OCCA May 14-15, 2026 Annual Conference
The Ohio Community Corrections Association (OCCA) invites you to join us for the 2026 Annual Conference, “Building a New Era of Community Corrections: Reimagining Reintegration and Recovery,” on May 14–15, 2026. This two-day event will bring together those who serve justice-involved individuals in communities across Ohio for dynamic learning, collaboration, and forward-looking dialogue. Our conference will open with a keynote from nationally recognized journalist and author Sam Quinones, whose work has chronicled the impact of the opioid epidemic on communities across the country. Dr. Patrice Palmer, a social worker and restored citizen who is a powerful advocate for individuals navigating recovery and reentry will offer the closing keynote.
The conference will feature a special luncheon roundtable focused on second-chance employment and the critical role restored citizens can play in meeting Ohio’s workforce needs. A range of workshop tracks will provide practical tools and insights on mental health, substance use disorders, and evidence-based practices that reduce recidivism and support long-term reintegration and recovery
If you are a senior leader of Ohio's halfway houses, CBCFs, probation departments, Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, or community partners, you will have the opportunity to attend two special conference sessions on the afternoon of Thursday, May 14. The first session will feature Brian Lovins, President of Justice System Partners, a respected expert in evidence-based practices, organizational culture, and system transformation who works with agencies nationwide to improve outcomes. In the second session, Denise Robinson, President and CEO of Alvis and Immediate Past President of the American Correctional Association will engage leaders in a conversation centered on the lessons she has learned as an internationally recognized, award-winning practitioner and advocate for evidence-informed practices across the continuum of care for individuals with justice involvement, behavioral health needs, and intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Whether you are a frontline practitioner, supervisor, or system leader, this conference offers an opportunity to gain actionable strategies, share best practices, and strengthen partnerships that advance safer communities and better outcomes for justice-involved individuals across Ohio.
