Download the .pdf version of the agenda and registration

Download the tax expempt form - due at hotel 1 week prior to arrival

The OPAA Fall Training is once again in Cleveland at the Crowne Plaza on Playhouse Square, and will include presentations on combating car theft; interstate compact agreement; CODIS; IAD; using AI for investigation and prosecution; Steve Taylor will walk us through the top 12 list of mistakes that are most likely to lead to prosecutorial regret and consternation; and we’ll be closing with Prosecuting Child Abuse: The Role of Children’s Advocacy Centers, Forensic Interviews, and Expert Witnesses. 

Professional Conduct sessions on Friday morning will include a presentation from Phil Bogdanoff on Attorneys and Social Media: How to Keep the Disciplinary Counsel from Knocking at Your Door; and Bar Counsel for CMBA will provide us an Ohio Attorney Disciplinary Process Overview and Case Law Update. We hope you will join us!

The Guardians have a 1:00 game on Thursday hosting the Twins then unfortunately head to St. Louis. Playhouse Square will be active with “Les Misérables” and “The Price is Right Live” on stage. The Browns will be hosting the Giants on Sunday at 1:00.

Thursday, September 19th

9:00 - 10:00  Combating Car Theft: Utilizing Interagency Collaboration and Ohio Statutes for Effective Prosecution
This presentation explores the complexities of car theft rings, current trends in car thefts, and legal hurdles in using Ohio’s Theft, Tampering with Records, Car Title Offenses, and Engaging in a Pattern of Corrupt Activity statutes for prosecuting these crimes. Participants will gain insights into the organized nature of modern car theft rings and the challenges law enforcement faces in dismantling these networks.
Ryan J. Bokoch, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
Crime Strategies Unit Supervisor
Mary Grace Tokmenko, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
Economic Crime and Public Corruption Unit
Both of Cuyahoga County Prosecutors Office
Sergeant Michael D. Russell
Vehicle Theft and Fraud Unit
Ohio State Highway Patrol

10:00 – 10:15  Break

10:15 - 11:15   Supervised Individuals Crossing State Lines
This session will include a general overview of the interstate compact agreement and interstate compact rules that aid in the successful transfer of supervised individuals to where they will have the greatest opportunity for success. It will also focus on a supervised individual’s supervision in the receiving state and how to address violation behavior without circumventing interstate compact rules.
Katrina Ransom, Superintendent
Commissioner / Compact Administrator, Parole & Probation
Adult Parole Authority and
Suzanne Brooks, Deputy Superintendent, Ohio Adult Parole Authority and Deputy Compact Administrator, Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction

11:15 – 11:45    Everything CODIS
Ohio BCI CODIS Unit serves as the state repository for DNA samples lawfully collected from crime scenes and felony offenders. The unit develops DNA profiles from samples submitted by law enforcement agencies and uploads the results to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Combined DNA Index System (CODIS). Statewide searches and national database uploads run by the CODIS unit’s scientists are key to finding answers in many unsolved crimes. This presentation will look at the service and information that BCI passes to local law enforcement agencies to further investigations of homicides, rapes, and other criminal cases.
Diane Gehres
State CODIS Administrator/CODIS Technical Leader

11:45 – 12:45    Lunch

12:45 - 1:45      IAD – What You Need to Know Before Things Go Horribly Wrong!
An overview of recent changes to Interstate Agreements on Detainers law, what prosecutors need to know, and the ins and outs of IAD law and processes prosecutors may be unfamiliar with and that could destroy a prosecution if done incorrectly.
Dana Greer,
Ohio Department of Corrections
April Harrison, Legal Assistant and Extradition Coordinator Ohio Governor Mike DeWine’s Office
Cara Roach, Senior Legal Secretary
Franklin County Prosecutors Office

1:45 - 2:00        Break

2:00 - 3:00        Using AI in Investigations and Prosecution
This session will explore technology for the prosecutor including A.I. for voir dire, research and writing, transcription, and translation. We will also look at developing and using closed captioning on video and audio including CAC interviews, 911 calls and body worn cameras. Lastly, we will talk about computer assisted voir dire.
David W. Phillips, Prosecutor
Union County

3:00 – 4:00        Avoiding Those “V-8 Moments”
With prosecutors handling numerous cases and often being in court nearly every day, they are the women and men “in the arena,” as Teddy Roosevelt would say, striving valiantly to get things done, and often getting them done well, but, occasionally, falling short and making some mistakes. This presentation will focus on the “mistakes” side of the equation, and, in particular, on a “top 12” list of mistakes that are most likely to lead to regret and consternation on the prosecutor’s part because they are (mostly) easily avoided. This presentation will touch on the following: (1) overt acts for conspiracy charges; (2) verdict forms for “additional element” charges; (3) written jury waiver requirements; (4) factual basis requirements for certain pleas; (5) reserving the ability to prosecute future homicide charges in a plea bargain in delayed-death cases; (6) constitutional-rights advisements for pleas; (7) discovery of expert reports; (8) commenting on silence; (9) limiting instructions; (10) sentencing on gun specifications; (11) jail-time credit questions when serving another prison/jail sentence; and (12) Brady and getting police information.
Steven L. Taylor, Legal Research and Staff Counsel
Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association

