Prosecutor and Law Enforcement Training - Attorney General Lynn Fitch

The Attorney General’s Office has developed a robust online training program to complement its in-person training options. Watch this video to explain more about this development in our program.

You can find a list of webinars and classes offered previously here. And, we are excited to announce that we have resumed limited in-person training! We are happy to work with you to train your group on topics like these, craft a new training program on a specific topic, or help you access some of these previously offered courses. Please contact us to discuss these options.

To receive credit for one of our online training opportunities, you will need to send a copy of your completed and signed certification form to Carla Fountain. The form will be provided with your webinar.

Once Carla has confirmed receipt of your form, she’ll forward it to the Mississippi Commission on Continuing Legal Education. You will still be responsible for paying the required fee of $1.50 per hour to the CLE Commission.

Conferences

Trauma-Informed Prosecutors Project Seminar - April 26-27, 2021

Forensic Interviewer at Trial Seminar - April 28-30, 2021

Spring Prosecutors' Conference - Attorneys - April 28-30,2021

Spring Prosecutors’ Conference - Investigators - April 28-30, 2021

Spring Prosecutors' Conference - Victims Assistance Coordinators - April 28-30, 2021

MML Seminar - Mississippi Coast Coliseum & Convention Center - July 26, 2021

Felony Crimes Conference - August 19-20, 2021

Trial Advocacy Seminar - September 16-17, 2021

Fall Prosecutors Conference - October 27-29, 2021

John R. Justice Grants for prosecutors and public defenders

The federal John R. Justice grant funding, administered by the individual states, is an effort to encourage qualified attorneys to choose careers as prosecutors and public defenders and to continue in that service. It provides up to a yearly maximum of $10,000 in loan repayment for state prosecutors and state and federal public defenders. The aggregate maximum amount is $60,000. It covers loans made under the Higher Education Act of 1965, including consolidation loans.

Repayment benefits are available on a first come, first serve basis to borrowers who agree to remain employed as prosecutors or public defenders for at least three years.

Mississippi will receive $36,257.00 to disburse equally to public defenders and prosecutors through the Attorney General’s Office. DOJ determines this allocation based on individual state population.

This year’s application period closed on June 30, 2021 and all applications received by that date will be reviewed by a Selection Committee to determine awards. Individual awards will be made in the amount of $3,625.70. Awards will be made based on a “least ability to pay” matrix and awarded equally amongst four geographic districts into which the state is divided.

The application period is now open and will conclude on June 30, 2021. Click here for more information and the application.

Mississippi Prosecutor Association

The Mississippi Prosecutors Association is a non-profit organization which provides support to prosecuting attorneys in the state. The MPA Board of Directors and committees provide leadership and guidance for training, legislative, and other criminal justice initiatives in the State of Mississippi. The list of current officers and appointments can be found here.

The Mississippi Prosecutors Association Membership Application for 2021-2022 is available here. You must register and send in the correct printed application with your payment. If you have any questions about the registration process, please contact Patty Pettis at 601-359-9685.

Cammie Ainsworth,
Prosecutor & Law Enforcement Training

Cammie has served as the Director of the Prosecutor & Law Enforcement Training Division of the Mississippi Attorney General’s Offices since 2008. Her division develops programs and provides training for Mississippi Prosecutors, Law Enforcement and other key figures within the criminal justice system. In this capacity, she fulfills the duties of Executive Director for the Mississippi Prosecutors’ Association managing the MPA board, including planning and facilitating meetings, policy discussions and developing consensus. Cammie formerly served as President, Vice-President and Secretary/Treasurer of the National Association of Prosecutor Coordinators and now sits on the board as an ex-officio member. Additionally, she serves on the National Association of Attorneys General Training and Research Institute Advisory Council and is an active member and prior board member of the National District Attorneys’ Association.

For six years prior, she represented the Consumer Protection Division of the Attorney General’s Office handling criminal and civil consumer cases. While in Consumer, she prosecuted crimes of identity theft and worked to enforce the state’s consumer protection laws, including cases of unfair and deceptive trade practices, participating in multi-state investigations and litigation. Before her tenure with the Consumer Protection Division, she served as a prosecutor with the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit prosecuting cases of abuse, neglect and exploitation occurring in care facilities throughout Mississippi. In 1997, when Cammie first came to the Attorney General’s Office as a Special Assistant, she represented the Mississippi Department of Human Services and handled a variety of cases including personnel, termination of parental rights, adoptions, custody, commitments, contract and administrative.

Cammie received her B.A. in English from Mississippi State University in 1993 and her J.D. from Mississippi College in 1997. She has two sons and a daughter.