Commonwealth’s Attorneys’ Services Council

Council Meeting
2022-06-08 12:00, 2022-05-04 12:00, 2022-04-10 13:00, 2022-02-15 11:00, 2022-01-25 11:00, 2021-11-03 12:00, 2021-09-22 12:00 (America/New_York) | Richmond, VA

Investigation and Prosecution of Drug Cases ("TOP GUN XXVIII")
2022-05-22 - 2022-05-27 | Williamsburg, VA
TOP GUN is an intensive, workshop-style, interactive training course on the prosecution of drug cases, one of CASC’s longest running programs having been offered since 1992, now in its 28th year! 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, and the latest illegal drug types and their usage. The training will be held in Williamsburg. This is a five-day program which begins on the afternoon of Sunday, May 22 and ends on Friday, May 27 at noon. There is no tuition: housing, a private hotel room will be provided to attendees whose offices are more than twenty-five miles from the training site, and all meals are either provided or reimbursed. Mileage to and from the program is not covered.
NOTE: Teams who were accepted for the 2020 TOP GUN which was cancelled will be given priority if they re-apply for 2022 TOP GUN.
ACCEPTANCE IS BY APPLICATION ONLY. Upon completion of the online registration a link to download an application will be emailed to each team member to be completed and returned to CASC. Applications must be submitted by February 25, 2022 to be considered.
For more information, contact Elliott Casey at ejcasey@wm.edu

DUID Training for Law Enforcement and Prosecutors
2022-05-09 | VA
These one (1) day programs include everything you need to know about investigating and prosecuting drug impaired driving offenses, including cannabis impaired driving. Each program will begin at 8:00 a.m. and conclude at 4:30 p.m. These training programs are open to Virginia prosecutors and law enforcement officers. Lunch and snacks will be provided on site during each program. MCLE and PIC-3 credits are pending.
For more information, contact Paula Bruns at pmbruns@wm.edu.
DUID will be offered six times at the following locations. To register, please click on link below for your preferred date and location.
May 9, 2022 – Harrisonburg, Click Here to Register
June 22, 2022 – Tidewater (Chesapeake), Click Here to Register
July 18, 2022 – Lynchburg, Click Here to Register
August 8, 2022 – Northern Virginia (Chantilly), Click Here to Register
August 24, 2022 – Richmond, Click Here to Register
September 19, 2022 – Bristol, Click Here to Register

Rolling Stoned: DRE for Prosecutors
2022-04-25 - 2022-04-26 | Richmond, VA
This program will cover everything you need to know about the Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) 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 begin with registration on April 25 from 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. and will conclude on April 26 at 4:30 p.m. Lodging will be provided for those traveling more than 25 miles. Lunch will be provided on April 25, with breakfast and lunch being provided on April 26.
This training is open to Virginia prosecutors only. MCLE credits are pending.

For information contact Paula Bruns at pmbruns@wm.edu.

Zoom Limited Simulcast - 2022 Spring Institute
2022-04-10 - 2022-04-13 | Online, ONLINE
CASC is offering a limited simulcast of the 2022 Spring Institute. We will be simulcasting ONLY the General Sessions and Track A.
Any Virginia prosecutor may attend the 2022 Spring Institute in person or via the Zoom limited simulcast. You may not register for both. If you already have registered to attend the 2022 Spring Institute and you would like to switch to the limited Zoom simulcast option, you may do so, but your in-person registration will be cancelled. This decision will be final and you will not be able to change.
CASC needs to know well in advance how many people will attend Spring Institute online or in-person. Registration for the limited Zoom simulcast option will be open until Friday, March 4 at 5:00 p.m.

Registration is closed.
For more information, contact Jill Harris at jcharris@wm.edu

Spring Institute 2022
2022-04-10 - 2022-04-13 | Richmond, VA
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 Jill Harris at jcharris@wm.edu
Click here to register.

CASC Anti-Fraud Program: Those Lyin' Eyes
2022-02-07 - 2022-02-11 | Williamsburg, VA
CASC is offering a new intensive 5-day training for prosecutors, Virginia State Police Special Agents, and Insurance SIU investigators on the topic of investigating and prosecuting fraud in Virginia. This program is funded by Virginia State Police as its annual “Red Flag” insurance fraud training, which focuses on different aspects of fraud each year. In 2019, we focused on Arson, and in 2021 we focused on Elder Fraud. This year, the program will focus on fraud schemes in a post-COVID world and will cover fraud law, investigations, obtaining and using financial records, darkweb and fraudulent payment methods, identity fraud, construction fraud, insurance and finance fraud, sovereign citizens, and other related issues. Some, but not all, sessions will be repeated from previous “Red Flag” insurance fraud trainings.
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.

Investigation and Prosecution of Intimate Partner Violence ("Guns and Roses")
2022-02-06 - 2022-02-11 | Williamsburg, VA
CASC is offering an intensive 6-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.
The program is free. Lodging 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.
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. Applications must be received from EACH team member no later than November 12, 2021. Acceptance notices will be issued by the end of December.
For more information, contact Nancy Oglesby at noglesby@wm.edu

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
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
