Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can anybody send their kids to the correctional centers?
- Why do 'you' give these kids so many chances?
- Why does the Probation Officer make my child have his blood drawn for DNA?
- Why does there have to be a separate system for juvenile and adults?
- When kids get committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice, how long do they have to stay?
- How long will I be on probation?
- Can I leave the state while on probation?
- What is the difference between probation and parole?
- Do they have school in the juvenile correctional centers?
- Will mental health services be provided for my child if he is committed?
- Who provides medical and dental treatment for my child while he is in a correctional center?
- How old do you have to be to be put in a juvenile correctional center?
- How can I get custody or visitation with my kids?
- Who is a person with a ‘legitimate’ interest as related to suits affecting children?”
- Where do I go to get child support?
- How can I obtain VJCCCA Funding for my program?
- Who does VJCCCA serve?
- What is the difference between a detention center and a juvenile correctional center?
- Where are your detention centers located?
- I am interested in employment with the Department of Juvenile Justice, either in a court service unit or a juvenile correctional center. How can I find out about the jobs that are available?
- I submitted my application for a position that closed recently; how long will it be before I hear something?
- If I take a job with DJJ, how will my salary be determined?
- How often do you get pay increases?
- How will my performance be evaluated if I am hired?
- What benefits does the state have?
Responses
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Youth must have a court order, signed by a judge, committing them to the Department as a result of criminal behavior for which they have been convicted.
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With the exception of very serious offenses, both the juvenile and adult justice systems generally give offenders an opportunity to demonstrate that they can learn from their mistake. These chances are usually combined with probation supervision to ensure the safety of the community and services to help the person overcome whatever deficits they may have, such as substance abuse, job training, etc.
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Virginia law requires that any person 14 years of age or older, convicted of a felony or a charge that would be a felony if committed by an adult, submit a DNA sample.
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The juvenile court movement started in the United States in the early 1900’s. This was a time when similar movements governing child labor, child abuse and neglect, etc., were popular. The movement for juvenile courts was established by persons who believed that children to be treated differently than adults because they did not possess the same level of knowledge and maturity as adults; thus, they should not be held to the same legal standards as adults.
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This depends on the type of commitment the juvenile received. If indeterminately committed by the Judge, the juvenile's length of stay (LOS) can be 3 months to a maximum 36 months. An estimated LOS will be projected at the Reception & Diagnostic Center; however, the actual time spent incarcerated depends on several factors, including completion of treatment, good behavior, placement plan for transition back to the community, etc. If determinately committed, the Judge will determine when the juvenile is released; however, no juvenile can be held in a juvenile correctional facility past their 21st birthday.
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There is no definite time period for being placed on probation. Your adjustment to probation will help determine the length of probation. A positive attitude along with following rules and being a responsible, law-abiding citizen will result in a shorter probation period.
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You may be able to leave the state with your probation officer's permission prior to your departure. You must let your probation officer know where you are going, who you will be with, how long you will be there, why you will be gone, etc. and the probation officer will let you know if your visit is approved for out of state travel.
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The Judge places a juvenile on probation for an offense to give the juvenile the opportunity to change the behavior causing the problem thus keeping the juvenile out of further trouble. Parole supervision is similar to probation where rules and regulations are concerned. However, parole supervision follows incarceration in a juvenile correctional center
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Unless a youth already has a high school diploma or GED or has been excused from the compulsory school attendance law, all juveniles attend school for a minimum of five and one-half hours each day. The Department of Correctional Education operates all schools in our juvenile facilities.
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Each youth receives a mental health screening at the Reception & Diagnostic Center when committed to the Department. If it is determined that there is a need for mental health services, the youth becomes an active case with the Behavioral Services Unit (BSU). Each correctional center has permanently assigned BSU clinical staff responsible for the mental health services of the youth in the centers. Additionally, each center has contract services of a board certified psychiatrist.
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Each youth receives a medical and dental screening when admitted to the juvenile correctional center, and plans of care are developed during this admission process. This plan is combined with a continuous assessment of medical and dental needs by a cadre of professional nurses at each center who function in a collaborative role with the medical and dental staff providing care to youth. Medical care is provided by a staff of board certified physicians, certified nurse practitioners and professional nurses. Dental care is provided by professional dentists assisted by dental assistants. Medical and dental care which is beyond the scope of that provided in the centers is referred to community medical and dental providers.
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You must be at least 11 years of age and you cannot stay past your 21 birthday.
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Call the Intake Office of the Court Service Unit in the city or county which is the home for the child at the time of the filing of the petition or had been the home of the child within six months before the filing of the petition. They will guide you through the process.
