Commonwealth’s Attorneys’ Services Council

Sound of Silence (Child Abuse)
2020-09-27 - 2020-10-02 | Hotel 24 South, Staunton, VA, United States
CASC is offering an intensive 5-day training for 10 prosecutor/law enforcement/cps teams on investigating and prosecuting child abuse. This course will cover child disclosure issues, investigation and prosecution strategies, working as an MDT, identifying abusive injuries, vicarious trauma and more. The program is free. Lodging for attendees whose offices are more than twenty-five miles from the training site and parking will be provided, and meals will be reimbursed at state per diem rates. Mileage is NOT covered and will be the attendee’s responsibility.
Space is limited to 10 teams. Teams are to be comprised of one prosecutor, one investigator and one child protective services worker from the same jurisdiction.
ACCEPTANCE IS BY APPLICATION ONLY. Upon completion of the online registration you will receive an emailed confirmation which includes a link to download the application to be completed and returned to CASC.
For more information, contact Nancy Oglesby at noglesby@wm.edu or 757-943-9753.

Trauma to Trial
2020-10-05 - 2020-10-09 | Hotel 24 South, Staunton, VA, United States
CASC again is offering an intensive 5-day training for 12 prosecutor/law enforcement teams on the topic of investigating and prosecuting adult non-stranger sexual assaults. Learn how to keep your victim on board through trial. Learn how to get the evidence you need to overcome the consent defense. Find out the real truth about false reports. The program is free. Lodging for attendees whose offices are more than twenty-five miles from the training site and parking will be provided and meals will be reimbursed at state per diem rates. Mileage is NOT covered and will be the attendee’s responsibility.
Space is limited to 12 teams. Teams are to be comprised of one prosecutor and one investigator from the same jurisdiction. Since there have been substantial changes to the content of this course, anyone who attended prior to 2014 may re-apply if they wish to attend again.
ACCEPTANCE IS BY APPLICATION ONLY. Upon completion of the online registration a link to download an application will be emailed to both team members to be completed and returned to CASC, NO LATER THAN MAY 22, 2020 to be considered for acceptance into this training.
Registration for Trauma to Trial is now closed.

Webinar: Cognitive and Implicit Bias
2020-10-22 13:00 - 14:30 (America/New_York) | Online, ONLINE
“Bias: What You Don’t Know Can Hurt Others.”
This webinar presented by Jarvis Parsons will delve into both cognitive and implicit bias. Mr. Parsons is the elected District Attorney in Brazos County, Texas. Speaking from a prosecutor’s perspective, Mr. Parsons will discuss several topics such as confirmation bias and how personal perceptions of individuals affect our work and the choices we make. He discusses the importance of prosecutors consistently evaluating how we make decisions in the areas of charging, prosecution and sentencing and will share current research in this area. Mr. Jarvis will also share some of his personal background which lays a foundation for his passion in this area.
Click here to register by 5pm October 21, 2020

Council Meeting
2020-11-04 12:00 - 13:00, 2020-12-02 09:00, 2021-02-16 11:00, 2021-04-11 13:00, 2021-05-05 12:00 | Conference Call, Conference Call, United States

Murder One: Basic Homicide Prosecution
2020-11-08 - 2020-11-11 | Hotel 24 South, Staunton, VA, United States
A four-day training program for approximately 30 prosecutors on essential homicide prosecution skills to include Ethics: Discovery, Exculpatory Evidence. The training will cover all aspects of preparing and trying a successful homicide case from voir dire to closing argument. Emphasis will be on investigations and working with witnesses, evidence gathering and presentation, preparation of expert witnesses and forensics as well as meeting common defenses including alibi, NGRI, misidentifications, causation of death and self-defense.
Lodging at the Stonewall Jackson Hotel, Staunton (for attendees whose offices are more than twenty-five miles from the venue) and all meals, will be provided or reimbursed but mileage to and from the program will not covered.
For more information, contact Elliott J. Casey at ejcasey@wm.edu or 757-585-4370.
Registration for Murder One is full!

Trial Advocacy Program
2020-11-08 - 2020-11-13 | Fort Magruder Hotel, Williamsburg, VA
The Trial Advocacy Program scheduled for November 8-13, 2020 has been cancelled. The Program will be offered June 13-18, 2021, registration will open in spring of 2021.

