Leadership
Board Meetings >> Board Minutes >> DJJ Board Agenda for April 8-9, 2008
Board of Juvenile Justice
James S. Turpin (Chair), of Arlington, VA, has an extensive background in governmental affairs, and is the Director of Government Relations for the American Subcontractors Association. He has served as the Legislative Liaison, American Correctional Association; Director of Government Relations, Horsehead Industries and American NuKEM; Regional Manager, National Solid Waste Management Association; and Owner, JST Enterprises, a political consulting and contract lobbying firm.
A graduate of Virginia Military Institute with a BA in History with Honors and Distinction, Mr. Turpin is the former Chairman of the Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Home Commission.
Aida L. Pacheco, resides with her family in Mechanicsville, VA and is a seasoned human services professional. She is currently Project Director for Welfare to Work for the City of Richmond. She has been a Human Services Program Consultant for the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services, a Community Service Coordinator for the Department of Children in Richmond, and a Project Specialist for the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice, Office of Narcotics.
Ms. Pacheo received a BA in Sociology from Princeton University in New Jersey, and has been recognized as an Outstanding Young Women of America. A child advocate of long standing, she has conducted training sessions and facilitated numerous meetings on behalf of her passion.
Courtney A. Penn (Vice Chair), Associate Director for Research & Development for TAP in Roanoke, VA, is the most recently appointed member of the Board and serves as Board secretary. A member of numerous professional and civic affiliations, Mr. Penn received his BA in Psychology from Washington and Lee University (W&L) in Lexington, VA and his MEd in Counseling and Human Development from the University of Georgia in Athens, GA. Formerly the Associate Dean of Students and Assistant Director of Admissions at W&L, he is also the Founder and President of Resource Attainment and Career Health (REACH), which promotes the pursuit and appreciation of scholastic academic excellence and works with families to find funding resources for education.
Patricia Puritz, of McLean, VA, is well published in the field of juvenile justice and is the Director of the American Bar Association's Juvenile Justice Center, which aims to improve the quality of legal representation for children in the justice system. She is also the President and Director of a small, non-profit organization designed to combat juvenile delinquency and improve service delivery to youth and families enmeshed in the justice system. An adjunct faculty member at American University teaching juvenile justice and juvenile corrections classes, Ms. Puritz received her undergraduate degree from the University of Hartfort, in Connecticut, and her Juris Doctorate from the Antioch School of Law in Washington, D.C.
Having been a Counselor providing services in a co-ed secure correctional facility in Connecticut, Ms. Puritz has hands-on experience with juvenile justice. Additionally, she worked in the Probation Department of the Juvenile Court for the State of Connecticut, conducting interviews and investigations; preparing for court hearings, conducting home and school visits and counseling to groups and families.
Barbara Myers, appointed to the board in July 2006. Myers is an Associate Professor of Psychology and the Director of Doctoral Development at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. Her current research focuses on two distinct populations: families affected by incarceration and families with an autistic child.
Justin Wilson (Secretary), appointed to the board in 2006, he is a Senior System Architect with the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak). Active in his community, Wilson, who is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University, is chairman of the Board of Directors of the Alexandria Transit Company and a member of the Alexandria Budget & Fiscal Affairs Advisory Committee.
Marjorie A. Taylor Arrington, was appointed to the board in 2007. She has served as Norfolk Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney since 2001. Prior to that Ms. Taylor Arrington was an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney in the Office of the Suffolk Commonwealth’s Attorney (1994 – 2001) and Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney in the Office of the Portsmouth Commonwealth Attorney (1990 – 1994).
Ms. Taylor Arrington is a graduate of Hampton University, Hampton, Virginia, where she received her Bachelor of Arts, Political Science. She received her Juris Doctorate from the Mercer University, Walter F. George School of Law, Macon, Georgia.
Ms. Taylor Arrington’s community service includes serving on the board of several organizations including: Tidewater Legal Aid/EVLAS/LSEVA (1992 – present), Norfolk Portsmouth Bar Association (2004 – present), South Hampton Roads Bar (former Treasurer)(1989 – present), Norfolk Marine Institute (2003 – present), and ODU Center for Family Violence Education and Research (2003 – present).