2026 Spring Conference

April 22-24, 2026   

DEADLINE TO REGISTER IS APRIL 10th. NO REFUNDS FOR CANCELLATIONS AFTER APRIL 10th.  

Hosted by Lake County in Gurnee, IL

The Ten Hotel has reached capacity for Wednesday, April 22nd. There are limited rooms available on Tuesday and Thursday nights. 

IF YOU HAVE PREVIOUSLY BOOKED ROOMS AND YOU WILL NOT BE USING THEM, PLEASE RELEASE THE ROOMS ASAP SO OTHER MEMBERS CAN ENJOY THE BENEFIT AT STAYING ON-SITE.

We encourage our members to check back frequently to see if additional rooms open up! 

We are working towards securing additional rooms at the overflow hotel.  

TEN Hotel/Convention Center   Room Rate $115.00/night + tax/fees

6161 W. Grand Avenue

Gurnee, IL  60031

Make Reservations HERE!

If you have difficulty making reservations, please contact Caitlin at 267-716-4247.

Overflow Hotel Hampton Inn Chicago/Gurnee   Room Rate $99/night + tax/fees

5550 Grand Avenue

Gurnee, IL 60031

Link for booking: Reservation Booking Link no code (must be booked online)

Room Block Opens February 21, 2026 and closes March 21, 2026

Overflow Hotel Wingate by Wydham-Gurnee   Room Rate $99/night + tax/fees

Reservation Booking Link

Use Code GS042226IPC

Golf Outing:  April 21st, 2026  Thunderhawk Golf Club.  (Registration Here!)

Leadership Academy Begins April 21, 2026 

Leadership Academy Registration 8:00 – 8:30 a.m.

Lunch Provided

Leadership Academy Welcome Reception 4:30-6:00 p.m.  (light appetizers served).  Open to Academy students and their mentors.

Conference kicks off Wednesday, April 22, 2026 

Conference Featured Speaker:  Joe Arvidson, Executive Director of the Paragon Group, LLC

Wednesday, April 22, 2026 Committee Meetings

8:30   Rep Chair-Golden Gophers ( A member from each committee must attend)

9:00   CMO/Legislative

9:00   Supervisor

9:00   Program-At Program Table

9:00   Detention

9:00   Officer Safety

9:30   Membership-At Membership Table

10:00 Awards

10:00  PSC/Substance Use

10:00 Sex Offender

10:00 Juvenile

10:00 Intrastate/Interstate

11:00  Research

11:00  Pretrial

11:00  Technology

11:00  Human Advocacy-At Committee Table

11:00  Resource Committee

Lunch 12:00 -1:30 p.m. 

Colors Presented by: Tony Kennedy, VFW Post-Libertyville, IL

Workshops:

Wednesday, April 22, 2026  1:30-2:50

Pretrial and Probation Practices:  Compare and Contrast – Tanya Anderson Center for Effective Public Policy           COPE & CPTE (Pretrial Track) approved

Pretrial and probation share common touchpoints across the justice system, yet they are grounded in distinct legal frameworks, purposes, and outcome expectations. This workshop provides practitioners with a practical, side-by-side examination of pretrial and probation supervision, highlighting where practices align, where they diverge, and why those differences matter in daily decision-making.  Participants will explore how assessments, service delivery, and responses to compliant and non-compliant behavior function across both disciplines, while maintaining a shared goal of promoting individual success, public safety, and system effectiveness. Through practitioner-focused discussion, the session will elevate real world
experiences and implementation considerations.

The workshop will also examine key performance measures used in pretrial and probation to assess effectiveness, reinforce accountability, and support data-informed practice. Attendees will leave with greater clarity around roles, responsibilities, and performance expectations, strengthening their ability to apply supervision practices intentionally and effectively within their respective jurisdictions.