The Trial Advocacy Program is an intensive five-day program offered for Commonwealth’s Attorneys and their Assistants at all levels of experience, offering approximately 25 CLE hours. Attendees spend approximately 8 hours at lectures and demonstrations given by prosecutors and physicians covering medical, legal and tactical aspects of the prosecution of child abusers, focusing on abusive head trauma cases. The remaining time is spent in small workshop groups discussing and practicing case analysis, trial strategy, opening statements, direct examination, cross-examination and closing argument in the context of a hypothetical abusive head trauma case. Attendees will be assigned to workshop groups. Wednesday afternoon is free time. Classes are held at the William and Mary Law School and lodging is provided for students whose offices are more than 25 miles from the training venue. Attendance is limited to 40 students. All meals are provided or reimbursed at the state per diem rate. Travel to and from the training is not covered.
ACCEPTANCE IS BY APPLICATION ONLY. Upon completion of the online registration a link to download an application will be emailed to you to be completed and returned to CASC.
For more information, contact Larry Martin at Lamar3@wm.edu

Murder Two: Advanced Homicide Prosecution
2020-11-11 - 2020-11-14 | Hotel 24 South, Staunton, VA, United States
A four-day training program for approximately 25 prosecutors on advanced homicide prosecution skills to include Ethics: Discovery, Exculpatory Evidence. The training will examine difficult challenges in homicide cases, including child homicides, multi-defendant cases, no-body and cold cases. This training will also examine advanced issues such as mental health defenses and capital cases. Previous attendance at one of CASC’s Homicide programs is a pre-requisite, unless CASC permission is granted.
Lodging at the Stonewall Jackson Hotel, Staunton (for attendees whose offices are more than twenty-five miles from the venue) and all meals will be provided or reimbursed, but mileage to and from the program will not covered.
For more information, contact Elliott J. Casey at ejcasey@wm.edu or 757-585-4370.
Registration for Murder Two: Advanced Homicide Prosecution is full.

Executive Program
2020-12-02 - 2020-12-03 | Online, ONLINE
The Executive Program is a training seminar devoted to management issues, with attendance restricted to the 120 elected Commonwealth’s Attorneys and management level attorneys. The program addresses leadership skills, office management, case management, employment practices and personnel issues, police relations, press and public relations and other topics important to prosecutors in leadership positions. The VACA annual meeting will be held on Friday, December 4.
For more information, contact Elliott J. Casey at ejcasey@wm.edu or 757-585-4370.
Click here to register for the Executive Program by 5PM December 2, 2020.

CASC Finance Committee Meeting
2020-12-17 10:00 - 11:00 | Conference Call, Conference Call, United States

Webinar: Threats on Social Media
2021-01-21 14:00 - 15:30 | Online, ONLINE
Instructor: Jonathan Holbrook,
Jonathan Holbrook joined the UNC Chapel Hill School of Government in 2017 as the School’s first-ever Prosecutor Educator. Jonathan previously worked as a prosecutor for nearly ten years, both in state court with the Wake County District Attorney’s Office and in federal court with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina. Jonathan earned his B.A. from Northwestern University, and his J.D. with Honors from UNC Chapel Hill School of Law. Jonathan writes and updates legal entries for NC PRO, the new online criminal procedure resource for North Carolina prosecutors, as well as the NC Criminal Law Blog, and he provides assistance, consultation, and training to prosecutors on a wide variety of issues.
Session Description:
The use of social media has exploded in recent years, and nearly 70% of U.S. adults now report using social media for around 2 hours each day. As recent events have starkly illustrated, this makes social media one of the most common platforms for everything from humor to political discussion to dangerous threats. Prosecutors must be able to identify and distinguish protected speech from “true threats” that violate the law. This presentation uses precedent from the U.S. Supreme Court and Virginia appellate courts to explain the key factors that separate free speech from threats on social media, and uses examples pulled from the case law to apply those factors to real-world scenarios and discuss why they would or would not constitute a “true threat.”
This webinar is open to Virginia prosecutors.
Click here to register by 5pm January 20, 2021

Council Meeting
2021-01-26 11:00 | Truist Place, 12th Floor, Richmond, VA

Advanced DUI Training for Law Enforcement and Prosecutors
2021-02-02 - 2021-02-04 | Online, ONLINE
The February 2021 Advanced DUI Online Program will be held Tuesday, February 2nd at 9:00 a.m. through Thursday, February 4th at 2:45 p.m. Topics to be covered during this intensive training include Investigative Stops, Checkpoints, Blood Testing Issues, and DUI Manslaughter.
This program is open to Virginia prosecutors and law enforcement.
For more information, contact Jake Lambert at jrlambert@wm.edu or 757-775-2799.
Click here to register: Advanced DUI Training 2021
This program is offered twice per year. The next Advanced DUI Training will take place in August 2021.

