NCJ Number
93484
Date Published
Unknown
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This report reviews two sets of issues: the selection and appointment of Connecticut's State's Attorneys and the administration of the Division of Criminal Justice.
Abstract
Currently, the judiciary in Connecticut selects prosecutors. The Chief Justice appoints the Chief State's Attorney and the Deputy Chief State's Attorney. A committee of resident judges appoints prospective candidates to fill the positions of State's Attorney, Assistant State's Attorney, and Deputy State's Attorney within each judicial district. Of all the States, Connecticut alone retains this 18th century practice of having judges make prosecutorial appointments. In most States, similar positions are elective. The judiciary also has significant responsibility for several key administrative functions in the Division of Criminal Justice, which comprises the office of Chief State's Attorney and the State's Attorneys in the judicial districts. Basic personnel administration, collective bargaining, and fiscal control are not within the administrative authority of the Division. They are the responsibility of judges, and their administrative staff is in the Judicial Department. The extent of judiciary involvement in the administrative affairs of the Division of Criminal Justice, and judicial involvement in prosecutorial appointment, give rise to several concerns, primarily having to do with neutrality, accountability, relationships among these offices, quality, and uniformity. Consequently, the Citizens Crime Commission of Connecticut recommends that these procedures for selecting State's Attorneys change. Specific, job-related employment standards and criteria are necessary to guide the selection process for these State's Attorneys. First, however, an organizational and management study of the Division of Criminal Justice is needed. Nine notes and a two-item bibliography are included.