OPAA ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS TRAINING – 2026

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15TH 

9:00 – 10:00                   Registration and Continental Breakfast

10:00 - 11:00               Public Records for Prosecutor’s Staff : What Hasn’t Changed for the Front Line?
Over the past three years, new legislation and multiple Ohio Supreme Court decisions have dramatically changed Ohio public records law, especially for law enforcement. This session will be geared toward office staff daily duties and include notable changes, including major revisions to the confidential law enforcement investigatory records (CLEIR) exception, redactions related to uncharged suspects and officer-involved shootings, Marsy’s Law and victim redactions, charges for body-camera and other video records requests, new rules on whether personal devices are public records, and more.
Ryan M. Stubenrauch, Esq.
Communications Counsel, Inc.

11:00 – 11:15               Break

11:15 - 12:00               Public Records for Prosecutor’s Staff: What Hasn’t Changed for the Front Line? Continues…

12:00 – 12:45               Lunch

12:45 - 2:15                 Prosecutor-Based Victim Advocacy in Ohio: A Resource Guide for the Field
In 1999, the Ohio Victim Witness Association (OVWA) and the Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association (OPAA) partnered to expand the footprint of prosecutor-based victim advocacy in Ohio. That effort resulted in a collaborative statewide protocol for developing and implementing effective prosecutor-based advocacy programming. Much has changed over the ensuing two decades, and in 2020 OVWA again brought together a diverse committee of prosecutor-based victim advocates representing programs of various sizes, regions, and scope to update and expand the foundational protocol. Working alongside OPAA, the committee infused current research, real-world practice, and collaborative expertise into a modern resource guide to benefit today’s advocacy programs. This informative training spotlights the key components of the revised guide, including the advocate’s role, effective collaboration with crime victims and justice system partners, attainable standards of practice, and practical application of crime victims’ rights — all designed to promote quality, consistency, and excellence in advocacy statewide.
Wendy Ricks-Hoff, Program Director, OVWA
Crystal Baker, Director of Victim Services, Summit County Prosecutor’s Office
Alisa J. Wilson, Victim/Witness Advocate, Champaign County Prosecutor’s Office

2:15 - 2:30                   Break

2:30- 3:30                    Getting Difficult People to Play Nice
At some point, every office will have to deal with an employee or two...or four that create drama in the workplace. The drama not  only impacts the morale of the office but also wastes valuable time and resources. This session will provide insight on how to respond to various types of employee conduct, including harassing behavior, bullying, and stereotypical generational traits. This session should help keep your office moving in the right direction and out of the news!
Ian R. Bigalk, Associate
Fishel Downey Albrecht and Riepenhoff, LLP
New Albany

The OPAA member registration fee of $230.00 covers handout materials, continental breakfast, beverages, lunch, and break refreshments. Registrations have been emailed and will also be mailed once printed. Please submit registrations to OPAA by Friday, October 2, 2026. Cancellations received after October 2nd will be assessed a total of $100.00. This will help to defray the cost of food guarantees required by that time. Non-member pricing is $690.00.

OPAA has received approval from the Ohio Advocate Network (OAN) and the Ohio State Bar Association Paralegal Certification Board for 4.25 hours of CE for this training.