Fall Conference Schedule

Western Region Jail Association

29th Annual Conference & Vendor Fair

2026

Inn at Virginia Tech & Skelton Conference Center
Blacksburg, Virginia

Monday – August 31, 2026

Golf Tournament:

10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. — Registration/Sign In
11 a.m. to 12 p.m. — Lunch Provided
12 p.m. — Shotgun Start Tournament

Vendor Move In:

Monday 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. — Vendor Hall
Tuesday 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. — Vendor Hall

Tuesday – September 1, 2026

8:30 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. — Attendee Check-in / Registration
9:45 a.m. to 10 a.m. — Posting of Colors / Western Virginia Regional Jail Honor Guard
Welcome and Announcements
Opening Remarks — Chief Mac Babb, Virginia Tech Police Department
9 a.m. to 1 p.m. — Vendor Hall Open
10 a.m. to 12 p.m. — Training Session 1 / 2nd Floor Classroom
Instructor — Chris Dadak, Attorney
Class: Reducing Liability through Effective Supervision (Supervisory Level Staff)
This two-hour training provides jail supervisors and administrators with a practical overview
of supervisory liability in local and regional jails. Participants will examine constitutional
responsibilities, common sources of litigation, supervisory decision-making, and best
practices for reducing organizational and personal liability.
10 a.m. to 12 p.m. — Training Session 2 / Main Auditorium
Instructor — Jeff Arthur
Class: The Benefits of a K-9 Program in Corrections
This course will provide a comprehensive summary on the various benefits of
implementing a K-9 Program in Corrections. The class is meant to offer a thorough
overview of the various tasks a K-9 would take on and the services they provide. The
participants will learn how a K-9 will not only help to keep our facilities and officers safe but
will also provide a beneficial service to our communities as well. The time, training, and
certifications a K-9 and the handler will need to acquire will be discussed at the end of the
lecture.
12:15 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. — Lunch Provided by the Association
1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. — Training Session 3 / Main Auditorium
Instructor — Mary-Huffard Kegley, Jerry Olson, Asean Lundy, and Tawana Ferguson (State Board of
Local and Regional Jail Staff)
Class: Partnering for Excellence: An Overview of the Virginia State Board of Local
and Regional Jails and Resources for Jails
This session provides attendees with an overview of the Virginia State Board of Local and
Regional Jails (BLRJ), including its statutory responsibilities, organizational structure, and
the services and resources available to jails throughout the Commonwealth.
Participants will gain a better understanding of the BLRJ’s role in promoting safe, secure,
and constitutionally compliant operations through regulatory oversight, technical
assistance, training, inspections, and collaborative partnerships. The session will also
highlight opportunities for engagement and discuss how the Board supports continuous
improvement within Virginia’s local and regional jail system.
6 p.m. to 10 p.m. — BBQ and Casino Night (Must Be Registered)

Wednesday – September 2, 2026

8 a.m. to 9 a.m. — Women in Corrections Breakfast
Guest Speaker — Dr. Antionette V. Irving, Sheriff, Richmond City Sheriff’s Office
8 a.m. to 12 p.m. — Vendor Hall Open
10 a.m. to 12 p.m. — Training Session 1 / Main Auditorium
Instructor – Dr. Antionette V. Irving, Richmond City Sheriff
Class: Leading Modern Corrections: Building a Culture that Protects Communities,
Develops Staff, and Changes Lives
Modern corrections requires leaders who can balance public safety, organizational
excellence, staff development, and meaningful rehabilitation. This interactive leadership
master class explores how correctional leaders can create cultures that protect
communities while developing both staff and incarcerated individuals.
Drawing upon the Richmond City Sheriff's Office's experience, Sheriff Irving will share
leadership principles and organizational best practices that have shaped one of Virginia's
most progressive correctional agencies. Through storytelling, facilitated discussion,
audience participation, and practical case studies, participants will explore leadership
strategies that can be adapted within their own organizations regardless of size or
resources. Rather than a traditional lecture, PowerPoint slides will serve as visual guides while
participants engage in discussion, reflection, and practical application.
12:15 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. — President’s Luncheon and Awards
1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. — Training Session 2 / Main Auditorium
Instructor — Justin Presson, VACorp
Class: Cultural Diversity: Considerations under Title VII for Discrimination,
Harassment, and Sexual Harassment
This program is designed to inform law enforcement officers and supervisory staff of the
federal, state, and local laws surrounding Equal Employment and Cultural Diversity. The
course will focus on these issues through the lens of liability avoidance and the
maintenance of community perception via facts and information provided by a self-
coverage risk-pool.
3:30 p.m. — Closing Remarks / Association President

*Click here for a printable PDF form of this schedule.