Commonwealth’s Attorneys’ Services Council

Prosecutor Bootcamp: A Comprehensive Training for the New Prosecutor
2022-01-31 - 2022-02-04 | –, Richmond, VA
A week-long intensive training for the new prosecutor. This program is open to 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.
Lodging will be provided for attendees whose offices are more than twenty-five miles from the program venue. Meals will be provided or reimbursed, but mileage to and from the program is not covered.
Once you’ve registered, you will receive a confirmation email. This training is limited to 30 students who will be accepted on a first come, first served basis, with a preference for one attendee per jurisdiction. Multiple attendees from the same jurisdiction will be considered if space is available.

For more information, contact Nancy Oglesby at noglesby@wm.edu

Council Meeting
2022-01-25 11:00, 2021-11-03 12:00, 2021-09-22 12:00 (America/New_York) | Richmond, VA

Council Meeting
2021-12-01 14:00 | –, Charlottesville, VA

Executive Program
2021-12-01 - 2021-12-03 | –, Charlottesville, VA
The Executive Program is a training seminar devoted to management issues, with attendance restricted to the 120 elected Commonwealth’s Attorneys and Chief Deputies. 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 3.
For more information, contact Elliott J. Casey at ejcasey@wm.edu or 757-585-4370.
Click here to register for the Executive Program.

Rolling Stoned: DRE for Prosecutors
2021-11-15 - 2021-11-16 | Hotel 24 South, Staunton, VA, United States
This program was cancelled due to low enrollment and will be offered again in 2022.
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. November 15 through 4:30 p.m. November 16, 2021. This training is open to Virginia prosecutors only. MCLE credits will be applied for.

Murder Two: Advanced Homicide Prosecution
2021-11-10 - 2021-11-13 | Marriott Oceanfront, Virginia Beach, VA
A four-day training program for approximately 30 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 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 be covered.
For more information, contact Elliott J. Casey at ejcasey@wm.edu.

Murder One: Basic Homicide Prosecution
2021-11-07 - 2021-11-10 | Marriott Oceanfront, Virginia Beach, VA
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 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 be covered.
For more information, contact Elliott J. Casey at ejcasey@wm.edu.

Trauma to Trial
2021-10-03 - 2021-10-08 | 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.
Registration for Trauma to Trial 2021 is now closed.

Sound of Silence (Child Abuse)
2021-09-26 - 2021-10-01 | 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.
Registration for Sound of Silence 2021 is now closed.

FURY ROAD: Investigating and Prosecuting Impaired Fatal Crashes
2021-09-20 08:30 - 2021-09-21 17:00 | Richmond, VA
This intensive two-day training will cover crash scene evidence collection, crash reconstruction, the DRE investigation, charging decisions, victim outreach, and more! FURY ROAD begins at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, September 20 and ends at 5:00 PM on Tuesday, September 21. The training will now take place in Richmond (not Staunton). This program is limited to approximately ten (10) resident teams and five (5) commuter teams of two (2) people. Commuters are those who reside within twenty-five (25) miles of the training facility. Teams must include a prosecutor and a law enforcement officer who is either a Virginia State Trooper, a member of a local jurisdiction’s crash response team, or regularly involved in investigating fatal motor vehicle crashes.
Registration does not guarantee acceptance. Registrants will be notified by July 9th whether they have been accepted into the program. Details on the training facility and program will be provided in the acceptance letter. CASC will not provide travel mileage reimbursement for this program and students will be responsible for their own meals. CASC will provide lodging for resident teams.
This program is for Virginia prosecutors and law enforcement officers only.

DUID Training for Law Enforcement and Prosecutors - Chesapeake
2021-09-15 | –, Virginia Beach, VA
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. MCLE and PIC-3 credits will be applied for.
Click here to register by 5pm Monday, September 13
For more information, contact Jimmy Entas at jfentas@wm.edu.

Investigation and Prosecution of Gang Cases ("Gang Busters VIII")
2021-09-12 - 2021-09-17 | Williamsburg, VA
Gang Busters will NOT be offered September 12-17, 2021. It has been cancelled due to low enrollment. Gang Busters will be offered in 2022, registration will open in Spring 2022.

Gang Busters is an intensive, workshop-style, interactive training course on the prosecution of gang cases, similar to TOP GUN one of CASC’s longest running programs. Attendance is limited to 20 teams, each of which consists of a prosecutor and a law enforcement investigator from a given jurisdiction. This program covers the latest developments in the law, the criminal practices used, an exercise in qualifying as a gang expert and the latest developments in gang investigation and prosecution. The training will be held in Williamsburg. This is a five day program. There is no tuition: housing, private rooms, for attendees whose offices are more than twenty-five miles from the training site and all meals are provided or reimbursed. Mileage to and from the training is not covered.
This program is open to Virginia prosecutors and law enforcement.
ACCEPTANCE IS BY APPLICATION ONLY. Upon completion of the online registration by both team members, a link to download an application will be emailed to each team member to be completed and returned to CASC.
For more information, contact Larry Martin at lamar3@wm.edu.

