TWO WAYS TO EXPERIENCE THIS HYBRID TRAINING INSTITUTE!
Numerous workshops will be offered focusing on topics related to best practices, current trends, emerging research, and policies that support effective program development and evaluation. APPA is offering unique Intensive Sessions to engage members in deeper conversations specific to community corrections.
What IN-PERSON attendees get:
- Access to 70+ accredited workshops touching on all aspects of pretrial, probation, and parole
- Entry to special plenary sessions featuring acclaimed guest speakers
- Half-day of intensive sessions on specialized policies, programs, and/or practices
- Unique networking exercises meant to build long-term partnerships
- Tour opportunities and community service projects
- Full access to the field’s best product demonstration center in our Expo Hall
- Wednesday Deep Dives: choose one of six topic tracks and stay with it for three consecutive 60-minute sessions (8:00am–9:00am, 9:15am–10:15am, 10:30am–11:30am) to take a focused, progressive dive with peers and faculty.
What VIRTUAL attendees get:
- Meet and network with probation and parole professionals on the platform seamlessly
- Early, on-demand access to over a dozen unique, accredited workshop recordings
- On-demand access to a bonus selection of previously released webinar recordings
- Enjoy access to e-learning suites, micro-animated shorts, master classes, and more!
Continuing Education Credits
APPA supports your continuing education needs
Hybrid CEU Oppotunities
Whether in-person or virtual, attendees will be able to secure certificates of attendance, APPA Contact Hours, and/or continuing education credits to support their professional growth.
In-person attendees receive full hybrid access, allowing them to attend live, on-site sessions as well as virtual sessions – this dual access provides maximum flexibility and expands credit-earning opportunities. Virtual and hybrid attendees can engage with livestreamed presentations, on-demand recordings, and pre-recorded sessions – making it easy to participate from any location while earning CEUs.
The American Probation and Parole Association is committed to supporting professional and personal growth through a wide range of educational offerings. Our training institutes feature workshops, symposiums, and other educationally packed sessions to help individuals build customized learning paths. Most sessions have been approved for credit hours. Continuing education is available through APPA Contact Hours, as well as partnerships with the Ohio Chief Probation Officers Association and California’s Board of State and Community Corrections. No matter your needs, APPA has you covered!
Join us this winter in Atlanta, where you can immerse yourself in an enriching learning environment, whether you choose to participate in person or virtually. Engage with industry leaders, gain valuable knowledge, and network with professionals dedicated to advancing community corrections.
*To register by Email, Mail, or Fax, download registration form. (Required for PO Payments)
First Time Attendees Networking Event
Sunday, March 1 | 01:30 PM - 02:30 PM
New to APPA training institutes or APPA in general? You're in good company at the First-Time Attendees Networking Event. Network with other first-timers, win prizes, learn more about APPA and have fun in a relaxed environment. Refreshments will be provided.
HEALTHY WALKING CHALLENGES
Monday, March 2 & Tuesday, March 3
Grab a friend and participate in the Healthy Walking Challenges during non-training institute hours on Monday and Tuesday in Atlanta! Hit your stride – push yourself to reap the many health benefits of walking. Walking can help you maintain a healthy weight by burning calories and toning and strengthening muscles; increase cardiovascular and pulmonary (heart and lung) fitness; reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke; improve management of conditions such as hypertension, high cholesterol, joint and muscular pain or stiffness, and diabetes; and build stronger bones and improve balance.
Come on – embrace your fitness through walking – aim to walk a mile in 30 minutes!
30-Minute Mile Instructions
● At 6:30 a.m., meet APPA’s Project Coordinator, Delores Johnson, at the Local Host Table to pick up the walking route instructions.
● Use your electronic device to monitor your distance and time.
● By 7:15 a.m., return to the Local Host Table to verify your accomplishment and claim your achievement medal.
National Standards Intensive Session
Learn More About National Standards
The National Standards for Community Supervision were developed to provide a comprehensive resource for community supervision agencies, drawing upon the latest research in the field and the perspectives of both practitioners and researchers committed to evidence-based practices. As APPA continues to collect feedback on the Standards and how agencies can best use the information, the Training Institute offers an opportunity for officers and agency leaders to brainstorm Standards implementation.
To help break down the content within the Standards and do a deeper dive into subject areas that agencies rank as top priority, CJI will introduce summaries of the Standards that highlight the essential elements of each Standard. These ‘one-pager’ tools will outline: resources that may be needed to implement the Standard, questions agencies should discuss to anticipate challenges to implementation, and practical considerations around timeline and outcomes the agency might expect to observe from changes that are implemented. Specifically, this session will focus on how supervision conditions are imposed, enforced, and modified during supervision and how they can be guided by the Standards.