Red Flag: Touch of Grey - Elder Financial and Insurance Fraud
2021-02-08 - 2021-02-11 | Online, ONLINE
This program, which is part of our annual program in partnership with the Virginia State Police and the Virginia insurance industry, will focus on elder financial and insurance fraud. It will feature speakers from multiple disciplines, including expert prosecutors, law enforcement officers, and insurance special investigators, and feature instruction by Paul Greenwood, a nationally-recognized prosecutor and instructor who presented at our 2020 annual summer conference to rave reviews.
Topics will include many aspects of elder fraud and financial abuse, including fraud law, construction fraud, ethics, obtaining financial records and working with financial institutions, social media investigations, and effective interviews and interrogations.
This program is open to Virginia prosecutors, Virginia State Police, and Virginia insurance SIU investigators. There is a 28 person limit for this program.
For more information, contact Elliott Casey at ejcasey@wm.edu.
Click here to register for this program.

Webinar: Social Media Evidence: Authenticating and Admitting
2021-02-11 14:00 - 15:30 | Online, ONLINE
Instructor: Jonathan Holbrook,
Jonathan Holbrook joined the UNC Chapel Hill School of Government in 2017 as the School’s first-ever Prosecutor Educator. Jonathan previously worked as a prosecutor for nearly ten years, both in state court with the Wake County District Attorney’s Office and in federal court with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina. Jonathan earned his B.A. from Northwestern University, and his J.D. with Honors from UNC Chapel Hill School of Law. Jonathan writes and updates legal entries for NC PRO, the new online criminal procedure resource for North Carolina prosecutors, as well as the NC Criminal Law Blog, and he provides assistance, consultation, and training to prosecutors on a wide variety of issues.
Session Description:
Threatening messages, damaging admissions, incriminating photos – prosecutors know how valuable social media evidence can be in a criminal trial. But as the technology advances and new platforms emerge, it’s not always clear what the requirements are for authenticating and admitting this type of evidence. This presentation offers a simple framework for approaching all social media evidence based on how and where it was obtained, whether found online or downloaded from a server, and then works through the best answers to the most common defense objections to admitting the evidence. This presentation also discusses relevant Virginia case law and applies the rules and arguments in context to illustrate how this approach is applied successfully to each type of evidence.
This webinar is open to Virginia prosecutors.
Click here to register by 5pm February 10, 2021

Investigation and Prosecution of Intimate Partner Violence ("Guns and Roses")
2021-02-15 - 2021-02-18 | Online, ONLINE
CASC is offering an intensive 4-day training for Virginia prosecutors and law enforcement on investigating and prosecuting intimate partner violence. This course will cover IPV dynamics, investigation and prosecution strategies, strangulation, prosecuting cases with uncooperative victims, forfeiture by wrongdoing and more.
For more information, contact Nancy Oglesby at noglesby@wm.edu or 757-943-9753.
Click here to register for this program.

Webinar: Daylight Search Warrant Requirement - 2021 Change to Virginia Law
2021-02-17 14:00 - 15:30 | Online, ONLINE
The Virginia General Assembly amended Va. Code § 19.2-56 during the Special Session in 2021 to limit search warrant service to the “daytime.” This amendment, which takes effect March 1, 2021, has raised several questions from law enforcement. Join our webinar, where we will address questions like: “To what warrants does this apply?” “What is “daytime?” “What about warrants for phones?” What about warrants for electronic or financial records?” “How do we obtain a judicial authorization to serve a warrant after dark?”.
This webinar is open to Virginia prosecutors and law-enforcement. There will be no MCLE or PIC-3 credit, this webinar is for information only.
Click here to register by 5pm February 16, 2021

Prosecutor Bootcamp: A Comprehensive Training for the New Prosecutor
2021-02-22 - 2021-02-25 | Online, ONLINE
A 4 day intensive training for the new prosecutor. This program is open to Virginia prosecutors with three years or less experience. Specific topics to be covered include trial skills, evidentiary issues, practice in General District and Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, work-life balance, and legal writing, among others.
For more information, contact Nancy Oglesby at noglesby@wm.edu or 757-943-9753.
Click here to register for this program.