DUID Training for Law Enforcement and Prosecutors - Roanoke
2021-08-30 | –, Blacksburg, VA
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. MCLE and PIC-3 credits will be applied for.
Click here to register
For more information, contact Jimmy Entas at jfentas@wm.edu.

Webinar: Prosecutor Immunity, Qualified Immunity, and Liability Issues
2021-08-26 14:00 - 16:00 | Online, ONLINE
ONLINE Webinar featuring:
William Tunner, Esq.,
The Honorable John A. Gibney, District Court, EDVA
Moderator: CASC Staff Attorney Elliott Casey
Civil liability for Virginia Commonwealth’s Attorneys is often governed by different legal doctrines, including Prosecutorial Immunity, Qualified Immunity, and Sovereign Immunity. Liability can depend on both federal and state law, and can turn on what activity is at stake: from consulting on investigations, such as advising on search warrants, investigative techniques, suspect interviews, when to get an arrest warrant, etc., to allegations of discovery/Brady violations and “wrongful” convictions, to allegations of wrongful accusations of false testimony, as well as potential liability for placing officers on “Brady lists”, etc. This webinar will discuss these challenging issues, as well as concerns from failures to prosecute, malicious prosecution, and liability from public statements. Presenters will also touch on liability for employment law issues and activities outside the prosecution function. This webinar will also include insights into Virginia State Bar complaints, especially as a venue for grievances against prosecutors.
This webinar is open to Virginia prosecutors. There will be no MCLE credit, this webinar is for information only.
Click here to register by 5 p.m. on August 25, 2021

Advanced DUI Staunton
2021-08-18 - 2021-08-20 | Hotel 24 South, Staunton, VA, United States
Topics to be covered at this intensive training include Investigative Stops, Checkpoints, Blood Testing Issues and DUI Manslaughter. The latest version of the Virginia DUI Manual will be distributed to participants. Much like our TOP GUN Program, this training program utilizes a team-training format requiring a team consisting of a prosecutor and a law enforcement officer from the same jurisdiction.
This training will be limited to 36 resident attendees and 10 commuting attendees. Lodging and meals will be covered for those who reside more than twenty-five (25) miles from the training site. Lunches are covered for commuting attendees. No mileage reimbursement will be provided.
Preference is given to teams consisting of an officer and a prosecutor from the same jurisdiction. Registration does not guarantee acceptance to the program – confirmation of selection for program will be sent out in July.
Registration for this program has closed.

Council Meeting
2021-08-08 08:30, 2021-08-05 15:00 | VA

DUID Training for Law Enforcement and Prosecutors
2021-07-19 | Online, ONLINE
This training will be held July 19, 2021 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. MCLE and PIC-3 credits will be applied for.
DUID ONLINE July 19, 2021 Click here to register
For more information, contact Jimmy Entas at jfentas@wm.edu.

Trial Ad Tuesdays
2021-07-06 14:00 - 16:00 | Online, ONLINE
CASC is pleased to announce, “Trial Ad Tuesdays“, a summer series of webinars. Dates and topics are listed below. All webinars will run from 2:00 – 4:00 PM on the respective dates. Attend all five (5) webinars if your schedule allows or pick and choose a few topics to brush up on! This will be a lecture series and will not require audience participation. Webinars are open to all Virginia prosecutors.

June 8, 2021: Voir Dire & Opening Statement Registration is closed.

June 15, 2021: Direct & Cross Examination This webinar has been postponed.

June 22, 2021: Experts & Introducing Evidence Registration is closed.

June 29, 2021: Meeting/Making Objections & Closing Argument Click here to register

July 6, 2021: Sentencing & Legislative Update Click here to register

DUID Training for Law Enforcement and Prosecutors
2021-06-30 | Online, ONLINE
Registration is now open for the third & fourth of six (6) DUID for Virginia Prosecutors and Law Enforcement programs. The training will be held on June 30, 2021 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. MCLE and PIC-3 credits will be applied for.
DUID ONLINE June 30, 2021: Click here to register.
DUID ONLINE July 19, 2021 Click here to register
Dates and locations for the remaining two (2) DUID programs will be announced soon! For more information, contact Jimmy Entas at jfentas@wm.edu or 757-253-4994.

Webinar: Legalization of Marijuana: Overview of Law as of July 1, 2021
2021-06-15 14:00 - 16:00 | Online, ONLINE
In 2021, the Virginia General Assembly enacted an extensive change to Virginia law, intended to “legalize” marijuana. These changes, which will take place in several steps over the next few years, include several new laws that will take effect July 1, 2021 and have raised several questions from prosecutors and law enforcement. Join our webinar, where we will address questions like: “How much marijuana may a person legally possess or personally grow?” “May people share, sell, or trade marijuana?” “What penalties exist for unlawful distribution?” “May people drive using, possessing, or under the influence of marijuana?” “What are the rules about children and marijuana?
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 June 14, 2021

Council Meeting
2021-06-09 12:00 | Truist Place, 12th Floor, Richmond, VA

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

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

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

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

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

Council Meeting
2021-05-05 12:00 | Conference Call, Conference Call, United States
