2024 Line Officer Training Institute

SHANDA BREED is the Director of Adult Probation Services of the AOC under the Arizona Supreme Court, with over 23 years in the probation field. Her team strives for continual quality improvements and providing relevant and evidenced based trainings to Adult County Probation Departments, community partners, and local courts on topics such as sex offender supervision, pretrial practice improvements, reentry services and responses, mental health intervention, access to treatment, effective specialty courts, GPS monitoring, transferred youth, EBP assessment and case plans, EPICS-II rollout, state funds, domestic violence, tribal and rural supervision, AmeriCorps memberships and more. Shanda previously served 16 years in Northern Arizona Navajo County Adult and Juvenile Probation Department with positions of Juvenile Predisposition/Adult Presentence Investigator, Standard and Intensive Probation Officer, Field Supervisor, Deputy Chief Probation Officer, and Chief Probation Officer. Her work included implementing Arizona’s first Defensive Tactics Training curriculum and first Firearms Training curriculum as a statewide trainer and implementing Verbal De-escalation and Evidence Based Practices training and policies throughout the state.

Randy Carmack, MSW, LSW, LICDC, CPRS has been working with the substance use disorder population since 2014. Randy began working for Public Health Dayton & Montgomery County Recovery Outreach Team in Aug. 2017 as a peer supporter prior to transitioning in October of 2023 to Community Outreach Supervisor. Randy has a progressive approach in dealing with the substance use disorder outreach. Working with community partners to wrap around the person struggling with SUD is vital to their success. Breaking down Silo’s is a focal point. We all work better, together!

Panelist- The Franklin County Blueprint for Safety: An Interagency Response to Domestic Violence Crimes

Panelist- The Franklin County Blueprint for Safety: An Interagency Response to Domestic Violence Crimes

Panel Emcee-The Franklin County Blueprint for Safety: An Interagency Response to Domestic Violence Crimes

LAURIE FRANK is currently a Probation Officer for Summit County Adult Probation. She was briefly the clinical supervisor at BrightView Health from October until May 2022. Laurie was a HOPE (mental health caseload) probation officer for Stark County Court of Common Pleas and became the CHANCE Drug Court Coordinator until October 2021. Prior to working at the courts, Laurie worked at Oriana House in Akron as a caseworker at two residential facilities. She is one of the original P.O. standards faculty members (since 2013). Her educational background is in counseling and she is licensed in Ohio as an LICDC (Licensed Independent Chemical Dependency Counselor).

Spencer graduated from Ohio University with a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences in Sociology/Criminology and a minor in Psychology. Spencer started his career in probation the following year working for Delaware County Juvenile Court as a Suspension Alternative Coordinator.
In 2016, Spencer accepted the position as Intake/Diversion officer in Delaware County. For the next two years, Spencer worked as a member of the Strengthening Families Collaborative, was a trained facilitator and program coordinator for Parent Project, and was the Delaware County Juvenile Court liaison with the Delaware City Police Department. In 2017, Spencer attended and completed the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) program and completed the 40-hour curriculum.
Spencer accepted the role of Intensive Supervision Probation Officer for Lorain County Adult Probation Department in 2019. Spencer has experience instructing Defensive Tactics, Baton, and has implemented CIT based scenarios in trainings. Currently, Spencer is a Probation Officer working in the Lorain County Recovery Court Program under Judge John R. Miraldi. Throughout his time, Spencer has initiated ongoing coordination of the CIT Outreach Team within his department helping connect offenders with appropriate resources and mental health crises outcomes. In 2022, NAMI awarded Spencer the Law Enforcement Officer of the Year for providing thoughtful guidance and inspiring excellence within the community. Last year, Spencer was a nominee for the Ohio CIT Award presented by NAMI.

Panelist- The Franklin County Blueprint for Safety: An Interagency Response to Domestic Violence Crimes

KRISTEN KAPLANIS comes to us from Canton Municipal Probation Department. Kristen started her career as a Victim Advocate and moved into the role as an ISP Officer for the Stark County Court of Common Pleas. During her ten year career as an ISP officer, she oversaw probationers that were sentenced to the CHANCE Drug Court Program. Kristen worked hands-on in developing policies and ensuring all audit standards were met on a yearly basis. In 2011, Kristen transitioned over to Canton Municipal Court. Kristen was Senior Officer and, in 2017, took on the job as being the Specialized Docket Coordinator. Kristen is excited about the direction of the probation officer's interaction with probationers and is excited to be a PO Facilitator for the Supreme Court and encourage other probation officers to be effective in their careers.

