RD10 - Data Resource Guide: Fiscal Year 2011


Executive Summary:
Greetings!

Welcome to the 11th publication of the Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) Data Resource Guide (DRG). The DRG provides a comprehensive look at juvenile justice activity in the Commonwealth of Virginia. This publication contains an overview of the agency; its mission; its vision; and information on community programs, institutional programs, and juvenile reoffense rates. Sections 2.2-222, 16.1-309.3, and 66-13 of the Code of Virginia and Chapters 755 and 914 of the 1996 Acts of the General Assembly require DJJ to produce an annual summation of statistics and trends in Virginia’s juvenile justice system. Specifically, DJJ is to report on juvenile offender demographics, including age, offense type, committing court, and recidivism rates of juveniles committed to agencies within the Secretariat of Public Safety. The annual report must also address the progress of Virginia Juvenile Community Crime Control Act (VJCCCA) programs. Chapter 890 of the 2011 Virginia Acts of Assembly (The Appropriation Act, Item 399 (G.) (2011)) combines the reporting requirements into one document, and the DRG is the vehicle that consolidates these reporting requirements into a single report.

After 11 editions of the DRG using the current format, it is time to make a critical assessment of its use, its audience, and its purpose. It is time for the DRG to take its next evolutionary step. In doing so, DJJ is looking toward moving from a paper-based document to a web-based product that will offer the reader/user more opportunities to interact with and search the data. We are hoping to develop a web-based application for the DRG that will allow a greater capacity for collecting, organizing, and distributing the data. So, next year, you can anticipate a new look and a new vision for the DRG. We are very excited about the possibilities.

In response to Executive Order No. 11, DJJ developed a four-year re-entry strategic plan in 2010 with the mission to promote public safety and accountability by implementing a seamless plan of services for each offender for a successful transition and reintegration in the community. While some re-entry programs already existed, DJJ expanded upon these and developed several additional re-entry programs to support the Governor’s and DJJ’s re-entry initiative. Please refer to the following page for additional details on DJJ’s re-entry efforts.

I want to conclude this letter with several expressions of gratitude. I wish to thank the Department of Criminal Justice Services and the Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention for their role in assisting DJJ with the publishing of the DRG. Additionally, it is imperative that I thank DJJ staff and all staff for their hard work and dedication to serving the Commonwealth’s juvenile justice system.

With warm regards,

Helivi L. Holland