Criminal Justice Update RSS

A conversation with Ohio’s Attorney General

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

‘The job of the attorney general is to assist local law enforcement — the sheriffs, police, prosecutors, and coroners — in doing their jobs. If we can help them become more effective through the tools we have, then we’re doing our job.’

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine has made it a priority to assist and support the work of local law enforcement, prosecutors, and victim advocates. Here are some topics he covered during a recent interview:

Addressing the epidemic

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The Ohio Attorney General’s Office is prepared to help local authorities fight Ohio’s prescription drug abuse epidemic on multiple fronts.

Unintentional drug overdoses killed 1,373 Ohioans in 2009, an average of nearly four a day.

BCI works to reduce lab times

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

To reduce turnaround times, the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation’s Laboratory Division is undergoing a comprehensive analysis, hiring additional personnel, and adding more technology.

“As of the end of 2010, law enforcement agencies needing evidence tested for DNA were looking at a total turnaround time of 125 days,” Attorney General Mike DeWine said. “We can — and will — do better than that.”

Families of those lost reach out to help others

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Wesley Workman was personable and popular. A gifted football player, he led his Portsmouth High School team in tackles three years in a row and was a 2007 all-state honorable-mention selection.

But there was another side to Wes, says his mother, Jo Anna Krohn.

Funding helps extradite sex offenders

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Funds are available through the Attorney General’s Office to help sheriffs extradite unregistered sex offenders who have fled the state.

The program, funded by a U.S. Department of Justice grant, is called SORN NET, short for Sex Offender Registration Network Nationwide Extradition Team. It covers up to $2,000 in expenses per trip — including transportation, lodging, meals, and other allowable costs — when local authorities travel out of state to retrieve a sex offender who has failed to register.

Key contacts with the Ohio Attorney General's Office

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

News & Notes

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Former sheriff heading organized crime commission, Peace Officers' Memorial and more.

Statistically Speaking

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Sheriffs are responsible for issuing, renewing, denying, suspending, and revoking Ohioans’ concealed carry licenses. They report these statistics quarterly to the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission, part of the Ohio Attorney General’s Office. The office recently issued the 2010 annual report related to the state’s concealed handgun law. Here are some highlights:

Ohio sheriffs issued 60,881 regular concealed carry permits in 2010, including 47,337 new licenses and 13,544 renewal licenses.

Training focuses on the BASICS

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Domestic violence shelter manager Lorie Delaney knows how important it is for victim advocates to be properly trained. A domestic violence survivor, she now devotes her life to helping women recover at the Project Woman shelter in Springfield.

Delaney attended the ADVANCE Academy’s Basic Advocacy Skills in Crime Victim Services (BASICS) training presented by the Ohio Attorney General’s Office in September. Since then, she has recommended to her executive director that all of her colleagues participate in the five-day program.

Two Days in May marks 20th year

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

For the past 20 years, Ohio victim advocates have gathered for two days each May to share their skills, passions, and stories of hope and resiliency.

The Ohio Attorney General’s Two Days in May Conference on Victim Assistance (TDIM) has become one of the largest and most comprehensive victim advocacy conferences in the nation.

AG pursues scammers

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 10:31:12 GMT

The Consumer Protection Section’s Economic Crimes Division helps local law enforcement and prosecutors identify, investigate, and prosecute consumer fraud of a criminal nature.

CART welcomes participation, suggestions

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 10:14:48 GMT

The first three hours after a child’s abduction are critical in determining whether the child will be found alive. If an abductor intends to kill a child, 74 percent do so within those first few hours.

Courses offer vital guidance in handling abuse

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 10:15:41 GMT

Finding the right words in a difficult situation can be challenging for anyone. Finding the right words to allow a child to disclose abuse takes training.

From the Attorney General

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 11:18:37 GMT

As a prosecuting attorney, I learned early in my career that people facing mental health problems were cycling through our criminal justice system time and again, receiving jail or prison time rather than the treatment they needed. My colleague Ohio Supreme Court Justice Evelyn Lundberg Stratton saw the same thing years ago as a trial judge.