DR. BRAD LANDER is a Clinical Psychologist and Licensed Independent Chemical Dependency
Counselor who has worked in Columbus since 1979 in a variety of chemical dependency and mental health positions. Dr. Lander graduated With Highest Distinction and Phi Beta Kappa from Purdue University and received his Master and Doctorate degrees from The Ohio State University in counseling psychology. Dr. Lander first began working in the treatment field as a mental health therapist in the community mental health and VA systems. He began specializing in chemical dependency in 1985. In 2001, Dr. Lander became the Clinical Director of The Ohio State University Department of Addiction Psychiatry at Talbot Hall, a treatment center offering a wide range of inpatient and outpatient substance abuse services to adults, adolescents and their families. Dr. Lander is an adjunct professor at Columbus State Community College, serves on the Board of Directors of The House of Hope for Alcoholics, and serves as a board member and faculty with The Ohio State University Institute of Addiction Studies. He is a regular contributor to the Columbus Bar Lawyers Quarterly and Working Partners Magazine.

Joanne Lunceford, DSW, MSW earned her Doctor of Social Work degree from the University of Southern California with her studies focusing on race and cognition. She was awarded her Master of Science in Social Administration (MSW-equivalent) from Case Western Reserve University and her Bachelor of Arts from Miami University (Oxford).

Panelist- The Franklin County Blueprint for Safety: An Interagency Response to Domestic Violence Crimes

LISA MORGAN is Reentry Coordinator for the Columbus Region Adult Parole Authority. She facilitates group programs such as Thinking for a Change and PROVE (a batterers' intervention program). She is a trainer in topics including T4C Facilitator, Facilitating Effective Programs, Motivational Interviewing, Offender Behavior Management, Skill Building, and Cognitive Behavioral Interventions.

Panelist- The Franklin County Blueprint for Safety: An Interagency Response to Domestic Violence Crimes

Jennifer graduated from Cleveland State University with a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences in Sociology with a concentration in Criminology and began work at the Lorain County Adult Probation Department in 2011.
Jennifer first worked as a Presentence Investigator until 2013 when she moved to the position of Intensive Supervision Probation Officer. In 2016, Jennifer attended the 40-hour Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) and in 2017, along with her colleagues, created the Lorain County Adult Probation Department CIT Intervention and Prevention Team. In 2019, Jennifer accepted the position of the Lorain County Wellness Court Coordinator; a docket that was implemented to serve offenders that have been diagnosed with a severe mental illness. In 2023, Jennifer accepted the position as the Presentence Investigation and Specialized Docket Supervisor, where she continues to be involved with the Specialized Dockets.
Throughout Jennifer’s career at Lorain County Adult Probation, she has obtained her Chemical Dependency License and served as a facilitator for Criminal and Addictive Thinking and Helping Men Recover. In 2021, NAMI awarded Jennifer the CIT Corrections Officer of the Year award, recognizing her for the care and assistance she has given the mentally ill population on Community Control.

Dawn Schwartz spent 25 years in law enforcement and criminal justice, spending 5 years as a police officer, before transitioning to common pleas court probation for 20 years and finally moving into public health in October 2022. Nineteen (19) of her 20 years in probation were spent focused on substance use and mental health issues, as a chemical abuse/mental health specialist, Men’s Drug Court officer and finally as Montgomery County Probation Services treatment coordinator from July 2021 through October 2022. Dawn is in long term recovery from alcohol and will celebrate 23 years sober in October of 2024. Her passion for helping persons with SUD and MH disorders has translated seamlessly from the criminal justice arena to her current position as the Community Overdose Action Team (COAT) community coalition project manager for Public Health – Dayton & Montgomery County. She is a graduate of Mississippi State University, where she played volleyball, and is a wife, mother to 2 adult children and grandmother to one amazing 18-month-old girl.

Myrinda Schweitzer Smith received her Ph.D. from the University of Cincinnati and is the Executive Director of the University of Cincinnati Corrections Institute. Dr. Schweitzer Smith has co-authored publications, presented nationally and internationally on effective interventions, and served as a project director for over 300 projects involving program evaluation, the development and implementation of cognitive-behavioral programs for delinquency, criminality, substance abuse, employment, and sexual offending, and effective practices for community supervision and support. She serves and participates on a multitude of advisory boards and professional organizations supporting the health and wellbeing of those working in and those impacted by the justice system. Most recently, she is actively engaged in several projects that aim to transform juvenile justice and reentry practices to positively shape lives and safer societies.

Randy Shively, Ph.D., is a prominent psychologist specializing in clinical development and research with a focus on corrections and developmental disabilities. As the Director of Research and Clinical Development at Alvis, a comprehensive service organization, he is instrumental in leading clinical supervision and advancing research projects aimed at enhancing therapeutic practices. Dr. Shively, who earned his Ph.D. in Psychology from The Ohio State University, has been a licensed psychologist in Ohio since 1990. His expertise encompasses a wide range of psychological services, including intellectual disability assessment, counseling, and sexual risk assessments. He also holds a license as an Independent Chemical Dependency Counselor-Supervisor and is board certified in treating alcohol and other psychoactive substance use disorders.

