2026 ACA 156th Congress of Correction Pittsburgh_Program Book

SATURDAY, AUG. 1

10–11:30 A.M.

Corrections, Richmond, Virginia; Tammy Smith , Nurse Administrator, Office of Health Care Compliance, Kansas Department of Corrections, Topeka, Kansas

Biometric Capabilities that the Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division Offers to the Corrections Community Room 317 Primary Community of Focus: Prisons & Jails Overview: The CJIS Division’s Biometric Services Section (BSS) recognizes the challenges faced by law enforcement in today’s evolving landscape. BSS offers an array of services designed to improve officer safety through advanced biometric technology, including the use of biometrics for probation, parole, and throughout the judicial process, as well as the mitigation of erroneous prisoner releases. These services, combined with the large repository of criminal history information maintained in the Next Generation Identification (NGI) System, are designed to help ensure law enforcement and public safety. Moderator: Dennis Cutlip , Program Analyst, FBI, Clarksburg, West Virginia Speaker: Angela Elliott , Supervisory Management and Program Analyst, FBI, Clarksburg, West Virginia Maine Model of Corrections: Human-Centered Incarceration and Reentry, Earned Living Units Room 315 Primary Community of Focus: Prisons Overview: The Maine Model of Human-Centered Corrections has resulted in remarkable drops in violence, increased staff and resident wellness and improved reentry outcomes. Two core elements include Earned Living Units and the Pathfinders Outdoor Program. Earned Living Units provide incentives for sustained positive behavior. By connecting privileges with accountability, education, mentoring, work, and other prosocial activities, Earned Living Units support safer operations and positive change. The Pathfinders Outdoor program involves bringing correctional officers and incarcerated people out into nature

SATURDAY, AUG. 1

10–10:45 A.M.

Coming Home — Fostering Inclusive Reentry for Safer Communities Room 319 Primary Community of Focus: Ohio Department of Youth Services, Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative Overview: Despite decades of reform, certain youth populations remain disproportionately impacted at every stage of the juvenile justice system. Across the nation, these imbalances have deepened, with some young people more likely to be detained and for longer periods. These outcomes are not the result of individual actions but are rooted in systemic challenges that have persisted for generations. This session will explore the data behind these different outcomes, the dangers of detention for youth, and the urgent need for a more inclusive and supportive approach to reentry. By ensuring young people have a fair opportunity to reintegrate, we directly contribute to the health and safety of our communities. We will highlight the importance of culturally responsive services, credible messengers, and restorative justice practices, such as “Welcome Back” circles, that successfully reconnect youth with their families and support systems, paving the way for a more stable and secure future for everyone. Moderator: Ohio Department of Youth Services Staff Speaker: Brittany Neal , State Strategic Initiatives Administrator, Ohio Department of Youth Services, Columbus, Ohio 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!

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

138 — ACA 156 th Congress of Correction | Pittsburgh