Honoring the fallen

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 10:18:33 GMT

Law enforcement from across the state will gather at 11 a.m. May 3 to honor six of their peers who lost their lives in the line of duty in 2011 and six historical nominees. The Ohio Peace Officers’ Memorial Ceremony — marking its 25th anniversary — will take place at the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy in London.

In the Courts

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 10:13:49 GMT

In its first review of GPS tracking, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in January in United States v. Jones that law enforcement must have a search warrant before attaching a GPS tracking device to a subject’s vehicle.

Legislative Initiatives

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 09:59:26 GMT

The Ohio Attorney General’s Office works with the Ohio General Assembly to advocate legislation aimed at supporting local law enforcement. For more information on these efforts, contact the Attorney General’s Help Center at 800-282-0515.

New law helps solve cold cases

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 10:28:56 GMT

For Sgt. Michael Lang of the Englewood Police Department, the day he was able to tell a 25-year-old woman that a man suspected of raping her more than 10 years earlier had been arrested stands out as one of his best on the job.

News & Notes

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 10:05:01 GMT

The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) can provide increased visibility to help local law enforcement agencies resolve unsolved homicides.

Through the Ohio Attorney General’s website at www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov/OhioUnsolvedHomicides,
local law enforcement can share details and photos related to unsolved homicide cases and solicit tips from the public.

Panel addresses mental health, criminal justice issues

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 10:36:47 GMT

The leaders of an Ohio task force working to reduce the “revolving door effect” many people with mental illness encounter with the criminal justice system agree on a lot of things. But probably their most fundamental common ground is a desire to get things accomplished.

Q&A with Ohio BCI superintendent

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 10:27:45 GMT

Tom Stickrath is a proven leader in Ohio’s criminal justice field. At BCI, he’s committed to making an already well-respected organization the best of its kind. Period.

Attorney General’s BCI expands palm print database

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The Attorney General’s Office has expanded Ohio’s Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) to include nearly 600,000 palm prints, and it’s preparing to connect it with the FBI’s new national database that’s 10 times that size — and growing.

BCI labs earn international accreditation

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s three laboratories have earned ASCLD/LAB-International accreditation from the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board.

Course draws educators, law enforcement into conversations, next steps

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Among the 250 people attending a recent Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy course on school shootings were about 150 teachers, administrators, cooks, bus drivers, and custodians from Amanda Clearcreek Local Schools. There, too, were six members of the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office, which provides law enforcement services to the district.

From the Attorney General

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

It is crucial that Ohio sexual assault victims have access to adequate victim services.

Thankfully, victim services have changed dramatically since I was a county prosecutor in the 1970s, when crime victims were lucky if their “services” included an ambulance or cruiser. Today, my office provides resources for victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, identity theft, patient abuse and neglect, and many other crimes. We also administer grants that fund nearly 300 victim service programs across Ohio.

In the Courts

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision in Bailey v. United States clarifies that law enforcement officers’ ability to detain a home’s recent occupant during a search depends largely on the distance the occupant is from the residence.

News & Notes

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A compilation of briefs from the Ohio Attorney General’s Office

OPOTA course targets white collar crime

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

While many of us hope for good news from the IRS this time of year, a Louisiana tax preparer went on trial for filing false tax refund claims using the names and Social Security numbers of nursing home residents.

Peace Officers’ Memorial Ceremony approaches

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Law enforcement officers from across Ohio will gather at 11 a.m. May 2 to honor three of their peers who lost their lives in 2012. The 26th annual Ohio Peace Officers’ Memorial Ceremony will take place at the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy in London.

Q&A: Crimes Against Children Initiative director draws on experience, strong team

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Attorney General Mike DeWine launched the Crimes Against Children Initiative in 2011, assembling investigators, prosecutors, victim advocates, and law enforcement trainers to better protect Ohio’s children. The team focuses on identifying, arresting, and convicting people who prey on children through sexual and other forms of abuse, child pornography, solicitation of minors, and similar crimes.

