Residential Programs
Natural Bridge Juvenile Correctional Center
1425 Arnolds Valley Road
Natural Bridge Station , Virginia 24579-3051
Natural Bridge Station , Virginia 24579-3051
Superintendent(s)
:
John Loving, Jr.
Phone:
(540)291-2129
Fax
:
(540)291-2461
Hours:
8:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M.
General Information
Natural Bridge Juvenile Correctional Center (NBJCC) provides programs, services and opportunities for male residents ages 14-20. Residents transition to NBJCC from the other DJJ Correctional Centers and meet/exceed criteria for placement here. NBJCC is recognized as a transitional facility and places emphasis on the needs of the residents as they return to their families, communities, schools, and aftercare placements.
At NBJCC, educational achievement is recognized as a significant factor in improving the residents' self-esteem. Educational programs offered on campus through the Department of Correctional Education (DCE) provide opportunities for residents to prepare themselves for returning to school, earning a GED, and/or finding employment. In addition, DCE also provides special education and library services for the residents.
History
Established on the site of a Civilian Conservation Corp Camp operated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (DOA), Natural Bridge Juvenile Correctional Center (NBJCC) occupies approximately 100 acres of the Jefferson National Forest in southern Rockbridge County, six miles east of the Natural Bridge; one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Furthermore, NBJCC is situated in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, fifty miles south of Staunton, forty-five miles north of Roanoke, and thirty-five miles west of Lynchburg.
Camp New Hope
Camp New Hope was constructed in 1972. Over the period of time since its location at NBJCC the camp served over 46,000 visitors from correctional centers, court service units, local facilities, and community-based agencies. Camp New Hope was built by the staff and residents of the Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice and was sited on 42 wooded acres adjacent to national forest land.
In early 2009, The Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice, facing significant downward budget revisions in state government was forced close Camp New Hope to all activities except for limited Correctional Center use.
There are no plans at this time to reopen Camp New Hope for its use as was originally intended or for some alternative use.
Program Philosophy
Natural Bridge Juvenile Correctional Center embraces the principle that behavioral change occurs best when the quality of life, both short and long range, is enhanced by socially appropriate decisions made by residents. The REACH Program at Natural Bridge JCC provides a foundation for all of the activities and interactions, which take place daily at the facility between residents and staff and residents and their peers. The Program serves as a guide for all communication and interactions, and provides residents with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to acquire a consistent approach to behavioral change, rehabilitation, and positive personal growth. Good citizenship, teamwork, a sense of community and peer review, attention to detail, physical fitness, self-improvement, and values identification and clarification are included and emphasized in the REACH Program. Through this Program, residents are taught to always be responsible for their actions, empowered to be good citizens and role models in the campus community so they can achieve goals in socially acceptable ways. In addition, each resident is challenged to change his thinking in order to change his behavior and to maintain the hope of returning home to be and remain a positive, productive, and responsible citizen in his home community.
Natural Bridge JCC serves as the transition facility for many residents staffed directly to or transferred from other juvenile correctional centers within the Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice system. Residents placed at Natural Bridge JCC are afforded the opportunity to participate in the Juvenile Industries Program, the Work Education Release Program, and in paid on-campus work opportunities, including the Agri-Business Program, the Garden Work Crew, and the Institution Work Program. These programs afford residents a chance to prepare for re-entry into the community by learning good work habits, learning job skills, and participating in community work experiences that can be used in the future and/or serve as a job transfer opportunity upon release. A number of the Natural Bridge JCC residents who have earned a high school diploma or a General Education Development (GED) certificate, attend Dabney S. Lancaster Community College, and earn credits toward a college degree. In addition, many residents are afforded the opportunity for off-campus trips with staff for the purpose of socialization, to assist them with a successful re-entry into their home community. Residents, who have earned the privilege and have gained approval through the case management system, may go on supervised shopping trips, dinner outings, attend and/or participate in local events, etc.
Program and treatment service activities at Natural Bridge JCC also include participation in anger management, family issues, victim empathy, and street law groups. Those residents identified with definitive problems with drugs and/or drug dealing, are involved in substance abuse treatment groups, with a follow-up relapse prevention group. The Department of Correctional Education (DCE) operates the campus school, the Thunder Ridge High School, and provides a wide range of academic courses to assist residents in earning a high school diploma or a GED Certificate. Vocational course offerings include auto servicing, brick masonry, building maintenance, and woodworking.
Visitation Information
Visitation is scheduled every Sunday afternoon from 12:30 P.M. - 4:30 P.M.
Natural Bridge Juvenile Correctional Center was chosen to implement and pilot a new Work Education Release Program in 2005. The program was designed to provide residents the opportunity to learn and establish skills, and participate in real-life employment experiences. The hands-on work experience allows residents to learn new skills, establish positive work habits, and create opportunities to earn money. The program serves to assist residents as they transition back to their respective communities and/or parole placements. Additionally, the money earned has benefited the residents and the community by allowing residents to pay restitution through the court to victims and/or pay court fees and fines.
The Work Education Release Coordinator networks with local employers in helping to create job opportunities for the residents. Residents from NBJCC have participated in job opportunities and work experiences at several local fast food and other restaurants. Additionally, residents have also worked at an area auto parts/service company, and at a local car dealership. The Work Education Release Program currently houses ten residents and continues to evolve. The program is well established in the employment community and it continues to look for partners in providing job opportunities and training for eligible residents.
Natural Bridge Juvenile Correctional Center (NBJCC) provides programs, services and opportunities for male residents ages 14-20. Residents transition to NBJCC from the other DJJ Correctional Centers and meet/exceed criteria for placement here. NBJCC is recognized as a transitional facility and places emphasis on the needs of the residents as they return to their families, communities, schools, and aftercare placements.