Strategic Case Management for Probation Officers-Becky Self, AOIC      COPE Approved 

This training equips probation officers with practical tools and structured approaches to effective case management for
justice-involved individuals under community supervision. Participants will explore how to navigate a plan from beginning to the end of a case. The course emphasizes evidence-based supervision practices, risk and needs assessment, goal setting, intervention planning, and ongoing case management.  Officers will learn how to translate assessment findings into actionable supervision plans that balance accountability, rehabilitation, and public safety.

AI & Courts 2026-Honorable Jeffrey A. Goffinet, 1st Circuit       COPE & CPTE approved

Everyone talks about artificial intelligence. ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, WestlawAI and more…In this course, we explore how various applications of generative artificial intelligence are impacting the court system and its partners not just tomorrow but today. Using discussion and video examples, participants will see and discuss some of the most recent impacts of generative artificial intelligence. The content is appropriate for beginners to experienced AI users.

Traumatic Brain Injury in Probation – Tim McGavin, National Association of State Head Injury Administrators       COPE & CPTE approved

Studies have shown approximately 61% of people involved in the criminal justice system have a history of Traumatic Brain Injury.  3 out of 5 people presenting in probation have been impacted by this often unidentified condition.  Those with a history of TBI have higher rates of criminality, recidivism, poor peer and familial relationships, diminished impulse control, problem solving and decision-making, and rates of substance use and alcohol disorder—in short everything we measure in risk assessments.  This workshop is designed to provide a foundation to probation and detention officers to understand, not excuse, certain behaviors their clients may present.

Wednesday, April 22, 2026  3:00-4:30

Moving from Compliance-Based Supervision to Supportive Services-Tara Boh Blair, Center for Effective Public Policy; Wendy Venvertloh, National Association of Pretrial Services Agencies       COPE & CPTE (Pretrial Track) approved  

Pretrial Services across the country are modernizing their practices, moving away from compliance-driven supervision models toward individualized, support-oriented practices that promote court appearance, community safety, and system fairness. This workshop explores what that shift looks like in practice.

Participants will examine how traditional pretrial supervision models can unintentionally replicate probation-like controls, increase technical violations, and undermine the presumption of innocence. The session will then introduce a support based framework emphasizing problem-solving, voluntary engagement, service coordination, and least-restrictive conditions.

Through real-world examples and discussion, attendees will leave with concrete strategies to redesign pretrial operations, align conditions with statutory intent, and implement practices that enhance success.

Mentor’s Toolbox-Dr. Alexandra Walker, ACJI (reserved for mentors of the Leadership Academy)      COPE Approved

This workshop is designed to give prospective mentors information on how to give and receive feedback; define what coaching/mentoring is and isn’t; provide tools WOOP, technical vs. adaptive (diagnosing our default); and provide an overview of the capstone plan.

AI & Courts 2026-Honorable Jeffrey A. Goffinet, 1st Circuit (Repeat Session)       COPE & CPTE approved

Everyone talks about artificial intelligence. ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, WestlawAI and more…In this course, we explore how various applications of generative artificial intelligence are impacting the court system and its partners not just tomorrow but today. Using discussion and video examples, participants will see and discuss some of the most recent impacts of generative artificial intelligence. The content is appropriate for beginners to experienced AI users.

Supervision Strategies for the Intimate Partner Violence Justice-Involved Individuals-Nichole Bockhorn, AOIC      COPE Approved

This training equips community supervision professionals with practical, evidence-informed strategies to effectively supervise justice-involved individuals involved in intimate partner violence (IPV). Participants will explore the dynamics of IPV, risk and lethality indicators, trauma-informed and survivor-centered approaches, and behavior change principles that promote accountability while enhancing victim safety. The session emphasizes coordinated community responses, structured case planning, and the integration of supervision practices that reduce recidivism and improve outcomes for families and communities

Traumatic Brain Injury in Probation (Repeat Session)-Tim McGavin, National Association of State Head Injury Administrators       COPE & CPTE approved

Studies have shown approximately 61% of people involved in the criminal justice system have a history of Traumatic Brain Injury.  3 out of 5 people presenting in probation have been impacted by this often unidentified condition.  Those with a history of TBI have higher rates of criminality, recidivism, poor peer and familial relationships, diminished impulse control, problem solving and decision-making, and rates of substance use and alcohol disorder—in short everything we measure in risk assessments.  This workshop is designed to provide a foundation to probation and detention officers to understand, not excuse, certain behaviors their clients may present.

