The Mission of the Department of Justice Services is to promote a safe and healthy community through evidence-based practices that empower participants to achieve measurable success.

Phone: (804)646-8657

Email [email protected]

Locations

Department of Justice Services Administration
730 E. Broad Street, 8th Floor
Richmond, VA 23219
Phone: (804)646-8937
Fax: (804)646-7051

Division of Adult Programs
306 N. 8th Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Phone: (804)646-8955
Fax: (804)646-8994 or (804)646-0411

Juvenile Community Programs
730 E. Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Phone: (804)646-3406
Fax: (804)646-8869

Juvenile Detention Center
1700 Oliver Hill Way
Richmond, VA 23219
Phone: (804)646-2937
Fax: (804)646-2990

Gregory Hopkins, Director (804) 987-8186

Philippa (Phil) Clarke, Director's Executive Assistant (804) 646-8937

Letta Jones, Juvenile Detention Superintendent (804) 646-3456

Tracy Matthews, Deputy Director of Adult Programs (804) 646-6372

Learna Harris, Deputy Director of Juvenile Programs (804) 646-3544

Robin Autry, Manager, Adult Day Reporting Center (804) 646-1525

Luis Mercado, Manager, Division of Adult Programs (804) 646-0331

Olivier Faye, Operations Manager of Juvenile Programs (804) 646-3406

We welcome and value all feedback. Kindly share your thoughts on our performance, as well as any recommendations you may have for enhancing the programs and services we offer.

Division of Juvenile Community Programs

The Division of Juvenile Community Programs is designed to enhance public safety by reducing juvenile delinquency through valuable prevention services, and evidence based intervention programming that strengthens families and changes the lives of at-risk youth.

In accordance with the Balanced Approach philosophy, all VJCCCA programs must:

1) Promote public safety;
2) Hold juveniles accountable for their behavior (sanctions); and/or
3) Build skills or provide treatment to improve a juvenile’s behavior (competency development).

Virginia Juvenile Community Crime Control Act: History of VJCCCA

In 1995, the General Assembly enacted the Virginia Juvenile Community Crime Control Act (VJCCCA) that restructured funding for local juvenile justice programming. Block grant funding was discontinued for all programs except secure detention. Established block grant funds formed the basis for VJCCCA. The General Assembly appropriated additional funding so that all localities could implement programs and services to meet the needs of juveniles involved in the juvenile justice system. As a component of the legislation, all localities were required to expend an amount equal to the sum of their fiscal year 1995 expenditures for pre-dispositional and post-dispositional block grant alternatives to secure detention. This required local funding is called the Maintenance of Effort (MOE).

The Community Monitoring program provides case management, face-to-face contacts with a youth at home or school, daily curfew checks and supportive individual counseling to post-dispositional youth who are at risk of re-offending while on probation. These services deter future delinquency while improving functioning in the home and community. To be eligible for program participation the following criteria are applicable:

Youth must be between the ages of 14 and 17.
Youth must be non-violent offenders who have a limited arrest record
Parents/guardians must be willing to uphold program stipulations.

Referrals may be made by 13th District Court Service Unit staff. For more information on Youth Monitoring and Surveillance, please call (804) 646-3372.

The Richmond Juvenile Behavioral Health Docket (RJBHD) helps youth successfully separate from the criminal justice system by addressing their behavioral health and substance use. This multi-agency program serves juveniles who live in the City of Richmond and works collaboratively with families of individuals involved in the RJBHD.

The RJBHD operates using a post-plea deferred sentencing model. Delinquent charges may be dismissed and or reduced upon successful completion of this court-supervised treatment program. With early screening, intervention and an individually tailored treatment plan, the RJBHD is designed to maximize the chances of success for each participant.
RJBHD offers treatment and support to participants and/or their families with substance use issues that are beyond the experimental stage as well as addressing any behavioral health issues. The program is milestone completion driven over a period of approximately 9 to 12 months. The emphasis is behavior change across various domains to include home, community, and school.

Office Hours and Contact Information:

Monday-Friday 8am to 5pm

DeShanda Artis, Clinical Supervisor

E-Mail: [email protected]

Phone: (804) 646-2520

730 E. Broad Street Richmond, VA 23219

The Community Service Program (CSP) services court involved youth and provides juvenile courts, probation departments, and judicial officers with the option of community service as an alternative to fines and/or incarceration for misdemeanor and felony offenders including traffic offenders.

There are two components, Weekend and Hourly Community Service. The purpose of the Hourly Community Service Program (HCSP) is to provide constructive sanctions and accountability for juvenile offenders between the ages of 10-17 by placing them in the community and allowing them to contribute back to their neighborhoods. The purpose of the Weekend Community Service Program (WCSP) is to provide an alternative to detention for non-violent juvenile offenders who need a structured supervised environment where they are held accountable for their delinquent acts.

Office Hours and Contact Information:

Monday-Friday, 8am to 5pm

Maurice Lambert, Human Services Analyst

E-Mail: [email protected]

Phone: (804) 646-8087

730 E. Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23219

The Juvenile Surveillance program is governed by the Richmond Department of Justice Services. These services are designed to provide the least restrictive alternative placement for juvenile offenders before the court on pre and post-dispositional status. The degree of restriction matches the risk level posed by the youth. The program thereby ensures that costly secure detention beds are reserved for youth who present the greatest risk to public safety while reducing the secure detention population. Home incarceration with electronic monitoring is a system component of supervision that will be utilized when imposed by the court to monitor the juvenile offender curfew/house arrest restrictions and all whereabouts 24 hours a day with GPS technology.

Supervision and Treatment Objectives

To help ensure that the youth remains trouble free and available for court in pre dispositional status.
To provide intensive supervision to the youth placed in the program.
To assist the parents in empowering the family and developing a feeling for a safe and nurturing environment for their children.

For more information on Surveillance Services please contact: (804) 646-7870.

Robert N. Hancock, Human Services Analyst (Juv. HEM Supervisor)
E-Mail: [email protected]
Phone: (804) 646-7870
Fax: (804) 646-3269
730 E. Broad Street, VA 23219

The Law Related Education Program (LRE) is designed for juvenile offenders under the supervision of the 13th District Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court. The program and curriculum are designed to give young people an understanding and appreciation of the law, the legal system, their rights, and responsibilities as engaged citizens. The program employs legal processes and principles to help people find practical solutions to everyday problems. Students in the LRE program are active, hands-on participants.

Law Related Education helps youth become effective, law-abiding citizens by promoting civic responsibility. It increases self-esteem and promotes a more favorable attitude toward authority figures. LRE is an important part of the nationwide effort to prevent violence and restore mutual respect and civility to American community life.

Referrals may be made by 13th District Court Service Unit staff. For more information on the Law Related Education program, please call (804) 646-3264.

Youth Justice is a program offering an alternative to the traditional juvenile justice system by using positive peer interactions to ensure that teens who have committed minor offenses learn accountability, repair the harm caused by their actions, and receive services needed to avoid further involvement in the justice system. Youth receive coaching on essential life skills in a supportive environment in lieu of sanctions provided through the Juvenile Court. Eligible participants are referred to Youth Justice by the Juvenile Court as a diversion option for low-level offenders.

Low-level criminal offenses include offenses such as damage to property, petit larceny, battery and disorderly conduct. If youth choose to participate in the Youth Justice Program and complete their restorative justice agreement, they are successfully diverted from the Juvenile Justice System. To support the success of Youth Justice, specially trained youth leaders between the ages of 14-18 serve as advocates and mentors for their peers.