Steps can help limit civil liability

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Because of the inherent danger and quick decisions law enforcement officers face every day, civil liability is a real concern for officers and their agencies.

TDIM Conference explores ways to assist vulnerable Ohioans

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Reaching vulnerable populations with victim services can require looking at situations from a different angle. Already adept at recognizing victims’ needs and challenges, those who work in the advocacy and law enforcement fields are well-positioned to help.

Training boosts agencies’ ability to fight crimes involving kids

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Offering free training courses that increase law enforcement agencies’ capacity to protect kids is a major priority of the Crimes Against Children Initiative. To register for courses highlighted below, visit www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov/OPOTA.

AG’s investigators can assist with nursing home drug diversion cases

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit is available to help local law enforcement investigate drug diversion in Ohio’s long-term care facilities.

Attorney General steps up focus on unsolved homicides

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Attorney General Mike DeWine has introduced a plan to focus more attention on Ohio’s unsolved homicides. The effort involves listing every cold case homicide in the state on the Attorney General’s website and providing law enforcement with assistance from several BCI units.

Below the surface: BCI’s new Forensic Dive Team takes services to a new level

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Numbers tell an impressive story about the Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s new Forensic Dive Team.

Changes arm first responders with details at drilling sites

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Recent changes to Ohio law enhance public safety in light of a renewed interest in oil and gas drilling and heightened concerns about hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” in the state.

From the Attorney General

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

There’s no standing still in law enforcement, especially if you’re going to outpace criminals and do right by those you’ve vowed to protect. Likewise, the Attorney General’s Office isn’t standing still in its efforts to identify and implement creative ways to assist the criminal justice community.

Fugitive Safe Surrender offers fresh start

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Kyle Presjak traveled some 1,400 miles for a fresh start. Presjak, 21, was among 135 people who turned themselves in during Fugitive Safe Surrender events in Trumbull and Columbiana counties in July. He traveled from Texas to resolve a warrant for failing to appear in court on speeding and driving without a license charges.

Initiatives strengthen sex offender monitoring

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Attorney General Mike DeWine has announced is announcing three new initiatives to better monitor Ohio’s about 19,000 convicted sex offenders.

Introducing OPOTA’s Mobile Academy

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy is rolling out a new Mobile Academy that will make firearms, driving, and subject control courses available free throughout the state.

Measures aimed at stemming growth of Internet cafés

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

More than 800 Internet cafés have filed mandatory paperwork in response to the Ohio Attorney General’s efforts to get a handle on the number of such establishments in the state and halt their growth, at least until regulations can be put in place.

New report, collaborative address human trafficking

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Sex trafficking is occurring in more out-of-the-way locations than ever before, making it more difficult for law enforcement to detect, according to a new report from the Ohio Attorney General’s Human Trafficking Commission.

News and notes

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A compilation of updates from the Attorney General's office

OPOTA courses in the works on active shootings

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Active shooters can strike anytime, anywhere. To help law enforcement and educators prepare for the possibility of such incidents, the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy (OPOTA) plans to launch two new courses in early 2013. Both are free.

Q&A: Peace officer training chief highlights priorities

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

After 25 years with the FBI and stints with the U.S. Army’s Judge Advocate General Corps and Federal Air Marshal Service, Bob Fiatal is focusing on providing Ohio officers with the best available training — free and close to home. He serves as executive director of the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy and Commission.

AG targets criminals who prey on children

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:52:27 GMT

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine's new Crimes Against Children Initiative is a comprehensive plan to target sex offenders who prey on kids.

Awards recognize peace officers’ contributions

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:05:30 GMT

On the day Morrow County Deputy Brandon Moore was shot five times while investigating an alleged marijuana plot, the hospital waiting room was shoulder to shoulder with law enforcement. That camaraderie was evident again in October when Moore and dozens of his peers were presented with Distinguished Law Enforcement Awards at the Ohio Attorney General’s Law Enforcement Conference.

BCI earns casino duties

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:47:44 GMT

The Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) will provide investigative and security services for casinos expected to open this year in Cleveland and Toledo. The Ohio Casino Control Commission tapped BCI for the role, which it will carry out through a Casino Gaming Unit.