Wednesday Evening Fund Raising Paint N Sip Event Sponsored by the Human Advocacy Committee – 5:00 p.m.

Join the Human Advocacy Committee for an evening of laughter, fun and drinks while supporting Noah’s Rest.  

Noah’s Amazon Wish List

$50.00 per person

Use the QR Code to pay for the event.  Please include name, and reference to Paint N Sip

Deadline to register for this fundraising event is 4/8/26 and is limited to 25 participants.

Questions about this event?  Contact Linda O’Brien    linda.obrien@cookcountyil.gov or Angela Seballos   aseballos@lakcountyil.gov

Wednesday Evening Event 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.

Timothy O’Toole’s Pub

5572 Grand Avenue, Gurnee, IL  60031

Walking distance from the Hampton Inn and Full Bar and Restaurant with Drink Specials

SINGO (Song Music Bingo) with prizes

Complimentary shuttle service available from 6-9 p.m., offering pickup and drop-off between the Ten Hotel and O’Toole’s.

Thursday, April 23, 2026   8:30-11:45 a.m.

Keynote:  Desistance from Crime:  Identity, Supervision, and the Science of Long-Term Change (What actually changes when people stop offending?)-3 hours-Joe Arvidson, Paragon Group         COPE & CPTE approved

For decades, supervision has focused on managing risk, addressing needs, and ensuring compliance. Yet long-term desistance research tells a deeper story: sustainable change is not simply behavior modification — it is identity transformation over time.

This keynote introduces foundational principles of desistance theory in accessible, practice-focused language. Drawing on identity theory, longitudinal research, and decades of frontline supervision experience, Joseph Arvidson explores:

• Why people do not change all at once
• How multiple “selves” coexist during transition
• How systems stabilize certain identities over others
• Why supervision does more than monitor behavior — it shapes probability

Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of how attention, language, expectations, and case planning influence which version of a person becomes more likely over time.

This session does not abandon evidence-based practice. It expands it — integrating desistance research with the realities of probation and parole work.

Attendees will walk away with:

• A practical framework for understanding identity in supervision
• Language shifts that widen future possibilities
• A reframing of relapse and setback
• Renewed professional agency in shaping long-term outcomes

This keynote is both a foundational introduction to desistance theory and an invitation to see supervision differently — not as prediction, but as participation.

Lunch 12:00 -1:30 p.m.

Thursday, April 23, 2026   1:30-2:50 p.m.

Beyond “We’ve Always Done It This Way”: Implementing Desistance-Informed Practice in Community Corrections-with Joe Arvidson (Paragon Group) and Dr. Alexandra Walker (ACJI)         COPE & CPTE approved

Pretrial Documentation-Pretrial Track-Ryan Rettig, Office of Statewide Pretrial Services; Anne Pettit, Office of Statewide Pretrial Services; Twyla Moore, Office of Statewide Pretrial Services         COPE & CPTE (Pretrial Track) approved

This course will equip pretrial professionals with the critical thinking skills to distinguish necessary details from negligible information when documenting day to day operations.  It will also provide the tools, knowledge, and resources necessary to maintain consistency and quality amongst pretrial staff in generating adequate documentation.  Pretrial Educators will address formatting, officer barrier, and confidentiality concerns regarding documentation in a variety of situations.

Stronger Together:  A Multidisciplinary Approach to Human Trafficking in the Justice System-Kyle Doyle, Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office; Lauren Walker, Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office-Children’s Advocacy Center       COPE & CPTE approved

A foundational overview of human trafficking and examines how and why the Lake County Human Trafficking Task Force was formed to address gaps in the local justice response.  Participants will learn key indicators relevant to probation and court services professionals,
understand their role in identifying and responding to potential trafficking cases, and gain insight into what to expect as cases move through investigation and prosecution. The session emphasizes collaboration, practical application, and the importance of a coordinated justice-system approach.