Webinar: Criminalizing Bystanders and Enablers
2021-03-03 13:00 - 14:30 | Online, ONLINE
Instructor: Amos N. Guiora,
Amos N. Guiora is Professor of Law at the S.J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah. He is actively involved in bystander legislation efforts in Utah and other states around the country.
Professor Guiora has an A.B. in history from Kenyon College, a J.D. from Case Western Reserve University School of Law, and a Ph.D from Leiden University. He has published extensively both in the United States and Europe on issues related to national security, limits of interrogation, religion and terrorism, the limits of power, multiculturalism, and human rights.
His books include Armies of Enablers: Survivor Stories of Complicity and Betrayal in Sexual Assaults (2020); Five Words That Changed America: Miranda v. Arizona and the Right to Remain Silent (2020); Populist and Islamist Challenges for International Law (2019); The Crime of Complicity: The Bystander in the Holocaust (2017); Earl Warren, Ernesto Miranda and Terrorism (2018); Tolerating Intolerance: The Price of Protecting Extremism (2014); and Freedom from Religion: Rights and National Security (2009).
Professor Guiora is a Distinguished Fellow at The Consortium for the Research and Study of Holocaust and the Law (CRSHL), Chicago-Kent College of Law, and a Distinguished Fellow and Counselor at the International Center for Conflict Resolution, Katz School of Business, University of Pittsburgh.
Session Description:
Professor Guiora’s presentation is based on his interviews with survivors of sexual assault from USA Gymnastics, Michigan State University, Ohio State University, and the Catholic Church, plus thousands of pages of Grand Jury indictments, civil lawsuits, criminal prosecutions, special reports, and media accounts. As in his book Armies of Enablers: Survivor Stories of Complicity and Betrayal in Sexual Assaults, he focuses not on what the sexual predators did to them, but on how the institutions and individuals allowed it to happen.
He will discuss the criminalization of bystanders and enablers, which reflects recognition that failure to aggressively prosecute those who acted by not acting ensures perpetrators will continue to act with impunity and immunity. That is the direct consequence of failing to act on behalf of survivors. In advocating criminalization of bystanders-enablers, the underlying premise is that they owe a duty to the person in peril. Efforts to protect require penalizing all those who directly and indirectly contributed to that harm. It is for that reason that criminalizing the bystander-enabler is warranted.
This webinar is open to Virginia prosecutors, law enforcement and victim witness advocates housed in a police department or Commonwealth’s Attorneys’ office
Click here to register by 5pm March 2, 2021

I.M.P.A.C.T., Training for the Juvenile & Domestic Relations Prosecutor: Initiating Meaningful Prosecution at Critical Times
2021-03-08 - 2021-03-09 | Online, ONLINE
A two day intensive training for Virginia J&DR prosecutors. The program focuses on juvenile court practice & procedure and dealing with juvenile delinquency. Specific topics to be covered include juvenile brain development, juvenile trials & sentencing options, DJJ length of stay guidelines, substance abuse and juveniles, transfer/certification issues, juvenile sex-offenders and competency issues. Registration for this program closes at 5 p.m. on March 3, 2021.
For more information, contact Nancy Oglesby at noglesby@wm.edu or 757-943-9753.
Registration for this program is now closed.

Spring Institute 2021
2021-04-12 - 2021-04-14 | Online, ONLINE
The Spring Institute program agenda is a multi-track continuing legal education program offering up to 18 hours of live MCLE credits, emphasizing ethics, recent legislative enactments, recent judicial decisions, current developments in criminal law. Attendance is open to all Virginia prosecutors.
For more information, contact Elliott J. Casey at ejcasey@wm.edu or 757-585-4370.
Click here to register for 2021 Spring Institute by 5:00 PM, April 9, 2021

Webinar: Bias - The Sinkhole of Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Cases
2021-04-26 13:00 - 14:30 | Online, ONLINE
Presenter: Marlesse Jones
Marlesse Jones is the Utah Prosecution Council Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Resource Prosecutor for Utah. Her career includes 911 dispatcher, paralegal, and victim advocate. She obtained a bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Weber State University (2002). Marlesse established and ran the Layton Victim Services program, responding to domestic violence, sexual assault, suicide, and homicide scenes to provide crisis intervention and liaison support to survivors throughout the investigative and prosecution process. Marlesse graduated from the University of Utah, S.J. Quinney College of Law with a juris doctorate degree in 2011. She prosecuted in the District Court, Layton Department for seven years. In January 2018 Marlesse joined Utah Prosecution Council.
Marlesse served as a former Chair of the Second District Victim Rights Committee and the Davis County Coalition. Currently she is Vice-Chair of the Utah Crime Victims Council, and a member of the Sexual Violence Advisory Council, the Domestic Violence Advisory Council, and the Crime Victims Conference Committee. Marlesse has been training throughout Utah for many years on victim issues and due to her past experiences brings a unique perspective to working with the various professionals in the criminal justice system.
Session Description:
This presentation seeks to create a greater self-awareness of our bias(es) in domestic violence and sex crime cases. We all bring to prosecution expertise, education, and life experience. But what if some of what we know is more historical than accurate, more comfort zone than truth, more limited than complete? How does this affect our assessment and prosecution of cases? How do we do better in seeking the justice that we work so hard to secure? This presentation will explore bias, how it impacts our thinking, and how to challenge those thinking habits to flush out unconscious biases. And to get started, it will discuss a number of common areas where you may have bias and perhaps not even be aware of it…yet.
This webinar is open to Virginia prosecutors.
Click here to register by 5pm April 23, 2021

