney Griffin’s designee.
In other business, Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto said there would be more testing in March for the Case Management System and that State’s Attorneys would soon receive reminders about ensuring employees complete their Criminal Justice Information Services security and privacy training.
There being no further business, a motion to adjourn was made by State’s Attorney Walcott and seconded by State’s Attorney Kelley. The meeting was adjourned at 2:30 p.m.