Welcome to the Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ)

As you browse through our site, I hope you get a sense that Virginia is on the move in juvenile justice.

Great strides have been made over the last few years. We have incorporated the balanced approach in the rehabilitation of juveniles. We use a risk assessment instrument to determine the most appropriate options for offending juveniles.

We have implemented a juvenile tracking system that provides a thorough picture of our juvenile population which enables us to plan accordingly. We have developed an automated population system that provides critical information used to make unit assignments and keep staff informed of ward demographics. 

We have established a partnership with the Annie E. Casey Foundation that is focused on changing the use of secure detention for juveniles in Virginia. Our goal here is to minimize the number of non-violent offenders who need to be detained, whether the venue is a local detention center or one of the state's juvenile correctional centers. This is a long range effort that will make a positive change in the treatment of our children.

Our Data Resource Guide, produced by the Research and Evaluation Unit, provides a comprehensive look at juvenile justice activity in the Commonwealth.

We have introduced and are expanding video intake and conferencing throughout our Department. And there is much more!