RD28 - Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice Data Resource Guide Fiscal Year 2012


Executive Summary:
The Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) provides services to juveniles and families by operating 32 court service units (CSUs); six juvenile correctional centers (JCCs), including the Reception and Diagnostic Center (RDC); and two halfway houses. DJJ also regulates three locally-operated CSUs and 23 detention centers.

Agency Mission, Vision, and Values

In September 2012, DJJ reexamined and revised its mission, vision, and values:

Mission

DJJ protects the public by preparing court-involved youth to be successful citizens.

Vision

DJJ is committed to excellence in public safety by pro­viding effective interventions that improve the lives of youth, strengthening both families and communities within the Commonwealth.

Values

The values of DJJ are referred to as Knowledge and PRIDE:

Knowledge: We stay on the cutting edge of effective juvenile justice by keeping abreast of facts, information, data, and best practices as they become available. To achieve the agency’s mission, we apply this knowledge with competence according to laws, regulations, policies, and procedures. The youth, families, and communities we work with are our first priority.

Professionalism: As representatives and ambassadors of DJJ, we always adhere to our standards of conduct by behaving responsibly, appropriately, and with discipline.

Respect: We treat everyone equitably and impartially, recognizing the diversity of individuals and their viewpoints. We are aware of body language, tone, and words during our conversations. We acknowledge the issues of others and always strive for a clear solution. The “Golden Rule” is standard operating procedure: treat others the way you wish to be treated.

Integrity: We are honest, truthful, and non-judgmental in all our professional interactions. We follow policy and procedures and accept responsibility for our actions. Our decisions are ethical and always honor confidentiality.
Dedication: We are fully committed to fulfilling the agency’s mission. We serve as ambassadors of the agency, representing it with loyalty, enthusiasm, and perseverance. We can see the “big picture” and routinely make personal sacrifices for the good of the agency. We play as a team.

Effective Communication: We are good listeners. When we communicate with our clients, courts, custom­ers, and colleagues, we do so clearly and concisely in a timely manner. Our communications are re­spectful, accurate, constructive, candid, and rel­evant, offering well-considered solutions.

Agency Description

To accomplish its mission, DJJ provides an integrated approach to juvenile justice. It brings together current research and best practices to better understand and modify delinquent behavior; to meet the needs of of­fenders, victims, and communities; and to manage activities and resources in a responsible and proactive manner.

DJJ responds to court-involved juveniles using a balanced approach that provides (i) protection of public safety by control of juveniles’ liberty through communi­ty supervision and secure confinement; (ii) a structured system of incentives and graduated sanctions in both institutional and community settings to ensure accountability for juveniles’ actions; and (iii) a variety of services and programs that build skills and competencies (e.g., substance abuse treatment, support for academic and vocational education, aggression management treatment) to enable juveniles to become law-abiding members of the community upon release from DJJ’s supervision.

DJJ is committed to the principle that the greatest im­pact on juvenile offending may be realized by focusing resources on those juvenile offenders with the highest risk of reoffending and by addressing the individual criminogenic risk factors that contribute to the initiation and continuation of delinquent behavior. Using a set of research-based and consensus-based instruments at different decision points within the juvenile justice system, DJJ classifies juveniles into different levels of risk. These points include the initial decision to detain, the assignment to various levels of community probation or parole supervision, and the classification of committed juveniles to guide appropriate placement within the institutional setting.

In addition to the matching of the most intensive resources to those juveniles with the highest risk, DJJ recognizes that successful outcomes require services that are individualized to the needs of juveniles, families, and communities. The presence of specific risk factors are assessed and addressed in order to increase the likelihood of successful outcomes. Issues implicated in juvenile offending include gang involvement, substance abuse, aggression, truancy, and other school-related problems. The application of appropriate social control and sanctioning strategies such as electronic monitoring, urine drug testing, and various levels of supervision are also matched to the juvenile’s individualized circumstances. Incentives such as early release from supervision, ex­tended curfew, and recreational outings with volunteers are used to reward success and improve the chances of long-term behavior change.

Over the past several years, DJJ has greatly enhanced its ability to effectively plan for and manage juveniles, programs, services, and other resources. DJJ designed an electronic data management system and used the data generated and reported to better understand the juvenile population, activities in relation to those juveniles, and methods to become more effective and efficient. DJJ’s electronic data management system is comprised of modules covering the full range of institutional and community-based activities. DJJ’s philosophy is that sound management of public resources and adherence to its core mission are enhanced through data-based decision-making.

While DJJ has the primary responsibility for many as­pects of Virginia’s juvenile justice system, collaborative partnerships with state and local agencies and pro­grams as well as private sector service providers are the cornerstone of the DJJ integrated approach. Local governments and commissions operate secure detention centers and an array of services addressing each aspect of the balanced approach. Within each community, DJJ works with law enforcement, behavioral health providers, schools, social services, and other agencies. Secur­ing services from private providers assists DJJ in meeting the needs of juvenile offenders, their families, and communities. At the state level, DJJ works with other executive, legislative, and judicial branch agencies in a similar manner.

Through the application of the integrated approach to juvenile justice, DJJ continues to make a difference in the lives of citizens and communities across the Commonwealth. Through responsible resource management, performance accountability, and sound intervention strategies, DJJ strives to improve and meet the changing demands of juvenile justice.