BCI ramps up sexual assault kit testing

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:19:42 GMT

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine encourages law enforcement agencies to submit for testing all sexual assault kits tied to cases in which they believe a crime occurred. Submitting all kits, even old ones, helps ensure that available sex offender DNA is added to state and federal databases.

From the Attorney General

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:52:37 GMT

As the parent of eight and grandparent of 17, I know how precious the gift of children is — their smiles, their laughter, their curiosity, their innocence. Yet, tragically, too many of Ohio’s more than 2.7 million children aren’t experiencing the safe, loving childhoods they deserve. An alarming number face abuse, neglect, and exploitation by strangers, acquaintances, and even family members.

In the Courts

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Law enforcement officers have an ethical and legal duty to impartially disclose all evidence in a case. Failing to do so compromises the integrity of the criminal justice system and exposes officers and their agencies to civil liability.

Legislative initiatives would assist law enforcement

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:22:57 GMT

The Ohio Attorney General’s Office is working with the Ohio legislature to push for passage of three bills aimed at supporting local law enforcement.

News & Notes

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 10:59:46 GMT

A compilation of news from the Attorney General's Office.

Q&A with Deputy AG for Law Enforcement

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:17:27 GMT

Steve Schumaker oversees the law enforcement functions of the Ohio Attorney General’s Office. Here, he shares thoughts on his job, his background, and the office.

RX Update

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:51:36 GMT

Representatives of eight states took part in the Ohio Attorney General’s Interstate Prescription Drug Abuse Summit this past fall to share strategies for fighting the epidemic and foster collaboration.

AG shares RECLAIM Ohio’s success

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Attorney General Mike DeWine recently testified before a subcommittee of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee about RECLAIM Ohio, a successful juvenile justice reform initiative launched in the 1990s.

Awards recognize outstanding accomplishments

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A dozen individuals and groups received Ohio Distinguished Law Enforcement Awards at the Ohio Attorney General’s Law Enforcement Conference in October. Among them: first-responders to the Chardon school shooting, a sheriff’s staff that ensured public safety after the release of dozens of exotic animals near Zanesville, and the first officer on the scene of a shooting that left eight dead in Copley.

BCI cuts DNA turnaround times 84 percent

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation has reduced turnaround times for DNA evidence from an average of 125 days to 20 days over the past two years.

Colleagues recognize sheriff’s 48 years at the helm

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Former Pickaway County Sheriff Dwight E. Radcliff is in a class all his own.

eOPOTA addresses non-stranger sexual assault

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Because about two-thirds of rapes are committed by someone known to the victim, sexual assault cases can be difficult from the start.

From the Attorney General

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Nothing is more important than protecting our kids from harm. Unfortunately, the horrific school shooting in Connecticut and the tragedy in our own state last year in Chardon remind us how difficult that task can be.

News and Notes

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A compilation of updates from the Attorney General's Office.

New weapons take aim at synthetic drugs

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The stories of synthetic drug highs gone bad are tragic.

An Ohio man, high on “bath salts,” was shot by police while holding his girlfriend at knifepoint. After using “spice,” a Texas man assaulted his housemates and beat, strangled, and bit off pieces of a pet dog’s flesh. A Louisiana man slit his throat in front of his family after snorting “bath salts.”

Q&A: Health Care Fraud Section chief emphasizes collaboration

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Keesha Mitchell’s staff has expanded by 12 in the past two years to better assist law enforcement and prosecutors statewide.

20th Two Days in May attracts more than 1,000

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The Ohio Attorney General’s 20th annual Two Days in May Conference on Victim Assistance attracted 1,065 attendees to take part in 35 workshops and several general sessions in mid-May.

Attorney General takes steps to reduce turnaround times for DNA testing

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation (BCI) is working to reduce lab turnaround times for DNA testing by streamlining processes, adding staff, and increasing the use of technology.