Dr. Shively's active engagement in professional circles is marked by his roles such as the Chair of the Behavioral Health Committee and Mental Health representative to the Delegate Assembly for the American Correctional Association (ACA). He also serves as a co-editor of the Journal of Community Justice and has previously held the position of Vice President of Clinical Services at Alvis, Inc. Recognized as an authority in his field, Dr. Shively frequently presents at state, national, and international conferences on clinical issues related to corrections and intellectual disabilities. His scholarly work, which includes extensive publications on co-occurring disorders, substance abuse, and the treatment of offenders with mental retardation, underscores his commitment to advancing mental health and correctional services. This dedication has earned him accolades such as the Peter P. Lejins Research Award from the ACA, highlighting his ongoing impact on the intersection of mental health and corrections through innovative treatment approaches and educational initiatives.

TIM WIRES has worked for Stark County Family Court for 15 years. He currently serves as the Chief of Probation. In addition to being the Chief of Probation, Tim has maintained a commission with the Stark County Sheriff’s Office since June of 2006. He has been an instructor in Search and Seizure and Defensive Tactics with the Supreme Court since 2007. He is also assigned to the U.S. Marshal’s Violent Fugitive Task Force, and has served with them since April of 2015. He maintains certifications as a Verbal Defense and Influence Instructor with The Vistelar group, training individuals to deal with verbal aggression and de-escalation techniques. Tim received his Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Kent State University, his Secondary Education certification from the University of Mount Union, and his Peace Officer certification from the University of Akron’s Police Academy.

Wes Skeels
Court Administrator Skeels graduated from Kent State University with a B.G.S., with a concentration in Criminal Justice and Education, and a minor in Psychology. Mr. Skeels started his criminal justice career in 1993 as a Specialized Probation Officer (Sex Crimes Unit) for Summit County Juvenile Court. In 1997, Skeels was hired by the Ohio Department of Youth Services as a Specialized Parole Officer. During his ten (10) year career with the State of Ohio he was recognized as the ‘Parole Officer of the Year’ two (2) times, and received the ‘Jack Riel Award of Excellence’. While working for the Ohio Department of Youth Services, Mr. Skeels was the first union employee to attend Ohio’s Executive Leadership Program. On November 6, 2006, Mr. Skeels was appointed Chief Probation Officer to the Mahoning County Juvenile Court. Mr. Skeels was promoted on January 2, 2017, to the position of Court Administrator. In addition to his duties as Court Administrator, Skeels is a part-time “TFO” Task Force Officer with the FBI Mahoning Valley Violent Crimes Task Force, as well as an instructor for the Supreme Court of Ohio’s Judicial College.

Panelist- The Franklin County Blueprint for Safety: An Interagency Response to Domestic Violence Crimes

Dr. Warner is a Senior Research Associate (SRA) with the University of Cincinnati Corrections Institute. As an SRA, she works with agencies, practitioners, scholars, justice-involved individuals, and her team to research, develop, disseminate, and implement evidence-based practices in corrections. Dr. Warner has served as a consultant to many correctional agencies nationally and internationally by providing training, technical assistance, and evaluation services. She earned her doctorate in Criminal Justice from the School of Criminal Justice at the University of Cincinnati in 2015. Her practical experience includes working as a quality improvement manager and security staff at various community correctional facilities. Her research specializations include correctional rehabilitation, reentry, justice and community collaborations, organizational climate in corrections, and victimization. She has published in Criminal Justice Policy Review, Corrections: Policy, Practice and Research, and the Journal of School Violence.

Tim has worked for Stark County Family Court for 20 years. He currently serves as the Chief of Probation. In addition to being the Chief of Probation, Tim is a retired Special Deputy with the Stark County Sheriff’s Office since June of 2006 till February of 2023. He has been an instructor in Search and Seizure and Defensive Tactics with the Supreme Court of Ohio since 2007. Tim has served on U.S. Marshal’s Violent Fugitive Task Force, from April of 2015 until June of 2021, and is a Purple Heart Recipient by the U.S. Marshal’s Service for injuries sustained while executing a high-risk warrant for a fugitive from Virginia. Tim was also awarded the Medal of Honor by the Buckeye State Sheriff’s Association, and awarded the Medal of Valor by the Stark County Sheriff’s Office for actions above and beyond the call of duty to bring a violent fugitive to justice. Tim holds certifications to instruct verbal defense and influence trainings, and is a certified Life Coach as a Train the Trainer in the Success Principles Methodology by Jack Canfield. Tim received his Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Kent State University, his Secondary Education certification from the University of Mount Union, and his Peace Officer certification from the University of Akron’s Police Academy. Tim is married to his wife, Michelle, and they have two beautiful children Grace and Michael.