Rolling Stoned: DRE for Prosecutors - ONLINE
2021-05-10 - 2021-05-11 | Online, ONLINE
CASC is excited to bring back Rolling Stoned: DRE for Prosecutors – ONLINE. This program will cover everything you need to know about the Drug Recognition Expert program, including an introduction to the DRE evaluation, an in-depth discussion of the seven (7) drug categories, how to qualify your DRE as an expert witness, and more! This program will run from 10:00 a.m. May 10 through 4:30 p.m. May 11, 2021. This training is open to Virginia prosecutors only. MCLE credits will be applied for.
Click here to register by 5pm May 7, 2021

DUID Training for Law Enforcement and Prosecutors
2021-05-19 | Online, ONLINE
Registration is now open for the first two (2) of six (6) DUID for Virginia Prosecutors and Law Enforcementprograms. The first training will be held on May 19, 2021 and the second will be held June 7, 2021. Both will be presented via Zoom. This program includes everything you need to know about investigating and prosecuting a DUID case – and specifically includes information about cannabis impaired driving – which is becoming increasingly important. This training is open to Virginia prosecutors and law enforcement. The training will run from 8:15 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.on both dates. MCLE and PIC-3 credits will be applied for.

DUID ONLINE May 19, 2021: Click here to register.

DUID ONLINE June 7, 2021: Click here to register.

Dates and locations for the remaining four (4) DUID programs will be announced soon! For more information, contact Jake Lambert at jrlambert@wm.edu or 757-598-3373

Introduction to Drug Investigation and Prosecution Presented by the TOP GUN Faculty
2021-05-24 - 2021-05-26 | Online, ONLINE
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, the 2021 TOP GUN training has been cancelled. However, CASC is pleased to be offering in its place Introduction to Drug Investigation and Prosecution Presented by the TOP GUN Faculty, an online program. Topics to be covered include the latest developments in the law, the criminal practices used, and the latest illegal drug types and their usage. This program is open to all Virginia prosecutors and law enforcement, and there is no application necessary to attend. The program will be held Monday, May 24 through Wednesday, May 26 and run from 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. each day. Should you have any questions, please contact Jake Lambert at jrlambert@wm.edu or 757-598-3373.
Click here to register by 5pm May 21, 2021

Webinar: Changes in FOIA Law for 2021 for Prosecutor and Law Enforcement Records
2021-05-25 10:00 - 11:00 | Online, ONLINE
In 2021, the Virginia General Assembly created a new section, Va. Code § 2.2-3706.1 that makes criminal incident information and criminal investigative files subject to FOIA, including reports, notes, electronic communications, and any documents, for a criminal investigation or proceeding that is “not ongoing.” This amendment, which takes effect July 1, 2021, has raised several questions from prosecutors and law enforcement. Join our webinar, where we will address questions like: “What does the word ‘ongoing’ mean?” “What exceptions are available?” “What if the information is protected by another statute?” “What about victim photos, interviews, or physical examinations?” “What if a file is thousands or tens of thousands of pages large?”.
This webinar is open to Virginia prosecutors and law-enforcement. There will be no MCLE or PIC-3 credit, this webinar is for information only.
Click here to register by noon on May 24, 2021

Webinar: Probation Violations: 2021 Change to Virginia Law
2021-05-27 14:00 - 16:00 | Online, ONLINE
In 2021, the Virginia General Assembly enacted an extensive change to Virginia law regarding Probation Revocation procedure and consequences. These changes, which will take effect July 1, 2021, have raised several questions from prosecutors. Join our webinar, where we will address questions like: “What are the limits on sentencing for multiple offenses? “What is a “technical violation”, versus “absconding”? “Are these changes retroactive?” “What happens to out-of-state probationers?” “What happens if your probation office does not act until after multiple “technical violations”?”
This webinar is open to Virginia prosecutors only. There will be no MCLE credits, this webinar is for information only.
Click here to register by noon on May 26, 2021
