1:00PM
Norfolk Waterside Marriott Hotel
Council Members Present
Officers:
David N. Grimes (Pittsylvania County), Chairman
Michael R. Doucette (Lynchburg), First Vice Chairman
Kim S. White (Halifax County), Second Vice Chairman
Council District Representatives:
C. Linwood Gregory (New Kent County)
Nancy G. Parr (Chesapeake)
Harvey L. Bryant (Virginia Beach)
Robert L. Bushnell (Henry County)
Donald S. Caldwell (Roanoke City)
William W. Davenport (Chesterfield County)
Christian E. Rehak (Radford)
Alexander R. Iden (Winchester)
Other Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Present
Joel R. Branscom (Botetourt County)
William B. Bray (Colonial Heights)
Matthew J. Britton (King George County)
Paul B. Ebert (Prince William County)
James R. Ennis (Prince Edward County)
Phil Ferguson (Suffolk)
Nathan R. Green (Williamsburg/James City County)
Howard Gwynn (Newport News)
Robert “Bucky” Joyce (Rockbridge County/Lexington)
Nicole Price (Washington County)
John C. Singleton (Bath County)
Theo Stamos (Arlington)
Ed Stein (Alleghany County)
Gregory D. Underwood (Norfolk)
Patricia T. Watson (Greensville/Emporia)
E.M. Wright, Jr. (Buckingham County)
Joan Ziglar (Martinsville)
Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Present
Betty Jo Anthony
Rick Moore
Susan Hooks
CASC Staff Present
Robert Q. Harris
Jane Sherman Chambers
Call to Order
Mr. Grimes called the meeting to order at 1:05 p.m.
Minutes
The draft minutes from the February 16, 2012, meeting were previously posted and circulated to Council. The minutes were approved as submitted.
Chairman’s Report
Mr. Grimes commended CASC staff for setting up Spring Institute. He commented that CASC has many good training programs that might be appropriate to share with other states and generate revenue. He asked members to give this idea some thought.
Administrator’s Report
Mr. Harris reviewed the agenda items:
Old Business
Spring Institute
Mr. Harris reported that approximately 660 people registered for Spring Institute this year. The program primarily is funded by registration fees. For the first time, CASC invited vendors to exhibit. Four case management vendors will participate and the fees will help defray expenses of the program. Mr. Harris summarized agenda highlights, including the presentation of the Von Schuch and Duvall Awards. Previous award winners will be asked to come forward.
CASC Budget for 2012 – 2013
Mr. Harris expressed his hope that the budget will be finalized in Richmond on Tuesday, April 17. He believes that the CASC budget will remain the same.
Spring Institute 2013
Mr. Harris reminded membership of the difficulties in finalizing a contract for Spring Institute 2013. Mr. Bryant commented that Tidewater offices are still strongly in favor of moving the 2013 Spring Institute to Richmond. A motion was made and passed to direct CASC staff to resolve the negotiations for a Richmond venue by Friday, April 20, 2012.
New Business
John R. Justice Loan Forgiveness Awards announced March 22, 2012
Mr. Harris reported that recipients of John R. Justice Loan Forgiveness Awards were announced on March 22 and DCJS has sent out notifications. There were 19 prosecutors who each received a $3850 award. Next year’s budget will be reduced substantially – to only $69,000. DCJS is considering how to adjust the current procedure for allocating grant awards to account for the substantially reduced funding.
Asset Forfeiture Training Teams
Mr. Harris reminded membership that the idea of Asset Forfeiture Training Teams came out of the Asset Forfeiture Workgroup in which Mr. Bryant, Mr. Caldwell, Mr. Beasley and Deputy CA Tom Shaia participated. DCJS may have funding for a Train the Trainer program designed to prepare asset forfeiture training teams to travel across Virginia to provide individualized asset forfeiture training to CA offices. Mr. Harris will be asking for prosecutor, law enforcement and administrative employee volunteers for the project and will send out an email with additional details.
Spring/Summer Programs
Mr. Harris reviewed the upcoming programs:
- DUID Programs: May 17, 2012 (Abingdon); June 15, 2012 (Manassas); July 6, 2012 (Lynchburg); September 19, 2012 (Williamsburg)
- Top Gun, May 6 – 12, 2012 (Williamsburg)
- Trial Advocacy, May 20 – 25, 2012 (Williamsburg)
- Gang Nuts & Bolts [with OAG], May 31, 2012 (Richmond)
- CASC Ethics Webinar, July 27, 2012 4:00 – 6:00 pm (your PC)
- Advanced DUI, August 22 – 24, 2012 (Staunton)
- VACA Annual Meeting, August 2 – 5, 2012, Cavalier, Virginia Beach, Virginia
Law Student Volunteers
Mr. Harris announced that CASC enlisted several 3rd year W&M law students (who want to be prosecutors) to help all day with Spring Institute registration. All are eligible for the W&M post-graduate fellowship program that provides some financial assistance to recent graduates interning in prosecutors’ offices. Mr. Harris encouraged the prosecutors present to speak to the students about post-graduate employment.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Handbook
Mr. Harris noted that occasional requests for the Commonwealth’s Attorney Handbook are a reminder that the materials have not been updated since the 1990’s. CASC lacks funding to reproduce an updated version of the handbook and other alternatives will need to be considered if prosecutors want such a resource. Mr. Harris will inquire about the level of interest in pursuing the matter.
Adjournment
There being no further business before Council, the meeting adjourned at 1:40 p.m. The next regularly scheduled meeting is May 2, 2012, 11:30 a.m., at the Henrico County Sheriff’s Office Conference Room.