Nearly 15 Years Later: Reviewing Maureen Platt’s Tenure as Waterbury’s Top Prosecutor

WATERBURY — Maureen T. Platt has held the office of State’s Attorney for the Judicial District of Waterbury since 2011, making her one of Connecticut’s longest-serving chief prosecutors. Appointed by the state’s Criminal Justice Commission, Platt oversees prosecutions in Waterbury and surrounding towns including Middlebury, Naugatuck, Prospect, Southbury, Watertown, Wolcott and Woodbury.

Over the past decade and a half, her office has handled a wide array of serious felony cases—violent crimes, narcotics, domestic violence and more. Many of those sentenced under her watch have since returned to the community and—by many accounts—some have returned to the justice system again.

That track record raises a fundamental question for residents and policymakers: Is nearly fifteen years in one of the state’s most powerful prosecutorial seats long enough before new leadership and a fresh approach are considered?

Are CT Laws Allowing Crime? The Waterbury Times Archive article

Context: Recidivism in Connecticut

Publicly available data for the state of Connecticut show that recidivism remains a significant challenge:

• At the state level, for those released from the custody of the Connecticut Department of Correction (DOC), approximately 38 % were arrested on a new charge within 12 months, about 57 % within 24 months, and roughly 65 % within 36 months.
• For Waterbury’s judicial district specifically, however, data are far less complete. One re-entry study for the city of Waterbury reported that in one cohort the 12-month conviction rate for new charges was 17.8 %, though the authors cautioned that tracking limitations (mobility of released persons, case type differences) mean this figure may under-represent the full “return to system” picture.

Waterbury Crime Central – News & Updates

Implications for the Office of the State’s Attorney

Platt’s office wields power over which cases are charged, how plea bargains are structured, and what sentencing recommendations are made. These decisions shape the community’s criminal justice outcomes and influence repeat offending and community safety.

With the persistent challenge of recidivism—and signs that established re-entry supports in Waterbury (such as the city’s Project Longevity initiative) are only now gaining traction—it is reasonable to ask whether longstanding leadership at the top of the prosecutorial system has allowed for sufficient innovation and responsiveness.

Public defenders, police chiefs and service providers often cycle in and out or are subject to reform and turnover. In contrast, the State’s Attorney position has remained unchanged in this district since 2011.

What’s Next for Waterbury?

As Waterbury continues its ongoing efforts to enhance community safety, improve court processing and support effective re-entry, the question emerges: Has the office of the State’s Attorney evolved in step with the city it serves — or remained locked in patterns that feed incarceration and recidivism?

For residents of Waterbury, the question is not just about how long someone holds the office, but about whether the results reflect a system that is adapting and improving. With fifteen years under Platt’s leadership, the time may be right for the community to evaluate whether new leadership and fresh strategies might yield different outcomes.