Sharmese L. Walcott

Sharmese L. Walcott was appointed State’s Attorney for the Judicial District of Hartford by the Criminal Justice Commission in 2020. In this role, she serves as the chief law enforcement officer for the capital city and 18 surrounding communities, overseeing some of Connecticut’s most complex and high‑profile criminal prosecutions. Walcott is also the law enforcement lead and co‑founder of the Regionalized Human Trafficking Recovery Taskforce and an active member of the Trafficking in Persons Council. Her leadership extends to policy and reform efforts, including co‑chairing the Juvenile Justice Policy and Oversight Committee’s Incarceration Workgroup and serving on the Gender Responsiveness Workgroup.

Beyond her prosecutorial responsibilities, Walcott is deeply committed to strengthening community safety and support systems. She collaborates with law enforcement partners, community groups, and statewide organizations to improve responses to sexual assault, domestic violence, and gun violence. Her contributions include work with the Governor’s Council on Women and Girls, the Division of Criminal Justice’s Legislative and Management Committees, and the Commission on the Standardization of Evidence Collection in Sexual Assault Investigations, where she previously served as chair. Through these initiatives, she works to build equitable solutions, enhance victim support, and promote preventive approaches to crime and violence.

Walcott began her career in 2007 with the Division of Criminal Justice in the Danbury Judicial District and later joined the Hartford Judicial District in 2018. She went on to serve as Executive Assistant State’s Attorney in the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney before her appointment to her current position. Her dedication to justice has earned her several honors, including the Theresa Foss Award for advocacy supporting individuals with mental health needs and the Advocacy in Action Award from the Connecticut Alliance for her work addressing sexual‑based offenses. Walcott earned her Bachelor of Arts from Western Connecticut State University and her Juris Doctor from The George Washington University Law School.