2026 ACA 156th Congress of Correction Pittsburgh_Program Book

SATURDAY, AUG. 1

9:15–10 A.M.

improve communication, reduce conflict and strengthen teamwork. We will share practical tools, real-world examples and implementation strategies to help leaders and line staff build high-trust relationships that support resilience, retention, and effective rehabilitation. Moderator: Josh Chase , Director — Corrections, FranklinCovey, Salt Lake City, Utah Speaker: Jeff Carney , Senior Corrections Consultant, FranklinCovey, Littleton, Colorado When Courage Meets Accountability: Building a Sustainable Victim Offender Dialogue Program Room 315 Primary Community of Focus: Adult Corrections Overview: Victim Offender Dialogue (VOD) is one of the most powerful restorative practices used in corrections today, offering survivors a voice, supporting genuine accountability and fostering meaningful change for those who caused harm. This workshop provides participants with a practical foundation for understanding and facilitating VOD within a correctional environment. Through real‑world case examples from the Virginia Department of Corrections, participants will explore the core principles and essential phases of VOD, including the responsibilities of the facilitator and program coordinator in ensuring safety, clarity and emotional readiness. Special attention will be given to managing difficult cases and facilitating dialogues in a high-security environment. Moderator: Emily Sattie , Victim Services Director, Virginia Department of Corrections, Richmond, Virginia Speaker: Emily Sattie , Victim Services Director, Virginia Department of Corrections, Richmond, Virginia DON’T FORGET TO VISIT THE SPONSORING BOOTHS IN THE EXHIBIT HALL TO GET YOUR TICKET STAMPED FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A VIP CONFERENCE EXPERIENCE!

The Quantifiable Path to Change: Building In-House Data Literacy in Juvenile Justice Room 316 Primary Community of Focus: Ohio Department of Youth Services, Best Practices Institute Overview: Many juvenile justice agencies collect data but lack the internal capacity to transform it into a narrative of youth success. This workshop highlights DYS’ Best Practices Institute and the journey toward high-level data synthesis, including our comprehensive analysis of key performance indicators through average monthly rate modeling. We will discuss how to move beyond simple event tracking to conduct meaningful program evaluations that drive better outcomes for the complex young adults in our care. Moderator: Ohio Department of Youth Services Staff Speakers: Dr. Jordan Argus , Chief Executive, Best Practices Institute, Ohio Department of Youth Services, Columbus, Ohio Beyond Good and Evil: Inside the Mind of the Psychopath [CME|CEU|CERP] Room: 320 Primary Community of Focus: Prisons & Jails Overview: Comprising about 15-20 % of the incarcerated population, we will take an extraordinary journey down the twisted corridors of the mind of the psychopath. We will explore the origin and evolution of the concept of the psychopath and peel back the layers of the psychopathic personality to discover how and why they see the world the way they do. We will investigate the genetic and environmental influences on psychopathic behavior and learn why the minds of some individuals may be wired for crime. Using video-taped interviews of incarcerated psychopaths, participants will be given the opportunity to learn how to identify SATURDAY, AUG. 1 9:30–10:30 A.M.

WORKSHOPS Saturday, Aug. 1 ▼ 8 a.m.–5 p.m.

134 — ACA 156 th Congress of Correction | Pittsburgh