Friday, September 20th

9:00 - 10:30      Attorneys and Social Media: How to Keep the Disciplinary Counsel from Knocking at Your Door(Professional Conduct)
Ethical conduct is a key to being an effective attorney. Each week we read about disciplinary cases where attorneys are suspended for misconduct involving clients, the courts, or other attorneys. In this presentation we examine disciplinary cases involving the misuse of social media and the types of conduct that result in disciplinary action and suspensions. We will examine the rules of professional conduct as it relates to giving legal advice on social media and posting on social media. We will review a disciplinary case where an attorney used social media to persuade a witness not to testify at trial. Most importantly, we learn how to avoid professional misconduct regarding the use of social media.
Philip Bogdanoff
Retired career prosecutor

10:30 - 10:45     Break

10:45 - 11:45     Ohio Attorney Disciplinary Process Overview and Case Law Update (Professional Conduct)
Bar Counsel for the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association will discuss the Rules of Professional Conduct most encountered by the practitioner and how to navigate those Rules in practice. Bar Counsel will also provide an overview of how the attorney discipline system works in Ohio and what to do if you’re ever the recipient of an attorney grievance.
Christopher Joseph Klasa, Bar Counsel
Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association

11:45 - 12:45      Lunch

12:45 - 1:45        Prosecuting Child Abuse: The Role of Children’s Advocacy Centers, Forensic Interviews, and                            Expert Witnesses
Prosecutors face a myriad of unique difficulties in cases involving child sexual abuse and other maltreatments. This presentation will discuss the role of Children’s Advocacy Centers in the investigation, treatment, and successful prosecution of child abuse cases. It will provide an overview of the utilization of Forensic Interviews and other evidence-collection facets of the CAC. It will then focus on the successful admission and use of these pieces in the presentation of cases at trial. Lastly this presentation will discuss the role of expert witnesses, including practical solutions from successful cases in Ohio and other states.
Danielle Vandegriff, Executive Director
Ohio Network of Children’s Advocacy Centers and
Cory Tatum MSW, LSW, Executive Director
Harcum House Children’s Advocacy Center

We have requested approval for 9 hours of CLE, which includes 2.5 professional conduct hours, from the Supreme Court of Ohio Commission on Continuing Legal Education.

The two-day member registration fee is $300.00 ($600.00 for non-members). In the event of cancellations after Friday, September 6, 2024, the assessment is $110.00, to partially cover the cost of food/meals which will have been guaranteed by that date. If a registrant is only attending one day the registration fee is $200.00 for members ($400.00 for non-members), with an assessment of $85.00 for cancellations after Friday, September 6, 2024. Registration fees include all handout materials, continental breakfast, lunch both days, and refreshments during breaks.

Guest rooms at the Crowne Plaza Cleveland @ Playhouse Square are $167.00 single or double occupancy. Hotel rooms are subject to applicable state and local taxes (currently 17.5%; State 8.0%, Lodging 6.5%, and City is 3.0%) in effect at the time of check-in. Reservations can be made by calling Crowne Plaza central reservations at 1-800-2-CROWNE. Be sure to use Group Code OPA to receive this rate. Reservations can also be made by online via       
https://tinyurl.com/kuwmftjp (may require you to click through a security warning to get to the hotel site). If you should need further assistance or have any problems with your guest room reservations you may contact Camryn Moore, Wedding and Event Manager at her email address Camryn.Moore@CPCleveland.com.

GUEST ROOM CUTOFF DATE IS FRIDAY, AUGUST 30TH. Check-in time is 3:00 p.m., and check-out time is 12:00 noon. All guests arriving before 3:00 p.m. will be accommodated as rooms become available, however early check-in is not guaranteed. Guest Service Agents can arrange to check baggage for those arriving early when rooms are unavailable and for guest attending functions on departure day. Cancellation policy: Cancelling your hotel reservation before 6:00 PM (local hotel time) on the day prior to check in will result in a no charge. Cancelling your hotel reservation after 6:00 PM (local hotel time) on the day prior to check in, or failing to show, will result in a charge equal to the first night’s stay per room to the credit card or other guaranteed payment method. Taxes may apply. Failing to call or show before check-out time after the first night of reservation will result in a cancellation of the remainder of your reservation. Payments to Hotel: major credit cards must be presented at check-in. If paying by company /office check, the check must be provided 30 days prior to arrival. Personal checks are not accepted. In the event a credit card is not approved or credit approval changes prior to the event, full prepayment of all estimated charges by a hotel approved payment method must be received three (3) days prior to arrival. Parking: valet parking, $44.00/night include in and out access; self-parking, $22.00/night does not include in and out access (1-1/2 blocks from the hotel).

NOTE: If any registrant has special dietary needs, please contact Diana at 614-221-1266 by September 6th, so that advance arrangements can be made with the venue. OPAA will accommodate requests as long as they can be supplied by the venue without additional cost. Any additional cost must be borne by the registrant, and they will be notified in advance.