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This term is broadly construed to accommodate the best interest of the child. It includes, but is not limited to grandparents, stepparents, former stepparents, blood relatives and family members provided any such party has intervened in the suit or is otherwise properly before the court. A party with a legitimate interest shall not include any person whose parental rights have been involuntarily terminated by court order if the child has been legally adopted, or who has been convicted of rape or incest when the child who is the subject of the petition was conceived as a result of such violation.
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Call the Intake Office of the Court Service Unit in the city or county where either party resides or in the city or county where the respondent is present when the proceedings commence. An Intake Officer will assist you in completing the necessary paperwork.
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VJCCCA (Virginia Juvenile Community Crime Control Act) funding goes to each locality (or groups of localities that have chosen to combine their funds). The locality designates who will develop and manage the required local plan for expending VJCCCA funding. To have a program funded, it must be included in the locality’s plan and the plan must be approved by the Board of Juvenile Justice or their designee.
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VJCCCA funding may only be used to serve youth who are before intake or the court on charges alleging CHINS (Child In Need of Services), CHINSUP (Child In Need of Supervision) or delinquency. It may not be used for custody, domestic relations, or traffic offenses that do not rise to the level of misdemeanors or felonies.
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Detention is used primarily for juveniles who are awaiting action of the court or transfer to a juvenile correctional facility. They usually stay in detention less than 21 days. Some detention centers have specialized programs so that juveniles may stay up to six months, serving a sentence that the Judge has imposed. Juvenile correctional centers house juveniles who have been committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice by a Judge. These youth have been found to have committed a felony or four misdemeanors. Unless committed by the Judge on a determinate commitment, juveniles cannot remain in a juvenile correctional center longer than 36 months on an indeterminate commitment.
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The Department of Juvenile Justice only operates one juvenile detention center which is located at the Culpeper Juvenile Correctional Center. (Refer to DJJ Website - Community Operations - Secure Detention - Detention Home Directory for a complete listing.)
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I am interested in employment with the Department of Juvenile Justice, either in a court service unit or a juvenile correctional center. How can I find out about the jobs that are available?
There are several ways to find out about employment opportunities with the Department. All vacant classified positions with DJJ are posted on the Department of Human Resource Management’s website, www.dhrm.state.va.us, click on Employment and Careers tab, then Recruit and search under our agency, “Department of Juvenile Justice.” For additional information, see the Employment section of this website. Applications for positions in the court service units, halfway houses, regional offices and central office should be submitted to the Department of Human Resources P.O. Box 1110 Richmond, VA 23218-1110. Applications for positions at the following juvenile correctional centers: Barrett, Beaumont, Culpeper, Hanover, and Natural Bridge should be submitted to the juvenile correctional center Personnel Office (for addresses, visit this website, click Inside DJJ, Institutions). Applications for positions at Bon Air, Oak Ridge, and the Reception & Diagnostic Center should be submitted to Central Personnel, 1900 Chatsworth Ave., Bon Air, VA 23235 .
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I submitted my application for a position that closed recently; how long will it be before I hear something?
Each applicant should receive an acknowledgement letter indicating that we have received their application, and that we will review it and contact the applicant if selected for an interview. After the closing date for the recruitment, the hiring manager or human resource representative will screen all the applications and those identified for interviews will be notified. This process can take as much as two – three weeks. After final interviews, it could take two-four weeks, depending on completion of a background investigation (if needed) and reference checks before an offer of employment can be made.
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The Department will compare your related education and experience with other DJJ employees and their salaries in similar jobs. Among other factors considered are market availability (whether it’s easy or difficult to find qualified applicants), the agency business need, total compensation (including benefits) and most importantly…budgetary constraints.
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Based on the availability of revenues, the General Assembly determines if pay increases will be given to State employees and establishes the percent of the raise. When funding is allocated, the individual increase correlates to the employee’s annual job performance rating. If you are in your first year of service, you may be eligible for a pro-rated increase based on the length your State employment.
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At the beginning of the performance cycle, your supervisor will discuss the Employee Work Profile (EWP) with you. The EWP identifies the core job responsibilities and the supervisor’s expectations for how well you must perform your duties. Progress is assessed every six months (after six months, an interim evaluation is done and after 12 months, a formal evaluation is completed).
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For a complete listing of benefits, please see the Employment section of this website.
- Full time classified employees receive 12 paid holidays.
- Membership in the Virginia Retirement System at no cost to the employee.
- Enrollment in the State life insurance program (at no cost to the employee).
- Death benefits of two times annual salary rounded up to the next thousand for natural causes.
- Death benefits of four times your annual salary rounded up to the next thousand for accidental causes.
- Options to purchase additional life insurance.
- Short-term and Long-term disability.
- Sick and personal leave coverage.