NEW HAVEN — A new team of prosecutors in New Haven is focusing on sexual assaults in an effort to present stronger cases and make the criminal justice process easier for victims.
The five veteran prosecutors in the Special Crimes Unit have been working for a few weeks. They’re developing protocols for themselves and local police for sexual assault cases from the time a complaint is made to disposition in the court system. The team will handle cases from the 13-town New Haven Judicial District.
New Haven State’s Attorney Patrick Griffin created the team after being sworn into office in July. It’s the first unit of its kind in the state.
FBI data show there were nearly 800 rapes reported in Connecticut last year, but only 33 percent of cases were solved.