PREA Guidelines and Certification in Detention Centers-Dennis McMahan and Jennifer Zakaras – COPE approved

For juvenile detention facilities, PREA compliance is both a legal obligation and a culture shift — and this training addresses both. Journey to Zero is a 90-minute, hands-on session that moves participants from foundational standards to practical audit readiness through interactive activities grounded in real facility scenarios. Participants leave with completed planning tools and a clear picture of where their facility stands.

Thursday, April 23, 2026   3:00-4:30 p.m.

TIDES in Practice:  A Trauma-Informed Desistance Approach to Supervision -Joe Arvidson       COPE Approved

While the Risk–Need–Responsivity (RNR) model has strengthened evidence-based supervision, many practitioners still wrestle with a practical question: How do we support lasting change, not just short-term compliance?

The TIDES (Trauma-Informed Desistance) Supervision Model was developed as an overlay to existing RNR-informed practice, integrating trauma-informed care, desistance research, and neuroscience into everyday supervision. Rather than replacing current tools, TIDES helps officers organize their work around four pillars of change: self-regulation, identity, resilience, and social support.

This session will provide a practical overview of the model, demonstrate how it aligns with established supervision tools, and explore how officers can shift from a primarily compliance-driven role toward a coaching-oriented approach that supports long-term behavioral change. Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of how to connect evidence-based practice to real-world supervision conversations.

Pretrial Testifying-Pretrial Track-90 minutes-Ryan Rettig; Anne Pettit; Twyla Moore         COPE & CPTE (Pretrial Track) approved

This course will provide employees with the skills and knowledge to confidently provide court testimony about their roles, responsibilities, knowledge, documentation, decisions, and communication with justice involved individuals.

Stronger Together:  A Multidisciplinary Approach to Human Trafficking in the Justice System-Kyle Doyle, Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office; Lauren Walker, Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office-Children’s Advocacy Center         COPE & CPTE approved

A foundational overview of human trafficking and examines how and why the Lake County Human Trafficking Task Force was formed to address gaps in the local justice response.  Participants will learn key indicators relevant to probation and court services professionals,
understand their role in identifying and responding to potential trafficking cases, and gain insight into what to expect as cases move through investigation and prosecution. The session emphasizes collaboration, practical application, and the importance of a coordinated justice-system approach.

PREA Guidelines and Certification in Detention Centers-Dennis McMahan and Jennifer Zakaras –  (repeat session) COPE Approved

For juvenile detention facilities, PREA compliance is both a legal obligation and a culture shift — and this training addresses both. Journey to Zero is a 90-minute, hands-on session that moves participants from foundational standards to practical audit readiness through interactive activities grounded in real facility scenarios. Participants leave with completed planning tools and a clear picture of where their facility stands.

Thursday Evening Event  6:00 p.m. -10:00 p.m.

Margaritaville at Club Tiki

Come dressed for the occasion in your best Hawaiian / Beach themed gear.  (Leis provided)

Transportation Provided to and from the event.  Busses will cycle from 5:15 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. from both the TEN Hotel and the Hampton Inn to Club Tiki.

Band–Sispos & Young from 7-9 p.m.

“A Taste of Lake County” (food provided by long standing establishments renowned for their pizza, subs, burritos, tacos and more).

Tournaments and Games

Friday Morning Breakfast Business Meeting

7:30-9:00 a.m. Breakfast

9:00 -11:00 a.m. Business Meeting

Raffle and 50/50 drawing to follow

IPCSA IS GOING CASHLESS AT ALL ON-SITE EVENTS

Registration is a 2 step process:

1.  Complete this Registration Form for each person attending.
2.  Order Tickets Below

Please Note-Your Registration is INCOMPLETE until you complete both steps above!!!

DEADLINE TO REGISTER IS APRIL 10th. NO REFUNDS FOR CANCELLATIONS AFTER APRIL 10th.