At NBJCC, educational achievement is recognized as a significant factor in improving the residents' self-esteem. Educational programs offered on campus through the Department of Correctional Education (DCE) provide opportunities for residents to prepare themselves for returning to school, earning a GED, and/or finding employment. In addition, DCE also provides special education and library services for the residents.
History
Established on the site of a Civilian Conservation Corp Camp operated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (DOA), Natural Bridge Juvenile Correctional Center (NBJCC) occupies approximately 100 acres of the Jefferson National Forest in southern Rockbridge County, six miles east of the Natural Bridge; one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Furthermore, NBJCC is situated in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, fifty miles south of Staunton, forty-five miles north of Roanoke, and thirty-five miles west of Lynchburg.
Camp New Hope
Camp New Hope was constructed in 1972. Over the period of time since its location at NBJCC the camp served over 46,000 visitors from correctional centers, court service units, local facilities, and community-based agencies. Camp New Hope was built by the staff and residents of the Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice and was sited on 42 wooded acres adjacent to national forest land.
In early 2009, The Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice, facing significant downward budget revisions in state government was forced close Camp New Hope to all activities except for limited Correctional Center use.
There are no plans at this time to reopen Camp New Hope for its use as was originally intended or for some alternative use.
Program Philosophy
Natural Bridge Juvenile Correctional Center embraces the principle that behavioral change occurs best when the quality of life, both short and long range, is enhanced by socially appropriate decisions made by residents. The REACH Program at Natural Bridge JCC provides a foundation for all of the activities and interactions, which take place daily at the facility between residents and staff and residents and their peers. The Program serves as a guide for all communication and interactions, and provides residents with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to acquire a consistent approach to behavioral change, rehabilitation, and positive personal growth. Good citizenship, teamwork, a sense of community and peer review, attention to detail, physical fitness, self-improvement, and values identification and clarification are included and emphasized in the REACH Program. Through this Program, residents are taught to always be responsible for their actions, empowered to be good citizens and role models in the campus community so they can achieve goals in socially acceptable ways. In addition, each resident is challenged to change his thinking in order to change his behavior and to maintain the hope of returning home to be and remain a positive, productive, and responsible citizen in his home community.
Natural Bridge JCC serves as the transition facility for many residents staffed directly to or transferred from other juvenile correctional centers within the Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice system. Residents placed at Natural Bridge JCC are afforded the opportunity to participate in the Juvenile Industries Program, the Work Education Release Program, and in paid on-campus work opportunities, including the Agri-Business Program, the Garden Work Crew, and the Institution Work Program. These programs afford residents a chance to prepare for re-entry into the community by learning good work habits, learning job skills, and participating in community work experiences that can be used in the future and/or serve as a job transfer opportunity upon release. A number of the Natural Bridge JCC residents who have earned a high school diploma or a General Education Development (GED) certificate, attend Dabney S. Lancaster Community College, and earn credits toward a college degree. In addition, many residents are afforded the opportunity for off-campus trips with staff for the purpose of socialization, to assist them with a successful re-entry into their home community. Residents, who have earned the privilege and have gained approval through the case management system, may go on supervised shopping trips, dinner outings, attend and/or participate in local events, etc.
Program and treatment service activities at Natural Bridge JCC also include participation in anger management, family issues, victim empathy, and street law groups. Those residents identified with definitive problems with drugs and/or drug dealing, are involved in substance abuse treatment groups, with a follow-up relapse prevention group. The Department of Correctional Education (DCE) operates the campus school, the Thunder Ridge High School, and provides a wide range of academic courses to assist residents in earning a high school diploma or a GED Certificate. Vocational course offerings include auto servicing, brick masonry, building maintenance, and woodworking.
Visitation Information
Visitation is scheduled every Sunday afternoon from 12:30 P.M. - 4:30 P.M.
- Special arrangements can be made for visitation if the parents cannot come on Sunday
- Such arrangements must be made through the residents counselor at least one week in advance of the visitation
- No tobacco, alcohol, drugs or weapons
- Appropriate dress required
- All visitors will be searched
- First class mail in a regular business or personal letter envelope is acceptable
- When residents achieve a prescribed level of program participation, they are rewarded with a five minute call home, as arranged by their counselor
- Telephone calls to the counselor from parents are acceptable
- A special arrangement has been made with MCI to allow residents to make a collect call home in the evening and on holidays and weekends, if they have earned the privilege. (This is expensive and parents are advised to carefully monitor the billing for this service)
- No packages are accepted
- Money orders or cashiers checks are acceptable. Personal checks will be returned
- There is no need to send money to a resident unless they are going to be coming home by bus
- Each resident receives a state allotment sufficient to cover any and all purchases that he is permitted to make
- Parents are notified if a special purchase needs to be made for the resident
Natural Bridge Juvenile Correctional Center was chosen to implement and pilot a new Work Education Release Program in 2005. The program was designed to provide residents the opportunity to learn and establish skills, and participate in real-life employment experiences. The hands-on work experience allows residents to learn new skills, establish positive work habits, and create opportunities to earn money. The program serves to assist residents as they transition back to their respective communities and/or parole placements. Additionally, the money earned has benefited the residents and the community by allowing residents to pay restitution through the court to victims and/or pay court fees and fines.
The Work Education Release Coordinator networks with local employers in helping to create job opportunities for the residents. Residents from NBJCC have participated in job opportunities and work experiences at several local fast food and other restaurants. Additionally, residents have also worked at an area auto parts/service company, and at a local car dealership. The Work Education Release Program currently houses ten residents and continues to evolve. The program is well established in the employment community and it continues to look for partners in providing job opportunities and training for eligible residents.