Criminal Investigations for Jail & Correctional Investigators

This seminar is your gateway to mastering criminal investigations where the stakes are high and every detail matters. Over three intensive days, you'll gain hands-on experience with essential techniques, from evidence handling to managing complex crime scenes within custodial settings.

Critical topics like sex offenses under PREA, contraband smuggling, gang violence, and drug-related crimes—all tailored to the realities of life behind bars. You'll also explore protocols for internal investigations and the use of force, ensuring you're prepared for any situation that may arise. Learning the proper steps in a death investigation and being able to identify injuries and stages of decomposition will contribute to a thorough investigation.

Whether you're a correctional officer, investigator, or supervisor, this course will equip you with the tools and expertise you need to navigate the unique challenges of institutional investigations. Join us to elevate your professional abilities and make a meaningful impact in your facility.

  • Course Availability
  • August 11, 2026 - August 13, 2026 30 Seats Left
    Chesterfield Co. Public Safety Training Center Chesterfield, Va
Instructors
Donnie Norrell, Owner of Investigative Concepts and Retired, Norfolk Police Department
Donnie Norrell
Owner of Investigative Concepts and Retired, Norfolk Police Department

Donnie earned a BA in Criminal Justice from Saint Leo University and served 26 years with the Norfolk Police Department before retiring. After graduating from the police academy, he was assigned to uniform patrol briefly before moving into Vice & Narcotics, where he spent 10 years. He was transferred to K-9, where he served as part of the emergency response team (ERT) for the next 5 years and completed his time in Norfolk, assigned to Homicide. During his 10 year stent in homicide, he was assigned to 77 “active” homicides, achieved a 100% clearance rate and brought to a close 7 “cold case” homicides. He’s received several letters of commendation and was awarded Police Officer of the Year in 1999. After retiring from the police department, Donnie continued his work in death investigations with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, in Norfolk, Virginia, where he served as the State’s Senior Investigator. He was certified by the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators and has conducted over five thousand medicolegal death investigations. Donnie was a certified instructor with DCJS, a member of the Virginia Beach police “civilian” cold case squad and the NCIS cold case work group.

Donnie has presented on Investigation Discovery (DI) true crime series, "Your Worst Nightmare" and HBO Max series, "Burden of Proof".  Burden of Proof was nominated for a Critics Choice Award.

Donnie is the current owner of Investigative Concepts, LLC.

Philip G. Evans, Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney, Retired
Philip G. Evans
Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney, Retired

Philip G. Evans, recently retired after 27 years service as Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney, Norfolk, Virginia, 1994-2021.  Supervised the Adult Violent Crime Prosecution Team for 24 years and personally prosecuted all types of violent crime cases to include approximately 150 murder cases which included twenty-five defendants charged with capital murder; Recipient, 2018 Warren B. Von Schuch Award,  Distinguished Prosecutor Award; Recognized by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Biometric Identification Award [Next Generation Identification System] in both 2019, Commonwealth v. Daniel Johnston: [Jury Trial, 1981 cold case homicide] and 2015, Commonwealth v. Amin Garcia, [Jury trial: cold case sexual assault]; Served as Faculty Instructor from 2004-2020 for the Virginia Commonwealth’s Attorneys’ Services Council (CASC) and/or Virginia Association of Commonwealth’s Attorneys (VACA) for multiple instruction courses to include Prosecuting Homicides, Prosecuting Capital Murder Cases, Virginia DNA Procedures; Virginia Post-Conviction DNA Petitions/Evidence Retention; Member, 2016 Association of Prosecuting Attorneys (APA) National Workgroup: “Police Officer Use of Force Project”; Instructor on Criminal Procedure, Norfolk Police Department, 1994-2021.  Served in the United States Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps, 1987-1994, as both prosecutor and defense counsel: 82d Airborne Division, Fort Bragg; United States Army Berlin, Germany; United States Army Trial Defense Service.  Juris Doctor [Law Degree], Loyola University of Chicago; Bachelor’s Degree: Journalism, The Pennsylvania State University.  Resident of Chesapeake, Virginia.