Evidence receiving sites

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Evidence for BCI testing can be submitted at several locations. Addresses, hours, and contact numbers are:

Field Notes: Decide whether to pursue before making a stop

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

I recently had the opportunity to observe driver training at the Peel Regional Police Department in Ontario, Canada, which trains officers in emergency response, pursuit, and rolling road blocks on city streets amid civilian traffic. While not advocating that approach here, I have incorporated some of their concepts into driving courses at the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy. I suggest law enforcement agencies do the same within their trainings and day-to-day operations. For example:

From the Attorney General

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Protecting Ohio’s families and children requires a great deal of cooperation among many professionals in state government and local law enforcement. Since my swearing-in ceremony in January, we have been working hard to raise the standard of service that the Ohio Attorney General’s Office — especially BCI — delivers to our law enforcement partners.

How to get the fastest results possible for your DNA case

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Law enforcement agencies can decrease the turnaround time for individual cases by:

Hundreds gather to pay tribute to Ohio’s fallen peace officers

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Law enforcement officers from throughout the state joined grieving family members May 5 to remember the four Ohio officers who gave their lives in 2010 and honor a historical nominee.

Held on the grounds of the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy (OPOTA) in London, the Ohio Peace Officers’ Memorial Ceremony honored:

In the Courts

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

In Kentucky v. King, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in May that police can enter an apartment without a warrant to prevent the imminent destruction of evidence as long as they do not engage or threaten to engage in conduct that violates the Fourth Amendment.

Law Enforcement Conference set for October

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The Ohio Attorney General’s Law Enforcement Conference — set for Oct. 13–14 in Columbus — will feature three top-notch speakers, 30 workshops, and the Distinguished Law Enforcement Awards Luncheon.

News & Notes

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Attorney General’s Office to lead Fugitive Safe Surrender

Cleveland Police Officer Wayne Leon was conducting what appeared to be a routine traffic stop in June 2000 when the man he pulled over drew a weapon and shot him in the head. Leon died the next day. His killer, who remains on Ohio’s death row, testified that he shot Leon to avoid being arrested on an outstanding warrant.

OPOTA expands regional and online offerings

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

At the direction of the Attorney General, the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy (OPOTA) is stepping up regional and online offerings to help law enforcement agencies cope with limited training and travel budgets.

OPOTA offered 110 regional trainings to about 5,300 attendees last year. Executive Director Bob Fiatal wants to double that in 2011. And in June, the academy attracted about 300 registrants for its first two webinars, a training option Fiatal expects to offer with increasing frequency.

Resources available for DNA collection

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Ohio law now requires the collection of a DNA specimen from all adult felony arrestees. Here are some resources the Attorney General’s Office provides to help law enforcement agencies comply with the new law, which took full effect July 1:

AG to partner with BGSU on new facility

Mon, 23 Jul 2012 11:52:16 GMT

A plan to build the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s new Northwest Ohio office on the Bowling Green State University campus offers benefits for law enforcement in that region and the field of forensic science in general.

Ceremony honors Ohio’s fallen officers

Mon, 23 Jul 2012 11:42:06 GMT

Father Kevin Lutz has a lot of heroes, and law enforcement officers are near the top of his list — with good reason.

From the Attorney General

Mon, 23 Jul 2012 11:55:27 GMT

A new study commissioned by my office puts solid numbers to a phenomenon that law enforcement officers and prosecutors have long known: A small group of repeat offenders is responsible for a large percentage of violent crime in our state.

In the Courts

Mon, 23 Jul 2012 11:43:45 GMT

The federal courts recently narrowed a Fourth Amendment search warrant exception frequently used by law enforcement officers.

Kids and officers hit it off

Mon, 23 Jul 2012 11:35:48 GMT

Tony Perrone is happy to see an increased police presence where he works on the south side of Youngstown. But not for the reasons you might think.

Law Enforcement Conference features impressive lineup

Mon, 23 Jul 2012 11:50:38 GMT

An excellent array of speakers and workshops is planned for the Ohio Attorney General’s Law Enforcement Conference, set for Oct. 25–26 at the Hyatt Regency Columbus.