During this interactive workshop, participants will:
● Develop a deeper understanding of each Standard’s purpose and intent
● Understand how their agency’s current operations either align or depart from the Standards to identify areas of improvement
● Brainstorm ways agency decision-makers and officers can implement each Standard in a sustainable way
● Outline implementation challenges and propose solutions that advance their agency’s consistent integration of the Standards into daily practice
Activities:
● Small group activities will be facilitated to allow participants to collaborate with participants from their own and other agencies to discuss implementation considerations. Larger group report outs will allow the participants to identify trends across agencies, especially common challenges faced when implementing the Standards and ways to adapt best practice to differently resourced agencies. Participants will leave this session with an outline for bringing the standards to their agency in a purposeful, sustainable way.
Speakers
Valerie Meade
Deputy Director, Crime and Justice Institute
Valerie Meade is a Deputy Director with the Crime and Justice Institute (CJI). Valerie brings nearly three decades of experience in the adult and youth justice field, with a robust background in both community and institutional settings. Her expertise encompasses cognitive-behavioral interventions, motivational interviewing, case management, model fidelity, staff development and continuous quality improvement. In her role as Deputy Director at CJI, Valerie oversees initiatives aimed at assisting jurisdictions with the sustainable implementation of evidence-based practices. She supports staff and stakeholders through culture change to foster improved outcomes. Valerie is dedicated to enhancing the quality of justice system programs and practices through collaborative efforts that lead to improved public safety. Valerie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Criminal Justice from Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri.
Caitlin Flood
Senior Policy Specialist, Crime and Justice Institute
Caitlin Flood has provided training and technical assistance to different jurisdictions working towards criminal justice reform through treatment courts and community supervision initiatives. Caitlin leads CJI’s community supervision and reentry work, assisting states with data-driven, evidence-based strategies to improve supervision outcomes. Caitlin is committed to improving the justice system through the use of data-driven approaches that reduce the reliance on incarceration, strengthen community supervision practices, and include diverse voices in planning and implementation work. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Government & Law and Philosophy from Lafayette College and her Juris Doctorate from New York University Law School.
Justice-Involved Individuals Career Fair
Wednesday, March 4 | 09:00 AM - 01:00 PM
Co-Host
The American Probation and Parole Association and Honest Jobs are hosting the fourth Career Fair for Justice-Involved Individuals.
We are inviting employers who hire individuals with criminal records to take part in the career fair by hosting a no-cost recruitment table. Employers who participate in the career fair will gain access to a pool of reliable, loyal, and motivated job candidates – which research has shown have high levels of commitment and performance. Many justice-involved individuals are already engaged with job training, counseling, or mentoring programs, which can ease onboarding and reduce training costs. Hiring justice-involved individuals is not just a socially responsible action, it is a smart business strategy. It improves employee retention, strengthens communities, and can even boost your bottom line.
As justice-involved individuals strive to reenter their communities, they need opportunities to secure gainful employment and become productive, taxpaying citizens. These individuals have a variety of skills and talents that can easily benefit employers. They simply need a second chance at employment.
If you are interested in hiring prescreened Atlanta-area individuals who are on active probation or parole supervision and who have a strong desire to work, this event is for you. Contact APPA’s Project Coordinator, Delores Johnson, by email at djohnson@csg.org to reserve your spot now.
Sponsored By:
Cancellation Policy
- In-Person: A full refund, less a $50 processing fee, is available until January 30, 2026. No refunds are available after January 30, 2026. In order to receive a refund, written requests must be sent to the APPA Training Institute, c/o The Council of State Governments, 1776 Avenue of the States, Lexington, KY 40511 or emailed to Kimberly Mills. All requests for refunds must be postmarked or emailed by January 30, 2026. Registrants with an outstanding balance as of this date are still responsible for payment in full. Substitutions can be made at no additional charge.
- Virtual: Due to the cost of the virtual training institute platform, no refunds will be issued.
- Exhibitors: For booths cancelled in writing by February 2, 2026, 50% of the full payment may be refunded. After February 2, 2026, no refunds will be made, nor will previously paid monies be applied to any future APPA exhibit shows or other marketing areas. Additionally, these monies cannot be applied to offset another exhibitor’s booth rental fee. If you need to submit a cancellation, please email written cancellation request to: Darlene Webb, APPA's Director of Operations.
Contributing Sponsors
Noble Software - Expo Hall Bingo | Sentinel Offender Services - Expo Hall Bingo | SCRAM - Lanyards | Smart Start - Attendee Badges |
Also, special thanks goes to our Corporate Members!