News Briefs

Mon, 23 Jul 2012 11:31:03 GMT

A compilation of news from the Attorney General's Office.

Q&A with crime victims’ chief advocate

Mon, 23 Jul 2012 11:47:41 GMT

We provide certain core services — grants, victim compensation, and education and training programs — and we want to make sure those programs aren’t working in silos. For example, our compensation unit noticed an increased number of claims for a particular type of crime.

TDIM puts focus on victim advocacy

Mon, 23 Jul 2012 11:45:19 GMT

More than 1,000 people attended the Ohio Attorney General’s recent Two Days in May Conference on Victim Assistance. The 21st annual event drew victims, advocates, social service workers, criminal justice professionals, and others for dozens of workshops, several speakers, and a foster care symposium.

Timeline chronicles case of elusive fugitive Bobby Thompson

Mon, 23 Jul 2012 11:54:02 GMT

Bobby Thompson loved the game. Conning unsuspecting donors who thought their $5, $10, and $20 donations were benefiting American heroes. Rubbing shoulders with famous people. Watching money roll in from 41 states where his U.S. Navy Veterans Association “charity” was registered.

Appeals Section, prosecutors team up on Ohio Supreme Court cases

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 00:05:00 GMT

By Mary Alice Casey

The Ohio Attorney General’s Office stands ready to assist county prosecutors’ offices in their cases before the Ohio Supreme Court.

Attorney General’s staff updating basic peace officer curriculum

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 00:08:00 GMT

In addition to its role in overseeing advanced peace officer training, the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission (OPOTC) sets the curricula for basic peace officer training as well as that of parole, probation, and corrections officers; jailers; bailiffs; private security officers; and humane agents.

From the Attorney General

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 00:10:00 GMT

My job as Ohio’s Attorney General is to support and assist local law enforcement professionals in their efforts to protect Ohio’s families. An important part of meeting that responsibility is making sure peace officers around the state are well-trained for the work we ask them to do.

In the Courts

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 00:04:00 GMT

In J.D.B. v. North Carolina, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in June that a child’s age is relevant to the Miranda custody analysis.

Police removed 13-year-old J.D.B. from his classroom and questioned him about items stolen in two home invasions. Without administering Miranda warnings, and with the door closed, the investigator questioned him for 30 to 45 minutes.

New fronts established in battle against opiates

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 00:07:00 GMT

As statewide efforts to battle the prescription drug abuse epidemic begin to show results, the Ohio Attorney General’s Office and its partners are seeing a rise in the prevalence of heroin, prompting a broader focus to fight opiates in general.

News & Notes

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 00:02:00 GMT

The Ohio Attorney General’s Office and law enforcement agencies throughout Ohio will take part in a national initiative to collect and properly dispose of prescription medications.

Observance sheds light on domestic violence

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 00:00:30 GMT

By Alissa Romstadt

Victim advocates are lighting the night sky this October in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

The Ohio Attorney General’s Office is partnering with Ohio programs and agencies in the Purple Light Nights campaign and other activities to raise awareness about domestic violence issues.

Online or on the road, OPOTA serves local law enforcement

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 00:09:00 GMT

The Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy (OPOTA) is reaching out to serve local law enforcement by making trainings even more convenient for time-strapped and budget-conscious agencies across Ohio.

Q&A: Meet Aaron Haslam

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 00:06:00 GMT

Senior Assistant Attorney General Aaron Haslam, who is leading the Attorney General’s prescription drug abuse initiative, shares his thoughts on the assignment and opiate abuse trends.

Resources are a click away

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 00:03:00 GMT

Dozens of law enforcement resources are available on the Ohio Attorney General’s website. Here is a recap of the most popular available at www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov/LawEnforcementServices:

Sound advice vital for youth

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 00:01:00 GMT

By Kathleen Nichols

With a new school year under way, criminal justice professionals are sure to receive calls from parents and school officials seeking assistance with technology misuse incidents such as cyberbullying and sexting. In responding, it is important to offer substantive advice and assistance, even though many such cases never escalate to a criminal level.